Lanse Link :: December 28, 2025

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Church Family News

Mailbox Update
All mailboxes in the foyer were updated this past week and yours may be in a new spot. Due to all the new members and the increase in attendance, we needed to add and/or combine some mailboxes. If your mailbox was missed or you would like one, please let Jenni know.

Meet Ron Scherer!
ReachGlobal missionary Ron Scherer will be visiting our church on Sunday, January 11t^h. Ron and his wife Sheilah were leaders at the Crisis-Response site our team served at in Hazard, Kentucky last summer. Join us for a special time of introduction to Ron and learn about the Scherers’ ministry of responding to crisis at 8:30am in the Fellowship Hall.

Annual Reports
Attention all ministry leaders: It is time once again to prepare for our Annual Reports and Vision Meeting to be held on January 18^th. Please turn in your review of 2025 and vision for 2026 to Jenni English by Friday, January 9^th. Thank you for serving our church in 2025!

Tax Receipts
If you need a tax receipt for your giving in 2025 and haven’t gotten one in previous years, please let Anita Allen know so she can prepare one for you.

Christmas Gifts
Pastor Matt, Anita Allen, Amy Jo Belko, Jenni English, Cindy Green, and Jordyn Skacel would like to thank the church for their generous Christmas gifts.

Poinsettias
If you purchased a poinsettia to help decorate our sanctuary, thank you!  Please take it home with you either this week or next and enjoy it for the remainder of the holiday season.

FBW 2026
Mark your calendars for Family Bible Week 2026! From June 14^th through 18^th, join us on Sunday morning after service for a kickoff and every evening from Monday to Thursday with dinner provided. We will begin recruiting leaders soon. Interested in volunteering in one of our key areas? See Jordyn Skacel or Vicky Albert.

Dads & Kids Mario Kart Tournament
Dads and Kids, join us on the evening of Friday, January 16^th at 6:00 for a Mario Kart Tournament! Spend an evening connecting with your kid(s) and other families playing Mario Kart on various gaming systems, snacking, and spending some time in the Word. This is a special event for dads and kids to enjoy together. See Jordyn if you’re able to provide a gaming system with Mario Kart, a spare TV we can use, or are willing to bring a snack along!

Next Administrative Assistant
Keith Hurley is now training to serve the church as our next administrative assistant. He will assume full responsibility for the church office in March. During this training period, Jenni will continue to run the church office remotely. Thank you for praying for the search process! Please continue to pray for a smooth transition.

Read Your Bible in 2026
Get ready to read through your Bible this year! There are two different reading plans for free on the Bible table in the foyer. Stop by and take a plan home with you today.

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Growing Together

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 are Curt & Steph Quick.

Adult Class
The adult class meets here on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm at the church. This week they will be studying origins of the Christmas tree and the date of Christmas. They will resume on January 4^th with lesson 7 in their book.

Youth Group
The youth group will NOT be meeting on Sunday, December 28^th. They will resume on January 4^th, 2026, to finish up the book of Acts. See Cody & Holly Crumrine for more information.

Ladies’ Fellowship Hour
The Ladies’ Fellowship Group is taking a break until the new year. They will meet again beginning on Wednesday, January 7^th, 2026.

Join Us at Prayer Meeting
Prayer meeting is on pause until after the new year. It will meet again Wednesday, January 7^th, 2026, at 7:00pm. They will continue with the book of 1 John.

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 Matthew 1-13 and join as we study this week with Session 4: True Righteousness. Winter resources are available in the foyer.

This Week in Kids Bible Class
Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be studying Daniel 7-12 about how Daniel’s Prophecies. Resources for family worship and conversation 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 which your child will receive at the end of class to bring home. If you are not currently receiving “The Family Table” or need assistance with accessing the family resources, please see Jordyn Skacel or Vicky Albert.

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Additional Resources

Church Office Running Remotely
Jenni is running the office remotely. She is still able to print the items you need and communicate as normal. If you need to contact her, you may call the office phone and she will receive a voicemail OR you may call/text her on her personal cell (814) 592-7067. 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.

Lanse Free Fridge
Our community fridge and pantry is open 24/7. Contributions may include fresh or frozen foods, dairy products, canned or dried goods, cereals, or prepared foods. Anyone is welcome to donate or rehome food.

Need Prayer?
Our church and our pastor love to pray for you. If you have a need for prayer, you can email us at [email protected]. All emails being sent to this address will be seen by Pastor Matt. Please indicate if this is a private request (for Pastor Matt and the Elder Board) or public request for the prayer chain. Want to join this list? Send an email to [email protected] and we will add you.

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.

Library
We offer many free resources in our church library, located to the right as you leave the auditorium. Our catalog of books is now online! www.librarycat.org/lib/LanseFreeChurch. Check something out today.

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.

Fellowship Hall Reservations
If you would like to use the Fellowship Hall for your event, please contact Jenni English in the office to check availability and get approval.

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 [email protected]. Questions? Contact Jenni English.

Giving Opportunities
Designated giving funds are open for the deaconess compassion fund to help those in need within our church family, and future updates/additions to the Ark Park Pavilion. Please mark your gifts and drop them in the offering plate.

Thank you for continuing to support our ministries and missionaries. Ways to give:

Mail your offering check to us at PO BOX 114, Lanse, PA 16849.

• Cash or Check in person. Drop off your offering at the church during office hours in the offering plate right inside the  office door.
• E-banking – Check with your financial institution about using their bill pay programs to have the bank send us a check directly at no cost.
• Online Payments – PayPal and Venmo are our current e-giving options. Our account address is our email: churchoffice@lansefree.org.

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 (The Crumrines), Greeting Ministry (Katie Kerlin & Haylee Simler), Kids Bible Classes (Vicky Albert), Nursery (Becky Schiefer), Prayer Corners (Jenni English),  and Worship Team (Pastor Matt Mitchell).

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 [email protected] 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.

Church Elders
Keith Folmar [814-345-5980]      Cody Crumrine [724-787-8351]
Abe Skacel [717-606-9344]           Keith Hurley [814-553-5624]
Curtis Quick [814-404-3798]       Pastor Matt Mitchell [814-762-7336]