Lanse Link – 13 February 2022

Church Family News

Celebrating 130 Years!

On February 13, 1892, our church was organized at the home of A.J. Palmquit. Ten charter members came together to adopt a constitution and form a worshiping congregation. Today we celebrate 130 years of God’s faithfulness! Our Hospitality Team will be serving cake immediately after church. Stay and help celebrate our birthday!

Membership Seminar

Are you interested in learning what it means to be a member at LEFC? Pastor Matt has scheduled a membership seminar for Saturday, March 12 from 9:00 – 11:30am. Talk with Pastor Matt today about taking part in this seminar.

Stay Sharp

Our annual Stay Sharp theology conference is just around the corner. The theme this year is the theology propelling our gospel mission, and it will be held February 21-22 at Waterdam Church. For more information, pick up a flyer in the foyer and see Pastor Matt on Sunday to join our group.

Pastor Matt Away

Pastor Matt and Heather are going on a short trip today through Tuesday. He will return to the office on Wednesday. If you need anything while he is away, contact one of the members of our Elder Board: Keith Folmar, Cody Crumrine, Joel Michaels, or Abe Skacel.

Parent Survey

The Family Discipleship Vision Team is working on re-imagining our ministries for children, youth, and parents, and they are seeking input from parents to gather data on availability and preferences for programs and events. An email has been sent with a link to a survey for all parents to fill out (one per household). Parents, if you did not receive one, please contact the church office with your email address. Please complete your survey by February 27. Thank you for praying for this team as they re-envision these ministries for today’s families.

New Year, New Prayers

As we enter a new year, Pastor Matt would like to know how to best pray for each of the families in our church. There are blue prayer sheets in the foyer. Please take a moment and update him on things for which you are praising God and requests you would like Pastor Matt to take before the throne grace (Hebrews 4:16).

Baby Bottle Blessings

Our church is participating in The Pregnancy Resource Clinic’s Baby Bottle Blessing campaign. There are bottles available on the worship resource tables in the foyer. Take a bottle home and fill it with your extra change and bills over the next month. Baby bottles are due back February 27^th.

It Is Not Too Late to Go to Summer Camp

It is once again time to register for summer camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch! We have 11 campers heading up to church camp and qualify for a $40 group discount. The church will pay the first $75 to register your child. cost per camper for regular camp (ages 8-18) will be $230 Buckaroo camp (ages 6-9) is also available for our younger campers at a cost of $70. (June 23-25 or August 8-10) Information is available in the foyer. A designated giving fund has been opened to support kids heading to camp. Mark your gift “camp fund” and put it in the offering.

Deaconess Compassion Fund

Many within our church family have been struck with medical problems that have cause them to miss work. Our Deaconess Compassion Fund has been able to assist these families with a gift to ease their financial strain. Prayerfully consider supporting those in our church family experiencing a crisis by giving a gift to the deaconess fund. Use the small envelopes found on the free resource table.

Search for New Administrative Assistant

Marilynn Kristofits has begun full-time position at Penn State. The Elder Board is now searching for a new administrative assistant to serve our church family in the office. A detailed job description is posted in the foyer. If you feel that God may be leading you towards this part time position, please submit a letter of application and a copy of your resume to Pastor Matt by February 23 for early consideration. Pray for the Elder Board as they work through the process of hiring a new Administrative Assistant. Marilynn will continue to serve some evenings and Saturdays to provide essential support during the transition.

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.

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.

Annual Reports

Copies of the 2021 annual report is available in the foyer. Grab one and be encouraged by how God worked through our ministries this year.

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 Explore the Bible: Ezekiel; Daniel and join them as they begin with Session 10: Humility Required.

All Church Notification Email List

Do you receive our weekly news bulletin (Lanse Link) and special notifications from the church? We use this list to keep you up to date on any special announcements and changes to our regular worship service. To be added, send your email address to the church office (churchoffice@lansefree.org) and Marilynn will include you.

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. Want to join this list? Send an email to prayer@lansefree.org and we will add you.

Additional Indoor Seating Options

We are broadcasting the audio of the worship gathering into the Fellowship Hall, Foyer, Ladies’ Classroom, Prayer Room, and the upstairs Youth Room on Sunday mornings. Now that the weather has turned colder, those who have been worshipping outside may find these spread-out indoor seating options more comfortable.

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.

Wild Game Dinner Needs

Wondering how you can help with this year’s WGD? Here are some areas where you may be able to help. Prayerfully consider plugging yourself into one of the following areas of ministry for our dinner.

PRAYER: Commit to pray for the people who will be attending our event this year – that their ears will be open, and their hearts would be prepared to receive Kim Cone’s message. Pray specifically for the person you are bringing, too.

ADVERTISING: Help spread the word about our WGD! Posters are in the foyer. Take one today and hang it in your local post office, at the gym, at your place of employment, or any place of business you feel will help us reach people.

TICKETS: Jamie Morgan has tickets for our event in his mailbox. Tickets are necessary for entrance into the dinner, and our flyers say to see anyone from Lanse Free Church. Grab a pack today and start handing them out and let us know how many are coming.

DOOR PRIZES: This year we are looking for people to purchase our door prizes. Letters are in the foyer for local businesses thanking them for their past help and a promise to purchase something from their business as an added thank you. Please have door prizes here by March 6. Cash donations for door prizes are also being accepted through March 6. Mark your gift “WGD.”

SET UP: Many hands make light work! We will need a bunch of people to help set/clean up at our venue. There are also items that will need to be taken from the church to the hall and back again. See Jamie if you can help.

FOOD: Signup sheets are posted in the foyer. Sign up in the foyer if you are bringing a dish. Jamie Morgan is planning on making meatballs and is looking for ground venison for this So far he has about 15 pounds. Could you spare a pound of ground venison? Bring it with you to church next week and put it in the freezer. We also need willing bakers to provide us with 6-8 more pies.

KITCHEN HELP: We are looking for someone to coordinate our kitchen. We are also needing people to work the day of the event preparing food. Please sign up to help with this need.

Prayer Items