Kick-Off
Kick-off… the act that puts the ball into play…
the commencement of something new…
the beginning of…
We are in the season of kick-offs…
so many kick-offs…
each one exciting…
promising a season of potential…
The Kick-Off puts the ball into play. It is the act that starts every football game with the kicker sending the ball the length of the field to waiting receivers. Only 22% of kick-offs were returned by those receivers in the 2023 NFL season. Most of the kicks land in the endzone resulting in a ‘touch back’ that sets the ball on the 30-yard line for the next play. How exciting when the receiver catches the kick-off and begins to dodge his way through defenders trying to achieve the holy grail- a touchdown return. In 2023, there were only 4 such moments, none of them with the Eagles. The 2024 NFL rules for kick-offs have changed- perhaps making such exciting plays more frequent. But if not, the kick-off still does what it is supposed to do… get the game off and running.
There are so many kick-offs this week…
Consider the Eagle’s Kick-Off on Friday, September 6th in São Paulo, Brazil. Truth be told, many Eagle’s fans are not very happy about the scheduling of their opening game 4,754 miles away from Philly, especially since this game was supposed to be a home game. Eagles’ fans treasure their 8 home games per season. To sacrifice one of those precious Sunday gatherings to a location too far away for most to travel was sour news indeed. The NFL is trying to expand their international appeal, recognizing the 35 million fans in Brazil. Since 1978, the Eagles have traveled 5 times on this diplomatic mission, playing in Mexico City, Tokyo, and three times in London. Friday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo will be their sixth effort to expand the fan base. Watch parties will gather many of the faithful to cheer from a distance as the Eagles begin their march to the Super Bowl. (Too soon…?)
Consider Penn State… (you knew that I had to include my home team)… Students have been in class for a week, but the kick-off to the PSU football season happened on Saturday, August 31st- an away game against the West Virginia Mountaineers. I am on vacation, so I’m writing this letter a few days early… thus I do not know the official outcome to the game. But I will go out on a limb to predict a PSU victory since the #8 ranked Nittany Lions are facing an unranked West Virginia team. Out of respect for our new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry- Brandon Best, I will also give a nod to the kick-off to the Ohio State football season against the Akron Zips. Needless to say, I also predict an Ohio State victory. OSU has a 48-0 record against Ohio teams when they play at home. I want points for being grace-full to our new staff member. But, when PSU plays OSU in November, the gloves are off and I am cheering for my Lions!
So many kick-offs…
Consider the kick-off of school this week… Central Bucks schools start today, though their teachers have already been in school for a week. Pennridge, North Penn and Centennial started last week in the hope that today their students would be off and running into their school year. Please hold our teachers and their students in prayer for a year rich in learning.
And then there is the Kick-Off to the Lenape Valley Church year. I love the fall at LVC with our focus on mission. Every year, we begin with the reminder of why God put Lenape Valley on the corner of Ute and Butler. We are called to be a safe-haven where people can come to be healed, refreshed and deepened in their walk with the Lord. And we are called to be the mission of Jesus Christ to the world God so loves. We come in to be sent out. Sunday, September 8th we will kick-off our mission season with a feast at the Lord’s Table (and a robust return of Coffee Hour after worship- thanks to our Fellowship Team.) Our children will meet their teachers in Sunday School. And we will start our fall theme Whisper… I will leave you to wonder what Whisper will inspire.
September 8th is just the beginning… on September 15th we will stretch out to invite our neighbors to a Free Fall Fest from 4-6pm, with our Kick-Off Concert at 6pm as the exclamation point to the event. Invite a friend, a family member, a new neighbor, a coworker… to share a meal, play some games, enjoy great music, and meet your church family… all in the hope that they will stay long enough to meet our best friend- Jesus. Be sure to wear your blue- Won’t You Be My Neighbor LVC t-shirt. (If you need a t-shirt, contact the church office.) Most of all, we need grace-filled LVC folks to love our neighbors as they enjoy a fun moment on our lawn. I look forward to sharing all the Lenape Valley Kick-Off fun with you!
With you anticipating God’s kick-off to an amazing season,
Anita
the commencement of something new…
the beginning of…
We are in the season of kick-offs…
so many kick-offs…
each one exciting…
promising a season of potential…
The Kick-Off puts the ball into play. It is the act that starts every football game with the kicker sending the ball the length of the field to waiting receivers. Only 22% of kick-offs were returned by those receivers in the 2023 NFL season. Most of the kicks land in the endzone resulting in a ‘touch back’ that sets the ball on the 30-yard line for the next play. How exciting when the receiver catches the kick-off and begins to dodge his way through defenders trying to achieve the holy grail- a touchdown return. In 2023, there were only 4 such moments, none of them with the Eagles. The 2024 NFL rules for kick-offs have changed- perhaps making such exciting plays more frequent. But if not, the kick-off still does what it is supposed to do… get the game off and running.
There are so many kick-offs this week…
Consider the Eagle’s Kick-Off on Friday, September 6th in São Paulo, Brazil. Truth be told, many Eagle’s fans are not very happy about the scheduling of their opening game 4,754 miles away from Philly, especially since this game was supposed to be a home game. Eagles’ fans treasure their 8 home games per season. To sacrifice one of those precious Sunday gatherings to a location too far away for most to travel was sour news indeed. The NFL is trying to expand their international appeal, recognizing the 35 million fans in Brazil. Since 1978, the Eagles have traveled 5 times on this diplomatic mission, playing in Mexico City, Tokyo, and three times in London. Friday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo will be their sixth effort to expand the fan base. Watch parties will gather many of the faithful to cheer from a distance as the Eagles begin their march to the Super Bowl. (Too soon…?)
Consider Penn State… (you knew that I had to include my home team)… Students have been in class for a week, but the kick-off to the PSU football season happened on Saturday, August 31st- an away game against the West Virginia Mountaineers. I am on vacation, so I’m writing this letter a few days early… thus I do not know the official outcome to the game. But I will go out on a limb to predict a PSU victory since the #8 ranked Nittany Lions are facing an unranked West Virginia team. Out of respect for our new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry- Brandon Best, I will also give a nod to the kick-off to the Ohio State football season against the Akron Zips. Needless to say, I also predict an Ohio State victory. OSU has a 48-0 record against Ohio teams when they play at home. I want points for being grace-full to our new staff member. But, when PSU plays OSU in November, the gloves are off and I am cheering for my Lions!
So many kick-offs…
Consider the kick-off of school this week… Central Bucks schools start today, though their teachers have already been in school for a week. Pennridge, North Penn and Centennial started last week in the hope that today their students would be off and running into their school year. Please hold our teachers and their students in prayer for a year rich in learning.
And then there is the Kick-Off to the Lenape Valley Church year. I love the fall at LVC with our focus on mission. Every year, we begin with the reminder of why God put Lenape Valley on the corner of Ute and Butler. We are called to be a safe-haven where people can come to be healed, refreshed and deepened in their walk with the Lord. And we are called to be the mission of Jesus Christ to the world God so loves. We come in to be sent out. Sunday, September 8th we will kick-off our mission season with a feast at the Lord’s Table (and a robust return of Coffee Hour after worship- thanks to our Fellowship Team.) Our children will meet their teachers in Sunday School. And we will start our fall theme Whisper… I will leave you to wonder what Whisper will inspire.
September 8th is just the beginning… on September 15th we will stretch out to invite our neighbors to a Free Fall Fest from 4-6pm, with our Kick-Off Concert at 6pm as the exclamation point to the event. Invite a friend, a family member, a new neighbor, a coworker… to share a meal, play some games, enjoy great music, and meet your church family… all in the hope that they will stay long enough to meet our best friend- Jesus. Be sure to wear your blue- Won’t You Be My Neighbor LVC t-shirt. (If you need a t-shirt, contact the church office.) Most of all, we need grace-filled LVC folks to love our neighbors as they enjoy a fun moment on our lawn. I look forward to sharing all the Lenape Valley Kick-Off fun with you!
With you anticipating God’s kick-off to an amazing season,
Anita
Posted in From The Pastor
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1 Comment
As a Pittsburgh native and Pitt graduate will not comment on any matters pertaining to Eagles or Penn State. Hail Pitt
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nWas also Chaplain at Arlington National Cemetery in my Navy days. Been in news as of late. Did over 1,000 interments there in my time. Laid many wreaths at Tomb of Unknowns. One thing you notice if ever witnessed such events is silence. Commands if ever given are understood and no speaking is required. If anything it's a whisper. And in the many many moving parts. Just how quiet things are.
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nScripture and life I think teaches that once we quit talking or silenced or just whisper. God seeks to speak to us. We just have to listen. And God speaks far more to us in our whispers and silence than when we want to do all the taking. Seems the kids will be learning about whispering. Not a bad lesson for grown ups as well
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