Lanse Link – 3 December 2023

Sunday, December 3, 2023

• • Church Family News
  • Prayer Items

Church Family News

Communion Sunday

Today we will be passing communion plates for those partaking in the auditorium. There are pre-packaged communion elements for anyone, inside or outside, who would prefer to use them as we worship together at the Lord’s Table. We have a gluten free option for those with special dietary needs.

Kids Bible Class

When the children are dismissed before the sermon, they will meet in the back of the auditorium to be taken to the prayer room for a time of singing before class.

“Giving Tree” Tags Available

Join the deaconesses as they partner with the Neighbors Helping Neighbors ministry of the West Branch Churches to brighten the lives of needy children within our community. We have 24 Giving Tree tags this year. If you would like to participate, please sign out a tag from the table in the foyer. Unwrapped gifts should be returned to the church on Sunday, December 10^th.

Christmas Caroling

Join us on Sunday, December 17th at 3:00pm for Christmas Caroling! We will gather on campus and practice a few favorite songs before caravanning throughout our community to brighten the holiday season of some of our church families. Talk with Pastor Matt if you have questions or ideas for this event.

Be Part of Our Christmas Eve Service

Our worship planning team is seeking people to help with our Christmas Eve Candlelight services. We are looking for greeters, ushers, musicians, special music offerings, drama presentations, readings, etc. See Pastor Matt if you are interested in participating in our 7:00pm service.

Christmas Eve Sunday Morning Refreshments

Refreshments Christmas Eve morning will be provided by all the wonderful bakers in the church.  Please bring your cookies, breads, and finger foods ready to share by 9:15am in the foyer. The Hospitality Team will provide coffee, tea, juice and all the napkins and plates. Any questions, contact Linda Carlson, 814-592-7975.

Christmas Poinsettias

If you are interested in purchasing a poinsettia in memory of a loved one to decorate the church for Christmas, please see Art & Sharon Folmar.

There’s Music In The Air !

Our Bible Explorers Class is excitedly practicing a Hand Bell version of the well-loved Christmas classic, Silent Night.  Practices take place each Sunday morning during the first few minutes of Kids Bible Class. ALL kids in grades 1-3 are encouraged to participate!  The kids will be sharing their selection during the regular 10:00am Sunday Worship service on December 10^th and also at the special Christmas Eve service at 7:00pm, December 24^th.  Mark your calendars!

Mitchell Christmas Gift

Each year we open a fund for our Pastor’s Christmas Gift. If you would like to give a gift of appreciation for the Pastor’s Christmas Gift, please mark your check or envelope “Pastor Christmas.” Offerings will be collected through December 17^th.

Directory Update

Lois Owens has moved to Colonial Courtyard. Send her a card or visit at 5546 E Pleasant Valley Blvd, Tyrone, PA 16686.

Celebration Choir

Lift your voice and sing! The Celebration Choir is rehearsing every Thursday at 7:30pm during this season. Talk to Amy Jo Belko if you have any questions.

Annual Business Meeting

Our Annual Business Meeting will be held on December 17^th immediately following our service. Mark your calendars and plan to stay for this brief meeting. We will present new members to receive and a new slate of officers and budget for approval. A copy of next year’s proposed budget and nominations are posted on the bulletin board in the foyer.

Snow Removal Signup

Our Facilities Team is looking for a few individuals to help maintain our walkways during the winter months. Are you able to help with removing snow and salting the sidewalks Sunday mornings here at the church this winter? Sign up in the foyer. Questions? See George Leathers.

Wild Game Dinner – Team Members Needed

We would like to have another Wild Game Dinner next year on March 16^th. Abe Skacel is looking for some people to help him lead this outreach. Talk to Abe soon so that he can gauge interest. And, hunters, save some meat from this year’s harvest to share!

Our Daily Bread

The latest edition of Our Daily Bread for December, January, and February is now available on the worship resource tables and by the Community Bulletin Board.

Open Staff Positions

• Administrative Assistant – We are searching for the next Administrative Assistant (part-time, hourly) to serve the church family in the church office. The job description for this open position is available in the foyer. To apply, please send a resume and a letter of application to Pastor Matt.
• Director of Family Ministry – We are searching for a Director of Family Ministry (part-time, salaried) to lead our ministries to children, youth, and parents. The job description for this new ministry position is available in the foyer. To apply, please send a resume and a letter of application to Pastor Matt.

Office Hours

Misty is no longer in the church office during daytime business hours. Misty is checking emails (churchoffice@lansefree.org) on Thursday evenings. If you need something during the day, contact Pastor Matt (pastormatt@lansefree.org) during this transitional period.

Renewing the Prayer Guide

During this time of transition in the church office, we are refreshing the “Ongoing Health Concerns” and “Cancer Treatments” sections of the prayer guide. If you have a loved-one you want listed in those sections, please indicate that via email (churchoffice@lansefree.org) or a written note in the offering plate. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Matt.

Snack and Yack

When the auditorium empties after worship, young people 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 kids listen closely, they can fill out a “Snack n’ Yack Notes” handout. Parents are always welcome to join in, too! Leading this week is Keith & Pennie Folmar

Community Group

The community group meets Sunday evenings at 7pm in the Skacel home for fellowship and Bible study. People of all ages are welcome (including kids!). See Abe or Jordyn Skacel if you want to check it out!

Ladies’ Fellowship Hour

Ladies, join us Wednesday, December 6^th at 10:30am for a time of fellowship with one another, praying for one another and missionaries, reading Scripture, and enjoying occasional snacks. Bonnie Dobash will be leading. All ladies are invited to attend.

Join Us at Prayer Meeting

Each Wednesday 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 Acts. 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.

This Week in Kids Bible Class

How do we know that God wants us to know Him? We can know that God wants us to know Him because He has revealed Himself through His Word.  Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be studying Luke 24  learning about how Jesus appeared to the disciples. Resources for family worship 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 for Volume 10, Unit 28, Session 1 which your family received in your mailbox today.

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 Genesis 1-19  and join as we study this week with Session 1: The First Week. The Winter quarter resources are now available in the foyer.

Giving Opportunities

Designated giving funds are open for deaconess compassion fund to help those in need within our church family, and a future pavilion here at the church. Please mark your gifts and drop them in the offering plate.

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]). Audio CDs are also available in the foyer under the community bulletin board. Need help subscribing or finding a particular sermon? See Misty Michaels.

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.

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