Lanse Link :: November 17, 2024

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Church Family News

Community Group
Community Group will be taking a pause over the holiday season and will restart in the new year. Tonight at 6:00pm will be the last meeting of 2024 with a Thanksgiving themed potluck. Let Abe or Jordyn Skacel know if you plan to attend so they ensure they have enough table seating!

Operation Christmas Child
Our church is participating in OCC, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse. If you packed a shoebox, thank you! They need to be returned to the church today. Each box will cost $10 to ship. If you are interested in sponsoring one or more of the shoeboxes we hope to send, mark your donation “Shoeboxes.” Questions? See Mary Beth Moslak.

The Lanse Free Fridge
The new community fridge here on our campus will officially open next Sunday, November 24^th. You can help Holly Crumrine and the deaconesses pack the pantry for the grand opening by making donations; dried or canned food, frozen food, fresh produce, prepared meals, baby supplies (diapers, formula), hygiene items, and any other safe, non-expired food items. You can put your items directly into the fridge, freezer, or pantry shelving in the new shelter by the Ark Park. Please pray for this new endeavor to be a blessing to our whole community.

Thanksgiving Baskets
The deaconesses are collecting donations of food items to help brighten the Thanksgiving holiday of needy families in our community. Non-perishable items may be brought to the church through November 24^h. Our deaconess team will prepare all donations for safe delivery to needy families in our community. Please be sure to check the expiration dates on your donations to ensure they are fresh. If you know of any families who could use a basket this holiday season, please get in touch one of our Deaconess team members: Renee Mostyn (Lead), Beth English, Becky Hubler, Heather Hurley, Cindy Michaels, Ildiko Schall, Sue Swisher or Pam Weaver.

Church Family Budget Meeting
The annual budget meeting will be held this Tuesday, November 19^th at 6:00pm. All interested people are invited to join the Elder Board and help make the budget plans for 2025. Leaders of ministries and committees who use church funds are asked to bring or send along their ministry’s needs and recommendations to this meeting. See Keith Folmar if you have any questions.

Deck the Halls
Maria Jackson is gathering a team of people to ready the church building for the Christmas season on Monday, November 25^th at 6:30pm. Let Maria or Jenni know so Maria can plan for help.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Join the deaconesses as they partner with the compassion ministry of the WB Churches to brighten the lives of needy children and families within our community.

• Giving Tree Tags – We have 8 Giving Tree tags for specific kids. 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 15^th.
• Giving Tree Meal Tags – We have 10 Giving Tree Meal tags for specific families. If you would like to donate a meal, please sign your name on the sheet. All food needs to be to the church on Sunday, December 15^th.
• Food Bank – Still in need of the following; cans of icing, boxes of instant mashed potatoes, and boxes of stuffing for holiday meals. There will be a donation box in the foyer labeled, “WB Ministerium Food Bank.” Donations will be accepted through the month of December as well.

Annual Business Meeting
Our Annual Business Meeting will be held on December 8^th immediately following service. Members, please mark your calendars and plan to stay for this brief meeting to set the budget and officers for 2025. A copy of next year’s proposed budget and officer nominations will soon be posted on the bulletin board in the foyer.

Kids’ Baptism Classes
Pastor Matt is offering kids classes on baptism, 8:30am November 24^th (Part A) and December 1^st (Part B). Pastor Matt is continuing to schedule classes for adults. See him for details.

New Class – “Where You Are in God’s Story”
John Forcey will be leading a three-week pop-up class at 8:30am before the worship time beginning on December 1^st. This class will consider some of the most significant events in Scripture and how they all fit together. This “narrative framework” will help you understand the Bible as a whole, and help you know where you are in God’s story of redemption no matter what page you open to in your Bible.

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 Exodus; Leviticus and join as we study this through the Winter Quarter, which starts in December. These booklets are available in the foyer.

Address Update
Carlos and Migdalia DeJesus and their grandson, Javier have moved. Migdalia writes, “We will miss everyone. We hope to visit back next year with the Lord’s will. We moved to our son’s new home. 1764 Pelham Drive, York, PA 17406.”

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 churchoffice@lansefree.org. 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 a future pavilion for the Ark Park here at the church. Please mark your gifts and drop them in the offering plate.

Church Office
Our church office is open every week, Tuesday – Friday from 8:45am – 2:15pm. You can reach Jenni in the office by phone (814-345-6500) or email at churchoffice@lansefree.org. 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.

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 families@lansefree.org 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.

Youth Group
The youth group meets on Sunday evenings at 7:00pm. All students in grades 7 and up are invited to come for games, snacks, and fun while learning to study our Bibles together. The youth group will be learning to grow closer to God by studying the book of Ephesians. See Cody & Holly Crumrine for more information.

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 is Abe & Jordyn Skacel.

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. All ladies are invited to attend.

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 Numbers. 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 Acts 13-28 and join as we study this week with Session 12: Respond. The Fall quarter resources are available in the foyer.

This Week in Kids Bible Class
God Is In Control. Today, the Little Learners and Bible Explorers will be studying Genesis 37; 39-46; 50 learning about Joseph Taken to Egypt. Resources for family worship 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 for Volume 1, Unit 3, Session 3 which your family received in your mailbox.

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 (Cody & Holly Crumrine), Kids Bible Classes (Vicky Albert), Nursery (Becky Schiefer), Greeting Ministry (Katie Kerlin & Haylee Simler), Prayer Corners (Jenni English), and Worship Team (Pastor Matt Mitchell).

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.

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.

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