LEFC Guide to Worship At Home – 27 December 2020

LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, December 27, 2020
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

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

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

The wait is over! Christmas has come. Even if it was different this year, I hope your Christmas was full of real joy, wonder, and love. I also hope you set aside time to think about the birth of Christ.

In this weekend’s video message, Joel Michaels takes us back through that familiar story and focuses on what the angel said to the shepherds. I look forward to studying it with my family this Sunday morning.

What time are you going to gather your household this weekend to worship our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ?

In His Grip,

– Pastor Matt

P.S.  Have you used your caroling kit that came to your home this week? It’s not too late for a good caroling ministry trip to someone’s front yard. Sing to the Lord and sing out of love for other people. Remember, people won’t care how good you sound. They will care that you showed up. Jesus is worth it because “He is Christ the Lord!”

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship

Read Psalm 98 with awe and wonder as your family gathers to worship.

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

**Option. Joel Michael’s message comes from Luke 2:8-20. Some families may want to also read about the birth of Jesus Christ as they begin their family worship time.

2.Worship in Singing

As a household sing “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” a Traditional Spiritual published in 1907 by John W. Work, Jr.

YouTube Video

**Option. Here are some additional songs your family might use worship: “The Birthday of a King,” “In Christ Alone,” “I Wonder as I Wander,” “z,” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

3. Worship in Unity

As a household, recite together Article 9 of the EFCA Statement of Faith on Christ’s Return:

“We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.”

**Option. This would be an appropriate time to light all five Advent Candles once more and review the truth of Psalm 98 brought forth in the 2020 LEFC Advent Readings.

Advent Candle #1: Prepare Him Room

Advent Candle #2: Repeat the Sounding Joy

Advent Candle #3: Watch the Blessings Flow

Advent Candle #4: Wonder at His Love

Christ Candle: Let Earth Receive Her King

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.

**Option. Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Ask your family members what their favorite gift was to give this year.

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.”

**Option: Spend time working more on the order of adjectives of verse 8: “True, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable.” Can you say them backwards?

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 Joel Michaels’ message, “What the Angel Said.”

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 “Joy To the World” by Isaac Watts (1719).

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.

Church Family News

Read Your Bible in 2021

 The Gospel Coalition is partnering with Crossway again this year to encourage individuals and churches to feast on God’s word in 2021. Their Bible reading plan was included in the care package you received just before Christmas. There is also a daily newsletter, an audio podcast reading of Don Carson’s For the Love of God to help answer tough questions within the daily scripture readings. Let’s seek him anew by reading His Word in 2021.

Annual Reports

Attention all ministry leaders: It is time to turn in your review of 2020 and vision for 2021 for your area of ministry. Prepared reports should be turned in to Marilynn Kristofits by Wednesday, January 20^th. Thank you for serving our church in 2020!

Tax Receipts

If you need a tax receipt for your giving in 2020 and have not gotten one previously, please let Anita Allen know so that she can prepare one for you.

Thank You!

Dear church family, thank you so much for the generous Christmas gift! It is a true joy to be your pastor. – Pastor Matt & Heather

Red Cross Blood Drive

On Tuesday, January 12^th, our church will host the Morrisdale Community Blood Drive from 1:30-6:30pm.  We are looking for 2-3 people willing to work this drive either to prescreen or register donors or in the canteen. We will happily accept leftover Christmas to use in our drive. Please package donations in individual bags before dropping off. Questions? Call Marilynn Kristofits.

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 School at Home

The Explore the Bible winter Sunday School at home continues this week. Pick up your copy of Luke 1-9 and spend this quarter reading along at home. We have five copies in large print available too. Call the church if you would like these resources mailed to you.

Adopt A Student – Heart for Haiti

We would like to help the kids from our 2019 Family Bible Week project find yearly sponsors for College Susan Schuenke this year. $375 will keep one of our six remaining kids in school for the current academic year. You can choose to support a student with a one-time gift here at church or monthly payments directly to VOHM.

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 – PayPal and Venmo are our current e-giving options. Our account address is our email: churchoffice@lansefree.org. Note: We are unable to utilize CNB’s new e-banking platform at this time.

Prayer Items

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