God’s Life-giving Word – by Pastor Chris Kennedy
It is wonderful to bring you greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ from us here in Ireland! I am so grateful to the Lord for the church family in Lansdale and the many ways he continues to use you and blessed us through you.We cannot wait to be with you all. As many of you are aware, we have interviews scheduled for visa
applications at the US consulate here in Dublin in Ireland scheduled for June 15th, 16th, and 18th. Please pray that this visa application is granted, and that we may be able to join with you all in the coming months. Once we have clarity on the visa and travel, then we can start applying our minds and actions more fully to ‘the move.’ (**see note on page 2 at end of this article)
We haven’t started packing quite yet, but our minds have begun to whizz with a bundle of questions: What stuff needs to come with us? What can’t come with us? Can we pre-order with Ikea? Does Best-Buy still say, ‘Turn on the fun?’ How far is Six Flags from us? Where will we live? Is Rita’s Water Ice still a thing?
It can be so wearing! And I appreciate that for all of us, no matter where we are in the world at the moment, these past 15 months have caused immense strain for all sorts of reasons, not least in the Lansdale church family, as you navigate many changes and transitions. Where are we to turn?
If you have been able to watch the ‘Wednesdays in the Word’ series (see the church’s YouTube page for more details) you will know that one of the biggest encouragements from our time here in Dun Laoghaire has
happened in the past six months. In January 2021 we started looking at Psalm 119 in weekly online small group Bible studies. It has been so enriching.
One of my favorite verses is Psalm 119:25. “My soul clings to the dust, give me life according to your word.” In this section (verses 25-32) the Psalmist starts out feeling like he has hit rock bottom. To say he was ‘laid low’
would be to put it too mildly. Remember in the Looney Tunes cartoon when Wile E. Coyote got run over by a steam roller/truck/train? It’s kind of like that, but without the laughs. His soul clings to the dust. He is spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially wrung out. It feels like he’s running on fumes - spiritually dry as dust.
Ever feel like that? Worn out. Spiritually empty and dry. Running on fumes.
What’s the answer? The Psalmist prays, ‘Give me life according to your word.’ Make that your prayer.
Specifically, ‘the word’ here could mean the promises of God, which are ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. And throughout the Bible, spiritual life with God is inextricably tied to the word of God.
God’s word brings life. It’s the same throughout Psalm 119. The same verb for ‘give life’ or ‘revive’ appears
Spreading Branches
The Newsletter of Lansdale Presbyterian Church
450 Oak Park Road www.lansdalepres.org (215) 368-1119
“I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me bears much fruit...” John 15:5
June 2021
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again in verses 37, 50, 88, 93, 107, 149, 152 and 156. You could spend a very worthwhile hour just looking them up and prayerfully meditating on what the Psalmist prays each time!
Later in the Bible, Jesus explains to his followers how his words bring life. So, in John 5:24-25, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
Do you see the similar pattern to Psalm 119? Jesus says that his words bring life. Life with God. A
relationship with God that begins now and stretches into eternity. Without him, each of us is spiritually dead.
He brings life to dead souls. We all need the life-giving words of Jesus Christ to bring us into that relationship with God. That happens when we hear and believe the gospel message of his life, death and resurrection.
And the way in with Jesus, is the way on with him. We need his life-giving word to revive our sin-weary souls – every day.
As you may know, Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm, indeed the longest chapter in the Bible. Spanning 176 verses, it is an acrostic. Every verse in each section starts with the same Hebrew letter, working through the Hebrew alphabet. So, verses 1-8 each begin with an “Aleph” (the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet) verses 9- 17 with the next letter (Beth) and so on. Why? Apart from helping people learn it by heart, even in its structure, the Psalm conveys how all of life is to be lived in the way of God's word. From beginning to end, from the cradle to the grave, all of our life on earth is impacted by God’s word. And every verse in Psalm 119 contains a reference to God's written word, or a prayerful consideration of it.
So, our whole lives are to be prayerful reflections on the word of God! One of my prayers for each of us is that this would be a true characteristic of us all in LPC. That by God’s Spirit, God’s word would be absorbed into every fiber of who we are as followers of Christ every day. Please pray this for the Kennedy family as we
prepare to leave Ireland and move to the US – as we navigate saying goodbye and settling in somewhere new.
And can I encourage you, as I encourage myself to pray for your non-Christian friends, and family and neighbors? Specifically, pray that you have opportunity to share God's words with them. Because his words bring the life and forgiveness and freedom that we all need. That can only be found in Jesus Christ. “Give me life, according to your word.”
** Please note that this article was written prior to the recent news of their appointments being rescheduled.
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Seniors Living in Christ (SLIC)
Twenty-one seniors (and one grandson) gathered at the home of Dave & Nancy Brewer on a warm, sunny day in May. The group spread out on the porch and under the trees in the back yard and enjoyed a delicious lunch followed by birthday cake and ice cream for dessert. Paul and Dottie Koehrsen were the special speakers and they shared their testimonies, about their family and jobs, and their time in Hong Kong, leading up to their present time with us at LPC. It was a blessing to hear how the Lord has worked in their lives over the years.
A special thanks was given to Martha Foote and Dottie Finn for their many years serving as co-chairs of SLIC before handing the reins over to Wendy Fox and Phyllis Miller last year.
It was an enjoyable afternoon and so refreshing to be able to fellowship together once again! Thanks to the Brewer’s for opening up their home and hosting the group. (Pictures below)
Next month SLIC will be traveling to Meadowbrook Farm in Jenkintown. Meet at the church on Wednesday, June 16th, at 9:00 am to carpool. A brown bag lunch (drinks and dessert provided) follows at the home of the Foxes. Sign up on the sheet in the lobby.
Copies of the SLIC schedule of events for this year are available in the church lobby. If you would like a copy mailed to you, contact Lori Davis in the church office, #(215) 368-1119, ext. 22.
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Book Collection
Westminster Theological College & Seminary in Cambodia, a Reformed seminary training future ministers for the countries in the 10/40 Window, is seeking donations of good (Reformed) theological books. Donation should be marked "Westminster Cambodia" and placed in the LPC coat room by Sunday, June 6th. If you have any questions, please contact Dave Brewer or Scott Wilson.
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24 Emmanuel Ankrah 27 Tom Keane III 28 Carolyn P.
30 Naomi Keane 2 6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal (last one)
7:00 pm Access Control Committee 3 7:00 pm Session meeting online 5 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Church Work Day 6 8:00 am Band rehearsal *
9:15 am Sunday School for all ages * 10:30 am Worship Service in-person and live streamed *
- Communion
5:30 pm McBride Small Group in- person (ends 6/13)
5:30 pm Youth Group in-person * - Move-up initiation night
7 7:00 pm Deacons’ Executive Committee 12-19 Rev. Brian & Mary Hand on vacation 14-19 Sue Hathaway on vacation
15 12:00 pm Prayer meeting online 7:00 pm Prayer meeting online and in-person
17 7:00 pm Session meeting online 20 Recognition of Graduates
Father’s Day
- No evening groups or meetings 21 7:00 pm Deacons’ Mercy Ministry meeting online and in-person 26-27 JJ Zeller away
27 10:30 am Worship Service: Rev. Brian Hand preaching
28-7/2 Pastor Hand at General Assembly
3 Eleanor Etherton Lilibeth Witner 4 Henry Whitney 5 Barb Edgar
6 Megan Whitehouse Spike Goehle 11 Annalara Etherton 16 Rebekah Negley 19 Becky Swartz 20 Chris Greene 21 Dave Fox 22 Kathy Hardwick
Ricky Whitehouse 23 Amanda Clark
Happy Anniversary to….
4 Ken & Shelley Berg 7 Craig & Anita Schwartz 11 John & Sarah Prall 13 Phil & Denise Mooney 22 Ralph & Jean Pennington
28 Jonathan & Rebecca Armstrong 30 Benj & Corrie Giffone
If your birthday or anniversary does not appear on our list or if there has been an
error, please contact the church office.
Thank you.
Happy Birthday To…..
Summer Staff Schedules
Pastor Hand: Beginning 6/21, he will be taking Tuesday as his day off for the summer.
JJ Zeller: flexible part-time hours (home office) Mary Hand: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
Lori Davis: flexible part-time hours as work requires Sue Hathaway: flexible part-time hours as work requires If you need access to the church building, please call or email ahead to ensure someone is in the office.
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