Lanse Link :: December 8, 2024

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Church Family News

New Class – “Where You Are in God’s Story”
John Forcey will conclude leading class at 8:30am before worship next Sunday. This class will consider some of the most significant events in Scripture and how they all fit together. This “narrative framework” will help you understand the Bible as a whole, and help you know where you are in God’s story of redemption no matter what page you open to in your Bible.

Annual Business Meeting
Our Annual Business Meeting will be held today immediately following service. Members, please plan to stay for this brief meeting to set the budget and officers for 2025. A copy of next year’s proposed budget, officer nominations, and meeting agenda are now posted on the bulletin board in the foyer.

Christmas Carols by Request
Today and next Sunday, we will be taking hymns by request during our Worship in Singing time. Be sure to have your request and the reason it is special to you ready to share as we lift our voices together.

KBC Nativity Presentation
The Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be doing a Nativity Presentation on December 22^nd during the worship service. Practices will be December 1^st, 8^th and 15^th during the first 15 minutes of KBC class time. All KBC kids are welcome to participate! If you have any questions, see Vicky Albert.

Snow Removal Signup
Our Facilities Team is looking for a few individuals to help maintain our walkways during the winter months. Are you able to help with removing snow and salting the sidewalks Sunday mornings here at the church this winter? Sign up in the foyer. Questions? See George Leathers.

Mitchell Christmas Gift
Each year we open a fund for our Pastor’s Christmas Gift. If you would like to give a gift of appreciation, please mark your check or envelope “Pastor Christmas.” Offerings will be collected through December 22^nd.

Christmas Caroling
Join us on Sunday, December 15^th at 3:00pm for Christmas Caroling! We will gather on campus and practice a few favorite songs before caravanning throughout our community to brighten the holiday season of some of our church families. See Pastor Matt if you have questions or ideas for this event.

Be Part of Our Christmas Eve Service
Our worship planning team is seeking people to help with our Christmas Eve Candlelight services. We are looking for greeters, ushers, musicians, special music offerings, drama presentations, readings, etc. See Pastor Matt if you are interested in participating in our 7:00pm service.

December 22^nd Refreshments
Refreshments on December 22^nd will be provided by all the wonderful bakers in the church.  Please bring your cookies, breads, and finger foods ready to share by 9:15am in the foyer. The Hospitality Team will provide coffee, tea, juice and all the napkins and plates. Any questions, contact Linda Carlson 814-592-7975.

Christmas Poinsettias
If you are interested in purchasing a poinsettia in memory of a loved one to decorate the church for Christmas, please see Jenni English or Keith & Pennie Folmar.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Join the deaconesses as they partner with the compassion ministry of the WB Churches to brighten the lives of needy children and families within our community.

• Giving Tree Tags – All gift tags were taken! Unwrapped gifts should be returned to the church by next Sunday, December 15^th.
• Giving Tree Meal Tags – All meal tags were taken! All food needs returned to the church by next Sunday, December 15^th.
• Food Bank – Still in need of the following; cans of icing, boxes of instant mashed potatoes, and boxes of stuffing for holiday meals. There will be a donation box in the foyer labeled, “WB Ministerium Food Bank.” Donations will be accepted through the month of December.

Christmas Literature
We have Christmas books and pamphlets for you to read or to share with others this Christmas season on the table by the office.

Giving Opportunities
Designated giving funds are open for the deaconess compassion fund to help those in need within our church family, Pastor’s Christmas, poinsettias, and a future pavilion for the Ark Park here at the church. Please mark your gifts and drop them in the offering plate.

Offering
Thank you for continuing to support our ministries and missionaries. The offering plates are available at the back of the auditorium. Gifts can also be mailed to the church or given electronically through your bank’s bill pay program or through online platforms: PayPal and Venmo. Our account is churchoffice@lansefree.org. Questions? Contact Jenni English.

Church Office
Our church office is open every week, Tuesday – Friday from 8:45am – 2:15pm. You can reach Jenni in the office by phone (814-345-6500) or email at churchoffice@lansefree.org. If you would like information to be in next week’s bulletin, please have it in by 1:00pm Thursday. Last minute prayer requests need to be submitted to the office by 9:00am on Friday.

Director of Family Ministry
Jordyn Skacel serves as our Director of Family Ministry. She is happy to meet with you at the church, in her home, in your home, or in public, with or without kids! Catch her at church or contact her via phone, text, or email, (814) 592-9280 or families@lansefree.org to schedule a time to meet. She’d love to hear your ideas, how you’d like to be involved, and to be a resource for your family.

Youth Group
The youth group meets on Sunday evenings at 7:00pm. All students in grades 7 and up are invited to come for games, snacks, and fun while learning to study our Bibles together. The youth group will be learning to grow closer to God by studying the season of advent. See Cody & Holly Crumrine for more information.

Snack and Yack
Directly after service, kids in grades 3-7 who heard the sermon are invited to meet in Pastor Matt’s office for a snack and a brief interactive conversation about today’s message. To help listen closely, kids can fill out a “Snack n’ Yack Notes” handout that are in the foyer. Parents are always welcome to join in, too! Leading this week is Cody & Holly Crumrine.

Ladies’ Fellowship Hour
Ladies, join us on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am for a time of fellowship with one another, praying for one another and missionaries, and reading Scripture. All ladies are invited to attend.

Join Us at Prayer Meeting
Wednesdays at 7:00pm, a group of Christians meet to pray and to study God’s Word in the Prayer Room. We are going through a study of the book of Numbers. Nobody is put on the spot to pray out loud, but all are encouraged to attend and help lift up the needs of our church, community, nation, and world.

Community Group
The community group is taking a pause for the holiday season and will resume in the new year. See Abe & Jordyn for details.

Explore the Bible at Home
Many adults in our church are utilizing the Explore the Bible resources to dig deeper into God’s Word. Pick up your free copy of Exodus; Leviticus and join as we study this week with Session 2: Freedom Promised. The Winter quarter resources are available in the foyer.

This Week in Kids Bible Class
God Delivers His People. Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be studying Exodus 5-12 learning about Moses Confronted Pharaoh. Resources for family worship centered on this lesson are available through the link you will receive in “The Family Table” email arriving this afternoon. For more information about this week’s lesson, check out The Gospel Project Big Picture Card for Volume 1, Unit 4, Session 2 which your family received in your mailbox.

Opportunities for Service
Become a part of our ministries! To get started serving in our church, contact the following people: Attendance (Jenni English), Coffee Ministry (Cody & Holly Crumrine), Kids Bible Classes (Vicky Albert), Nursery (Becky Schiefer), Greeting Ministry (Katie Kerlin & Haylee Simler), Prayer Corners (Jenni English), and Worship Team (Pastor Matt Mitchell).

Sermon Publications
Missed a Sunday? You can read, listen to, or watch the message online in multiple ways throughout the week (YouTube, Facebook, Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pastor Matt’s blog, or the LEFC website [audio, video]). Need help subscribing or finding a particular sermon? See Jenni English.

Email Subscriptions
We want everyone to know what is happening at LEFC! Are you on the “All Church Notifications” email list to get key announcements such as cancelations and other schedule changes? Subscribers also receive “The Lanse Link,” our weekly news bulletin. In addition, parents can subscribe to “The Family Table,” a Sunday newsletter filled with useful resources for family discipleship. Subscribe on the church website or send your email address to the church office and we will add you to the list.

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