Lanse Link – 20 November 2022

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

Church Family News

Children’s Christmas Program

We are planning now for a Children’s Christmas program for Sunday, December 25th. Practice will take place Sunday mornings at 9:00am on the 11th and 18th.  Arrival time of 9:30am Christmas morning to line up. The parents of kids 6th grade and younger who wish to have their children participate should sign up online through the link in the email by December 4th or talk with Emigh Modzel.

Deck the Halls

You are invited to help ready our church for the Christmas season on Wednesday, November 30th as we deck the halls. Plan now to join us starting at 5:30pm as we set up the tree, hang banners, and put all the other special touches in and around our church building.

Salvation Army Angel Tree Tags Available

Join the deaconesses as they partner with the Salvation Army to brighten the lives of needy children within the West Branch community. 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 11th.

Annual Business Meeting

Our Annual Business Meeting will be held on December 11th immediately following our service. Mark your calendars and plan to stay for this brief meeting. We will present the slate of our 2023 officers and budget for approval. A copy of this year’s proposed budget and nominations will be posted soon.

Snow Removal Signup

The weather has turned cold, and the snow has begun to fall. 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.

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.

Save the Date – Wild Game Dinner 2023

Mark your calendars and join us for our 2023 Wild Game Dinner on Saturday, March 18th with special speaker Mark Ledford. More details on how you can be involved with this outreach ministry will be announced early next year. Hunters: don’t forget to save some meat for our dinner.

Mission To Malawi?

The Missions Ministry Team is prayerfully exploring the possibility of a short-term missions trip to Malawi in the future to work with our missionaries, Fred & Cindy Cressman. If this is something you may be interested in, please let Curtis Quick know today.

Food Bank Donations Needed

The West Branch Area Food Bank at Gethsemane UMC will be handing out Holiday Meals and Happy Birthday Jesus Kits throughout the month of December. They are in need of the following items: stuffing, canned sweet potatoes, instant mashed potatoes, gravy, cake mixes and icing, or monetary gifts to help purchase turkeys or hams. They are also taking donations of cereal, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, and spaghetti sauce for the months of January and February. Questions? Contact Mary Ann Moriarty at (814) 345-6860.

Miracle Mountain Ranch Christmas Party

You are invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus with MMR on Saturday, December 3rd at 6:00pm. Invite some friends and bring some finger foods or cookies to share. An RSVP to (814)664-7673 is appreciated, but not required. Check out their website for the details.

Holiday Open House – Pregnancy Resource Clinic

You are invited to an open house at the PRC. On Monday, December 5th, the team at PRC would be honored to show you the space at 421 & 423 Pugh Street where the work they do happens. Spend some time over light refreshments getting to know the people who carry out the work for the PRC.RSVP at scprc.com.

Deaconess Compassion Fund

Our Deaconess Compassion Fund helps assist families with a gift to help 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 resource tables or mark your gift “Deaconess Compassion Fund”.

“The Family Table” Email

All parents of LEFC Kids are receiving a weekly email called “The Family Table.” This new Family Ministry initiative is designed to provide helpful resources for feeding the faith of our LEFC families including access to a family devotional guide centered on the lesson being taught each week in Children’s Church. Grandparents, guardians, care-givers and other adults who want to make disciples of the next generation are also invited to sign up to receive “The Family Table.” Confirm your email address with Misty Michaels today.

Worldview Training for Youth

“Ideas Have Consequences.” Keith Hurley is offering a worldview training class for youth (grades 7-12) in the upstairs Youth Room every other Sunday evening at 7:00pm. Make plans now to join them Sunday, November 20th for their next class. Questions? See Keith Hurley.

Ladies’ Fellowship Hour

Ladies, are you interested in meeting with other women for a time of fellowship with one another and supporting each other in your faith? During the Ladies’ Fellowship Hour, women enjoy visiting with each other, praying for one another and missionaries, reading Scripture, and enjoying occasional snacks. Join us each Wednesday at 10:30am in the fellowship hall. If you have questions or ideas, see Judy Carlson or Ruth Murray. 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. Some who attend find it to be one of the most heartening hours of their week. Pastor Matt is leading us through a study in Exodus. 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 Children’s Church

What is a miracle? A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done. Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be studying Joshua 2 and Joshua 6 learning how God defeated Jericho. Parents, reinforce today’s lesson by asking your kids what they learned in class and talking about how it might apply to their lives in the week ahead. More resources for family worship centered on this lesson are available through the link you will receive in “The Family Table” email arriving this afternoon. See Misty Michaels to confirm your email address. For more information about this week’s lesson, check out The Gospel Project Big Picture Card for Volume 3, Unit 8, Lesson 1.

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 Amos; Jonah; Hosea; Micah and join as we study this week with Session 12: Humble Beginnigs. The Fall quarter resources are available in the foyer.

Giving Opportunities

Designated giving funds remain open for our 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.

All Church Notification Email List

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

Continue 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.

Prayer Items

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.

Contact the church office for this week’s prayer requests from the bulletin.

Lanse Free Church

255 Cotohisc Road
Lanse, PA 16849
Phone: 814.345.6500

Worship Service: Sunday, 10:00am

Prayer Meeting: Wednesday, 7:00pm