Lanse Link

Sunday, April 4, 2021
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

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

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

Christ is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!

Our Lord Jesus died on that fateful Friday, but early on Sunday morning He came back to life, and that changes absolutely everything. Jesus was not abandoned to the grave, and God’s Holy One did not see decay so now the forgiveness of sins can be ours forever (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:25-28, Acts 13:32-38)!

On this Sunday morning, our whole church family is gathering together in one place at one time to celebrate our one Risen Lord. Last year, we canceled our in-person worship gathering on Resurrection Sunday. This year, we come together again to celebrate the “canceling” of death itself!

Next Sunday, Lord-willing, we will return to meeting at three worship times (8:00, 9:30, 11:00) with inside and outside seating options and to sending out online resources for those still worshiping from home. But I am hopeful that our need to keep our distances will soon be over. Heather and I are scheduled to get our first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday afternoon. I hope that most of our church family will soon be able to get immunized, as well, and that the number of life-threatening infections in our region will plummet.

Please keep praying for wisdom for our church leaders as we make plans for ministry this Spring. As the weather gets nicer and hopefully the situation with the pandemic also improves, we want to bring our church family closer and closer together. We are plotting a path back to full participation, and we could use your help. Please take a moment to answer a new 4 question survey in your church email about your family’s current plans for participation in LEFC over the next two months. What needs to happen for our whole church family to fully participate in worship, instruction, fellowship, evangelism, and service once again?

Alleluia! Let us raise our “joys and triumphs high” because Christ the Lord is Risen today.

In His Grip,

– Pastor Matt

P.S. “He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!” Let’s sing out the truth of the resurrection with all of the breath in our lungs and all of the wonder and love in our hearts.

Home Worship Guide

Church Family News

Additional Outdoor Seating Options

We are now broadcasting audio of all 3 worship times into the church parking lot on 89.5 FM. We also have a tent seating section available with a sound system transmitting the words and music outside when weather allows. Please contact the church office if you want to know for certain if the tent will be open on any particular Sunday. While outdoors, protective face coverings are optional. Outdoor worship resources are available on tables near the entrances.

Children’s Church

Since we are meeting outdoors in one group, children will stay with their parents. Parents: Be sure to pick up your kids pack this morning. The lessons and activities pages for “Jesus’ Resurrection” will be provided along with some other items. Children’s church will return to the 9:30am service next week.

Family Fellowship on Zoom

Our next Church Family Fellowship on Zoom will be April 18th at 6:30pm. Join us as we catch up with educators from our church family. Find out how the Lord is answering our prayers and also pray some more for students, aides, administrators, and teachers in primary, secondary, and higher education.

Red Cross Blood Drive

On Tuesday, April 20^th, our church will host the Morrisdale Community Blood Drive from 1:00-6:30pm. We are looking for 2-3 people willing to work this drive. We need help with temperature checks, registration, and in the canteen. We can also use a few dozen cookies or brownies (individually packaged) to offer our guests after they donate. Questions? Call Marilynn Kristofits.

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 April 15 and can be found in the foyer on the Community Bulletin Board.

Sunday School at Home – Spring Quarter

Our Sunday School classes continue to study at home. Be sure to pick up your copy of Luke 10-24 and follow along at home with Lesson 5: Resurrected. We have a few copies available in large print. Not coming on campus yet? Marilynn Kristofits would be happy to mail the study resource to you.

On-Campus Prayer Meeting                                                                                                     

Join us Wednesdays at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall as Joel Michaels leads us in a brief Bible study, praising God through song, and praying with other believers. Reminder: Because we are inside, masks are required of all who attend.

Summer Camp

It is not too late to send your kids to camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch! We have some kids heading up to the ranch the weeks of June 27-July3 and July 4-9. If you are interested in more information, pick up a flyer in the foyer and contact Marilynn Kristofits soon to register your child.

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.

 Designated Giving Funds

Each year we open a designated giving fund here at church to help pay the registration for the kids attending church camp. If you would like to give to this need, mark your gift “Camp Fund.” A designated giving fund for a picnic pavilion here at church also remains open. 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 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.

Prayer Items

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