Lanse Link – 11 February 2024

Stay Sharp Registration Deadline
Our annual Stay Sharp theology conference will be held February 26^th-27^th at Waterdam Church. The theme this year is “Always Making Disciples.” The deadline for registering online is Monday, February 12^th. If you are interested in attending, please see Pastor Matt today!

Directory Deadline
Friday, February 16^th is the last day we will be able to take new or updated directory information, as well as photos. Please get all of your information into Jenni by then so we can get these printed.

KBC Teacher/ Volunteer Breakfast
Plan to gather on Saturday, February 17^th from 9am-11am for BREAKFAST, fellowship, classroom tips/training and prayer! Where: LEFC Fellowship Hall, When: Saturday, February 17^th from 9am-11am, What to do: Please let Vicky know if you are attending by February 11^th, Email: 3teach4@gmail.com or Text: 814-424-0620. Anyone interested in joining this ministry is welcome to attend!

Challenge Commitment Deadline
For students in grades 6-12 who are considering joining the Challenge Crew this year, keep in mind that the deadline to commit is February 18^th. A $100 deposit secures your spot and allows us to start booking hotels, planning transportation, and fundraising. You can email the church office, Cody, or Holly Crumrine for more information. (Financial assistance available if needed.)

Pop-Up Baptism Classes
Pastor Matt will be starting baptism classes on Sunday mornings at 8:30am on February 25^th and March 10^th for adults and February 18^th and March 17^th for kids.

Baby Bottle Blessings
Our church is participating in The Pregnancy Resource Clinic’s Baby Bottle Blessing campaign. If you need a bottle, there are more in the foyer. Please fill your bottle with your extra change and bills over the next few weeks.

Wild Game Dinner Meeting
The last meeting will be held Sunday, March 3^rd after service. Please see Abe for any questions.

Easter Egg Hunt
The Family Ministries Team is organizing an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 30^th at 10:00am here at the church. In addition to the hunt, we’ll be organizing indoor crafts and activities to enjoy. Children ages 0-12 are invited to participate. Registration will begin at 9:30am. Pre-registration is available for children who are attenders of LEFC. Donations of plastic eggs, candy, and prizes are needed, as well as volunteers. See Jordyn Skacel, Holly Crumrine, or Vicky Albert with questions, to pre-register, or to get involved!

Opportunities at River of Life Camp
Chip and Kim Wolfe serve every summer at River of Life Camp in Irasburg, Vermont (riveroflifecamp.com). The Wolfes train the ministry staff in personal evangelism and teach the Bible to campers. There are many opportunities to volunteer at River of Life Camp–cabin counselors, kitchen staff, maintenance workers, etc. If you are interested in getting involved even for just a weekend or up to a whole summer, talk with Chip or Kim.

Mailbox Update
All mailboxes in the foyer were updated. Due to all the new members and the increase in attendance, we needed to add and/or combine some mailboxes. If your mailbox was missed or you would like one, please let Jenni know.

Annual Reports
Copies of the 2023 annual report are available in the foyer. Grab one and be encouraged by how God worked through our ministries last year.

Lenten Worship Services
Each year the ministers of the West Branch Churches plan Lenten Services on Sundays throughout our area. A schedule of this location and speakers for these services is located on the community bulletin board in the foyer.

It Is Not Too Late to Go to Summer Camp
Thinking about attending summer camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch? The church will pay the first $75 to register your child. The cost per camper for regular camp (ages 8-16) will be $275, Buckaroo camp (ages 6-9) will be $110. A designated giving fund has been opened to support kids heading to camp. Mark your gift “camp fund” and put it in the offering. Interested in attending, see Marilynn Kristofits.

Open Staff Position
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.

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

Offering
Thank you for continuing to support our ministries and missionaries. The offering plates are available at the back of the auditorium. Gifts can also be mailed to the church or given electronically through your bank’s bill pay program or through online platforms: PayPal and Venmo. Our account address is churchoffice@lansefree.org. Questions? Contact Jenni English.

Church Office
Our church office is open every week, Tuesday – Friday from 9-3. You can reach Jenni in the office by phone (814-345-6500), or email at churchoffice@lansefree.org. If you would like information to be in next week’s bulletin, please have it in by 1:00pm Thursday. Last minute prayer requests need to be submitted to the office by 9:00am on Friday.

Chasing Love – Bible Study for Teens by Sean McDowell
The “Chasing Love” curriculum is designed for teens.  However, due to the subject material, young adults who believe they might benefit from this discussion are welcome to attend, as are concerned or curious parents of any youth attending. This is a 9-week study that will meet Sunday Evenings at 7:00 here at Lanse Free.

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” handouts that are in the foyer. Parents are always welcome to join in, too! Leading this week are Joel & Misty Michaels.

Ladies’ Fellowship Hour
Ladies, join us Wednesday, February 14^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 a salad type luncheon following the meeting. All ladies are invited to attend.

Community Group
The community group meets Sunday evenings at 7:00pm 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!

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 Psalms. 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.

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 11: Impatience* The Winter quarter resources are available in the foyer.

This Week in Kids Bible Class
Why does God command Christians to tell others about Jesus? We tell others about Jesus so they will hear and believe the good news. Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be studying Acts 4 learning about how Peter Continued to Preach. 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 30, Session 3 which your family received in your mailbox.

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.

Continue to Give