LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, August 23, 2020
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

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

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

Going back to school can be difficult in a normal year, and this year is anything but normal.

I’m glad that we set aside time every August to specifically pray for everyone involved: students, teachers, administrators, staff, and parents. We are going to pray for those going back to school in all three on-campus worship gatherings (8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am) and at our Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom (6:30pm). It’s especially important this year to pray for all of things in our annual B2S Prayer Guide as well as all of the changes and challenges our schools now face with COVID-19.

It’s exciting to know that some of our kids won’t just be returning to classes at school but also at church! Starting next Sunday (August 30^th), we are going to offer a Children’s Church class during the second half of the 9:30am worship time for children 3 to 3^rd grade. “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Psalm 78:4).

Whether at home or on campus (or back at school!), 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 love it when a worship song gets stuck in my head. This week it was the chorus of “How Great Thou Art.” I hope it gets stuck in yours and comes out of your head, too!

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship

Read Psalm 19 as your family gathers to worship.

**Option. This is Back 2 School Sunday. Psalm 19 is especially appropriate because it invites us to study both God’s World and God’s Word. Families with older children might want to study Psalm 19 further. Pastor Matt taught on Psalm 19 on a previous Back 2 School Sunday: “Learn the Glory of God.”

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

2. Worship in Singing

As a household sing “This Is My Father’s World” by Maltbie Babcock (1901).

YouTube Link

**Option. Families with younger children may want to continue to sing, “I Will Sing of the Mercies,” as a simple way to reinforce learning and living Psalm 89:1.

**Option. Those worshiping on campus are also singing, “The Family of God,” “They’ll Know We Are Christians Be Our love,” “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord,” “Refiner’s Fire,” and “I Love You, Lord.” One or more of those songs may be good for your family to sing as well or instead.

3. Worship in Unity

Recite together Article 7 of the EFCA Statement of Faith:

“We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.”

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: “Greet All the Saints In Christ Jesus.”

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 “How Great Thou Art” by Stuart Hine and Eugene Thomas (1953).

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 23.

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.
• We are going to focus on education for Back 2 School Sunday. We’re going to interview people from our own church family involved in both K-12 education and high education and pray for those going back to school.
• LEFC Zoom Kids, Pastor Matt is going to do another “object lesson.” Scavenger Hunt: Can you and your parents find tape, glue, a stapler, and/or a screw or bolt? What do think those things might teach us about fellowship?
• 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 – Pavilion Fund

 Thank you to all who were able to attend our Summer Congregational Meeting last Sunday afternoon. We have opened a designated giving fund for a pavilion here at church. You can donate to this by marking your gift “pavilion” and placing it in the offering. As a reminder, all members received a ballot in the mail to vote on the proposed projects. There is a box in the foyer to place your ballot. If you have not returned yours already, please drop it in the mail tomorrow.

 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. for the start of the school year. We are going to focus on education for Back 2 School Sunday. We’re going to interview people from our own church family involved in both K-12 education and high education and pray for those going back to school. Pastor Matt is going to do another “object lesson.” Scavenger Hunt: Can you and your parents find tape, glue, a stapler, and/or a screw or bolt?  What do think those things might teach us about fellowship?

 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 their website. Registering by September 3^rd will guarantee an event T-shirt. Consider supporting the PRC through this annual event.

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!

 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.

Tech Team Members Needed

We are looking for a few more people willing to be trained to operate the sound system for church services on Sunday mornings. If you are willing to serve for one (or more) of our worship gatherings. Talk to John Kristofits to schedule training.

 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

Pray For Our Schools

As we approach a new school year, these are some suggested areas for personal and corporate prayer.

Preschoolers

Please pray for those who are not yet ready for school, but who are getting ready for formal study. Pray that parents of preschoolers would take their responsibility seriously to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4).

Elementary Students

Please pray for those who are in their most formative years. Pray for healthy relationships, an absence of “bullying,” and good learning.  Pray especially for those who are going to school and experiencing this world for the first time. Pray for the Christian students that they would recognize that God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Middle School Students

Please pray for these youth who are going through major changes at this stage of life. Pray for wise parents and “mentors” to help guide them through the upheaval of adolescence. Pray that these students would remember Proverbs 4:7, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

High School Students

Please pray that Christian high schoolers would take their faith seriously and share it in class, in the hallways, on the bus, and at academic and sporting events. Pray for them to “swim upstream” against the current of peer pressure and youthful temptations (2 Timothy 2:22). Pray for wisdom for their parents to give both freedom and protection as they transition to adulthood.

College and Technical Schools

Please pray for those who are “leaving the nest” to attend college and “tech” schools near and far. Pray especially for those who are heading off to college for the first time. Some of our students attend Christian schools, others are at secular institutions. Pray that both would grow in Christ and develop healthy relationships with churches near campus (Hebrews 10:24-25). Consider visiting EveryCampus.com and praying for a specific univeristy.

Graduate Studies

Please pray for those who are pursuing masters & doctoral degrees.  Pray that they would be able to process all of their learning through the grid of the Scriptures and apply Biblical principles to their scholarship.  Pray for our college students who are contemplating continuing education for after graduation as they decide whether to and where to go.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Faculty

Please pray for Teachers and Teacher’s Aides throughout our area as they prepare lesson plans, teach classes, and relate to children with behavior problems and difficult home-lives. Pray especially for our Christian Teachers to be a witness for Christ in word and deed (Acts 1:8).

Staff

Please pray for Cafeteria Workers, Computer People, Administrative Assistants, Custodians, Security Workers, Bus Drivers, etc., as they provide the vital services that make our school system work. Pray for safety, good management, and for Christian witness to go on as they do their work. Pray that they would, “work at it with all [their] heart[s], as working for the Lord, not for men, since [they] know that [they] will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ [we] are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

Administration

Please pray for those who will have to shoulder the leadership for schooling this year: Superintendents, Principals, Business Administrators School Board, etc. Pray that they would lead with integrity, wisdom, and love. Pray for school safety and God’s favor on their leadership. Pray especially for Christian administrators to be like Daniel, flexible, excellent at their job, and unashamedly faithful to God (Daniel 1:1-21).

Parents

Please pray for those who send and support their kids in education.  Pray for parents as they regularly uphold our school systems in consistent and devoted prayer. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”  (Ephesians 6:18)

Homeschoolers

Please pray for a growing number of families that have decided to do school at home. Pray for teacher/parents, students with their school-work and their socialization, tight finances to pay the bills, helpful networks of homeschool families, and against family “busy-ness” that makes the entire enterprise more difficult. Pray especially for those who are just beginning homeschooling as they make massive adjustments to their lifestyles.  (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Christian Programs to Help Students

Pray for mentors, tutors, and other adults to get concerned about the education of the next generation. Pray for people to get involved in the lives of “at risk” kids. Pray especially for Christian Education. “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty.” (Psalm 145:4-5a)

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