LEFC Guide to Worship – 20 June 2021

LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, June 20, 2021
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

My Dad is my hero. I talk to him just about every day, and I’m so thankful to be the recipient not only of his genes but of his wisdom and example of faithfulness and godliness. It’s easy for me to honor Chuck Mitchell this Father’s Day because he shows me what a father should be and points me towards our Heavenly Father.

I know that not everyone has been blessed with a dad like mine, but everyone can know God as their own perfect Father through faith in His Son Jesus (Ephesians 3:14-21). The Lord is the Father of Lights Who gives every good and perfect gift (James 1:17-18). He is the Hero of Heroes!

This Father’s Day, we honor our dads with words, hugs, and neckties, and we worship our Heavenly Father with all of our hearts. Whether at home or on campus this weekend, let’s do all we can to ensure that every single person in this beloved church family magnifies Him!

In His Grip,

– Pastor Matt

P.S. Does (or did) your father have a favorite Christian hymn? My Dad’s favorite is “Amazing Grace.” How about singing your father’s favorite worship song this weekend in honor of him?

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship & Worship in Bible Memory

Begin your family’s time of worship by reciting Psalm 100 together:

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

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

2. Worship in Singing

As a household sing “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him”

YouTube Video

3. Worship in Unity

Recite together Question #104 of the Heidelberg Catechism:

Q: What does God require in the fifth commandment?

 A: That we show all honor, love and faithfulness to our fathers and mothers, and to all in authority over us; submit ourselves with due obedience to all their good instruction and correction; and also bear patiently with their infirmities: since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.

Note from Pastor Matt: In question #104, the framers of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) noticed that the fifth commandment from Exodus 20 is repeated in Ephesians 6 as having ongoing relevance to our lives, and they also applied it to all God-ordained authorities, not just to parents. It seems appropriate to remind ourselves of this truth not just because of Father’s Day, but also during these difficult days when we have been asked to submit to earthly authorities–in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable and even unpleasant–in the interest of public health and safety. I have again worded the translation into the first-person plural so that we declare it together as a community of faith with the communion of the saints.

4. Worship in Thanksgiving and Lament

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

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

5. 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.

6. Worship in Scripture Reading

Have someone read Psalm 112 to prepare to listen to today’s message.

7. Worship in the Word

Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message, “Blessed is the Man who Fears the LORD.”

Facebook Video

YouTube Video

Read Message Manuscript

[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 “Faith of Our Fathers.”

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.

Church Family News

Additional Outdoor Seating Options

We are now broadcasting audio of all 3 worship times into the church parking lot on 89.5 FM. We also have a tent seating section available with a sound system transmitting the words and music outside when weather allows. While outdoors, protective face coverings are optional. Outdoor worship resources are available on tables near the entrances.

Father’s Day Gifts

If you are a dad, we are celebrating you today! Men, please pick up a gift as you exit the sanctuary this morning. My kid wants 50% of my Father’s Day gifts. He says if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t even be a father. Kids: we have ½ sized cups available in the foyer for you too!

Follow the Lord in Water Baptism

We are planning a baptism service later this Summer. Classes will be set up to meet individual scheduling needs. If you would like to learn more about what it means to follow Christ in water baptism, talk to Pastor Matt about options that fit your schedule.

Family Bible Week – Help Needed

Join us for Family Bible Week July 19-22 & 25. Our first priority this year will be the children and youth classes and remind them that Jesus is our strong foundation. Currently we are looking for craft leaders, game leaders, and helpers for all classes. There are signup sheets in the foyer, or you can contact Misty Michaels to get involved.

Family Bible Week Adult Class

Calling all adults: Mark your calendar and join us for Family Bible Week!  Kerry Doyal, our Allegheny District Superintendent, will be teaching classes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening. Spend some time learning how to be a disciple, who makes disciples, who make disciples.

Sunday School at Home

Our Sunday School classes continue to study at home. They began a new quarter today using Explore the Bible: Job; Ecclesiastes. Pick up your free personal study guide and complete Session 3: Redemption Found.

Family Fridays @ CSA

Christian Servant Academy invites you to Family Fridays. Each Friday at 6:30 they are hosting an evening of family-focused fun. Check out their flyer on the Community Bulletin Board for more information.

EFCA One 2021

This year’s biennial conference will be a one-day virtual event held this Wednesday from 5:30-7:00pm with a Celebration Service. By participating, they hope you’ll feel refreshed and inspired with a renewed sense of what God is doing through the EFCA. This virtual service is free and available to anyone involved in EFCA Churches. Register online to attend the EFCA One Celebration Service.

On-Campus Prayer Meeting 

There will be no on-campus Prayer meeting this week. All are encouraged to join the virtual gathering of EFCA One 2021.

New Here?

Thanks for joining us today! Newcomer cards are on the Welcome Tables in the foyer. If you have not received one yet, please ask one of our greeters where they are. We appreciate you joining us and would like to know more about you. Please take some time to fill it out then drop it in the offering plate when you leave. Thanks!

Children’s Church

All children (ages 3 – 3rd grade) are invited to Children’s Church at our 10:30 worship time. Parents, when indicated in the service, please drop your kids off with a volunteer in the ABC Room. If outside, bring them around to the back yard. When the weather allows the children will meet in the Sonshine tent in our back yard (masks optional outdoors). Please dress the kids for the possibility of being outside. Ministry workers will bring the children back to the ABC room at the conclusion of our program time. All ministry workers have their child protection clearances.

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.

Designated Giving – Miracle Mountain Ranch

Miracle Mountain Ranch lost Fort Wilderness to a fire. This remote location was home to their overnight adventures for Summer Camp. We have opened a designated giving fund to help them begin the rebuilding process. Mark your gift “MMR Fire” and place it in the offering plate. A designated giving fund remains open to offset the registration for the seven kids attending church camp this year. If you would like to give to this need, mark your gift “Camp Fund.”

Designated Giving – Picnic Pavilion

A designated giving fund for a future picnic pavilion 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 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: churchoffice@lansefree.org.

Prayer Items

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

Lanse Free Church

255 Cotohisc Road
Lanse, PA 16849
Phone: 814.345.6500

Worship Service: Sunday, 10:00am

Prayer Meeting: Wednesday, 7:00pm