LEFC Guide to Worship – 6 June 2021

LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, June 6, 2021
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

I’m really excited about what is changing and what is unchanging at Lanse Free Church this weekend.

I’m excited that we are starting up two new worship times (9:00am with spaced seating and 10:30am with open seating)! That’s a clear sign that we are definitely coming closer together after a year of carefully keeping our distances. It was exactly one year ago this weekend that we began meeting again in person after exclusively worshiping from home for eleven Sundays. I’m excited that so much has changed back to being more conducive to full participation in fellowship and ministry and am eagerly anticipating even more soon.

I’m also excited that the “main thing” at LEFC is unchanging. No matter what modifications and adjustments we’ve made along the way, we have not gotten off track with our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ to the glory of God. Over the last year, we have certainly grown more flexible in our means and methods but have also been unbending in our commitment to the unchanging truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 worships Him!

In His Grip,

– Pastor Matt

P.S. Another unchanging thing is the blessing of raising your voice in song. “Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!”

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 Him! Praise Him!” by Fanny Crosby.

YouTube Video

3. Worship in Unity

Recite together the Apostles’ 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 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 110 to prepare to listen to today’s message.

7. Worship in the Word

Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message, “Sit At My Right Hand.”

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 “Crown Him with Many Crowns” by Matthew Bridges & Godfrey Thring.

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.

**Note: We plan to offer the LEFC Guide to Worship at Home throughout the month of June. Please let us know if your family is using them and would like them to continue to be provided in future months.

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.

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

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. See Misty Michaels to be involved.

Short Term Missions Opportunity

Sandy Creek Bible Church, our sister district church in Sandy Creek, NY, is looking for some people willing to help with a community outreach Vacation Bible School the first week of August. Please see Curtis Quick if you are interested in this potential short term ministry trip.

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 1: Faith Tested.

EFCA One 2021

This year’s biennial conference will be a one-day virtual event held on Wednesday, June 23rd with a 5:30-7:00 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.

Help Needed at Miracle Mountain Ranch

MMR is looking for some people willing to take a trip up to the ranch to do some mowing. Consider spending a day or two helping them prepare their grounds for the Summer Camp ministry season.

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. 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.

On-Campus Prayer Meeting

Join us Wednesdays at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall as Joel Michaels leads us in a brief Bible study, praising God through song, and praying with other believers. Reminder: Bring a jacket along. Now that the weather is warming up, we will sometimes meet outdoors.

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 – 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.

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.”

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