LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, August 9, 2020
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

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

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

Thank you for praying for Heather and me as we were on vacation in Cook Forest last week. We had a blessed and restful time. It was good to get away, and it’s also good to be back again. It’s a joy to be your pastor!

While on vacation, I asked the Lord to show me which things I have been busy doing the last several months that I need to set aside as we enter the next season of ministry. I have started a “stop-doing list” to re-prioritize my ministry this autumn. I want to focus on personally relating to families and individuals and not “broadcasting” as much. So, from now on, expect fewer midweek videos and long emails and more shepherding phone calls and pastoral visits.

I’m really glad that the “stop-doing list” for our church now includes the reservation system! What a refreshing joy to share the good news this week that we no longer need reservations to provide safe seating for all of our church families as, over time, they return to worship on campus. It’s exciting each week to see who comes back next!

At the same time, I remain committed to also serving everyone who is not supposed to return yet. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to church participation during this unique time. We will continue to provide worship-at-home guides, recorded video sermons, and the Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom each week.

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. Last Sunday in our getaway cabin, Heather and I watched the video of Pastor Kerry’s message and sang the songs in the guide to worship at home. No matter where we are, we can worship Jesus in the word and in song!

 

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship

Read Psalm 89:1-2 as your family gathers to worship.

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

2. Worship in Singing

As a household sing “I Will Sing of the Mercies” by James Fillmore (1849-1936).

YouTube Video

**Option. This 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, “Immortal, Invisible” “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” “Victory in Jesus” “Shout to the Lord,” and “You Are My All In All.” One or more of those songs may be good for your family to sing as well or instead.

3. Worship in Unity

Answer together the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563):

Q: What is our only comfort in life and death?

 A:That we are not our own
 but belong with body and soul
both in life and in death
to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all our sins
with his precious blood,
and has set us free
from all the power of the devil.

He also preserves us in such a way
that without the will of our heavenly Father
not a hair can fall from our heads;
indeed, all things must work together
for our salvation.

Therefore, by his Holy Spirit
he also assures us of eternal life
and makes us heartily willing and ready
from now to live for him.

[Pastor Matt has 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.]

**Option: Listen to the new song by Keith and Kristyn Getty based upon this catechism question: “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death.”

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. Have someone pray a prayer of lament that we are not going to have the Good News Cruise this coming Saturday as previously planned.

**Option. Have someone pray a prayer of thanksgiving that we no longer have to ask people to make reservations for seating at worship on campus.

5. Worship in Bible Memory

Recite our current “Hide the Word” memory verses, Philippians 4:4-6.

 “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.” 

**Option. Next week, we are going to add in verse 7. Get a jumpstart and try it as a family today.

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: “I Rejoice Greatly In the Lord”

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 “Be Thou My Vision,” an ancient Irish hymn from around 700AD.

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 9.

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 Abraham & Jordyn Skacel who work with Cru to win, build, and send Christ-centered multiplying disciples at Penn State University.
• LEFC Zoom Kids, Pastor Matt is going to do an “object lesson” with 2 stones, a jagged one and a smooth one. Can you bring 2 stones to show the group from outside of your house?
• 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

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.

Summer Congregational Meeting on Zoom

 Active members of the church have been sent a letter explaining the special plan for the next church family meeting (August 16th, 2pm via Zoom). Please contact Chairman Bob Gisewhite if you have any questions about the plan or the Facilities Improvement Projects being proposed.

 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, interact with our Cru missionaries, Abraham and Jordyn Skacel, and spend some time praying together. Kids: Pastor Matt is going to have an object lesson for you. Be sure to grab two rocks (one jagged and one smooth) from outside your house and join us on Zoom.

 Good News Cruise Detour to 2021

After prayerful deliberation, the GNC planning team has decided to cancel this year’s cruise-in due to COVID-19. Our regular event is too popular to be held safely this year. This month we are sending a letter explaining this to all previous registrants with a commemorative dash-plaque and a gospel presentation. Please continue to pray for spiritual fruit to come from this outreach. The next Good News Cruise has already been scheduled for August 21, 2021.

 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.

 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.

 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!

 Fellowship Tent Team

Are you willing to help with the tent? The tent is opened for Prayer Meeting and Sunday services. We only close the tent when there is a chance for high winds or rain. Each time it rains, we must open it again for services. Please sign up in the foyer by the mailboxes or contact Marilynn Kristofits in the office.

 Birthday Correction

There was a mistake made on the August Birthday list. August 28th should have noted the birthday of Karen Williams and not her husband, Philip. Please make this correction so cards will be sent to Karen.

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.

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.