LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, November 1, 2020
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

• From the Pastor
• Home Worship Guide
• Church Family News
• Prayer Items

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

November is a great month to focus on thankfulness. On this first Sunday of November, I am thankful:

• that we can meet in person on campus once again and worship the Lord Jesus together.
• that we got an extra hour of sleep last night because of the end of Daylight Savings Time.
• that we live in a nation with free and safe elections where citizens get to vote for their preferred leaders.
• that God the Father listens to and answers prayer.
• that God the Son came back from the dead.
• that all believers have God the Spirit living inside of them.
• that we can have peace and quiet in our hearts as we put our hope in the LORD (Psalm 131).

I could go on and on.

What are you thankful for this November?

Whether at home or on campus, let’s gather our families together and worship the Lord Jesus Christ!

In His Grip,

– Pastor Matt

P.S. I met a new song this week that I really liked. It’s really old and really good. Do you know, “I Lay My Sins on Jesus” by Horatius Bonar? Check it out. Good music gladdens the heart. Make sure you are and your family are singing about Jesus.

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship

Read Psalm 47 as your family gathers to worship.

Have someone pray and ask God to bless your time of worship at home.

2.Worship in Singing

In November, we emphasize giving thanks for all of God’s good gifts to us.

As a household, sing “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” by Edward Plumptre (1865).

YouTube Video

**Option. Those worshiping on campus this weekend will also be singing, “Like a River Glorious,” “Peace Like a River,” “’Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus,” “Nothing But the Blood,” and “Man of Sorrows.” Your family may want to sing one or more of those as more or instead.

3. Worship in Unity

Recite together Article 10 of the EFCA Statement of Faith on the Response to the Gospel and Eternal Destiny:

“We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.”

4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

Share with your family those things you are thankful for and those things you are lamenting this week.

5. Worship in Bible Memory

Recite our current “Hide the Word” memory verses, Philippians 4:4-8.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

6. Worship in Prayer

Take prayer requests and pray for each other.

Read the prayer guide together and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.

7. Worship in the Word

Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message: “Unrestless.”

Facebook Video

YouTube Video

Read on Pastor Matt’s Blog

[The message will be available online by Sunday morning.]

Some families may want to watch/read the message on their own and then have a Bible study and discussion together during this time.

8. Worship in Singing

Sing “Be Still My Soul” by Katharina von Schlegel (1855).

YouTube Video

**Option: Families with small children may want to sing, “Jesus, Strong and Kind” (CityAlight, 2019).

9. Worship All Week

Have someone pray a prayer of commissioning for your family as you end this time of gathered worship and face a week of new opportunities and new challenges to serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.

10. Participate in LEFC Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom – 6:30pm on Sunday November 1st.

Many of us are meeting through video-conference online this Sunday at 6:30pm:

• See one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices.
• Listen to announcements of church family news.
• Interact with Pastor Chris Grella of State College EFC. Find out what the Lord is doing in and through our district sister church in Happy Valley and get a prayer update for both Pastor Chris and Angie’s health as they are dealing with both cancer (Angie) and COVID-19 (Angie and Chris).
• LEFC Zoom Kids, do you have a favorite stuffed animal or baby doll you can show us on the screen? Pastor Matt has another object lesson that relates to taking care of little babies. Parents may want to re-read Psalm 131 before getting online and discussing with your kids how it might relate to our lives today.
• Pray for one another live and online.

If you have any questions about how to do this, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Church Family News

Resuming On-Campus Worship – Daylight Savings Time

Don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour Saturday night and join us as we resume in-person on-campus worship gatherings this Sunday morning at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 (November 1) with both inside and outside seating. (If the weather is favorable, the 11:00 gathering will be held completely outdoors.) The building has been thoroughly cleaned and is ready for our return. More information about what precautions we are taking on a weekly basis are available on the church website.!

Autumn Congregational Update

 All active members of LEFC have been provided a packet of information in their church mailbox. This packet contains all of the information and documents we usually provide at our October Church Family Meeting and the special plan for the Annual Meeting in December. Be sure to collect your Autumn Congregational Update from your box this weekend. Marilynn will mail out any remaining by Tuesday.

On-Campus Prayer Meeting

Join us Wednesdays at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall for a brief Bible study, praising God through song, and praying with other believers. Reminder: Because we are inside, masks or shields are required of all who attend. We will continue to send the Prayer Meeting at Home guide to anyone who requests it. Contact the church office to get this weekly email.

Church Family Budget Meeting

 The annual budget meeting will be held Tuesday, November 10^th at 6:00pm. Leaders of ministry and committees who use church funds are asked to send along their ministry’s needs and any budget recommendations to the elder overseeing their area of ministry. Contact Bob Gisewhite if you have any questions.

 Children’s Church

 Our Children’s Church ministry will resume next Sunday at the 9:30 worship service. All children (ages 3 – 3^rd grade) are invited to join us as we share a Bible story and short activity together. Parents: When indicated in the service, please bring your kids back to the foyer. Drop them off at the end of the hall with a volunteer. We will bring them back out the hallway to the foyer to meet you at the conclusion of our program time. All ministry workers have their clearances.

 West Branch Ministerium Thanksgiving Service

What are you thankful for? If you prepared something to be used in the West Branch Ministerium’s Thanksgiving service, please contact Marilynn by Sunday so she can get it submitted for you. Mark your calendars and be sure to join us for a virtual worship service to premiere on Sunday, November 22^nd at 7:00pm.

Thanksgiving Baskets

 The deaconesses are collecting donations of food items to help brighten the Thanksgiving holiday of needy families in our community. Nonperishable items may be brought to the church through November 22nd. 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: Sylvia Gisewhite, Becky Hubler, Heather Hurley, Kay Knaul, Cindy Michaels, Renee Mostyn (Lead), Ildiko Schall, or Pam Weaver.

 Operation Christmas Child

 Our church is once again participating in Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse. If you feel led to pack a shoebox for a child, take one of the boxes in the foyer and fill it up. The shoeboxes need to be returned to the church by Wednesday, November 11th or Sunday, November 15th. Please bring any extra items that don’t fit in your shoeboxes as often we need an item or two to fill out other boxes. Each box will cost $9 to ship. If you are interested in sponsoring one or more of the shoeboxes we hope to send, mark your donation “Shoeboxes.”  Not joining us on campus yet? Visit OCC’s website and build a shoebox online.

Sunday Morning Greeter Sign-Up

Do you like to say hi to people? Can you smile behind your mask? The next three months for greeter sign-up are now available in the foyer. Be sure to contact the church office this week if you are willing to greet for a service (or more!) in November, December, and January.

Pavilion Fund

A designated giving fund for a picnic pavilion here at church remains open. You can donate to this by marking your gift “pavilion” and placing it in the offering.

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.

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 (9:30-2:30 Tuesday – Friday) in the offering plate right inside the door.
• Online Payments – P2P (CNB), PayPal, and Venmo are all e-giving options. Our account address is our email: churchoffice@lansefree.org. Contact Marilynn if you need any help navigating this way of giving.

Prayer Items

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