Were you there…?

That haunting question, from one of the oft sung hymns of holy week, brought me back to a family trip years ago to the Swiss Alps. There we fell in love with Lucerne, a quaint, picturesque city in the heart of the Swiss Alps, centered on a lake with ducks that dive deep into the water for their food. Those looking for an adventure can take a cable car ride to Mt. Pilatus for stunning views of Lake Lucerne. Back in town, the city’s Old Town features lively squares, boutiques, and the oldest wooden covered bridge in the world, built in 1365. A stroll along the lake will bring you to the cornerstone of Old Town, the Jesuit Church known for its ornate baroque style architecture. If you look carefully as you stroll through town, you will discover another church- a hidden gem- Franziskanerkirche- the Franciscan Church of St. Mary.

The Franciscan church was originally built in the early 1200’s to serve as a monastery, thus the exterior of this church is rather unassuming. The street level entrance to the church has no steps, denoting a church accessible to the common people. This common presentation finds many tourists passing by without a second look. But if you step inside, you will find an ornately carved wooden pulpit and stunning pink marble columns. Along the walls of the sanctuary hang a collection of paintings depicting the stations of the cross- 14 moments from the garden to the tomb. These paintings captured my attention, not just for the story they tell, but for the faces on each canvas. I wondered why the faces in the paintings did not look like the people in the Holy Land. None of the faces were of Semitic or Arab descent. Every face looked European with blue eyes and light skin tones. Upon investigation, I learned that the artist used the townspeople as his models, leaving them to wonder what part they would play in the story until the paintings were unveiled. Imagine that debut, people strolling down the church aisle searching each painting for their likeness. Some, I am sure, were pleased to find that they were among the women faithfully sitting at the foot of the cross. Others were perhaps less pleased to find their face immortalized on one of the soldiers nailing Jesus to the cross. The artist’s intent was obvious, inviting each person to find themselves in the story, no longer merely spectators from across the ages.

I think the gospel writers have the same hope, that we will read the ancient story willing to find ourselves along the way. Imagine being in the Sunday crowd, waving palms and welcoming Jesus with shouts of “Hosanna.” What joy to be there that day! But have we ever been in the Friday crowd, angry because life has not worked out the way we hoped, jeering the one who was supposed to save? Have our broken hearts ever shouted: “Crucify”? Have we gone to the garden with Jesus as he cries out to his Father? Do we ever fall asleep there? On Friday, do we sit at the foot of the cross bathed in grief, or do we hide from that moment as the disciples did? Is our hand on the mallet that drove the nails through his hands? Do we see our sin etched in each nail? Where will we be in those pre-dawn hours on Sunday- hopeful or brokenhearted? Will we join the women at the tomb, or will we walk away like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, still unable to believe the rumors of a risen Jesus?

Were you there… Holy week begins on Sunday. Where will you be this holy week? Perhaps a read of the stations of the cross will allow you to stroll down the aisle to look for your face in the tapestry of this story.

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-41)
2. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested (Mark 14:43-46)
3. Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71)
4. Jesus is denied by Peter (Matthew 26:69-75)
5. Jesus is judged by Pilate (Mark 15:1-5, 15)
6. Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns (John 19:1-3)
7. Jesus takes up his cross (John 19:6, 15-17)
8. Jesus is helped by Simon to carry his cross (Mark 15:21)
9. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27-31)
10. Jesus is crucified (Luke 23:33-34)
11. Jesus promises his kingdom to the repentant thief (Luke 23:39-43)
12. Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other (John 19:25-27)
13. Jesus dies on the cross (Luke 23:44-46)
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb (Matthew 27:57-60)

Were you there… where will you be this holy week?

With you on the journey,
Anita

Stations of the Cross: Good Friday, April 3
Walking and praying through the Stations of the Cross is one way we can keep vigil with Christ during Lent.
Join us as we hear the invitation to walk Christ’s road to the cross.
You will be provided with a handout of responses and prayers to recite together.
Meet at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, 654 Ferry Road, Doylestown.
You may choose between two start times 10:00 am and 2:30 pm.
Rain or shine. Bring a friend.

The baby is coming… soon… For the expectant parents, there is much to do. A room to paint. A crib to assemble. Clothes to wash and place neatly in draws. Tiny dresses to hang in the closet. Books on a shelf. Toys in a bin. Diapers at the ready with more wipes than they can even imagine using. They must hang the beautiful artwork they have chosen for the nursery- Monet prints to inspire their little one. So much to do, and only weeks left… if that. But all this is mere window dressing to the preparation of the heart. How do you prepare to welcome a little one? What makes anyone ready to take on the awesome responsibility of guiding a tiny human being through life?

The wedding is coming… soon… For the bride and groom, there is much to do. A venue to choose. A dress to find. A tux to rent. A menu to select. A photographer to hire who will capture the magic of the day. A DJ who will inspire the gathering to get on their feet to celebrate. Friends and family to invite. Bridesmaids and groomsmen to stand for them. Hopefully, the couple will choose a pastor who will mark the day with God’s call and blessing. There are so many decisions to create the day of their dreams, one that they will cherish for years to come. I marvel at the frenzy surrounding an American wedding.

I’m working with five couples right now, who are just weeks and months away from their special day. Yet, our time together is focused not on a day, but on a lifetime together. The day will come and go, but the days that come after will keep coming. Preparing now for those ‘next’ days will allow their one special day to matter for a lifetime.

Preparing…

The Lenten season is a time of preparing. The church offers this season to focus heart and mind lest we miss the Savior in the midst of a parade and a party. Each step in this season is intended to draw us closer… following His footsteps… remembering His words… sitting at His feet… joining Him at the table... listening for each word from the cross. Each step, each experience, each word deepens the meaning of the climax. Without those steps, we find ourselves swept away by Easter’s Hallelujah with no way to ground that victory in our daily lives. So, we prepare… we pray… we sacrifice… we read our daily devotional… we gather for worship… we walk each step of Holy week with Jesus as if it were the first time. Those who prepare find themselves at the empty tomb with resounding joy, not just a party’s celebration.

Last Wednesday, Carol Stern began our Lenten worship with a poem by William Aruthur Ward. Allow these words to guide the preparation of your heart to welcome the Savior in new and deeper ways.

Fast from judging others… Feast on Christ dwelling in them
Fast from fear and loneliness…Feast on the healing power of God
Fast on words that pollute… Feast on speech that purifies
Fast on discontent… Feast on gratitude
Fast on anger… Feast on patience
Fast on pessimism… Feast on hope
Fast on negatives … Feast on encouragement
Fast on bitterness… Feast on forgiveness
Fast on self-concern… Feast on compassion
Fast from suspicion… Feast on truth
Fast from gossip… Feast on purposeful silence
Fast from problems that overwhelm… Feast on prayers that sustain
Fast from anxiety… Feast on faith

With you on the road to Jerusalem,
Anita

Finally… the New Britain glacier is melting. We have all marveled at the mountain of snow that stands between the Giant food store and Lenape Valley Church. One snowstorm after another… one snow plough after another… resulting in a mountain of snow over 10 feet high. For some, our town’s little glacier has been a novelty. But for those of us who park at the Giant shopping center on Sundays, that pile of snow has been an inconvenience. The well-marked path between church and food store sits beneath feet of snow. I want to thank those who choose to park across the street, giving your parking space to a guest or one of our members who needs a shorter walk to the building. But since January, your act of kindness has been challenged by a wall of ice. Every time I walk around the mountain to get to church, I yearn for spring.

Don’t get me wrong. I actually like winter, perhaps because Advent and Christmas come during this season. And while I don’t like to be cold, I love what comes with the cold. Every year, I hope for a good snow, one that keeps all of us home. I still have a child-like joy in having a snow-day. But this year we had an over abundance of those ‘good snows,’ thus the New Britain glacier. So, I am ready for spring. I would imagine that you would agree. Take heart: they say that the cherry blossoms should be in full bloom in time for Easter. Soon, the crocuses will peak out, and then the daffodils will sprout across the front lawn of the church. I’m excited to see buds on the trees, ready to bring flowers and green leaves. Our Garden team is hard at work creating a pathway into the church that showcases the beauty of spring. I think we are all ready for a change of season!

On Sunday, March 15th Lenape Valley will take her first steps into a new season in the life and ministry of our church. We will gather after worship to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) who will search for the next pastor of Lenape Valley Church. I will continue to shepherd our flock through August, while the search is happening quietly behind the scenes. The PNC will have the resources of a national search firm- Vanderbloemen- to help them find good candidates to consider. Our hope and prayer is that God will bring the next pastor in 2026 allowing ministry to continue without pause. But even if the search takes longer, let me remind you that the strength of our church is in the pews not in the pulpit. Our church leaders are showing that strength as they lead us through this time of transition. Right now, they are working like our Garden team, clearing the beds so that new growth can emerge. The time is ripe for a new season… but are we ready for a new season?

As I write these words, my heart is both joyful and sad. I love our church. You are our church family. We have walked together through so many valleys and seen the Son rise victorious again and again in our lives. It has been a good season. But God is preparing Lenape Valley for a new season, that holds His promises. I know in the depth of my heart, if God is calling me away, God has already laid the plan for your new season. Remember God’s word to Joshua as they prepared to go into the Promised Land: 

Be strong and courageous…
for the Lord himself goes before you, and will be with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:7-8

And God’s word to the people living in exile, who struggled to see the way forward:

For I know the plans I have for you,
Plans to prosper and not to harm,
Plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11  

When I think of your new season, my heart is joyful. Our Star word this year is Fulfillment. That word declares God’s faithfulness. God has only just begun to grow and deepen the fellowship of Lenape Valley. God has new mission fields for you to explore. As I see the promise of God’s good next season for Lenape Valley, my sadness turns to dancing.

Please join me in praying for our leaders, for the election of the PNC and for their vision and courage, and for the next pastor who will shepherd the flock. God has already gone before us and will go with us into this new season.

With you in prayerful anticipation,
Anita

In a day and age when going to church has fallen out of favor… I offer a wonderful story given to me by one of our new members:

A church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. He wrote: “I’ve gone to church for 30 years now, and in that time, I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them.”

This letter started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column. Much to the delight of the editor, the discussion went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I have not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today”

Why go to church?- Lent is a wonderful season to reconnect… to drink a bit deeper from the well of living water… to breathe in the Spirit… to share the journey with your church family.

Thus, my great delight as we welcomed new members into our fellowship on Sunday- twelve brothers and sisters who are choosing to not only “go to church” but to be active in the life and ministry of our faith community. Among them are engineers and teachers, a chemist, a therapist, several veterans, a lineman and a nurse, parents of young children, young adults in the early chapters of their lives, and grandparents celebrating the joy of their next generation. This group mirrors our Lenape Valley fellowship with the richness of four generations. They come to us from a variety of church traditions, each bringing their gifts and experience to stretch the mission to which God calls us. Many of this new class of members have already made their mark, teaching Sunday School, going on Mission trips, become a Deacon, packing 25,000 meals, and sharing in Bible study. Our faith community is stronger with the blessing of these new brothers and sisters! Why go to church?- because we stand strong when we stand together. (Read the bios by clicking the link attached to email).

My delight in welcoming our new members on Sunday was matched by my joy as our children served in worship. Their voices calling us to worship and leading us in prayer, reminded all of us “that a little shall lead them.” Jesus is right, our children can show us the way to the Father. Then, our children helped to serve communion. They were so serious in their duties, understanding the importance of the meal Jesus offers to us. With a sweet smile or a nod of the head, each child offered their own greeting as we came to the feast. The memory will be forever etched in my mind and heart of Dylan standing at my side serving the bread as his parents and brother came forward, his mother’s eyes brimming with tears. Why go to church?- because church is where we find God’s family, where we know God’s safe-haven, where we are welcome just as we are- a precious child of God.

I have to admit being a bit distressed by the opening story and the writer’s admission that he didn’t remember any of the sermons he had heard in 30 years. I spend hours crafting the message for Sunday, carefully choosing each word, praying that God will touch hearts. I hope each week there will be a gem in there somewhere that you can take home. But then I remember that the gem is not in my words but in God’s voice speaking to our hearts. So, I encourage you not to remember my sermon, but to treasure what God says to you each week. Why do we go to church?- to pause our busy lives long enough to listen for God’s word to us.

I am so thankful for our church community, and for the freedom to gather in the name of Jesus. I am joyful that our children and grandchildren share in that joy. I hope this Lent you will invite someone you love to meet your family of faith, to share a meal (Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast), to meet your Savior. Let’s bring going to church back in style!

With you, thankful for the church of Jesus Christ,
Anita

Sunday nights for most of my childhood found our family gathered in the living room, poised to enjoy “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” I am dating myself with that line, and so are you if you recognize the quote. For almost three decades, ABC’s Wide World of Sports began with that iconic catchphrase. The thrill and the agony were matched with images from international sporting events. I don’t remember the clip for the thrill, but the image of agony is seared on most of our memories. In 1970, at a competition in Oberstdorf, West Germany, Slovenian ski jumper Vinko Bogataj veered off the end of the ramp. I saw that crash hundreds of times, and each time I saw him launched into the fencing on the side of the jump, I would cringe. Even now, the memory of his mangled pile of arms and legs makes my heart skip a beat. The moral of the story, there is no way to seek the thrill of victory without risking the agony of defeat.

For the last two weeks, many of us have gathered around our TVs and streaming devices watching athletes seek victory, yet at times finding only defeat. I think of our talented ice-skating team, arriving in Milan with great hopes of bringing home many gold medals for the US. Our men’s hopeful, Ilia Malinin, two-time world champion, born and raised in Virgina, had adopted the nickname “Quad God” to signify his strength in completing successive quad jumps, the most in any skater’s program. [One has to wonder at the arrogance of claiming such a moniker.] But, on his big night, the pressure of Olympic ice was bigger than the nickname. He experienced the agony of one fault after the next. Imagine having to wait for your score after such a failed attempt, with the eyes of the world on your face. The agony of defeat… But then came the women’s night, with our “Blade Angels” as they called themselves. Alysa Liu was this year’s surprise on the team. She left competition after the last Olympics because of the pressure. At 16, she wanted to find the life she was missing while she trained for victory. Alysa decided to return to the ice last year, bringing a more mature, calm, peaceful demeanor that allowed her to shine on Olympic ice, enabling her to bring home the gold. The thrill of victory… What a joy to watch Ilia in the stands cheering on his teammate with zeal! He did not let the agony of defeat be the last word in his Olympic experience.

I think of our skiers and bobsledders who risk life and limb to find that thrill of victory. Imagine hurtling down a bobsled course at speeds over 90 mph… or skiing down a slope at 80+ mph… one wrong turn can be devastating. Lindsey Vonn has known that agony of defeat more than most, finding herself just 13 seconds into her race for gold last week, flipped and broken and quickly airlifted off the slope. Her leg was so badly mangled that doctors almost had to amputate. But, from her hospital bed she declared that seeking victory was worth risking even the agony of defeat.

How fun to watch our ice hockey teams, both men and women, going for gold. The race was tight, the competition especially from Canada was daunting. Yet we emerged victorious. What a special moment to see our men’s team posing for their victory picture. They carried with them the jersey of their teammate Johnny Gaudreau, who lost his life last year to a hit-and-run drunk driver. As they gathered for the picture, they welcomed onto the ice his two children. They are too young to understand the importance of that picture, and how missed their father was in this gold medal run. But one day, that picture will show them the thrill of victory even in the face of the agony of loss. If you watched the medal ceremony for the men’s hockey team, you also discovered that our guys are not musically talented… but they were loud and proud as they sang the national anthem. I hope we all listened to their musical declaration that we were formed to be the “Land of the free and the home of the brave.” What a responsibility we all have to live out that calling.

Watching the competitions, I was reminded of how many times St. Paul uses the image of a race to describe our journey of faith. 

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…
let us fix our eyes on Jesus… so that we will not grow weary or lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
II Timothy 4:8
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
You were running a good race.
Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
Galatians 5:6-7
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?
Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
I Corinthians 9:24-25

In Paul’s day, the race champions received a wreath of olive leaves as a crown of victory. How quickly those leaves would turn brown and fall into the rubbish heap. But the crown of righteousness that God gives, is one that lasts for eternity. That victory has already been won for us by our Savior. His victory is greater than all the defeats we will ever experience in this world. May we live as His champions, shining with His glory, singing His praises loud and proud.

With you, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith,
Anita

Some of you have made it clear over the years, especially in the most recent years, that you do not want your pastor to step over the line into politics. But, when a politician steps into my theological arena, I have a hard time not taking up the challenge. Now, don’t get me wrong, I cheer on lay theologians. One does not need an ‘Rev.’ in front of their name to have credibility in teaching God’s Word. I think of Bob Wherry, a gifted and deep-thinking Bible teacher. You never left his class without a tidbit that stirred your thoughts. I think of Linda DeMusz, Paul Payton, Kathy Johnson just to name a few. (It is always dangerous to name just a few, because I know I have left out too many to count.) These dear brothers and sisters love God’s Word and have spent a lifetime immersed in His Word. They don’t just read, they study. They don’t just accept, they ponder as Mary did. When they teach, people lean forward to listen. I am thankful for the lay theologians in our fellowship. They make us richer as a body, and deeper in our faith journey together.

But this particular lay theologian, House Speaker Mike Johnson, had the audacity- or perhaps we could call it bold courage- to challenge Pope Leo XIV. As Johnson lays out his biblical case for border security and immigration enforcement, he plays a dangerous game called proof-texting to justify his decisions and the leadership he is giving to our nation. Proof-texting is when one takes a passage, but neglects the larger text of scripture, leaning on a few words rather than allowing the whole to give full clarity. In his effort to disqualify the Pope’s chastisement of our current government’s treatment of immigrants, he leans heavily on a few passages of Old Testament law, a nod to a verse in Romans, and then proceeds to forget the prophets and the red words of Jesus. I find his choice, as a Christian, to leave Jesus out of the discussion fascinating. For the last 5 weeks, Lenape Valley has been studying some of the Red words- the words of Jesus that some biblical translators highlight in red. I argue that His words are not just a word, but that they are the word that should interpret all other words. To leave Jesus out of the discussion makes the whole argument rather suspect. But then, when we look at the argument given and what Jesus says, it is easy to see why Jesus was left out.

But first, let’s look at the arguments that this lay theologian makes. First, he claims that “Borders and walls are biblical.” Johnson is correct, borders and walls are part of the Bible narrative. Nations have existed from ancient times, and borders and even walls have been used for definition of existence and security. The Bible clearly states that nations exist. But that does not mean that God ordains national existence. Johnson cites God’s blessing of the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls in Nehemiah’s time as proof that God blesses walls and borders. Yet, while walls and borders and nation states are in the Bible, that does not mean that division is God’s plan for humanity. There is only one nation in the Bible with defined national boundaries- that is the Promised Land given to the nation of Israel. They are given that land as long as they are obedient to God. And when Israel’s disobedience runs rampant, their city falls to Babylon, their Temple is left in ruins, and the best and brightest are taken off into exile. Their nation and their borders are never the same again.

Nowhere in the biblical record does God ordain the formation of nations other than ancient Isarel. The claim being made by some in our nation today, that our nation is God’s nation, does not have biblical support. In fact, there are many examples in the Bible of how those national divisions incite greed, anger, even war. The Garden that God created (Genesis 1), is the model of God’s good plan for the world. That Garden had no walls, no borders, and no nations. But we live in a fallen world, where humans create their boundaries for protection; where we seek power over others to ensure our security. Our human way is not God’s way… but it is the way we define ourselves now. So, should we strip away all borders? No. We need civil order in a broken world. (Romans 13) But we must not equate our human striving, and God’s allowing of our broken human efforts, to God’s good plan for humanity. God is allowing not ordaining. How we maintain civil order in this broken design must still meet a godly standard.

Johnson’s second argument: “There is a difference between God’s admonition to the individual and God’s expectations of civil government.” Johnson calls out the Leviticus 19 passage often used in the immigration debate. 

The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born.
Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Johnson argues that “context is critical,” and then claims that this command is given to the individual, not to the nation. He is right “context is critical,” but he ignores the context. This command (Lev.19) comes to the people of Israel and their leader (Moses) as part of the whole command of God that should order how they function as a nation. Their governance was to be shaped by God’s law and God’s law alone. Throughout the Old Testament, we see times when the King and the religious leaders do not follow God’s law. The prophets call out the sin of the leaders more often than they call out the sin of the people. Every time, the standard is the same for the individual and the nation. The call in Romans 13 for civil government to keep the peace, expects that the peace is defined by a godly standard. God declares: “These are the laws you are to set before the nation.” (Exodus 21:1) Consider then, the call to the nation found in Exodus 22, 23, Leviticus 19, Deuteronomy 10, 23, 27. Again and again God calls the nation: “love the foreigner”, “do not mistreat the foreigner”, “leave gleanings on the edge of your fields to feed the alien in your midst”… and the list goes on. The law for the individual is the same as the law for the whole nation. The call to the leaders of the nation is to keep that godly standard.

The law found in Leviticus 19 reminds the people to remember their “context,” that they were once “aliens” in Egypt. I think many of us have forgotten our “alien” stories. My family came from Germany. My parents were proud of that heritage, sharing with us foods and traditions, encouraging us to learn the language, even using German at times in our home. My parents also told stories of the pain our family knew just after WWII when German Americans were shunned as if they had helped Hitler. Some of us come from Italian heritage. We love the foods of that tradition- pasta, bread and meatballs. But we have conveniently forgotten how Italian immigrants were treated when they came to America. They were seen as the scum of the earth, given only the most base of jobs, and regularly demeaned by slurs. The Irish among us have a similar story. They are so proud of their songs, traditions, and St. Patrick (who was actually English), even corn beef and cabbage (which I never have enjoyed). On St. Patty’s Day, everyone claims to be Irish. Somehow, we have forgotten that the Irish were once treated with cruel disdain. If only we would remember our “context,” as those ancient Israelites were commanded, remembering the harsh realities of being an alien. Perhaps if we remembered our ‘context’, our hearts would be softer in our dealings today with the aliens in our midst.

Speaker Johnson argues that the aliens in our midst must “assimilate.” He argues that ‘they’ must become one of ‘us.’ Johnson should consider the biblical model of assimilation found in Jeremiah 29. God describes the importance of assimilation, but also the limitations of assimilation. God tells the Jews living in exile in Babylon to settle in their foreign city, plant gardens, marry and have children, and be a blessing to the city where they are held captive. God says, “If the city prospers, you will prosper.” But God did not want the people to forget their language, their traditions, their identity, or God’s law. God’s design for assimilation does not require annihilation of the home culture. I have many immigrant friends. I wish Johnson could meet them. They are assimilating into our culture, sending their children to school where they learn the language, and finding work that benefits the community as they support their families. These immigrants in our midst are an important part of our community. I would even say they are a blessing to our community. But just as God calls the Jews in exile in Babylon to hold onto their immigrant heritage, just as we want to pass our immigrant heritage onto our children and grandchildren, so too, our immigrant neighbors want to raise their children with ties to their heritage. Our nation is richer because of the many cultures that make up our national identity.

Johnson ignores the prophets entirely in his thesis. The duty of a prophet was to speak the Word of the Lord (“thus says the Lord”) primarily to the King and to the leaders of the people. The leaders were (are) the ones called to lead the people in faithfulness. In modern times, we have individualized the words of the prophets, but in their original context, they were the call to the leaders of the nation to lead with godly priorities. Consider the call of God through Isaiah (58): 

"What is the sacrifice I have chosen? To loose the chains of injustice…
to set the oppressed free… to break every yoke…
to share your food with the hungry and provide shelter for the poor…
then your light (the light of your nation) will rise in the darkness.”

Perhaps more damming, is the Word of the Lord that comes through Ezekiel (22). The prophet Ezekiel is clear that this Word of the Lord, God’ s exhortation and judgment, is upon the “princes” and “prophets” and “priests.” This is no individualized, or spiritualized message. This message calls out the nation through the actions of their leaders. This passage in Ezekiel should make very believing lawmaker quake in their boots; it should make ever pastor, every religious leader, aware of God’s expectation and judgment on their leadership. “They (the leaders) mistreat the poor, the needy, the alien, denying them justice.” I will leave you to read the full text, but know that I fall on my knees every time I read this passage. I want to be found radically faithful, not only in my own actions, but in my leadership in the church. Yet I know that sometimes I fear your chastisement more than I fear the judgment of God- so I am less bold than I should be in calling out the moral failure of our day.

Then there are the Red words of Jesus that Johnson so conveniently ignores. First, Johnson disqualifies the passage that Pope Leo XIV invokes- the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25. Jesus says: “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” Johnson again argues that these words are intended to guide our ‘individual’ righteousness, but that they have nothing to say about the right actions of the nation. Yet, remembering Johnson’s insistence that “context is critical,” we must look at the full passage. Somehow, Johnson missed that Jesus’ teaching begins with these words:  

When the Son of Man comes in all His glory… all the nations will be gathered before Him,
and He will separate the nations, one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Matthew 25:31-32

I fear that when our nation stands before the Lord in His righteous judgment, we will find ourselves in the goat pen. I have often wondered what kind of reception Jesus and his parents received when they fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s sword. In Egypt, they were aliens in a country where Jews were hated and unwelcome. I wonder what kind of reception Jesus and his parents, with their brown skin, would receive in the United States of America, 2026, running from the danger and violence of their home country. Jesus said, “Nations, whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”

Consider the many times that Jesus used the outcast, alien Samaritan to teach the Jews God’s just and merciful way. No surprise, the Jews did not like those lessons. They preferred to judge the Samaritans as ugly step-cousins, unclean, and unwelcomed. They chose hate over love, thus Jesus chose to show the value of those aliens in their midst. Then, consider Jesus’ “summary” of God’s law, the “greatest commandment”- to love God and love neighbor. Johnson wrongly claims: “The Greatest Commandment’ was never directed to the government, but to INDIVIDUAL (Johnson’s emphasis) believers.” Yet God’s command to love our neighbor is found in the law to the nation in Leviticus. The full command to love our neighbor, found in Leviticus 19:9-18, begins with a description of how the nation is to care for the alien in our midst. A thousand years later, we see the Greatest Commandment in Jesus’ red words. Jesus remembers the “context” of that Great Commandment. He knows that the command is given first to the nation as a whole and then to the people as individuals, calling the nation to care for the alien in their midst. Jesus’ command to love our neighbor calls us as a nation to love, even respect, the alien in our midst.

I know that the United States of America was not founded to be a Christian nation- this is a nation where we have freedom of religion. But we can expect and even demand that our civil government is moral in its dealings- honest, just, even merciful. Johnson is right to turn to the Bible as a good source for the foundation of our morality as a nation. The Bible teaches a fundamental moral truth that justice and mercy are intricately tied. (Micah 6:8) Let me be clear today, the people of God… our leaders and those they lead… are called to a godly morality that demands justice with mercy, that provides for our security by valuing each human life as created in the image of God, that expects that we will treat the neighbor in our midst (friend and citizen, documented and undocumented) with justice and mercy. God’s law, the Prophets and the teachings of Jesus all call our nation to be just, merciful and good. We ought to expect, even demand, that our leaders are just, merciful and good. Do we see such a godly standard in our national decisions and on the streets of our cities? House Speaker Mike Johnson is free, as all of us are, to choose his own morality- what he thinks is right and just. But, let me be clear, his claim that God’s Word justifies his actions is poor biblical theology.

With you, on my knees, praying for the leaders of our nation,
Anita

Do miracles still happen? More specifically, does Jesus still work miracles in our modern world? That was the question our Genesis youth discussed last night. Our year-long journey has taken us to the point where we are considering who Jesus is. We know that historians of that day verify his existence. They comment on his popularity, the crowd’s claims of healing miracles, even the event of his crucifixion. We know Jesus existed. But who was he? Who is He? Last week we discovered that he is a great teacher- challenging, funny, insightful, and timeless in his lessons; so, we call him Rabbi. This week, we considered the stories of Jesus healing a man with leprosy with the touch of his hand, of raising a son and a daughter from the dead, of giving sight to the blind and strength to the lame. Then we looked at the miracles of Jesus- of crowds fed with a boy’s lunch, of storms stilled and water turned into wine. When asked if they believe the stories, our Genesis youth gave a resounding YES. They know that the people who shared those stories, and those who passed the stories along, risked their lives as they defied Rome. We have concluded that no one risks their life for a lie, so we call Jesus a Healer, a Miracle Worker.

But does Jesus work miracles today? To that question, once again our Genesis youth gave a resounding YES. This time, they pointed to what happened on Sunday at Lenape Valley. If you were not in church on Sunday, let me describe the miracle as it unfolded. First, people came to church despite windchill temperatures that were sub-zero. I feared that the arctic blast would keep people away- o ye of little faith! But the crowds gathered for worship in great anticipation of what God was going to do next. After worship and a flurry of hand-wipes and hairnets in the lobby, a crowd of nearly 200 gathered in Fellowship Hall to pack 25,000 meals. Many of you know the drill… vitamin pack, soy, vegies, rice (rice is aways last!) poured into bags… then the runners- our cute little ones- carry the bags to the weigh and seal station. Those sealed bags go to be tagged and boxed. And finally, the boxes are loaded on pallets that will make their way around the world to feed hungry children.

In one hour and fifteen minutes, 25,000 meals were packed! Our Genesis youth saw the connection between Jesus feeding the 5,000+ on the hillside in Galilee and Jesus working through our hands to feed children around the world. What a privilege to be his disciples in 2026! Does Jesus do miracles today? I hope we all give a resounding YES to that question. Sunday, we not only saw a miracle unfold, but we were also privileged to be part of that miracle. Two thousand years ago, when the disciples showed concern for a hungry crowd, Jesus said, “You feed them.” Sunday, Lenape Valley answered that call, to feed the hungry. Your hands, your feet, your resources in the hands of the Miracle Worker did wonderous things on Sunday!

Many of you have asked where the meals go. RISE Against Hunger sends all the meals to schools where poverty can steal away a child’s opportunity to learn. In those communities, parents often keep their children home to help make money for the family so that they can eat. We dare not judge those parents. They are just trying to survive. But if their child eats at school, the parents are able to send them. We all know that we think better, we learn better, we function better, when we are well fed. So, the meals we made on Sunday will encourage parents to send their children to school. And once at school, those children will have all the nutrition they need to grow strong and learn well.

We will know in a few months where our meals went this year. Several years ago, we discovered that our meals went to a school in Zambia founded and led by one of our member’s granddaughters. What a special joy! When the principal of Barclay Elementary went to China to teach educators several years ago, he saw RISE meals in their villages. Some of the meals stay here in the US, going to schools on Native American lands where poverty often steals away the potential of our own citizens. I can’t wait to share with you where our meals have gone this year.

If you ever wonder if Jesus is doing miracles today, just remember our Lenape Valley family dancing as they packed meals to feed not 5,000 but 25,000. A miracle indeed! Many thanks to our Mission Team for inspiring us to share in the miracles of Jesus!

With you, amazed at the miracles in our midst,
Anita

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people belonging to God,
that you may declare the praises of Him who brought you out of darkness
into His wonderful light!
I Peter 2:9

When people visit Lenape Valley, I often tell them that the strength of our church is not in the pulpit, but in the pews. St. Peter echoes that understanding in his letter written 2,000 years ago. “You are a royal priesthood.” During the Reformation, one of the great theological truths that emerged was the declaration of the priesthood of believers, that God works through His people not just through those who are ‘in power at the top.’ The church is God’s grassroots movement, that empowers the people to be God’s instruments in the world.

That truth has been evident throughout the decade that I have had the privilege to serve at Lenape Valley. The vision, courage, sacrifice, and determination of our people have humbled me. I am the least among you, and so thankful for the opportunity to share with you God’s mission of grace to the world. Using the movie image, we are a ‘band of brothers and sisters’, called by Jesus the Christ. The fellowship known as Lenape Valley Church is Christ-centered, mission-driven, and joyful in the life we share together. When I think back over the years, I see time and time again when we stood strong because we chose to stand together. Our strength has been a blessing not only to us, but also to our neighbors.

I remember when the pandemic hit and the world was swept up in chaos, our Lenape Valley team rallied to create our first live-stream worship on Facebook Live using an iPad. Remembering JR Wolff sitting on top of the communion table with an iPad in his hand filming that day still brings a smile to my face. Each week our technology and style improved as we welcomed people into the presence of God in worship. When other churches closed their doors, we kept ours open so that people could find support during the week. Our mission to our hurting neighbors grew exponentially as you dropped groceries at the door of the church for the Barclay outreach and gave generously to our Deacons’ Fund. Some even signed over their stimulus checks to help feed our hungry neighbors. I am so thankful for staff and volunteers who led with strength through those challenging months. I am so grateful for a faith community who chose to be light in that darkness! We stand strong when we stand together.

Last summer, just a week before our Belize mission trip, our Director of Youth Ministry quit. He walked out the door with all the planning documents- the daily devotional, the evening meeting plans, the room assignments, the work details. That could have been a crisis, leaving our team of over 40 people without a plan for our trip. But instead, our leadership stepped up to lead parts of the trip, working seamlessly with each other to provide a strong way forward. The end result: a peaceful, effective, even joyful mission experience for our whole team. We stand strong when we stand together.

Last summer, when I landed in the hospital in Seattle in serious condition, we were just one month from the launch of our fall program. Fall at Lenape Valley is a fast-paced, mission-driven experience, with many moving parts. I wondered: how could we be ready for all that was coming if I took the full month of August off to heal? But then I remembered that the strength of our church is not in the pulpit but in the pews. One by one, our leaders stepped up to bring vision and direction to our ministry. Our worship staff created worship and a fall concert that engaged the full gifts of our music ministry to inspire us to service. Our leaders created a 2025 Church Has Left the Building that was the most comprehensive mission outreach in the history of LVC. 30 Projects… 340 volunteers… 1154 volunteer hours… $20,000+ in donations and goods… Food for those in need, music for a nursing home, homemade meals for homebound, construction at Cornerstone, painting at Urban Promise, blankets for babies, farming to feed the hungry, medical supplies and a medical team to Mosaic in South Africa, Christmas boxes to children in 3 rd world countries, college care packages sent with love… and the list goes on… We stand strong when we stand together.

I hope we remember that truth as we move into this transition time. On Sunday, I announced that I will retire at the end of the summer. Our Nominating Team is ready to form a Pastor Nominating Committee to search for Lenape Valley’s next pastor. What an exciting time! But also, a time with many questions and concerns. So, today, God reminds us of the moment when the people of God stood on the edge of the Promised Land. Moses has just told them that he will not be the one to lead them in this next step- the mantle of leadership will fall to Joshua. God tells the people: “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid… for the Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8) That word comes to us today. Our God has a plan and a purpose. God has already gone before us into this transition. We just need to follow, trusting that God has already found the next pastor. But even more, we need to remember that the strength of this church is in our pews, and they will be here for years to come! Lenape Valley, you stand strong when you stand together.

With you, as we pack 25,000 meals on Sunday! Let’s stand strong together!
Anita

I can’t unsee it… I wish I could, but the scene is seared into the synapses of my brain. Angry voices… a struggle… shots… and then a still body. It all happened so fast. When fear and anger mix, rational thought often takes a back seat to instinct. And now, a nation sits in the comfy seat like armchair quarterbacks, scrutinizing each image, each video, each fact that emerges, to justify or to condemn.

It’s easy to villainize, though we do not agree on who the villain is in that scene. Have we heard the story and seen the clips from Fox News or CNBC? They report on the same event, yet the view of that moment is so different. Everyone is pointing a finger and assessing blame, but no one is taking responsibility.

It’s easy to villainize, but it is harder to see the humanity of the man who lost his life and the one who took it. Again, we take sides. One side remembers a man who served as an ER nurse, a son, a friend, one who tried to help another up after being pushed to the ground. The growing memorial testifies to the value of his life, and the grief in his loss. The other side supports a man who was serving in harm’s way, just trying to do his duty. His life will never be the same after that moment. Taking a life is an act, even if justified, that leaves the shooter forever changed. Both men had a life and a family before that moment. Both men had hopes and dreams. God’s Word in the book of Genesis teaches us that both were created in the image of God, thus both men are precious to their Creator. Yet, in that moment, humanity was forgotten in the flurry of arms and legs.

Our war of words has now become an actual war on the streets of our cities. In war, it is easy to demonize the enemy, to forget their humanity, to blind ourselves to the image of God woven into their being. In war, it is easy to justify our actions and condemn our enemy’s. In war, we all begin to look more like the Evil One, and less like the Savior. We rationalize that the ends justify the means. But Jesus taught that the means must be as godly as the ends we seek. To the Christians in Rome, enduring the persecution of Caesar, Paul writes: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil… Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17, 21) Yet, while we know that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the ultimate triumph of good over evil, we still wonder if good has a chance in our world these days.

Watching from the sidelines leaves us feeling angry, helpless, even hopeless. How did we get here, citizen against citizen, anger over reason? Here in the Philadelphia region, we watch these scenes in horror, but also in fear that what we see from afar will come to our doorstep. The mayor of our city is trying to walk a fine line so as not to raise the ire of the powers-that-be. But it seems like just a matter of time before Philadelphia will be in the crosshairs. Are we doomed to be mere victims of a society on fire?

In this moment, we need to remember God’s Word to the people of ancient Israel. It is a word to people who had already been conquered by their enemies. They had lost their home and their sense of peace and security. They yearned to rebuild, so that their children would know peace. People on both sides of this modern struggle yearn for peace in our nation. But first, the people of God are told that they must become peace-makers where they are. Before they can rebuild, they must live as God’s instruments of grace in a broken world. Isaiah declares the Word of the Lord: 

If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Isaiah 58:9-12

Jesus called peace-makers the children of God. We may not be able to bring peace on the streets of Minneapolis, but we can bring peace to our little place in the world- a kind word at the kitchen table, dry goods brought to church for our hungry neighbors, a donation to the Deacon’s Fund, an email that brokers understanding at work, a card to one who is lonely, a vote for those who stand for peace and justice. Imagine if the people of God respond to the God’s call to bring grace into our daily interactions.

May we surprise our world with grace today!

With you as the mission of Jesus Christ to the world God so loves,
Anita 

I was almost 5 years old… too young to understand the vagaries of social interaction. Events were happening in my nation that as a little girl I would miss. My focus was on hopscotch and barbie dolls and good books read by my devoted mother. But the events happening in those days would change the nation I call home and shape how I see my neighbors. I lived in Virginia at the time, just on the northern edge of the south. But since my family moved in military circles, we were somewhat shielded from the racism that defined southern relationships. On base, we were just Navy families, all of us trying to navigate the deployments and transfers that challenged even the best of family ties. Race did not define, rank did. My father made sure that race did not interfere with the progression of rank. At Chapel, we were all just kids, singing in choir, and learning Bible stories. Again, race differences had no place in that setting.

But the world around us was on fire, especially in the south. On March 7, 1965, while I was probably playing an innocent game of hide-and-seek with friends, brave people marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They were on their way from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to protest for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The stage was set for confrontation. Even the name of the bridgenamed for a Confederate general and KKK leaderpointed to the potential for confrontation. As the people crossed the bridge, they sang hymns. Then State troopers moved in with billy clubs, tear gas, and cattle prods. US Representative John Lewis was there that day. Representative Lewis faithfully served the people of Georgia for over three decades. That day, he called for the people to kneel in prayer. Across the bridge the marchers kneeled, bowed, without effort to resist the troopers. As the news media watched and filmed, marchers were gassed, beaten and dragged off the bridge. The scenes from the bridge that splashed across the evening news broke the heart of a nation and left my mom weeping. Two days later, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would lead marchers to the edge of the bridge only to be turned back by State troopers. Two weeks later, under federal protection, Dr. King would lead over 3,000 marchers over that bridge and on to Montgomery to speak for equal voting rights.

Those events just before my 5th birthday would open the eyes of a nation to what hate looks like. Could our national leaders remain indifferent to the call for civil rights in the face of such inhumane brutality? The Voting Rights Act passed in August of that same year. But there was still so much to be done. I remember a teacher I had in 6th grade in a Virginia school, who chastised me for sitting at the black kid’s table at lunch. “You don’t want to be friends with ‘those kind,’ because no one will be friends with you.” She was a racist, but she wasn’t wrong. There were many kids who kept their distance from me because I was friends with ‘their kind.’ I was always so grateful when the Navy saw fit to move us north or west, where racism was not so prominent. But to be honest, even in Pennsylvania, now decades later, racism is a quiet, insidious reality that touches our lives and shapes our perspective.

That is why I have always been thankful for President Ronald Reagon’s bold signing of the 1983 law that declared Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday a federal holiday. That third Monday in January is not a memorial to a man, brilliant though he was. It is not a testament to a bold, faithful, courageous leader, who gave his life for the cause of civil rights. That day is about a movement to work toward an open and free society, where every person is valued, where we live into our national pledge to create a nation “with liberty and justice for all.” That day is about a dream, a God-given dream, that “one day, our children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” (MLK) We need this federal holiday as a standing reminder that there is still so much work to be done to realize that dream. I will leave you with a few Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes to consider: 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal.”
“Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.”
“We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
“Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase.”

I was born a child of the 60’s, an era when people not only demanded change, they expected that change was possible. This federal holiday reminds our nation that we have only just begun to realize the dream. May we as God’s people rededicate ourselves to shaping a world where every person is valued as one ‘created in the image of God.’

With you, remembering the call,
Anita

Fall 2025 began with such promise. The Eagles were the defending Super Bowl Champs, their team stocked with returning veterans and high draft picks. The talent was practically oozing onto the field. Many said that they were the team to beat. And my beloved Penn State opened their season with a line-up of returning seniors, who had deferred their opportunity to be drafted last year in order to play together for the national title this year. Penn State was packed with talent and experience. They were ready! And the pundits agreed, ranking PSU #2 at the beginning of the season.

Let the games begin! But when they did, both the Eagles and Penn State struggled. When the Eagles won it was barely worth celebrating because the play was messy and disjointed. And Penn State found even UCLA to be too much of a challenge. Where did my teams go wrong? For the next few months, armchair quarterbacks will offer their analysis of the collapse of these two teams. Was it the coaching? Did the team lose their shared sense of direction? Was it injuries, age, exhaustion? Both teams had lots of talent, but that potential just never seemed to come together.

Then I look at Indiana. This should not have been their year. A transfer quarterback from Cal Berkley, new to the team and to their offense. A coach only in his second year, still forming the culture of his team. Put side by side at the beginning of the season, Penn State looked like the goliath in the room, with Indiana ranked #20 in the AP preseason poll. I love an underdog story, unless that underdog beats my Nittany Lions. On November 8, Indiana bested PSU at Beaver Stadium for their first ever victory in Happy Valley. Painful! I used to like watching football- it was my escape from all the challenges of life. But this fall, watching caused my stomach to clench and my mind to think rather unkind thoughts. Watching the rise and fall of my teams has made me wonder what makes a successful team. Certainly, talent is necessary… good coaching… creative strategy… hard work… the list could go on. But I think there is another element that Terry Smith and Fernando Mendoza have discovered. If those names are not familiar to you, let me introduce them.

Terry Smith is a Penn State alum. He played wide receiver for the Nittany Lions from 1987-1991 and then was drafted by the Washington Redskins for a very short NFL career. He went on to play in the Canadian league and finally Arean football, before moving on to coaching. In 2014, Smith was hired by Penn State as a cornerbacks coach, rising the next year to assistant head coach. When James Franklin was fired in October, Smith was named the interim head coach. We soon discovered that Smith was a man of faith, a prayerful man, a man whose integrity was without question. And his love for his players, and their love for him played out at their last home game with the team leading the stadium in a chant- Hire Terry… Hire Terry. It was that shared love and faith, that inspired the team to play and play hard at the Pin Stripe Bowl. There is no glory to be found in playing in that bowl game. They played for Terry, the coach who loved them when they were down, and prayed for them to find their way back up.

Fernando Mendoza is a Miami native, who studied at Cal Berkley, earning his business degree in three years while playing football. With one year left of eligibility, Mendoza transferred to Indiana where his younger brother was already on the team. Before his first practice, Mendoza asked for the roster of players and their pictures, so that when he came to that first practice, he could call each player by name. All the while he was working on an MBA. One win after another put Mendoza in front of the press. They wanted to understand how this team kept on winning. Each time, he gave glory to God, and then all the credit to his teammates and coaches. When he received the Heissman Trophy, again he gave glory to God and then thanked his mom. What’s not to love about this guy? He’s a great athlete, but even more he is a caring and faithful man. You can see Jesus’ call to Love God and Love Neighbor playing out in how he lives his life.

In a world that honors power, and motivates with hate, Smith and Mendoza are a refreshing oasis of hope. Their example of faith and love should move and shape whatever team we are on- our workplace, our sports team, our scouting troop, our vocal ensemble, our church. I saw that kind of teamwork on Saturday, when Christmas had to be put in the attic at LVC. Faith Frank, our building manager set the tone with her servant leadership. She prepared for the clean-up with tree bags positioned and boxes at the ready to receive all the decorations. The call went out for a team to gather, and they did. Many hands make light work. In an hour, all that beauty was packed safely away for next year. There was joy in the house of the Lord. I love our Lenape Valley team!

February at Lenape Valley offers many opportunities to join the team! February 1st Annual Congregational Meeting that I like to call the Family Huddle- where we will reflect on the past year and look to where God is calling us to go. Stay after worship and share in the ‘huddle’. February 8th- 25,000 Meals- we definitely need the whole team for that mission event! February 21st- the Chili Cook-Off- whether you are competing or just tasting, it is an evening of team building that is worth your time. Then on Friday, February 27th we have a double-header- the IF Women’s Conference simulcast in our sanctuary and Family Movie Night in Fellowship Hall. Ladies, feel free to do both that night!

With you, celebrating a team founded on faith and love,
Anita

Behold I am making all things new
Rev 21:5

New...

New... Are you ready for NEW? I have to admit, I am a creature of habit. I like my
patterns, my places, my people. I don’t seek change as a matter of course, but only out of
necessity. And even then, like many of you, the new often reverts back to the old and I find
myself right where I started. Perhaps I have just gotten used to my broken, old self, and I am not sure what the new me might look like.

But New is the promise... Behold, I am making all things new...

New... I can think of a few people who could use a little newness in their lives. They
would be a whole lot easier to live with if they were new. But then again, perhaps I would be a whole lot easier to live with if I allowed God to work some new in me.

New... I think most of us would love to see new happen in our world today. But that
seems like an impossible dream. Wars threatening every continent except Antarctica...
poverty stripping our children of their potential, and leaving our seniors at risk... violence in our city streets... division in our nation’s leadership... a national debt that will cripple our grandchildren... weather patterns that grow increasingly intense... hate speech that finds
listening ears... My mother used to have a saying: “going to hell in a hand basket.” As a child I didn’t understand what that meant. But now, as I look around me, I wonder if her saying fits. It doesn’t matter your political persuasion, I think we all agree that the world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket. Is new possible in the midst of all this brokenness?

But New is the promise... Behold, I am making all things new...

New... During the time of the Babylonian exile, the people of God yearned for home.
They cried out, “How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” (Ps. 137) Into their broken dreams, God speaks a word of hope through the prophet Isaiah.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19

Bit by bit, God made a way through the wilderness to bring the people home, to rebuild the Temple and the city walls, to give them a hope and a future. But, sometimes in the midst of the brokenness it is hard to notice those little bits that add up to a beautiful new thing. That’s why God asks: “I am doing a new thing... do you not perceive it?” The prophet Zechariah called out those who struggled to see God’s hand in the little bits- those who despised the day of small things. (Zechariah 4:10) They only rejoiced when they saw the capstone placed on the completed Temple. How many little miracles they missed along the way! I wonder if we are missing the bits... the small things... while we yearn for the completed miracle.

New... The new star word for Lenape Valley-2026 is Fulfillment. When it comes to the
promises of God, we can trust in their fulfillment. So, when God says, “I am making all things new” we ought to be looking for evidence of miracles all around us. The birth of a child... a sweet 6-year-old reciting Luke’s Christmas story complete with hand motions... a teen choir declaring: Joy to the World- Unspeakable Joy... the wisdom of our super agers... a church united against all odds... the abundant generosity of our faith community to bless 100+ families... one miracle after another. With you, I still yearn for the big changes, but today, I commit to celebrating the small things God is doing every day!

New... perhaps there are some small things God needs to do in me this year to work His new in me. Is it possible that He has a few small things in mind for you? May this year be a year when we celebrate Fulfillment... one little bit at a time.

With you sharing in God’s NEW,
Anita


If you want your own Star Word... pick one up at church... or spin for your word with this
link:

The Christmas season is rich with stories of reindeer and misfit toys, of a well-meaning banker rescued by an angel looking to earn his wings, of friends praying for snow to save their hero from bankruptcy, of families looking for the best Christmas ever, and Santa trying to stay out of jail long enough to be able to do his Christmas run. I love all those stories, but of course the Gospel story surpasses them all, because while those stories hint at the truth, the Gospel story declares the Savior of the world has come. That is the greatest story ever told! But I must admit, I still have a favorite among the collection of fictional Christmas tales that has long held my heart. If you have not read Henry van Dyke’s classic- The Other Wiseman, I highly recommend it for your new year’s reading list. Don’t wait until next Christmas to enjoy this tale, for you will find it moving and challenging, and it may even shape how you enter 2026.

The Other Wiseman is an imaginative expansion of the Biblical account of the magi
recorded in Matthew’s gospel. Van Dyke begins his tale with these words:
You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East, and how they
travelled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem.
But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man,
who also saw the star in its rising,
and set out to follow it, yet did not arrive with his brethren
in the presence of the young child Jesus?

Artaban had joined the other magi in witnessing the great light in the night sky that declared the birth of a great king, perhaps the King of kings, in the tiny, insignificant country of Israel. These wisemen were compelled to go and offer tribute to this king. So, they made plans for the journey across the desert and committed to one another to share the quest. Unfortunately, Artaban was delayed in leaving, so he told his fellow adventurers that he would meet them in the capital city where they were going to buy the supplies for the trip.

On the way to catch up with the caravan, Artaban encountered a man, collapsed by the roadside, dying. Like all magi, Artaban was trained in the medicinal arts, so he stopped to care for the man, giving him aid and staying with him until he was stable. Those days of mercy were costly. When Artaban finally arrived in the capital city, he heard that the caravan had already left for their journey across the desert. They could wait no longer, so Artaban will now have to journey alone. Artaban had purchased three gems to bring as tribute to the king- a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl of great price. Now he will need to sell the sapphire to pay for the supplies he will need to travel across the desert. He travelled as fast as his horse could endure, but travelling alone is harder than travelling in a caravan. By the time Artaban arrives in Bethlehem to pay tribute to the king, the family has fled, and the streets of the town are full of Roman soldiers with swords drawn.

A woman sees Artaban and pulls him into her home. In tears, she pleads with him to save her baby boy from the soldiers. Before Artaban knows what is happening, a captain of the guard pounds on the door demanding entrée. The woman huddles with her child in the corner, holding her breath, hoping her child will stay quiet. But just as Artaban opens the door, the baby whimpers. The soldier presses forward to find the child, but Artaban stands as a human shield preventing his entry into the home. Then he reaches into the fold of his garment and pulls out the ruby, meant for the king. He places it in the captain’s hand and says: “There is no child here.” The captain steps back into the street and calls out to his men, “There is no child in this home.” The soldiers move on. The child is saved, but now two of Artaban’s gifts have been spent.

Artaban hears tale that the family has gone to Egypt, so he goes there to search for the child. For years, he travels from country to country, performing acts of mercy as he searches for the king. Years later, he returns to Israel’s capital city when he hears stories of a king welcomed with palms and hosannas. Maybe, finally, he will meet the King and be able to offer his last gift, a perfect, translucent pearl, still held securely in the fold of his garment. But as he walks through the city of Jerusalem, a young girl grabs hold of the folds of his garment, begging for mercy. “The soldiers will take me and sell me into slavery. It will be a life worse than death.” When the soldiers come, Artaban takes the final gift from his breast pocket and offers it to the captain as ransom for her life. Just as the soldiers move on, an earthquake shakes the foundations of Jerusalem, dislodging a tile from the roof above. The tile strikes Artaban in the head, leaving him near death. Cradled in the young girl’s arms, his lips begin to move as if speaking to someone. “When did I see you hungry… thirsty… homeless?” Then a peaceful smile came across his face. “Oh…” Van Dyke concludes his tale with the line: “His journey was ended. His treasures accepted. The other Wise Man had found the King.”

I hope my quick rendition of this tale just whets your appetite to read the rich prose of Henry van Dyke’s classic. But even more, I hope that this story inspires your gift this year. What will you bring to honor the King of kings?

With you seeking to bring a gift that honors the King,
Anita

They say that three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and December performances of Handel’s Messiah. The last in that list is a Christmas addition to lighten the sentiment. But it also seems to be true. The world’s most famous oratorio appears every holiday season, with hundreds if not thousands of productions by professional and amateur groups around the world. Messiah has been going strong for 275 years and remains one of the most performed works in the classical repertoire. Lenape Valley Church hosted one such ‘sing-along’ on Saturday night with an orchestra and featured vocalists to lead a packed sanctuary of community members in song. When they stood for the Halleluia Chorus it raised the roof!

Handel’s Messiah is based on sacred texts from the Old and New Testaments to declare the identity of the One we call the Messiah. Handel wrote the text and score at a low point in his composing career, after two of his Italian operas failed to gain an audience. Near poverty, he dedicated himself to this new project, writing the composition in just 24 days. Handel chose to compose his new work in English rather than the traditional German or Italian, thus appealing to the middle class of the British Isles and then finding popularity in America. The story is told that King George II attended the debut performance of the Messiah in 1743. After nearly two and a half hours of sweeping orchestration, the final movement began. As the strains of the Halleluia Chorus filled the concert hall, the king rose from his seat, enthralled by the beauty of the music. In some renditions of the story, King George stood to honor the King of kings. Then, not wanting to offend the king, the audience stood… or so the story goes. Some historians would say that this story is just a myth, but it is a rather compelling myth, as today most audiences stand at the singing of the Halleluia Chorus. But one has to wonder, are they standing to honor the King of kings, or the story of an English king, or just out of tradition to honor an extraordinary composition?

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of attending the North Penn High School winter concert, featuring their 240-member chorus, along with their orchestra and symphonic orchestra. North Penn High School has one of the strongest music and drama programs in the state, thus the performance was stunning in its quality. When the chorus and symphonic orchestra combined for the final piece, over 400 student musicians added to the music that filled the auditorium. By tradition, North Penn High School concludes their winter concert with the Halleluia Chorus. Before the music began, an invitation went out to the audience, that any alumni or community member who wanted to share in singing that work was welcome to come forward. Many in the audience were ready for the invitation that comes every year. They moved into their respective sections- soprano, alto, tenor, bass. Then the music began with the powerful first word- Halleluia. It sent chills up my spine. Again, and again the declaration- Halleluia. In Hebrew, hallelujah means Praise God. I must admit, I was surprised to hear Praise God ringing out with beauty and strength at a public high school concert. But then I began to wonder if the throng of performers were aware of the gravity of their declaration. 

Halleluia…For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdom of this world is become
the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ,
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords.
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
for ever and ever.
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Halleluia!

When our oldest was in college, he sang with Penn State’s gospel choir- Essence of Joy. I remember overhearing the conductor as he prepared his group for a performance. He said to the singers, “You may not believe what we are singing, but this music is going to catch you!” As I watched my granddaughter (my son’s daughter) joyfully singing the lines of the Halleluia Chorus, I began to pray that the text would move and shape her heart, that she would not joy in a beautiful piece of music, but rather in the One declared in those words.

That’s my prayer for our gathering on Wednesday night. When candlelight sets the scene and the strains of Silent Night fill our sanctuary, may those who gather be caught by the truth of the words they sing:

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light…
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth…
Christ the Savior is born

Join me in this prayer: “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) May Wednesday night not just be a heart-warming tradition, but a heart-changing moment that invites all who are gathered into a living, breathing relationship with the Savior of the World.

With you in joyful expectant prayer,
Anita

Advent is a time of waiting… We begin the season of Advent with those words. Waiting… The liturgy of our worship reminds us that we are waiting for the One who has come as a tiny babe to save the world and will come again in glory to redeem His creation. Thus, we know the right theological answer to the question, what are we waiting for? But… in reality, there seems to be a whole lot of other waiting going on in this season. Children waiting for Santa. People waiting for Amazon packages… waiting in that store line that should go quicker than it is… waiting as holiday traffic makes a simple drive too long. There is a whole lot of waiting in this season. In the best of times, waiting is hard, irritating, exhausting. But during the holiday season, we have places to go, people to see, things to do. We don’t have time to wait! Often in this season, we get so caught up in the challenge of waiting, desperately trying to get it all done, that we forget that we are called to wait for the appearing of God.

The other day, I heard a story on K-Love, the Christians radio station in the area. The announcer piqued the interest of her listeners by telling of 6-hour wait. I stayed tuned in because I wanted to know what would be worth waiting in line for 6-hours. The answer- the opening of a new 5-Guys burger joint. Imagine waiting for 6-hours in the cold of winter for a greasy hamburger and fries. Admittedly, I am not a connoisseur of hamburgers, but I cannot imagine any hamburger being good enough to be worth that kind of wait. But think of all the times people are willing to wait… the lines of people waiting on Black Friday to be the first to the great deal that store has to offer… or the people who waited online for hours to get tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. In south Philly at Christmas time, the line for cannoli’s at Isgro’s bakery will wrap around the block, even in the rain. It’s fascinating how long people are willing to wait for their favorite sweet. We seem to be highly motivated to wait when the subject is important enough to us. But are we equally willing to wait for the appearing of God?

About now, you may be thinking… I am waiting… I have been waiting. I pray and wait… and wait… and wait. In our waiting, we wonder, where is God is all that is going on around us? Where is God’s peace? Where is God’s love? Where is the joy we are promised? Where can we find the love we so desperately need? We yearn for peace but instead see an escalation of war in our world. Everyday brings a new story of violence on college campuses and in people’s homes. We are assaulted by the mean-spirited rhetoric in social media from people who ought to have a more tempered tongue. Our bodies are broken, our neighbors are hurting… Where is God in all of this? How long have we been waiting for God’s redemption of a broken world?

Next Sunday, December 21st will be the shortest day of the year. For many of us, the darkness of these days makes everything just a bit more challenging, dare I say, even depressing. But take heart, on December 22nd the day will be longer, albeit just 2 seconds longer. Therein lies the rub. The change, the improvement, the increase of light will be so small that we will not even notice. The next day, a few more seconds, and the next a few more. In time those seconds add up to minutes, and those minutes to hours, and by summer we will have the light we yearn for. But for now, we are impatient. We discount the 2 second increase in light as significant, so we miss the gift that is opening up right before our eyes with each sunrise. I wonder how often we miss what God is doing in our lives and in the world because we are looking for the big answer. What if God is giving us 2 seconds today? This Christmas we could choose to wait in joyful anticipation for a 2-second God, who is always at work in our lives.

I want to take a moment to celebrate with you some of the ways that God has been working in our midst. Sunday night’s concert and reception was a beautiful moment of worship in the midst of a busy holiday season. Here we are not celebrating a happy holiday, but rather a joyful Christmas! Today, members of our mission and deacon teams are preparing cards to go to our YMCA families with gift cards from you. More cards will be prepared for some of our own families and for our Grandfamilies. And still more cards will go to Barclay Elementary to support families in Central Bucks school district. With each card, you are God’s instrument of grace. Your giving to this ministry this year was in excess of $27,000. What a privilege to be part of what God is doing in the world. Perhaps those who receive these gifts will see our 2-second God at work. Do you?

With you, waiting for our 2-second God,
Anita 

Last weekend, we traveled to Maine for a family wedding. (Many thanks to Carol Stern for preaching a thoughtful message about HOPE so that I could enjoy the family gathering.) One has to wonder about the wisdom of planning a wedding in Maine in December, when everyone will have to travel to be at the festivities. But Maine’s weather cooperated, providing an idyllic setting. Snow had fallen just days before, leaving snow-covered fields and dry streets for easy navigation. The venue where the wedding was held was dressed up in twinkle lights, candles and greens. It was magical. Yet, the setting paled when the bride walked down the aisle, radiant, in a flowing white gown edged in lace, with a groom near giddy with joy at the front waiting for his bride to join him.

The friend who married them was articulate, even masterful in her words. This was her 7th friend wedding, so she is well practiced in the art. The poems shared were meaningful expressions of love and commitment. Yet, when the officiant defined the marriage commitment as one that should last “as long as it suits you,” the stage was set for the limitations that bind human love. Think of those times when anger or frustration or perhaps even just the fatigue of life makes commitment seem less ‘suitable.’ If we give up at those points, we miss the long-term potential. If we give up in those moments, we miss the promises that God’s enduring love can offer.

Therein lies what was truly missing in that beautiful wedding ceremony- God. In that exquisitely decorated Christmas wonderland, Jesus was clearly not on the invitation list. He was given no mention, offered no space, His blessing not requested, His grace not expected. This marriage will be built on human love, human effort, human wisdom, human desire. Those of us who have walked the path of marriage for decades know humans often fail. I’m not sure what happened to my niece. She is a thoughtful, caring, even sacrificial young woman. I am so proud of the woman she has become. But after 12 years of Christian school education, and 4 years in a Christian College, she moved to Boston, fell in love, and forgot all about Jesus- the Giver of all good gifts. The total absence of any desire for God’s presence was a shock to me and a great sadness. How many of us have sat through those secular wedding ceremonies and grieved the loss of faith?

The same could be said for our American Christmas experience. The other day I passed a lot where Christmas trees were being sold. The sign- Xmas Trees. Was the placard too small to write out the whole word? Were they just too lazy to write the full title, or is it possible that for the owners of that tree lot this season is truly X-mas? In algebra, X is the unknown, the variable, the quantity to be found. The goal of the math calculation is to solve for X, to know the answer. There is an unstated expectation that X can be found. So, could we hope that the tree lot owners are on a journey to find X- the One who is the King of kings and Lord of lords? That perhaps next year, their sign will read Christmas Trees because they have found the One who is the Way the Truth, the Life.

But the wedding this weekend reminded me that for many the X does not refer to the unknown that needs to be discovered, but rather X indicates that the One who has been celebrated is now crossed off the list. No more Jesus. No more Savior. No more Silent Night. No more Joy to the World. Just trees and twinkle lights, candles and presents. When we drive around to enjoy the Christmas lights, we see more Santas than creche scenes, more reindeer than shepherds and angels. At one home, the abominable snowman towers over a tiny plastic creche scene making one wonder who they think is the Lord of all. Don’t get me wrong, I love all those children’s stories. I still enjoy watching them each year. But in our home, we always made sure that our children understood the difference between fantasy and truth. Even Santa was a part of our children’s Christmas solely because St. Nicolas honored the birth of Jesus by giving gifts. In a world that seeks to X-out Jesus, we need to be sure that everything we do points to HIM!

That is my hope and challenge to all of us this year: that we do not give into the secularization of the season. That we do not allow in our conversations and our celebrations the X-ing Out of Jesus. Sunday night, we will enjoy a Christmas Concert at Lenape Valley that will truly be about Christmas. Jesus will be the honored guest. His presence celebrated. His blessing sought. His praise raised to the rafters. Bring a friend, a family member, a neighbor, perhaps even your enemy to hear the truth, to meet the One who is the Truth this season. A delicious reception will round out this family-friendly evening when the King of kings and Lord of lords is known and honored. Share the gift!


With you intentionally celebrating Christmas this year,
Anita 

Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, spent Thanksgiving in Turkey. One might find some humor in that choice of location for his first papal trip and its name similarity to the traditional meat of the holiday. But he chose Turkey, not for some fun turn of phrase, but to join patriarchs from the Orthodox Church in Iznik, Turkey on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Together they commemorated the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the document that gathering of Christian leaders created. Often in our fast-paced world, such a nod to history is a quick footnote. In the Philadelphia Inquirer, the article on this trip was buried far from the front page, below the fold. But for Pope Leo and the other religious leaders gathered that day, this nod to history is a reminder to the faithful of Jesus’ prayer for his followers.

To understand the connection between the ruins of Iznik and the Christian church today, we need a quick history lesson. In 306 CE, Constantine became the ruler of the Roman Empire. It took years to settle the civil war that threatened the fabric of that empire. When the dust settled, Constantine was left with the challenge of uniting a diverse realm that spanned across Europe, western Asia, the Middle East and northern Africa. The empire embraced a vast array of cultures, languages and traditions. How to unite the people under one rule?

Constantine made many strategic moves to unite the empire. He redesigned the government, deployed his army strategically around the region, and solidified the currency of the empire. But perhaps his most notable move was his approach to Christianity. In 313 CE, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, making Christianity legal in the empire, thus ending centuries of state-sponsored persecution of believers. He ordered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to be built on the site of the tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem. He commanded his army to be baptized into the Christian faith. [As story goes, he told them to hold their sword arms out of the water, saying, “You belong to Jesus, but your sword arm belongs to me.”] In 325 CE, Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea with Christian leaders from around the empire to draft a creed that would unite the Christian world- the Nicene Creed.

For 1700 years Christians have declared their faith using those ancient words. Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians still use that creed in their worship and their study. The clear declaration of the faith in that creed has survived one church division after the next, proving that the core of our faith is our strength and our source of unity. Jesus prayed for our unity when he sat with the disciples the night before the cross: 

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me
through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me
and I am in you… I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.
Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them
even as you have loved me. (John 20:17-20)

How God must grieve the way His children snipe at each other, choosing division when unity is the call. At Iznik, Pope Leo stood with the patriarchs of the Orthodox church and with other church leaders to declare their commitment to unity over division, founded in the central tenets of our faith.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth…
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God…
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life…
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

May Lenape Valley stand strong as a Christ-centered church, declaring the faith that has come to us across the ages. May we be a place where all can come to meet Jesus and learn to walk with Him.

So glad to be with you on the journey,
Anita

Giving Tuesday
Black Friday… Cyber Monday… Giving Tuesday…

How fascinating that giving comes after a frenzy of spending. In the Bible, we are taught to give before we spend. When we give after spending, we give what we have left over (which nowadays is not very much, especially after a splurge on Christmas gifts). When we give first, we take a step of faith that there will be enough left after giving to cover the essentials. At Lenape Valley this Christmas, we have the opportunity to bless our neighbors. Every gift you give, every penny sacrificed, will go out to our neighbors in need. The Philadelphia Inquirer offered an article on giving in their Business section today- “How to Avoid Charity Scams during this Season of Giving.” I just want to assure you that Lenape Valley’s Christmas Outreach is the real deal. 100% of every donation goes to those in need. No scam, just a mission of grace. Remember, Jesus said, “whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” Have fun buying Jesus his birthday present this year! 

I don’t routinely read the New Yorker. But on Sunday a story from the New Yorker was featured on the news and it piqued my interest. The piece was written by Tatiana Schlossberg, daughter of Caroline Kenney Schlossberg, granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy. Tatiana is the shy member of the Kennedy family who worked quietly behind the scenes. She is a science and climate reporter for the New York Times and has written several books about the environment. She had planned to write a book on the oceans, but that project will never come to fruition because Tatiana is in her last months of life. On May 25, 2024, Tatiana and her husband George welcomed a new baby girl into their family; a perfect complement to their two-year-old son. What joy!… until Tatiana’s bloodwork came back showing a high white blood cell count. The doctors repeated the test and included others, and by the next morning Tatiana was being moved from maternity to oncology, diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Treatment started immediately, leaving no time to enjoy their newborn. Since then, Tatiana and her doctors have been in a battle against a rare mutation of this disease that makes it virtually incurable.

The article chronicles her journey: chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, remission, and then the cancer returned. More chemo and another bone marrow transplant, remission, and then the cancer returned. The doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering tried one trial after the next, each harsh to endure, and ultimately a failure. Now, at 35 years old, she is seeing the last of her days. How hard for a mother to say goodbye to her children. Tatiana writes, “When my doctor told me that he could keep me alive for a year, maybe, my thought was that my kids, whose faces live permanently on the inside of my eyelids, wouldn’t remember me.” The article is heart-wrenching. But interwoven in her prose, Tatiana shares celebrations. She writes, “I have never encountered a group of people who are more competent, more full of grace and empathy, more willing to serve others than nurses.” She is grateful for her doctors who, “scoured every inch of the earth for more treatments.” She celebrates her daughter, with a head full of red curls, who likes to walk around the house in yellow rainboots. She celebrates her family who stepped up to care for the children. And woven throughout the article is a celebration of her husband, who she describes as “a kind, funny, handsome genius.”

Gratitude in the midst of the brokenness of life…

Last week, I sat with a man who was recently diagnosed with dementia. He still drives and participates in family life and church, but he knows what is coming. We talked about next steps and good resources, but I can’t protect this loving couple from the path that lies before them. They love the life they share. It’s good and comfortable. The prospect of losing this joy is hard to face. But in the midst of a hard pastoral visit, he flashed a smile and said, “I am so blessed.” Then he went on to share the blessings… the woman at his side whom he calls his “angel”, his family, his church family. Our time together ended on that high note of gratitude.

Gratitude in the midst of the brokenness of life…

Yesterday, I sat with the oldest member of our faith community. She is 101 years old and still lives independently in her own home. Every year, before Thanksgiving, her family gathers to decorate her home with a collection of 35 Christmas trees, each with their own theme. Every nook and cranny of her home has a tree or a Christmas village. It is a Christmas wonderland! This Thanksgiving, she was to host 25 of her family for a feast made by her oldest grandson. She loves the family gathered. But this year, she will be in the hospital, fighting an infection after surgery. So, the family has gathered from all over the world, not for a feast, but to give back just a little of the love she has poured out for them over the years. Her struggle is hard and the disappointment of missing the joy in her home is real. I was there to help her with those hard realities. But she was more interested in telling me how blessed she is… recounting one blessing after the next.

Gratitude in the midst of the brokenness of life…

I am learning this lesson as I struggle with my own health. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the tests and doctor’s visits and hospital stays. But each time I turn my mind and heart to counting my blessings, my spirit is light. So, today I choose to be grateful. I am grateful for my life partner who is kind and gentle when I am struggling, determined when I want to avoid, patient and long-suffering, and always at my side. God gave me the gift of my husband when I was too young and stupid to know what to look for. I marvel everyday at the gift. I am grateful for my family and the many ways they have rallied for us during this health challenge. Each sweet granddaughter is a healing balm. I am grateful for a hard-working staff, who keep trying to take things off my plate so that I can rest. I am grateful for a faith community, who have swamped my home with Hallmark cards, and spent untold hours in prayer for my healing. I am grateful for the doctors and nurses seeking the right healing path. Most of all I am grateful for our God who is ever-faithful, and always good.

I hope that you will take time this Thanksgiving to give thanks. Count your blessings!

With you, growing a grateful heart,
Anita

What happens when you invest in Lenape Valley Church? We send people away! You may have expected the opposite answer. Shouldn’t we welcome people in? Yes! But at Lenape Valley we also work hard to send our people out into the world where the need is, to be God’s gracious gift to the world. Like a City on a Hill, God calls us to send our light out, finding those who live in darkness, to bring God’s grace and hope to heal a hurting world.

Last spring we sent our Adult Mission Team to the mountains of North Carolina to do housing rehab after a series of floods devastated that area. From painting to flooring to plumbing and electrical repair, this team restored family after family to their homes. Twenty times our Adult Mission Team has moved out in response to a disaster, from New Orleans to Texas to Tennessee and the Carolinas, bringing Christ’s love through hard working hands.

Last summer, 32 youth and adults left Lenape Valley to serve with Bold Hope in Belize. We partnered with the good people of Georgetown and Mya Mopan to build a stage for a community center, a sewage system for a Health Clinic, and an enlarged gathering place for a church. While our construction teams were hard at work, others taught Vacation Bible School in a local school and invited children into a sports ministry. Our medical team traveled into the community to bring basic care and information to people who seldom see a medical professional. Our youth love going out, inviting their friends to share in the adventure. On December 8th, Lenape Valley will host the free Bold Hope Christmas Dinner, where joy of Going will be shared! RSVP by November 30th.

This fall, Lenape Valley Church moved out in the name of Jesus to serve our community. Over 300 of our people- four generations, gave over 1200 hours of service to care for our neighbors. Our Caring for Friends team created meals that will serve 300 homebound residents of our community. We packed almost 200 Christmas boxes for children in 3rd World countries. Gardens were planted at a school in southwest Philadelphia, while others on our team did repair work around the school. Our teams served families facing domestic violence and women rescued from human trafficking. Over two tons of food was delivered to the New Britain food pantry, while others distributed food at the Barclay Farmer’s market, and still others worked on a farm that grows produce to feed the hungry. A team painted in Camden, and another played music for residents at a nursing home. Pets were fed. The unhoused received blankets. Children in foster care will celebrate happy birthdays because our church answers the call to GO. Many lives were touched this fall in the name of Jesus because Lenape Valley is intent on sending people away!

I love the stories you tell of how God is using you in your workplace, and in your volunteer commitments. Our people have gone out in mission to Alaska and Honduras, Haiti, Camden and southwest Philadelphia. Last week, Doylestown Hospital celebrated two of our members who answer the call to Go again and again. At 95 and 96, Midge and Lloyd Vansant have together given an incredible 64 years of volunteer service at the hospital. Lloyd pushes patients through the halls of the hospital, while Midge supports families waiting for their loved ones undergoing a procedure. They are among many of our people who serve at the hospital. We have people who serve with WorthWhileWear, Young Life, Cornerstone, Peter Powerhouse and Bucks County Prison… and the list goes on and on. What a joy to watch you go out on the mission field in the name of Jesus. A healthy church is a sending church!

You share in each of these gracious efforts every time you invest in the mission of Lenape Valley Church. At LVC we grow up in the faith, so that we can serve in the world. We need a strong church home to be a sending church.

On Sunday, November 23rd, you will have an opportunity to invest in the mission and ministry of Lenape Valley Church for 2026. We are the mission of Jesus Christ to the world God so loves. Share in the opportunity of a lifetime- help send LVC out!

With you on the mission field,
Anita

Imagine the rug pullout out from under you. How many of us have experienced that moment when the things we trust become like shifting sand? In those times when our health, relationships, and finances begin to quake beneath our feet, we look for a solid place to stand. Every night we see on the news images of those who are struggling to find the basic necessities of life. A quick glance around our community reveals many who live with food insecurity and wonder if they will be able to keep a roof over their children’s heads. Quietly and confidentially caregivers at Lenape Valley Church offer that solid ground. When you invest in Lenape Valley Church you make these caregiving ministries possible… a bill paid… a visit made… flowers and meals delivered… Christmas gift cards provided… food pantries filled… a ride offered. The only requirement for help is need. At Lenape Valley, we remember Jesus’ words- “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” Again and again our faith community answers Jesus’ call to care for “the least of these” because you invest in LVC!

Imagine raising children in today’s volatile society. The challenges and temptations that tug at our children and teens are in a league beyond what most of us remember from our childhood. Parents are desperate for resources to help them navigate these challenging waters. Many do not know the One who is our safe-haven in the storm. But at Lenape Valley, we know where hope can be found. We have met the Savior who can heal. We walk with the Good Shepherd who makes a way even through the valleys of life. Our neighbors need to meet the One we know. When you invest in Lenape Valley Church, we can create a safe-haven for children, teens and their families. We can carry the good news of Jesus out to where the people are, bringing hope to our neighbors.

Imagine a world without music… Lenape Valley’s rich music ministry invites us into their “joyful noise” every week. From voices lifted in song, to brass and bells, to organ, piano, keyboard and drums, the gifts of our faith community offer us a rich worship experience. Augustine once said, “Singing is like praying twice.” Oh, the sweet prayers that rise up each week from Lenape Valley Church! But imagine if that sweet gift were lost. Several years ago, New Seasons Care Community lost their music director, and with her their chorus. The halls had become quiet. The gift of music that lightens the heart was silenced. But on Saturday, October 25th the brass of LVC brought music back to those halls. What a joy to see the people tapping their feet and clapping their hands to the great hymns of the church! And on Sunday, November 30th – the first Sunday of Advent- our choir and all who want to join them will bring the first songs of Christmas for the residents of New Seasons to enjoy. Imagine, that joyful sing-a-long… all because you invest in LVC.

On Sunday, November 23rd you will have the opportunity to invest in the mission and ministry of Lenape Valley Church for 2026. May we be a City on a Hill that offers safe-haven and shines a hopeful light into the darkness.

With you in the mission,
Anita

PS… Please stay after worship for a Town Hall Meeting this Sunday, November 16th to hear more about the Strategic Plan that God has formed through the voice of our faith community. Come… learn… share your ideas… ask your questions… find your part in God’s plan for Lenape Valley Church.

A movie will be provided for children during this meeting.

“Safe!” is what a runner hopes to hear from the umpire when he reaches the bag in baseball. “Safe!” is what children call out when they reach home base in the game of Tag. “Safe” is what we all need to feel at the end of a long, hard day out in the world. “Safe space” is what Lenape Valley Church offers to young and old throughout the week.

On Sunday mornings, our children gather from infant through elementary school to explore the promises of God. Music, crafts, games, and Bible stories all prepare young hearts and minds to welcome Jesus into their lives. After worship, our teens gather for Brunch Bunch where the realities of life are explored through a relationship with Jesus. This past Sunday, our teens needed to talk about the car accident that happened on Bristol Rd. after the CB West High School football game. Three teens died in that accident. A fourth teen is still in critical condition. None of our youth know those boys, but the tragedy of that accident left a stark reminder of the consequences of one decision. We listened as our teens struggled, we talked about the challenging gift of free will, and we wondered together- where is God in all this? Then we gathered in a prayer circle to lift up the families of those boys for the healing and hope that only God can bring. Sunday, our youth needed “safe space” to consider together the hard realities of life. As they ate bagels and berries, they found that safe-haven in the basement of our church.

On Monday nights, our Genesis group gathers to consider the truths of the faith. Again “safe space” is essential for our students to be able to challenge and question what they have been taught, allowing them to claim the faith as their own. As they gather in the youth room, the Grandfamilies meet upstairs- grandparents taking on the daunting task of raising their grandchildren. Imagine reaching retirement only to find yourself back in the saddle, parenting children who have seen too much of the brokenness of this world. As the grandparents talk, the grandchildren play with children who understand. Those families need “safe space” in the midst of chaos.

Throughout the week, our halls are filled with the sounds of little ones from our community who come for preschool education. Many of the children are on scholarship, so that no child is left behind. Our neighbors’ children play, sing and learn daily in our “safe space.” When the rain falls, the children play in Fellowship Hall. When the storms of life hit, Lenape Valley responds with grace. And when their families struggle to put food on the table, your generosity through the Deacon’s Fund offers them a lifeline.

Lest we think only children and teens need a “safe space”, even those of us who are young-at-heart need the refuge that a good church home can offer. Worship that refreshes the soul. Coffee hour that strengthens the family bond. Bible study that deepens the faith. A kind word. A welcoming smile. A quiet prayer. A reminder of God’s love. You help create “safe space” every time you invest in the ministry of Lenape Valley. Imagine how much our neighbors need the gift we enjoy every week!

In 2026, may we be a City on a Hill, that offers “safe space” to more children-of-all-ages in our community! On Sunday, November 23rd you will have the opportunity to invest in the mission and ministry of Lenape Valley Church for 2026. Share in the opportunity of a lifetime- help create “safe space”!

With you in the mission,
Anita

PS… Mark your calendar for a Town Hall Meeting after worship on Sunday, November 16th to hear more about the Strategic Plan that God has formed through the voice of our faith community. Come… learn… share your ideas… ask your questions… find your part in God’s plan for Lenape Valley Church.

On Saturday, Lenape Valley celebrated the life of one of our saints, William A. Burnett. Sixty-three years ago, Bill and his wife Jan stood in the basement of the VFW hall to sign the founding charter of a church to be known as Lenape Valley Presbyterian Church. Their first daughter, Deb, was baptized in the bar of the VFW with a pool table as the alter. The 100 people who signed the charter that day had a vision of creating a faith community to serve a growing neighborhood, to call people to faith, to teach the next generation the good news of Jesus, and to be a grace-full presence in the Chalfont- New Britain area. Their first pastor was a retired circus performer who taught the faith through stories from a trapeze. Bill said those early days were exciting as they worked together to grow a fledgling church to reach their neighbors in the name of Jesus.

Over the years, Bill became a quiet, steady standard-bearer. He sang in the church choir and helped with decorating the church for special seasons. He played on the church softball team and served as a Deacon. When Bill’s young wife died of cancer, the church rallied around a widower with three young children. Bill told of the abundance of food given by a loving faith community as they all grieved the loss of Jan together. When John and Mel Wolff played meddling match-makers, a new family was formed with Bill and Barb each bringing 3 children to their ‘Brady Bunch’ mix. Bill was a successful builder, creating new spaces around the Chalfont area. But his most important building project was the addition to his own house to make room for his new wife, her three children, and a cat. After 47 years together, those six children blend so well that I found it hard to tell whose was whose.

At Bill’s Celebration of Life service, Jesus’ parable of the Wise and Foolish Builder was told. Remember, one built his house on a rock, the other built his house on sand. When the storms came, the house on the rock stood firm while the house on the sand was lost in the waves. The stories of Bill’s life show the mark of a house build on “Christ, the solid Rock”. That house stood through one storm after the next. His witness to the One who is our Rock touched four generations in his family. That witness of faith is woven into the fabric of Lenape Valley, reminding us to stay Christ-centered, trusting the Rock to keep us steady in any storm.

Sunday, Lenape Valley will gather to celebrate All Saints Day. We will speak the names of those who have gone before us into the Church Triumphant this year. We will ring a bell to honor their witness in our midst. Some have been bold, visionary leaders. Others have touched our lives in quiet, loving ways. Each one, created in the image of God. Each one, precious and beloved even in their flawed humanity that marks each of us. I treasure our All-Saints’ tradition, that calls us to pause and remember the legacy passed on to us. May we carry that legacy well, so that one day our Lord will greet us with the word: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

With you, trusting the solid Rock on which we stand,
Anita

There has been much talk of peace… promises of peace… peacekeeping missions… talk of peace prizes… and recently the declaration that peace has been achieved after 3000 years in the most embattle region of the world. My newspaper celebrated peace with a picture on the front page above the fold of signatories to a document that the framers claimed would secure peace. But those documents are only as good as the efforts that proceed from that photo op. The first steps looked promising. We celebrated as 20 families were reunited with their loved ones after 738 days of captivity. But the subsequent scenes of guns brandished and shots fired, of missiles launched and little ones yet again caught in the crossfire… those scenes prove that bold declarations of peace mean little when war continues to be the plan of the day.

When my children were young, there were times when their disagreements were rather loud and even physical, requiring the intervention of a mother’s peacemaking efforts. Often my response to those moments was tainted by the crush of emotions in the room. Thus, my effort to calm the conflict in my home was often a loud cry: “PEACE!” Imagine my arms gesticulating and my face contorted in anger rather than radiating a mother’s love. Somehow my contribution to that moment did nothing to bring peace. The best I could expect was a cessation of hostilities long enough for the parties to go to their respective corners. Navigating healing would take an act of diplomacy that I often lacked in the heat of the moment. Over the years our children have found a peaceable friendship that allows them to navigate their many differences. But in their youthful exuberance, peace was sometimes hard to find.

We all know the truth, that peace is hard to find and even harder to maintain. How can we expect people in the Middle East, whose identity has been defined for thousands of years by the hate of the other, to treat each other peaceably when our own lawmakers cannot work together for the common good? Instead, our elected officials are engaged in a game of brinkmanship. They are like children playing chicken, waiting for the other to blink. All-thewhile the American public is caught in their crossfire of words that leave many without a paycheck today. I wonder how our leaders cash their own paychecks in good conscience while so many struggle during the government shutdown.

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom - וםֹ ֔ל ָׁש. Shalom conveys a deeper sense of wellbeing than just the absence of conflict. Shalom encompasses tranquility, prosperity, security, and health. Shalom describes a state of wholeness. When the people of Judah lived in exile in Babylon, God sent them a letter through the prophet Jeremiah. “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you in exile. Pray to the Lord for the city, because if the city prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7) God’s letter to the exiles exhorts them to care about their captors, to pray for their captors, to even seek the well-being of their captors. God’s letter demonstrates that our peace is intricately tied to the peace of others, our well-being reliant on the well-being of even our enemies. I wish our law makers would learn that lesson. Certainly, those who are working on peace in the Middle East need to consider that lesson. The security and wholeness on one side of the border relies on the security and wholeness on the other side of the border. Jesus commanded, “Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.” Only then will we know shalom.

How many of us yearn for peace in our homes, in our neighborhood and workplace? How many of us feel the wear and tear as our nation wars with itself? We need peace, not just the cessation of hostility, but the wholeness that allows all to live together in harmony. If you are waiting for someone to get the job done, I do not have a peacemaker to recommend among our leaders. They have all chosen a side and their own political ambitions rather than the common good. So, don’t wait for someone else to do the work. Jesus is calling His people to be peacemakers. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.” Be among those who reflect God’s glory in your actions and words. Be among those who are God’s instruments of peace in this world. “Seek peace” even for your enemies, that together we might live in harmony.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 7:24-26

With you, learning the way of peace,
Anita

Each week, I write a Tuesday letter trying to make sense of the world in which we live. My hope is that we can learn to see the world through the lens of Scripture, to see the world as God sees, and to find our place in God’s plan. This week, I tried to find a wise word to offer about the celebration and grief in the Holy Land- the joy of hostages home with their families, and the hopelessness of Palestinians returning to the rubble that once was home. The reality in that region is complex. To comment about the current situation feels like walking in a mine field. I need time and certainly more prayer to hear through the din of voices the voice of our good and gracious God.

Next, I tried to make sense of the total collapse of all of my favorite sports teams. What happened to the beginning of fall with so much promise? We dared to dream of another Super Bowl run, another shot at the World Series, and those of us who follow Penn State imagined vying for the national championship. Week one, week two, week three just spurred our hope into a frenzy, only to see those hopes crash and burn. Now, one coach is on the unemployment line, and the others are frantically trying to regroup. I am sure there is a lesson in all of this, but for now, that wise word is alluding me.

So, I hope you will forgive me as I offer just a simple word today.

My husband insists that he will not retire until I do. He fears the ‘honey do’ list that I would create to keep him busy. Each time I talk about what could be on that list, the list just seems to grow- all those projects delayed because life is too busy, the wish-list of new possibilities, and just the regular realities of daily life. Greg knows that even if he began to tackle the list, for each task accomplished, I would add two more in its place. So, he won’t retire until I can tackle the ‘honey do’ list with him.

Are you a list maker? I make a list every Monday of the essentials that must be done that week, but I never finish the list. And just as Greg fears, I add to my own list even as I cross off completed items. Sometimes, at the end of the week, I have more items on the list yet to be done than were on the original Monday plan.

Life just seems to be like that… too much to do, too little time

That’s the complaint that I have heard from some in our faith community about our Church Has Left the Building experience. This year we have 30 projects- so many wonderful ways to serve. We love to get our hands busy in mission, to pour out our resources, giving ourselves away all for the sake of God’s people in the name of Jesus. But the opportunities are so good, the need so great, the causes so important that many of us want to help in more than one place and give to more than one collection. How can we do it all?

When I talk to people about all our mission opportunities, I am reminded of my granddaughters who struggle with FOMO- Fear of Missing Out. They are active, interested, invited, and willing, but there is never enough time to do all that they want to do. The birthday party is on the same day as a youth event. The retreat is on the same weekend as a family outing. Vacation Bible school is at the same time as play practice. Unless they clone themselves, they will have to decide what is most important and decline the other very tempting opportunities. How many of us have the same challenges?

This December, I will face my own FOMO experience. My niece is getting married on the first Saturday of December in Maine. Yes, I, too, am wondering about the wisdom of a wedding in Maine in December. But she wanted the Christmas feeling, and she lives outside Boston near a quaint town in Maine, thus a winter wedding where it could snow. Unfortunately, that weekend is also the date of our Advent Brunch- one of my favorite church events! And try as I might, I could not figure out how to be in Maine at a wedding on Saturday night, and in New Britain bright and early for worship and brunch on Sunday. My thought of driving through the night did not go over very well with my husband. So, I will have to eat my FOMO and miss a special moment at LVC.

Life just seems to be like that… too much to do, too little time.

But then I remember a wise professor I had in seminary. He taught an unusual, yet very practical class, entitled Helpful Hints for a Busy Pastor. All semester he shared the insights he had gained from 30 years leading a church. Each class provided lessons that I would need for the years ahead. One of the truths he taught was that God is the great Economist of Time. His reasoning: since God created time, and God ordered time, and God called his people to live and serve within a world governed by time, and God knows how much time it takes to do things, then there must be enough time to do all that we are called to do. My professor reminded us that if we run out of time, we have either added items to the to-do list that were not God’s call, or we have chosen to do the work in a way that is not God’s design.

So, to those who feel that there are too many opportunities, and not enough time and resources to do all that CHLB offers, take a moment to pray. Ask God for His ‘honey do’ list, knowing that there will be enough time and resources to accomplish His tasks.

With you, joyfully tackling God’s ‘honey do’ list,
Anita

Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor and Joe Sutphin is a child-friendly, illustrated adaptation of John Bunyan's classic allegory of the Christian life- the challenges and the victories. This book was one of my childhood favorites. I remember vividly the chapter in which Christian discovers that the path to the Celestial City leads straight through a dark forest. He hesitates to enter, realizing that the thick foliage will quickly darken the path he needs to follow. The sun is setting, adding to the darkness of the path ahead. Christian looks for a way around the forest but finds none. So, with fear and trepidation, Christian follows the path, walking all night in darkness, one step at a time, until finally he emerges from the forest just as the sun is coming up. Christian looks back at the path he has just trod, now lit by rays of sunlight. He discovers that on one side of the path is a sheer cliff dropping off into a deep chasm. On the other side of the path is the forest full of wild animals ready to devour. One wrong step… one wrong step… Christian realizes that one wrong step would have meant his demise. He wonders who guided his feet to stay on the path.

When I think back to our journey as a church through the Pandemic years, it feels like Christian’s Forest experience. So many dangers. So many questions. So many decisions that had to be made quickly. So many depending on the leadership of our church to make good decisions during those dark days. As I look back, I can see the chasm on one side and the forest full of predators on the other. Yet, during those days, I could only see the step right in front of us. I felt the danger then, like those moments that make your stomach clench and your hands grow clammy. But it wasn’t until we emerged from those days that I could look back and see in detail how a misstep could derail our ministry and leave us limping into our next chapter. While I marvel at dangers avoided during those days, I recognize with you the One who guided us one step at a time.

We made many prayerful decisions during those Pandemic years to enable our faith community to continue in worship and in service. Those changes were made to keep our ministry thriving even as our nation struggled: worship style… worship time… digital communication over paper… online streaming… zoom meetings and Bible studies… a weekly Pastor’s Letter… and so many more. Many of those changes have become a part of our life together. At the beginning of 2025, the Elders decided that the time had come to evaluate the ministry, to consider the changes that have come by necessity, to determine whether our current pattern of ministry allows us to thrive into the next chapter. In other words, we want to look back at our journey through the forest to decide if who we became is who we need to be in the next years of our life and ministry together.

The Elders contracted the Center Consulting Group, based in Dublin, PA, to do Phase I- an assessment of the health of our church. Interviews were conducted, surveys compiled, and a report written to highlight the strengths, challenges and opportunities of our church. On Sunday, September 28th, Phase II began. The faith community of Lenape Valley was invited to gather in Fellowship Hall to dream together, allowing God’s good plan to bubble up through the priesthood of believers. Over 90 people shared in that visioning event. Four generations (youth, young adults, young parents, empty-nesters, grandparents, great grandparents) gathered to imagine God’s good next steps for Lenape Valley. The walls of Fellowship Hall were decorated with colorful Post-its expressing ideas, hopes, and concerns. Every comment was transcribed for the Elders to consider. Not one comment was lost in the shuffle.

Then each table discussed the opportunities that Lenape Valley should focus on in the next few years. When table leaders shared the thoughts of their team, quickly themes emerged as God’s good plan began to take shape. Those opportunities will be gathered and communicated to the Elders for their consideration. Now, the Elders will work to form a Strategic Plan to target the most important opportunities that emerged from Phase I and II to allow Lenape Valley to be faithful and effective in the years ahead. We want God to move and shape our ministry so that we are His instrument of grace in the world God so loves. Please hold our Elders in prayer as they take the next step, leading our church as they follow the Savior.

With you in prayer,
Anita