Lanse Link – 10 December 2023

Sunday, December 10, 2023

• • Church Family News
  • Prayer Items

Church Family News

New Administrative Assistant

We are pleased to welcome Jenni English as the new Administrative Assistant in the church office! Jenni has begun her training and will be in the office starting Tuesday, December 12^th. You can reach Jenni through the churchoffice@lansefree.org email address, the church’s Facebook Messenger account, or on the office phone, 814.345.6500. Office hours will be Tuesday through Friday 9am-3pm. Please welcome and encourage Jenni as she begins serving in this vital role.

“Giving Tree” Gifts

Reminder: Giving Tree gifts are due back today. If you forgot your gift, please bring it to the church Monday by 10:30am so we can include these in the drop off. Thank you for your generous giving!

Christmas Carols by Request

On Sunday, December 17th & 24th, we will be taking hymns by request during our Worship in Singing time. Be sure to have your request and the reason it is special to you ready to share as we lift our voices together.

Christmas Caroling

Join us on Sunday, December 17^th 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 !

O The Bible Explorers Kids Bible Class will be sharing their HANDBELL number December 24 during the 7:00pm Christmas Eve Service. All KBC Kids in Grades 1-3 are welcome and encouraged to participate. Kids need to meet in the Bible Explorer Classroom at 6:45pm for a quick practice. We hope to see you there!

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 Updates

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

Scott and Karen Mullen’s phone numbers should be 814.592.6446 (Karen) and 814.592.4515 (Scott). Please correct in your directory. Thank you!

Susan Denochick’s phone number is 814.345.6786 and her address is 376 Cemetery Road, Morrisdale, PA 16858. Please add her to your directory.

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.

Red Cross Blood Drive

On Tuesday, January 2^nd, our church will host the Morrisdale Community Blood Drive from 12:30-6:00pm. If you are eligible to donate, consider making an appointment at redcrossblood.org.

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.

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.

Open Staff Position

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.

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 are Joel & Misty Michaels.

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 13^th at 10:30am for a time of fellowship with one another, praying for one another and missionaries, reading Scripture, and enjoying occasional snacks. Anita Allen will be leading. There will be lunch following the meeting. 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 John 20  learning about how Jesus appeared to Thomas. 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 2 which your family received in your mailbox.

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 Couple. 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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