Lanse Link :: March 8, 2026

Sunday, March 8, 2026

Church Family News

Bible Explorers Handbell Practices
The KBC Handbell Ensemble will be presenting a selection during the Resurrection Sunday Worship Service on April 5^th. Kids in grades 1-4 are invited to participate.  Practices will take place during the first few minutes of Bible Explorer Class beginning today and will continue each Sunday leading up to Easter.  We hope to see you there!

Adult Baptism Classes
Want to know more about baptism? March 15 (Part A) and March 22 (Part B) at 8:30am.  See Pastor Matt if you would like to take part.

Upcoming Guest Speaker
We will be having a guest speaker on Sunday, March 22^nd at 8:30am. Jaroslav & Natalija Elijas will be joining us from the Yugoslavian Evangelistic Society, Serbia.  They will be sharing about their ministry in evangelism, discipleship, church planting, relief work, and radio ministry.

Church Family Meal
Keep your eye out for news about our next church family lunch. And ink it in on your calendar: March 29!

Church Family Meeting
All members are encouraged to stay March 29^th for our next quarterly meeting. At this meeting we will welcome a new member, consider the updated child protection policy (copies are available in the foyer), and hear updates and reports on ministry initiatives.  See Chairman Cody Crumrine if you have any questions.

Cemetery Care Bids
The Facilities Team is now accepting bids to mow the cemetery in April through the end of September. You are responsible for providing your own gas and equipment. You may email your bid to the church office or place a hard copy in his mailbox by Sunday, April 5^th. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Randy Albert at 814-205-8905.

Fall Retreat 2026
Our Fall Retreat for this year has been booked! Mark your calendars to join us on October 16-18, 2026! More details will come at a later date.

Nursery Donations
We have had a number of people desire to donate items to the nursery. We are thankful for your willingness to share items that you no longer need. However, please see Becky Schiefer first with items that you desire to donate. Please do not bring toys into the nursery, as they need to first be vetted to ensure that they comply with safety criteria for babies and toddlers.

Easter Literature
We have Gospel pamphlets for you to read or to share during this season on the table by the office.

Egg Hunt at the Ark Park
We are seeking volunteers to assist with the egg hunt. A sign up sheet is available in the foyer. Please take a look at the needs we have and see if you are able to assist in any of these areas. All helpers should arrive no later than 9:00 and will be finished around 11:00-11:30. Many hands make light work!

Challenge 2026
There are info sheets and registration forms available in the lobby. You may use this QR code to fill out your registration online. A $100 deposit is required to register, and payment information is available on the form(s). The deadline to sign up is March 15^th. 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.

Egg Your Yard!
Support our Challenge students! Friends and family of LEFC can wake up to their own personal egg hunt on Easter morning for a suggested donation of $50 for 100 eggs or $75 for 150 eggs. Deliveries will be made the evening of April 4th, rain or shine. Reservations and payment due March 28th. You can register online with this QR code or by filling out a registration form on the table in the church lobby.

West Branch Ministerium Scholarship
The H. Lee Hebel Memorial Scholarship is an annual scholarship given to a high school graduate or those pursuing a second career, and will, in the next 9 months, be enrolled in college, seminary, or Bible school. They should be pursuing full time Christian service, including pastoral ministry, counseling, youth ministry, or teaching in a Christian school. Applications should be postmarked by May 1^st and can be found in the foyer on the Community Bulletin Board.

Register for Summer Camp!
Don’t forget to register for camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch! Camps are available starting at age 6. See Marilynn Kristofits to get registered for a discount, with questions, or for more information!

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.

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Growing Together

Snack and Yack
Directly after service, kids 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 listen closely, kids can fill out a “Snack n’ Yack Notes” handout that are in the foyer. Parents are always welcome to join in, too! Leading this week are Pastor Matt & Heather Mitchell.

Adult Class
The adult class meets here on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm at the church. Their current class is studying Bible Translations, beginning March 1^st.

Youth Group
The youth group meets Sunday evenings at 7:00pm at LEFC. All students in grades 7 and up are invited to come for games, snacks, and fun while studying our Bibles together. See Cody & Holly Crumrine for more information.

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 14-27 and join as we study this week with Session 2: Real Devotion. Spring resources are available in the foyer.

This Week in Kids Bible Class
Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be studying Matthew 1; Luke 1-2 about how Jesus Was Born.  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
Our church office is open every week, Tuesday – Friday from 8:00am – 2:00pm. You can reach Keith in the office by email at [email protected] or by phone (814-345-6500). 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 Keith Hurley.

Fellowship Hall Reservations
If you would like to use the Fellowship Hall for your event, please contact Keith Hurley 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 Keith Hurley.

Giving Opportunities
Designated giving funds are open for the deaconess compassion fund to help those in need within our church family, summer camp to pay for registration fees,  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 (Keith Hurley), Coffee Ministry (The Crumrines), Greeting Ministry (Katie Kerlin & Haylee Simler), Kids Bible Classes (Vicky Albert), Nursery (Becky Schiefer), Prayer Corners (Keith Hurley),  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]