LEFC Guide to Worship – 19 July 2020

Sunday, July 19, 2020
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

I’m excited that Family Bible Week officially begins tomorrow! Even though FBW will be smaller and different this year, I’m grateful that we are still setting aside one whole week to focus on God’s Word for every member of every one of our families every day.

The theme of FBW 2020 is “Knowing Jesus,” because that’s what our church is all about–bringing people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ through worship, instruction, fellowship, evangelism, and service. I am praying that we all will know Jesus better in the next 7 days than we do today.

Our Missions Ministry Team has chosen to support Vision of Hope Ministries as our FBW Missions Project this year. With the recent passing of their founder and our friend Henoc Lucien, it’s more important than ever to help the VOHM team to reach Haiti with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our offering will go to help fund their vital ongoing ministries of education, orphan care, church planting, and hunger relief in Northern Haiti. We have set a goal of raising $500 in the next seven days, and Curtis Quick has volunteered to take a pie in the face on Facebook Live at 1:00pm at the Fellowship Picnic if we exceed that goal by even one dollar!

Don’t forget these key details about Family Bible Week:

Monday night, July 20^th, is Kids’ Night under the tent on campus (6:30pm) with crafts, games, and lesson safe and fun outside.
Tuesday night, July 21^st is Youth Night under the tent on campus (6:30pm), with games, hang-out time, and a Bible study with Cody.=
Wednesday night, July 22^nd, is Adult’s Night under the tent on campus (6:30pm), with singing, praying, and studying the Word of God together.
Sunday afternoon, July 26^th, is our finale – a socially distant Fellowship Picnic (12:30pm) after morning worship on campus. Cold drinks will be provided. Tables and chairs will be handy. We’ll bring our own food, lawnchairs, and canopies. I’ve found that you can do a lot of good visiting at 6′ distances. I’m excited to spend time with many of you!

I know that many are not yet ready to come on campus for worship or FBW activities including the Fellowship Picnic. Please know that you are not forgotten. Every day of FBW, I’ll also be posting a pastoral video with a word from the Word about knowing Jesus. Tune in to our social media channels (Facebook and YouTube) so that we all stay on the same page.

For those who are staying at home, we are continuing to meet for a Family Fellowship time on Zoom each Sunday evening at 6:30pm. We have special guests this week who are going to tell us about ministry to international students on college campuses like Penn State. I hope you can join us. Connection details are in your email.

Also for those worshiping at home, we have prepared another ten-step guide for your family to use and will be posting another recorded video message. This weekend’s portion of Philippians is always relevant, but to me feels more crucial today than ever.

For the Worship in Unity portion this weekend, we are returning to the New City Catechism, a modern day resource of short questions and answers about Christian doctrine. The NCC was specifically made for young families in this digital age and is available through web and mobile apps with a bunch of coordinated resources to help families grow in their faith. To coordinate with our key verses in Philippians, we are referencing questions #38 and #39 on the subject of prayer.

For those worshiping on campus in any of our three worship times this Sunday, welcome! Whether this is your first time back, first time ever, or you’ve already gotten into a regular Sunday rhythm, I’m so glad you’re here. As the pastor, it’s exciting to see new families return each Sunday, and I long for the day when we’re all back together again.

Something new we’re experimenting with is an outdoor seating section on Sundays when the weather is good (which is somewhat unpredictable). We have set up a speaker out by the tent, and some folks are worshiping together out there. It’s not ideal, but it has some benefits. Because it’s outside, masks are optional. When it’s hot, there is shade and a breeze. It’s also easier to keep your distance, and you can even bring your own comfy lawn chair! Spaced seating is nearly unlimited as long as you can hear the sound system, so reservations are not required. If you try that option, let us know what the experience was like for you and your family.

Enjoy Family Bible Week! Whether at home or on campus this weekend, let’s make sure that every single one of us in this precious church family worships the Lord Jesus Christ.

In His Grip,

– Pastor Matt

P.S. Do you ever think about how many worship songs are actually prayers? Singing our prayers is a great way to fulfill the command of Philippians 4:6-7. Pour out your heart Him!

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship

Read Psalm 148 with wonder and joy as your family gathers to worship.

**Option: Psalm 148 includes the familiar repeated phrase “Praise the LORD” (“Hallelujah” in Hebrew). Parents can read a line from Psalm 148 and then kids can shout “Hallelujah” back.

**Option: Families with older children may want to learn more about Psalm 148, a worship song in which the psalmist calls upon all of creation to praise the LORD. In 2013, Pastor Matt taught on Psalm 148 in an unique message about the Mitchell family’s holiday in the Pacific Northwest, “Lessons from our Summer Vacation.”

Have someone pray and ask God to bless your time of worship at home.

2. Worship in Singing

As a household sing “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” by Joachim Neander (1680) translated into English by Catherine Winkworth (1863).

YouTube Video

**Option. Those worshiping on campus are also singing, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “Jesus, Strong and Kind,” and “Praise the Saviour.”

**Option. Families with younger children may want to begin using “The Joy of the Lord” by Alliene G. Vale (1971) several weeks in a row. This song is based upon Nehemiah 8:10 and is really useful for repetition.

3. Worship in Unity

As a household, recite the answers to questions #38 and #39 of the New City Catechism:

Q: What is prayer?

A: Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin, and thanksgiving.

Q: With what attitude should we pray?

A: With love, perseverance, and gratefulness; in humble submission to God’s will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving

Share with your family both the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, that you all have experienced this week and express them both to the Lord in prayer.

5. Worship in Bible Memory

Recite our current “Hide the Word” memory verses, Philippians 4:4-6:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

**Option: Parents could ask the children comprehension questions to make sure the memorization is internalization, not just parroting back words. For example: “What does Paul tell the Philippians to do twice? What does it mean that the Lord is near? What things should the Philippians be anxious about? What are we supposed to do instead of worrying?”

6. Worship in Prayer

Take prayer requests and pray for each other.

Read the prayer guide together and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.

7. Worship in the Word

Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message: “The Peace of God.”

Facebook Video

YouTube Video

Read on Pastor Matt’s Blog

[The message will be available online by Sunday morning.]

Some families may want to watch/read the message on their own and then have a Bible study and discussion together during this time.

8. Worship in Singing

Sing “It Is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford (1873).

YouTube Video

**Option: Tomorrow begins Family Bible Week. Families may want to set aside time each day to sing some of the favorite worship songs from past years including “W-I-S-D-O-M,” “Awesome God,” “King of Kings,” and “Mighty, Mighty Savior

9. Worship All Week

Have someone pray a prayer of commissioning for your family as you end this time of gathered worship and face a week of new opportunities and new challenges to serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.

10. Participate in LEFC Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom – 6:30pm on Sunday July 19.

Many of us are meeting through video-conference online this Sunday at 6:30pm (a new time):

See one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices.
Listen to announcements of church family news.
Interact with our missionary who works with international students on college campuses.
LEFC Kids, Pastor Matt promised to bring some “Knock, Knock” jokes this week for you. Bring some eyes to roll and join us!
Pray for one another live and online.

If you have any questions about how to do this, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Church Family News

Family Bible Week

This week is Family Bible Week! Join us for Kids’ Night (Monday), Youth Night (Tuesday), or Adult Night (Wednesday) at 6:30pm. We could use some help each night opening up the tent. If you are free to help with the tent around 5:30, contact Marilynn at 577.1145. Thanks!

Family Bible Week Missions Project – Haiti

Haiti continues to struggle financially in the wake of COVID-19. Vision of Hope Ministries is dedicated to carrying on the work that Pastor Henoc Lucien started nearly 30 years ago. This year’s FBW Mission Project is to raise money for all of the VOHM Missions: school, orphanage, and churches. Join us in helping to raise some of the money needed to start the school year off early. Our goal is $500. You can give by bringing your offering to one of our on-campus celebrations or by including it in your normal Sunday offering and designated a portion of your gift “FBW.”

Zoom This Week

Join us Sunday at 6:30pm for our Church Family Fellowship on Zoom. This week we will welcome special guests who are going to tell us about ministry to international students on college campuses like Penn State and the issues COVID-19 has caused with their student groups.

On-Campus Worship Gatherings

Thank you for joining us! Be sure to let us know if you will be joining us next week. We have three gatherings for you to choose from (8:00, 9:30, and 11:00). Call the office to reserve your family seating section or register online through the links in your email.

Good News Cruise Detour to 2021

After prayerful deliberation, the GNC planning team has decided to cancel this year’s cruise-in due to COVID-19. Our regular event is too popular to be held safely this year. This month we are sending a letter explaining this to all previous registrants with a commemorative dash-plaque and a gospel presentation. Please continue to pray for spiritual fruit to come from this outreach. The next Good News Cruise has already been scheduled for August 21, 2021.

Clean Team

Our clean team could use extra hands to help clean the church, both in preparation for our 8am service and between our morning services. If you are willing and able to help, please contact Cindy Green.

Fellowship Tent Team

The big tent outside provides a bit of shade while giving an opportunity for safe socializing. When weather permits, we open the tent for our services and can leave it open when the weather stays nice. When it rains, we must close it up and then need help opening it again. We are looking for some people to sign up to take care of the tent, if needed, on Sundays and Wednesdays. Teams of three to four people can have it rolled up in just a few minutes. It can be done ahead of time if the weather permits opening early. Contact Marilynn Kristofits in the office if you can help!

Greeting Team

We are looking for a few people willing to help greet and seat people on Sunday Mornings. You can greet people behind one of the tables and remind them to pick up their worship service supplies, or you can help find seats for everyone and dismiss them after services. Talk with Joel Michaels today about meeting this need.

Need Prayer?

Our church and our pastor love to pray for you. If you have a need for prayer, you can email us at prayer@lansefree.org. 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.

Helping One Another

We have developed an online form to identify those from our church family and community who may need some assistance and those who are willing to help others during this pandemic. If you need help, know of someone who needs help, or can help, please contact the office.

Safe Pastoral Visits

Pastor Matt would love to see many of you in person to pray with you, share concerns, ideas, or just have a conversation. If you are open to a porch visit, driveway visit, or a visit in another setting that would allow for safe and appropriate distances, please get in touch with him to schedule a time. You can reach him at the church (345.6500), call on his mobile phone, send him an email (pastormatt@lansefree.org), or connect with him on social media.

Continuing to Give

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 (9:30-2:30 Tuesday – Friday) in the offering plate right inside the door.
Online Payments – P2P (CNB), PayPal, and Venmo are all e-giving options. Our account address is our email: churchoffice@lansefree.org. Contact Marilynn if you need any help navigating this way of giving.

Prayer Items

Contact the Office to be sent these items.

LEFC Guide to Worship – 19 July 2020

From the Pastor

Home Worship Guide

Church Family News

Prayer Items

More Links to Helpful Resources:

Lanse Free Church

Social Connections

Pastor Matt's Blog

Pastor Matt’s Blog