LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, November 15, 2020
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

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

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

“To God be the glory / Great things He has done.” When we stand back and consider all of the great things our Lord has done for us, we can be overcome with gratefulness. On this third Sunday of November, I am especially thankful:

• for my family at home, anticipating Robin’s soon return and all of us gathering around a table of Thanksgiving…
• for my family at church, though separated physically by safety precautions, we are connected spiritually through our shared faith in the Lord Jesus…
• for my family spread afar, both my extended biological family, so near and dear to my heart, and my extended spiritual family, genuine Christians spiritually united all around the world…
• for my salvation planned through the wisdom of the Father, won through the sacrificial work of the Son, and applied through the mysterious power of the Spirit…

“Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the people rejoice!”

Whether at home or on campus, let’s make sure that every single one of us in this church family worships Him with songs of joy!

In His Grip,

– Pastor Matt

P.S. I heard a teacher say on a theology podcast this week that there is no emotion you can feel that is not found in the Psalms. Every emotion that we can feel shows up in those 150 divinely authorized songs. That just makes me want to read them more and learn how to sing them with my life!

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship

Read Psalm 65 with thanksgiving as your family gathers to worship.

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

2.Worship in Singing

As a household sing “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” by Henry Alford (1884).

YouTube Video

**Option. Those worshiping on campus are also singing, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” “To God Be the Glory,” “Victory in Jesus,” and “We Believe (The Apostles’ Creed),” and “Praise the Saviour.” You could add or substitute those songs for your household, as well.

3. Worship in Unity

Recite together the Apostle’s Creed:

“We believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

 We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

 We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. 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: “With Songs Of Joy.”

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 “Bringing in the Sheaves” by Knowles Shaw (1874).

YouTube Video

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 15th.

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 Paul & Shelley who work internationally to cultivate Christ-honoring transformation in communities where He is yet to be worshiped.
• LEFC Zoom Kids, we want to see your art! Can you draw a picture (or more than one) of Psalm 126? There are lot of images in Psalm 126 that would make a terrific drawing with crayons, colored pencils, or paint. Parents may want to re-read Psalm 126 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

Treasures for Children

Join the deaconesses as they partner with the Salvation Army to brighten the lives of needy children within the West Branch community. If you would like to participate, please sign out a tag from the table under the map in the foyer. Unwrapped gifts should be returned to the church by Sunday, December 6^th.

Lanse Free Blessings Tree

Help us fill our Blessings Tree in the foyer!  We want to spend some time focusing on all of the many blessings in our lives this year. Write down one of God’s blessings in your life on a leaf cutout from the basket in the foyer or pick up a leaf (or more!) and take them home to fill out. Then be encouraged as our Blessings Tree fills up this month. Blessings can also be emailed to the church office.

Pardon Our Dust – Ladies’ Restroom Project

Our Facilities Team has begun the demolition of our ladies’ restroom. They will be working on gutting the room and preparing it for a much-needed update. Thanks to these dedicated guys who work so diligently to make improvements and keep our building updated and functional. The project is scheduled to be completed some time in December. Ladies: The family restroom is open and available for use.

Holiday Decorations

With the holiday season quickly approaching, we are looking for 3 or 4 families willing to commit to help with decorating our building. Would your family like to put up our tree or hang the banners? Maybe your family would like to decorate the foyer or hang the wreaths? Directions will be provided, and someone will be available to answer any questions you may have during the process. Questions? Contact Marilynn Kristofits if you can help.

West Branch Ministerium Thanksgiving Service

What are you thankful for?  You are invited to the Ministerium’s virtual Thanksgiving Worship service to premiere on Sunday, November 22^nd at 7:00pm. A link to this service will also be shared on our Facebook Page next week. Set aside some time to worship with other area churches.

Children’s Church

All children (ages 3 – 3^rd grade) are invited to join us for Children’s Church at our 9:30 worship service. 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.

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 21^st. 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.

Sunday Morning Greeter Sign-Up

Do you like to say hi to people? Can you smile behind your mask? Be sure to stop on your way out today and sign up to greet for a few services in December and January.

Family Fellowship on Zoom

Join us this evening at 6:30pm for our Church Family Fellowship on Zoom. We will visit together, share Church Family News items, and spend some time interacting with Paul & Shelley who work internationally to cultivate Christ-honoring transformation in communities where He is yet to be worshiped. LEFC Kids, can you draw a picture of Psalm 126? Have your parents read this Psalm to you and then share your art with us on Zoom.

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.

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.

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.

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.