LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, August 16, 2020
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

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

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

I think it’s important in these troubled days to celebrate every blessing that we can see. We know that God is always giving out good gifts left and right, but when there are so many disruptions and trials to deal with, it often takes more effort to notice and rejoice in the blessings.

Here are some blessings I recognize from the last week:

• Individual families safely returning to on-campus worship. Last Sunday, we had new folks back at each of the 3 worship gatherings.
• No more reservations for worship. I enjoyed not knowing who was going to be where and when! And we had newcomers join us for the first time, as well.
• Willing volunteers. I’m thankful for the many servants who have stepped up to the challenge of providing 3 worship times every Sunday: opening a tent, greeting people, cleaning up, playing music, setting up the sound system.
• More personal interaction with families and individuals. I enjoyed talking and texting and catching up with many of you.
• I’m thankful for technology tying us together even when we’re still often apart.
• The sun shining almost all of the time. Cool breezes in the evenings.
• Great music being created and shared with the Church at large. I have really been enjoying the EveryPsalm project free from Poor Bishop Hooper.
• Good books. I have about 10 that I’m reading at right now, both fiction and non-fiction.

I’m excited to hear that we’re going to experiment soon with starting a children’s church ministry during the second half of the 9:30 worship time. Keep praying for Heather Dobo and her team of volunteers as they make their plans to help make disciples of the generations to come.

I always say it’s a joy to be your pastor, and it really is. These are hard days, but they are blessed days, too.

Whether at home or on campus, let’s make sure that every single one of us in this precious church family worships the Lord Jesus Christ.

In His Grip,

– Pastor Matt

P.S. I enjoy picking out the songs for worship because it gets me singing in my office and then the songs continue with me in my head all day long. I hope you have worship songs in your head this weekend, too!

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship

Read Psalm 97 as your family gathers to worship.

**Option. Families with young children may want to read just the last 2 verses (vv.11-12).

**Option. The Harrow Family has set Psalm 97 to music which is wonderful for young families to use in household worship.

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

2. Worship in Singing

As a household sing “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (attributed to Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1836).

YouTube Video

**Option. Last week’s opening song, “I Will Sing of the Mercies,” is a simple way to reinforce learning and living Psalm 89:1. Families with younger children may want to sing it for several weeks in a row or each weekday in between Sundays.

**Option. Those worshiping on campus are also singing, “You Are Holy,” “Jehovah Jireh” “Jesus, Strong and Kind,” and “The Doxology.” One or more of those songs may be good for your family to sing as well or instead.

3. Worship in Unity

Recite and pray together the prayer the Lord taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9-13:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 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 4:4-7.

 “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.”

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: “Giving and Receiving”

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 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas Chisholm (1923).

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 August 16.

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 Jenny Summers, the Executive Director of Pregnancy Resource Clinic. Jenny is going share how the PRC is adjusting their ministry due to COVID-19 and how Jenny’s own family has been deeply affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
• LEFC Zoom Kids, Pastor Matt is going to do another “object lesson.” Scavenger Hunt: Can you and your parents find a can of rust-stopping paint, some mothballs, and/or a padlock to show the group on Zoom? What do think those things might teach us about Matthew 6:19-20?
• 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

Summer Congregational Meeting on Zoom

 Our church family meeting is today at 2pm via Zoom. Join us as we discuss the Facilities Improvement Projects being proposed and get an update on our ministries. Connection details were sent in an email on Thursday to all active members. If you did not receive it, or are unsure of how to connect, let one of the elders know today.

 Zoom This Week

 Join us Sunday at 6:30pm for our Church Family Fellowship on Zoom. We will visit together, share Church Family News items, and spend some time praying together. Jenny Summers, the Executive Director of Pregnancy Resource Clinic, will be joining us on Zoom to share how the PRC is adjusting their ministry due to COVID-19 and how Jenny’s own family has been deeply affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Kids: Pastor Matt is going to do another “object lesson.” Scavenger Hunt: Can you and your parents find a can of rust-stopping paint, some mothballs, and/or a padlock to show on Zoom? What do think those things might teach us about Matthew 6:19-20?

 Operation Christmas Child

With school supplies on sale, now is a great time to pick up some items in preparation for packing a shoebox to bless a needy child. Please note: No food items or toothpaste are permitted in these boxes.

You Matter 5K & 10Mile Ride

The Pregnancy Resource Clinic will be hosting their annual 5K walk/run and 10Mile bicycle ride on Saturday, September 26^th. This year you can choose to participate in person or complete the race virtually.  For more information on all of the details and safety plans for this event, visit scprc.com. Registering by September 3^rd will guarantee an event T-shirt. Consider supporting the PRC through this annual event.

Tech Team Members Needed

Three of our sound operators are leaving for college this month. We need a few people willing to be trained to operate the sound system for church services on Sunday mornings for one (or more) of our worship gatherings. Talk to John Kristofits for more details.

 Heading Off to College?

As you get your housing information, be sure to pass that along to the church office so that our church family can be an encouragement to you as you begin your year.

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.

 Sunday Morning Ministry Teams

Are you willing to be added to a rotation to serve on Sunday mornings? We are looking for a few people willing to help greet or seat people on Sunday Mornings. We also could use some extra hands to help clean between our morning services. If you are able to greet, seat, or clean, get in touch with Cindy Green, Joel Michaels, or Marilynn Kristofits. Thanks!

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 Office to be sent these items.