Lanse Link :: April 12, 2026

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Church Family News

Graduation Info
Every year we set aside some time to honor those in our church family who have graduated from high school, college, or graduate school. Are you completing any type of schooling during the 2025-2026 school year? Stop by the table in the foyer and pick up a Graduation Info Sheet and return to Keith Hurley by May 3^rd so that we can include you in our celebration.

Moms & Kids Playdate
Our monthly Moms & Kids playdate is this Thursday 9-10am in the fellowship hall. Moms, bring your kids out and enjoy spending time with other moms while the kids play with provided toys and games.

Child Protection Policy Rollout Meetings
On June 1st, we will be rolling out our new Child Protection Policy. This policy brings with it some new changes to our children’s programs that parents and volunteers need to be aware of. We have scheduled meetings to introduce the new policy and the changes that it will bring. We will share important information and answer questions so that all who are affected by it feel informed and equipped. Meetings will be as follows:
Teacher Briefing (required for KBC teachers and nursery volunteers): April 18th @ 9am (breakfast provided)
Volunteer Orientation (required for all who have submitted their clearances with us and have not attended the teacher briefing): Choose either April 26th or May 3rd after church.
Parent Meetings (strongly encouraged but not required for all parents/guardians of LEFC children who have not attended the teacher briefing or volunteer orientation): Choose either May 17th or May 31st after church.
If you are unable to attend or have questions about these meetings, please speak with Jordyn Skacel.

Church & Cemetery Workdays
Come out and join the Facilities Team in some spring cleaning of our church grounds on Saturday, April 25^th at 8:00am and our cemetery on Monday, April 27^th at 9:00am.  Leaves need raked and branches picked up, so bring your tools and lend a hand!  If you have any questions, please see Randy Albert.

Challenge Giving Fund
If you would like to financially support our group of 13 students going to Kansas City for the EFCA’s biennial national youth conference, you can contribute to our fund by marking your gift “Challenge.”

Register for Summer Camp!
Don’t forget to register for camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch! Camps are available starting at age 6. See Marilynn Kristofits to get registered for a discount, with questions, or for more information!

West Branch Ministerium Scholarship
The H. Lee Hebel Memorial Scholarship is an annual scholarship given to a high school graduate or those pursuing a second career, and will, in the next 9 months, be enrolled in college, seminary, or Bible school. They should be pursuing full time Christian service, including pastoral ministry, counseling, youth ministry, or teaching in a Christian school. Applications should be postmarked by May 1^st and can be found in the foyer on the Community Bulletin Board.

Ping-Pong Table
The upstairs youth room will be undergoing some remodeling and in the process the ping-pong table will need to find a new permanent home.  If you have room for a ping-pong table, please let Cody or Holly Crumrine know.

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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 Keith & Pennie Folmar

Adult Class – The adult class meets here on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm at the church. Their current class is studying Bible Translations.  See Keith Hurley for additional information or questions.

Youth Group – The youth group meets Sunday evenings at 7:00pm at LEFC. All students in grades 7 and up are invited to come for games, snacks, and fun while studying our Bibles together. See Cody & Holly Crumrine for more information.

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.  This week Anita will be leading them in music.

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 1 John. 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.

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 14-27 and join as we study this week with Session 7: Eternal Life. Spring resources are available in the foyer.

This Week in Kids Bible Class – Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be studying Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, and John 1 about how John Baptized Jesus. 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
Our church office is open every week, Tuesday – Friday from 8:00am – 2:00pm. You can reach Keith in the office by email at [email protected] or by phone (814-345-6500). 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 Keith Hurley.

Fellowship Hall Reservations
If you would like to use the Fellowship Hall for your event, please contact Keith Hurley 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 Keith Hurley.

Giving Opportunities
Designated giving funds are open for the deaconess compassion fund to help those in need within our church family, summer camp to pay for registration fees,  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: [email protected].

Opportunities for Service
Become a part of our ministries! To get started serving in our church, contact the following people: Attendance (Keith Hurley), Coffee Ministry (The Crumrines), Greeting Ministry (Katie Kerlin & Haylee Simler), Kids Bible Classes (Vicky Albert), Nursery (Becky Schiefer), Prayer Corners (Keith Hurley),  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
Cody Crumrine [724-787-8351]              Keith Hurley [814-553-5624]
Keith Folmar [814-345-5980]                 Abe Skacel [717-606-9344]
Curtis Quick  [814-404-3798]                 Pastor Matt Mitchell [814-762-7336]