LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, May 9, 2021
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

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

From the Pastor

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship & Worship in Bible Memory

Begin your family’s time of worship by reciting Psalm 100 together:

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

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

2. Worship in Singing

As a household sing “Wonderful Words of Life” by Philip Bliss.

YouTube Video

**Option. Those worshiping on campus are also singing, “In the Garden,” “All My Ways Are Known To You,” “Sing Alleluia,” and “All Glory Be To Christ.” You could add or substitute those songs for your household, as well.

3. Worship in Unity

Recite together Question #104 of the Heidelberg Catechism:

Q: What does God require in the fifth commandment?

 A. That we show all honor, love and faithfulness to our fathers and mothers, and to all in authority over us; submit ourselves with due obedience to all their good instruction and correction; and also bear patiently with their infirmities: since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.

Note from Pastor Matt: In question #104, the framers of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) noticed that the fifth commandment from Exodus 20 is repeated in Ephesians 6 as having ongoing relevance to our lives, and they also applied it to all God-ordained authorities, not just to parents. It seems appropriate to remind ourselves of this truth not just because of Mother’s Day, but also during these difficult days when we are being asked to submit to earthly authorities–in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable and even unpleasant–in the interest of public health and safety. I have again worded the translation into the first person plural so that we declare it together as a community of faith with the communion of the saints.

4. Worship in Thanksgiving and Lament

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

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

5. 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.

6. Worship in Scripture Reading

Have someone read Psalm 119:129-144 to prepare to listen to today’s message.

7. Worship in the Word

Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message, “Your Statutes Are Wonderful.”

Facebook Video

YouTube Video

Read Message Manuscript

[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 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas Chisholm.

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. No LEFC Fellowship Meeting on Zoom This Sunday.

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.

Happy Mother’s Day

Praise the Lord for our mothers! Take a moment to thank those who have given you life and nurtured your faith. On this Mother’s Day, we are celebrating all women. Ladies, be sure to receive your gift after the service today.

Be A Part of Our Outdoor Worship Gathering

If you would like to share your talents in music for our special outdoor service on May 30^th, please see Pastor Matt. We are also looking for a few people willing to assist with parking. See Keith Folmar if you can meet this need.

Graduation Sunday

We plan honor those in our church family who have graduated from high school, college, or graduate school at our special outdoor service on May 30^th. Are you completing any type of schooling during the 2020-2021 school year? Please fill out this online form or contact Marilynn for a print version by May 9^th so you can be included in our celebration.

Our Daily Bread

The latest edition of Our Daily Bread for June, July, and August is now available in the foyer on the resources table. Pick up your free copy today.

Cemetery Care

Bill Mostyn and his son, Nick, will be mowing the cemetery this year. If you notice anything that needs to be taken care of in our cemetery, please contact Bill (phone number provided in your email), and he will see that it is addressed.

Fellowship Evening at Miracle Mountain Ranch

You are invited to join Miracle Mountain Ranch on May 13^th at 6:00pm for an evening of food, fellowship, and updates on the ministry of the Ranch. This is a great opportunity to be introduced to the mission and work of Miracle Mountain Ranch. There is no cost, but an RSVP (814.664.7673) is needed so they can better prepare.

Children’s Church

All children (ages 3 – 3^rd grade) are invited to join us at our 9:30 worship service for our Children’s Church program. Parents: When indicated in the service, please bring your kids back to the foyer and 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 child protection clearances.

Sunday School at Home

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 10: Denied. Our Summer 2021 personal study guides have arrived and are in the foyer on the resources table. We will begin our new study, Explore the Bible: Job; Ecclesiastes, on June 6. Pick up your free copy today. Not coming on campus yet? Marilynn would be happy to mail them.

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: Bring a jacket along. Now that the weather is warming up, we will sometimes meet outdoors.  Masks are required inside and optional outside.

Sunday Morning Greeters

Reminder: Sunday Morning greeters, please stop on your way out today and sign up to greet for a few services this Spring. Signup sheets are hanging up in the foyer.

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.