Lanse Link :: January 25, 2026

Sunday, January 25, 2025

Church Family News

Deaconess Committee Meeting
The Deaconess team meeting will be rescheduled to a later date. Please see Renee Mostyn if you have any questions.

Annual Report & Child Protection Policy Proposal
Copies of the 2025 Annual Report and a proposed update of the LEFC Child Protection Policy are available in the foyer. See Jordyn Skacel or any of the Elders if you have questions about the proposal.

Baby Bottle Blessings
Our church is participating in The Pregnancy Resource Clinic’s Baby Bottle Blessing campaign. If you need a bottle and didn’t get one last week, there are more in the foyer. Please fill your bottle with your extra change, bills and checks over the next month. If your bottles are filled, please place them inside the church office.

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.

Family Ministries Book Fair
For the first three Sundays in February (1^st, 8th, 15th), Family Ministries will be operating a book fair after church in the former MOPS room across from the fellowship hall. Come leaf through an array of trusted resources from parenting and marriage books to kids board books and submit an order form of picks to equip you for disciple-making in your home. We will then order the items for you and distribute them when they arrive. The most exciting part is that you’ll get them at a discount, as Family Ministries will cover a percentage of the price for you so that our families can get solid material in their hands. We’ll even have fun little items for kids to purchase, so be sure they bring their quarters! Check it out after church one Sunday!

Team Leaders for 2025
Leaders for various teams have been selected for this year. You can reach out to any member for any team, however for immediate needs and concerns, see the following: Cody Crumrine – Church Chairman, Randy Albert – Facilities Team, Darla Kyler – Financial Team, Renee Mostyn – Deaconesses, Heather Mitchell – Hospitality, and Curtis Quick – Missions.

Save The Date – Stay Sharp
Our annual Stay Sharp theology conference will be held March 9^th – 10^th at Waterdam Church. The theme this year is “True Spirituality.” Register online by February 23^rd. For more information, pick up a flyer in the foyer, and see Pastor Matt.

WinterCON
Students in grades 6-12, you’re invited to join us March 13^th – 15^th at WinterCON, a conference that will encourage you to go deeper in your walk with God and grow your ability to live out your faith in your everyday life. Taking place at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, one of the largest indoor water parks in the country, you’re sure to have a meaningful and fun weekend with us! Abe and Jordyn Skacel are planning to lead the group from LEFC. If you’re interested in attending, please let Jordyn know by the end of January.

Challenge
Registration is open for Challenge – the EFCA’s biennial youth conference. Students entering 7^th grade in 2026 through graduating seniors can join us in heading to Kansas City, MO this July 13^th-17^th for a mix of worship, learning, mission and fun. See Holly or Cody Crumrine or contact the church office if interested. The deadline to sign up is March 15^th.

Register for Summer Camp!
It is once again time to start thinking about summer camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch! You can register for one of their various camps, as those who sign up by February 1^st will receive a discount. Camps are available starting at age 6. Visit their website (https://mmrm.org) to learn more about camp offerings, dates, and costs. See Marilynn Kristofits with questions or for more information!

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Growing Together

Snack and Yack

Snack and Yack will be cancelled as there is no service this week.

Adult Class
The adult class will be cancelled Sunday evening due to weather. It will resume next week.

Youth Group
There will be no youth group this week. It will resume next week.

Ladies’ Fellowship Hour
Ladies, join us on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am for a time of fellowship with one another, praying for one another and missionaries, and reading Scripture.

Join Us at Prayer Meeting
Wednesdays 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 1 John. 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 Matthew 1-13 and join as we study this week with Session 8: Mercy Extended. Winter resources are available in the foyer.

This Week in Kids Bible Class
Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers are studying Esther about how Esther Saved Her People. Resources for family worship and conversation 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 which your child will receive at the end of class to bring home. If you are not currently receiving “The Family Table” or need assistance with accessing the family resources, please see Jordyn Skacel or Vicky Albert.

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Additional Resources

Church Office Running Remotely
Jenni is running the office remotely. She is still able to print the items you need and communicate as normal. If you need to contact her, you may call the office phone and she will receive a voicemail OR you may call/text her on her personal cell (814) 592-7067. 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.

Lanse Free Fridge
Our community fridge and pantry is open 24/7. Contributions may include fresh or frozen foods, dairy products, canned or dried goods, cereals, or prepared foods. Anyone is welcome to donate or rehome food.

Need Prayer?
Our church and our pastor love to pray for you. If you have a need for prayer, you can email us at [email protected]. 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 [email protected] and we will add you.

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.

Library
We offer many free resources in our church library, located to the right as you leave the auditorium. Our catalog of books is now online! www.librarycat.org/lib/LanseFreeChurch. Check something out today.

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]). Need help subscribing or finding a particular sermon? See Jenni English.

Fellowship Hall Reservations
If you would like to use the Fellowship Hall for your event, please contact Jenni English in the office to check availability and get approval.

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 is [email protected]. Questions? Contact Jenni English.

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

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: [email protected].

Opportunities for Service
Become a part of our ministries! To get started serving in our church, contact the following people: Attendance (Jenni English), Coffee Ministry (The Crumrines), Greeting Ministry (Katie Kerlin & Haylee Simler), Kids Bible Classes (Vicky Albert), Nursery (Becky Schiefer), Prayer Corners (Jenni English),  and Worship Team (Pastor Matt Mitchell).

Director of Family Ministry
Jordyn Skacel serves as our Director of Family Ministry. She is happy to meet with you at the church, in her home, in your home, or in public, with or without kids! Catch her at church or contact her via phone, text, or email, (814) 592-9280 or [email protected] to schedule a time to meet. She’d love to hear your ideas, how you’d like to be involved, and to be a resource for your family.

Church Elders
Cody Crumrine [724-787-8351]             Keith Hurley [814-553-5624]
Keith Folmar [814-345-5980]                 Abe Skacel [717-606-9344]
Curtis Quick  [814-404-3798]                 Pastor Matt Mitchell [814-762-7336]