Lanse Link – 10 September 2023

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

• • Church Family News
  • Prayer Items

Church Family News

Upcoming Events

• Come out Sunday, September 17th at 9:00am to hear missionaries Peter & Deb Bors share about their recent ministry transition to EFCA Crisis Response. Learn how they will be supporting the ministry by serving at disaster response sites as needed and when available through leading volunteer teams, project work, prayer walks, meeting with homeowners, helping with initial and recovery work in churches and homes.
• Join us Sunday, September 24th at 9:00 am for this bonus session with our Allegheny District Superintendent, Kerry Doyal. We will have an edifying, uplifting time with Kerry as he shares.

Kids’ Baptism Class

There will be a baptism class for kids Wednesday, September 13^th at 6:oopm. If interested or have questions, see Pastor Matt.

Pastor Matt’s Prayer Retreat

Tuesday, September 19^th, Pastor Matt will be devoting the day to praying for our Lanse Free family. He would love to specifically pray for you and your family’s needs. Please fill out the prayer card and drop it in an offering plate on your way out today or next Sunday.

Celebration Choir

There will be a choir organizational meeting/rehearsal on Thursday, September 21^st at 7:30pm. Come and share your voice in this music ministry. Questions? See Amy Jo Belko.

Membership Seminar

Are you interested in learning what it means to be a member at LEFC? There will be a membership seminar on Tuesday, October 3^rd at 6:30pm. Talk with Pastor Matt to take part in this seminar.

Missionary Christmas in September

Each year we collect a special offering aimed to bless the missionaries we support and give them some extra money to use in whatever way they like. Donations will be accepted throughout the month of September. There are envelopes in the foyer on the resources tables or you can mark your gift “Christmas” and drop it in the offering plate.

Coffee Ministry

We are looking for new additions to our coffee ministry team! If you are interested in serving or would like to find out more about this ministry of fellowship, see Holly Crumrine.

Follow the Lord in Water Baptism

We are planning for more baptisms again soon. If you would like to learn more about what it means to follow Christ in water baptism, talk to Pastor Matt for options that fit your schedule. Classes will be set up to meet your scheduling needs.

Operation Christmas Child

Our church will once again participate in the OCC Shoebox campaign this year. With school supplies on sale, now is a great time to pick up some items in preparation for packing a shoebox to bless a needy child.

Mission Trip To Malawi

There is still time to join our team going on a short-term missions trip to Malawi August 3^rd-11^th, 2024 to work with our missionaries, Fred & Cindy Cressman. If you are interested in going or want to learn more about it, see Curt Quick. Continue to pray for our Malawi team as they prepare for this trip.

Director of Family Ministry

The job description for the new part-time ministry position is posted in the foyer. If you are interested in knowing more about the vision for this new role at LEFC, talk with any of the church elders.

Bake Sale Goods Needed

The West Branch Churches are in need of baked goods for their sale on Sunday, October 1^st at the “Blessed to Be a Blessing” generosity fair. The money from the bake sale goes towards helping them reach their goal of $1600 for their Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund. Sandy Little and Diane Diviney of Good Sheperd Episcopal are coordinating the bake sale. Contact Cliff Johnston at 814-496-4319 and leave a message if you can help or have any questions.

“Blessed to Be a Blessing”

The West Branch Church will be holding a “Blessed to Be a Blessing” generosity fair on October 1^st from 2:00-3:30pm at Gethsemane UMC.  In advance of this event, they are raising funds for the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund to help people in our community that have financial difficulty. You can donate by marking your gift “Blessing” and dropping it in the offering plate.

You Matter 5K & 10Mile Ride

The Pregnancy Resource Clinic will be hosting their annual 5k walk/run and 10Mile bicycle ride on Saturday, September 23^rd. For more information see the flyer on the Community Bulletin Board or visit their website  scprc.com

Mens’ Restroom Project

Please excuse our dust as the work in the mens’ restroom continues. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we update this room. Men: the family restroom is open for you to use throughout this project.

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 Pastor Matt & Heather Mitchell.

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, August 30^th at 10:30am for a time of fellowship with one another, praying for one another and missionaries, reading Scripture, and enjoying occasional snacks. Heather Mitchell 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. Joel Michaels is leading us through a study 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

Where is God? God is everywhere and is always with us. Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be studying Isaiah 7 learning how God is present with us. 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 6, Unit 16, Session 4 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 Mark and join as we study this week with Session 2: Proclaimed. The Fall quarter resources are 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 & Google Podcasts, 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 Misty Michaels will add you to the list.

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