LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, October 4, 2020
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

• From the Pastor
• Home Worship Guide
• Church Family News
• Prayer Items

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

I’m still glowing inside from the joy of Celebration Sunday. The Lord gave us a beautiful morning full of true worship and loving fellowship. We counted at least 168 people on our campus including Spurgeon Skacel’s smiling family and something like 32 first time returnees. We had 12 kids in Children’s Church and many cars, trucks, and side-by-sides out in the field. I can’t wait to see the aerial pictures to remember the day by. It was a special joy to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as one body (1 Corinthians 10:17). Praise the Lord!

I’m also grateful that His mercies are new every morning. We don’t have a wait another year to celebrate His blessings again. We get to do it every day and together every week. I hope to see many of you again on campus or on Zoom this Sunday.

The theme of our worship this weekend is the blessing of unity (Psalm 133). I am so glad that we are together spiritually even when we have had to be apart physically. Whether at home or on campus, let’s make sure that every single one of us in this unified church family worships the Lord Jesus Christ.

In His Grip,

– Pastor Matt

P.S. “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!” What an overflowing joy it was to sing together last Sunday. Don’t stop now. Let’s keep it up because our Lord is a perpetual fountain of blessing.

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship

Read Psalm 133 as your family gathers to worship.

**Option. Families with children at home could prepare them by asking, “What is Psalm 133 about?” “What do you think Pastor Matt will say about Psalm 133 today?” “What did Psalm 133 make you think or feel when we read it?” “What does Psalm 133 teach us about God?” “What does Psalm 133 teach us about ourselves?” “What does Psalm 133 teach us about Jesus?”

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

2. Worship in Singing

As a household sing “The Solid Rock” by Edward Mote.

YouTube Video

**Option. Those worshiping on campus are also singing, “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place,” “My Hope Is in the Lord,” “In Christ Alone,” “Amazing Love,” and “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us.’ You could add or substitute those songs for your household, too.

3. Worship in Unity

Recite together the Apostle’s Creed:

“We believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.”

4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

Share with your family those things you are thankful for and those things you are lamenting this week.

5. Worship in Bible Memory

Recite our current “Hide the Word” memory verses, Philippians 4:4-8.

“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. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

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 Blessing of Aaron’s Oily Beard.”

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 “The Family of God” by Bill & Gloria Gaither (1972).

YouTube Video

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 September 20.

Many of us are meeting through video-conference online this Sunday at 6:30pm:

• See one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices.
• Listen to announcements of church family news.
• Interact with Pastor Jason Drapeau of Winchester Community Church (Our EFCA sister church in West Seneca, NY). Pastor Jason has recently published a book titled “Relationslips: Life Together in a Falling-Apart World.”
• LEFC Zoom Kids, can you show us different kind of balls that are in your house? Golf balls, basketballs, tennis balls, etc? Pastor Matt has another object lesson to share.
• 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

Pastor Appreciation Month

 October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Remember to thank Pastor Matt & Heather for their hard work, sacrificial dedication, and multiple blessings they have provided to us by serving our Lord here at LEFC. As our gift of appreciation to Pastor Matt & Heather, the Elder Board has decided to send them on a personal Pastor and Wife retreat the weekend of October 16-18.

 On-Campus Prayer Meeting

Join us Wednesdays at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall for a brief Bible study, praising God through song, and praying with other believers. Reminder: Because we are inside, masks or shields will be required of all who attend. We will continue to send the Prayer Meeting at Home guide to anyone who requests it. Contact the church office to get this weekly email.

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.

 Compassion Walk

 It is not too late to join with other West Branch area churches today at 1 pm for the second annual West Branch Ministerium Compassion Walk. Registration is at Palestine UMC and forms are located in the foyer. The walk is also being offered as a virtual event for those who are less comfortable gathering together at this time. Simply take a form, complete your walk, and turn your donations in here at the church by October 11th. This ministry helps families in need with utility bills, and provides gas, food, and hotel stays for homeless and victims of domestic violence. Consider a donation for this vital ministry. Mark your gift “Walk” and drop it in the offering plate.

Children’s Church

 All children (ages 3 – 3^rd grade) are invited to join us for Children’s Church at our 9:30 worship service. Parents: When indicated in the service, please bring your kids back to the foyer. Drop them off at the end of the hall with a volunteer. We will bring them back out the hallway to the foyer to meet you at the conclusion of our program time. All ministry workers have their clearances.

 Zoom This Week

 Join us Sunday at 6:30pm for our Church Family Fellowship on Zoom. We will visit together, share Church Family News items, and spend some time interacting with Pastor Jason Drapeau of Winchester Community Church (our EFCA sister church in West Seneca NY). Pastor Jason has recently published a book titled “Relationslips : Life Together in a Falling-Apart World.”  LEFC Kids, can you show us different kind of balls that are in your house? Golf balls, basketballs, tennis balls, etc? Pastor Matt has another object lesson to share.

 Pavilion Fund

 We have opened a designated giving fund for a picnic pavilion here at church. You can donate to this by marking your gift “pavilion” and placing it in the offering.

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 church office for this week’s prayer requests from the bulletin.