Leighton Church

Someone is pretending to be Pastor Dennis again, via text, asking for favors and ebay cards. Please ignore these texts and do not act on them.

When the current church facility was built in 1995-1996, a patio stone was created by Lyn Briel with the intent to put it in the landscape around the church, but was instead put in the wall by the north building entrance. This stone included the cross and flame, the symbol of the United Methodist Church.
Part of our disaffiliation from the United Methodist denomination in June of 2023 was to remove signage that contained the cross and flame symbol. So what was going to be put in the place of this stone?
Lyn Briel was asked to create a new stone based on the church logo of the cross and the vine, which she agreed to do. While creating this new tile, God spoke to her heart. She shares:

"Chris (Herring) asked if I was willing to replace the outdated patio stone which turned into a wall marker during time of growth, destruction, and rebirth of Leighton while my husband and I attended Leighton United Methodist Church. I was moved to create the first one, and honored to be chosen to interpret Leighton's current logo as a nondenominational entity.

God nudges, motivates, and directs my work. Sometimes through my hands, He motivates and directs things to go a certain way. He doesn't speak to me audibly. I wish it were so because it is fully apparent sometimes and other times it is an all out battle with something that challenges me beyond what I believe I am able to do. This process was no exception.

In December 2023, I had seven procedures done to my right side. It required removing a couple of bones from my thumb, rebuilding the hand and elbow. I am left-handed but cutting glass requires the use of both hands. Rehab would take a lot of work and time. Would I be able to do it?

After six months, I started to create. It took many additional weeks to build up the strength to use the muscles required for glass. Me and God.

I knew it was going to go on the wall this time. Therefore, I chose to make a three dimensional stone. The piece is a combination of both mosaic and glass fusing techniques.

Is the sun rising, or starting to hang lower in the sky? It depends on where you are in life.

Some of the mosaic seems rough, like life...

The hills of green appears scarred in a few places, not unlike each of us.

The cross is pure white, no longer colored by the death of the tree or the one hanging on it, but pure with Christ's resurrection.

The vine twists; its coloring indicates new growth.

The leaves are different in size, shape, and shade. Each leaf, however different, is vital to the well-being of the vine. Some are firmly attached and, if you look closely, some are just hanging on. At times, it seems all of us are there.

A note about placing those leaves during construction; some of those leaves refused to go where I wanted to place them. They fought me and through some tender loving care, they finally fit into the artwork-perhaps not exactly where I thought they should go, but where they belonged.

I was going to sign the stone and almost without a split second between the thought of 'perhaps I should sign this, this time' I heard in the back of my head, 'Why? You didn't do it on your own. It's not yours to sign.' "
~Lyn Briel, July 30, 2024

Text Scam Alert:
Beware! Text messages are being sent out in the name of Pastor Dennis Weeks asking for gift cards to be purchased for someone with cancer. This is a scam! Report the text and delete it.

A beautiful night for the July Backyard Picnic Fellowship. Great food! Great music! Great Friends! The August picnic is on the 18th at 6pm. Mark your calendar to join us!

This morning, Dennis Weeks was installed as the pastor of Leighton Church. Welcome, Pastor Dennis, Kelli and family. We thank God for preparing you, calling you, and gifting you to serve Him and bringing you to Leighton Church.

Because many Americans have never known other circumstances, it’s easy to take our liberties for granted. The Israelites knew firsthand the oppression of slavery. Yet when God finally led them out of Egypt, they had problems adjusting to their newfound freedom. Fearful and rebellious, the Israelites grumbled against their leaders, Moses and Aaron, saying they would’ve been better off as slaves in Egypt.

Our freedom as Christians cost Jesus his life. But we, too, often find it easier to fall back into sinful habits. In Galatians 5:1, Paul offers this encouragement: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (NRSV).

We’re no longer bound by sin and death. That “independence” is worth celebrating every day!

The following lines are from a long prayer, “That America Fulfil the Promise of Its Founding,” by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan. Though written in 1945, it rings true yet today. (Full text at https://tinyurl.com/nhc8747x.)

O God, who is Liberator and Redeemer, Lawgiver and Judge, …

May America remain loyal
to the principles of the Declaration of Independence,
and extend their application
to ever-widening areas of life.

Keep out of our life all manner of oppression,
persecution,
and unjust discrimination;
save us from religious,
racial and class conflicts;
may our country be a haven of refuge
to the victims of injustice and misrule.

Instruct us in the art of living together,
of reconciling differences of opinion
and averting clashes of interest,
of helping one another
to achieve a harmonious and abundant life …

That the Star-Spangled Banner,
the symbol of our American democracy,
may ever wave o’er the land of the free
and the home of the brave. Amen.

Moving Day! Pastor Dennis Weeks and his family moved to the parsonage today. Lunch was provided for the moving crew and any from the church who wanted to come. Welcome to Leighton Church, Weeks Family!

The fun continues!!
Tonight the ports of call on ourJungle Journey were Christ and the Cross; the 5th & 6th C's of history. The kids are having a blast!

Another great night at VBS! Tonight's theme: Confusion. The Bible lesson was about the Tower of Babel. Genesis 11:1-9
Crafts...games...Bible teaching...prizes and great music!
The fun continues 2 more nights. Kids are still welcome to come. Register when they arrive.

Day 2 of Vacation Bible School "The Great Jungle Journey" was a blast! The kids are learning the 7 C's of History. Yesterday's theme was Creation. Today was Corruption & Catastrophe.

The church is starting its transformation for VBS! The decoration crew is busy getting everything up and ready for Sunday night!
Online registration is open through June 20th! Wslk-in registration will be available each night.
Kids age 4-6th grade are invited to go with us on The Great Jungle Journey June 23-27 from 6:30-8:30 pm
www.leightonchurch.org/vbs

Happy Father's Day to all Dads, Grandfathers, Uncles and any man who has had a positive impact on someone else's life.

If you weren't able to see the kids musical, "Camp Out" in person, enjoy this video of the Sunday morning performance.

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The kids and cast did an amazing job performing "Camp Out" yesterday. They've worked hard for weeks and weeks. Fritzy the bird, Bailey the donkey, Fisherman Bob and the Park Ranger all helped the kids discover that they are ALL special to God and have a purpose in this world. Thanks to all who came and supported the cast. Special thanks to Director Jamie and her crew, the musicians and sound team.

We thank you, God, for loved ones dear
Who clung to faith beyond their fear,
Who served and paid the highest price
For freedom bought with sacrifice.
May they remind us of your Son
Whose death our final freedom won.

—Heidi L. Mann, 2012

Lord, on this day in which we honor mothers, may we love and cherish the special women who have born us, who have nurtured us, and who have prayed for our well-being. May our hearts overflow with gratitude to you, who formed and knitted each of us in a mother’s womb. We pray you give each mom strength. We ask you to be the daily bread of tired mothers. May each mother find rest in you. Amen.

Putting this instruction from the Apostle Paul into practice will change your life! Talk with God...not to God.

There is a wide-spread internet outage which is affecting the church.
E-mails cannot be sent or received. An estimated restoration time has not yet been determined.

Thanks to all who helped at spring clean-up today at the church. Many projects were completed: fresh bark spread around the building, tree birm, and sign area, shrubs trimmed, leaves picked up, windows washed, kitchen cleaned and more! God blessed us with a great crew and beautiful weather!

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here. He has risen!
Luke 24:5b-6a

The Good Friday "Journey to the Cross" experience is tonight at Leighton Church. It is an "open house" style; come and go from 5:00-7:00 p.m. This obviously isn't a traditional service. Different stations, for lack of a better word, are set up throughout the church. The readings, reflections, actions and sounds at the different stations will take you from the creation of the universe to the death of Jesus.

This is a solemn, reflective event. It is not recommended for toddlers and preschoolers as nursery services are not provided. Lighting will be dimmed. Flashlights will be provided to help you read the narratives or you can use your phone flashlight.

Join us tonight for this meaningful "Journey to the Cross."

O, God, we remember that Christ gave us an order and an example for this special night. "This is my body," he said as he took the bread. "This is my blood," he said as he took the cup. "Do this in remembrance of me." So we come together to remember our Lord and to have fellowship with him. May this be a meaningful and glorious time for us all as we commune together in worship and the pursuit of holiness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Join us for a service of communion tonight at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 27th is the final night for Wednesday Night Suppers and Kids Worship.
Take the night off from cooking and enjoy a delicious dinner of spaghetti and meatballs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the gym.
Bring your kids (Kindergarten thru 5th Grade) for a fun night hunting for 300 Easter eggs starting at 5:45 p.m.
Hope you can join us at Leighton Church!
4180 2nd Street, Caledonia

At Kids Worship on March 13th, the kids learned about the true St. Patrick; his prayers and how he taught about the Trinity using clovers.