Lanse Link – 26 December 2021

Church Family News

Communion

Prepare your hearts as we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper next week during our morning worship gathering at 10:00. Prepackaged communion elements will be available with the worship bulletins for those participating on-campus, whether inside or outside.

Read Your Bible in 2022

Get ready to read through your Bible next year! There are two different reading plans for free on the Bible table in the foyer. Stop by and take a plan today.

Annual Reports

Attention all ministry leaders: It is time once again to prepare for our Annual Reports and Vision Meeting to be held on January 30^th. Please turn in your review of 2021 and vision for 2022 to Marilynn Kristofits by Wednesday, January 19^th. Thank you for serving our church in 2021.

Tax Receipts

If you need a tax receipt for your giving in 2021 and have not gotten one previously, please let Anita Allen know so that she can prepare one for you.

Thank You!

Dear church family, thank you so much for the generous Christmas Gift! It is a true joy to be your pastor. – Pastor Matt & Heather

2022 Church Directory Pictures

We are still accepting pictures for our church directory. Digital pictures can be emailed to churchoffice@lansefree.org until January 3^rd.

Save The Date – Stay Sharp

Our annual Stay Sharp theology conference will return to in-person meeting. It will be held February 21-22 at Waterdam Church. The theme this year is the theology propelling our gospel mission. For more information, pick up a flyer in the foyer and see Pastor Matt.

Wild Game Dinner Planning Meeting

Join us Sunday, January 9^th after church for the first planning meeting for our 2022 Wild Game Dinner. Our dinner is scheduled for March 19^th from 4:-00-8:00 and our speaker will be Kim Cone.

Going to Summer Camp?

It is once again time to start thinking about summer camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch! Early registration forms need to be turned in to Marilynn by January 30^th to take part in the $30 discount. The cost per camper for regular camp (ages 8-18) will be $190 if you make this deadline and register as a group. Buckaroo camp (ages 6-9) is also available for our younger campers at a cost of $90 for this minicamp. (June 23-25 or August 8-10) See Marilynn Kristofits soon with your preferred camp dates.

Designated Giving – Gideons

The Gideons International is an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together for service, sharing personal testimony, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments across the globe. Although they cannot join us in person this year, we still want to give an opportunity to help support them. A designated giving fund will be open for the next two weeks. Mark your gift “Gideons” and place it in the offering plate.  

Greeter Ministry Help Needed

We are looking for a few more people to add to our greeting team. If you can come to church a bit early and greet people as they come, please reach out to Jordyn Skacel (814.592.9280) or Haylee Simler (814.553.6515). Schedules are made every 3 months, and the commitment is only once a month.

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.

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 4: Sought.

Follow the Lord in Water Baptism

We are planning for more baptisms again this Winter. 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.

“Custom Rebuild” Team for Children & Youth Ministry at LEFC

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Psalm 78:4b). It’s time to re-think, re-imagine, and re-build our children and youth ministries at LEFC to fit the changing needs of families today. The Elders are looking for people, especially younger parents, with an interest in making disciples of the next generation to team up to make recommendations for new and renewed programs, events, structures, and leadership for children and youth ministry. Talk with Pastor Matt if you have interest in or ideas for this “Custom Rebuild” team.

Red Cross Blood Drive

The holiday season is putting stress on an already taxed blood supply. On Tuesday, December 28^th, our church will host the Morrisdale Community Blood Drive from 1:00-6:30pm to try and help with this shortage. If you are eligible to donate, consider making an appointment to meet the critical need for blood. We are also looking for people willing to work in the canteen. We will happily accept donations of leftover Christmas cookies to use in our drive as well. Questions? See Marilynn Kristofits.

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.

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.

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 give electronically through your bank’s bill pay program or through online platforms: PayPal and Venmo. Our account address is churchoffice@lansefree.org. Questions? Contact Marilynn.

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.

Amazon Smile

Do you shop with Amazon? Amazon Smile offers you a way to have a percentage of your sales be donated to a participating nonprofit organization. Simply go to smile.amazon.com and select your charity. Here is a list of participating organizations our church partners with: Evangelical Free Church of America, Evangelical Free Church of Lanse PA, Pregnancy Resource Clinic, Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions, Cru/Campus Crusade for Christ, Vision of Hope Ministries Inc., Ethnos360, The Navigators, NOVO, and Living Hope Wellness Centers.

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.

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.