LEFC Guide to Worship

Sunday, August 2, 2020
Lanse Evangelical Free Church

• From the Pastor
• Home Worship Guide
• Church Family News
• Prayer Items
• More Links to Helpful Resources

From the Pastor

Dear Church Family,

I’m away this week, but I wanted to leave a note for Marilynn to include with Worship Guide, to say how much I love our church family and what a privilege it is to serve as your shepherd. Thank you for the time off to recharge my batteries and for praying for us while we’re away. It is a joy to be your pastor.

I’m thankful that my own pastor is preaching this weekend. Pastor Kerry has been a great support to me these last few months as we have been navigating all of the challenges of ministry during this tumultuous time.

Please keep praying for the Church Elders’ Team as we attempt to lead the church family through these uncharted waters. The Lord is faithful, and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Whether at home, on campus, or on vacation, 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’m singing on vacation; I hope you are singing, too!

Home Worship Guide

1. Welcome to Worship

 Read Psalm 133 as your family gathers to worship.

**Option: Families with older children may want to learn more about Psalm 133. Psalm 133 is one of the most beautiful songs in the Old Testament yet also filled with some of the strangest images. Pastor Matt taught on Psalm 133 in a message entitled “Gossip and the Church.”

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

2. Worship in Singing

As a household sing “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by Robert Robinson (1758).

YouTube Video

**Option. Those worshiping on campus are also singing, “Amazing Grace,” “Lord, I Need You,” “Man of Sorrows,” and “King Forevermore.” One or more of those songs may be good for your family to sing instead.

**Option. Families with younger children may continue to sing “The Joy of the Lord” by Alliene G. Vale (1971) several weeks in a row. This song is based upon Nehemiah 8:10.

3. Worship in Unity

As a household, recite together the Nicene Creed (381):

WE BELIEVE in one God,
the Father, the Almighty
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

WE BELIEVE in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

WE BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.

WE BELIEVE in one holy whole and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

{Note: Pastor Matt has translated the Greek word “katholikayn” as “whole” to avoid confusion because the Creed isn’t referring to a particular denomination but to the universal Body of Christ of which every genuine Christian is a part. Also note that when we say that “we acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins,” we mean that it stands for and illustrates that forgiveness. Water baptism is an outward picture of an inward and spiritual reality (Titus 3:3-7).}

4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving

The Bible says, “Give thanks IN all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Remind each other that “Every day may not be good, but there is good in every day.” Have each member of the household share at least one thing they are thankful for this week as you also share what circumstances are harder for you right now.

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.” 

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 Pastor Kerry Doyal’s message: “Since You Are His, Live Like It!”

Facebook Video

YouTube Video

Read Pastor Kerry’s Sermon Notes on Pastor Matt’s Blo

[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 “Trust and Obey” by John H. Sammis (1887).

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 2.

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.
• 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

Today’s Guest Preacher

Pastor Kerry Doyal serves as our Allegheny District Superintendent. He and his wife, Robin live in Lower Burrell, PA with their dog, Scout. Kerry received his B.A. in Bible and Missions from Columbia International University and his Master of Divinity from Trinity. Having ministered in rural, suburban, urban, and international contexts helps Kerry as he ministers to our 35 churches and church plants. Be sure to stop by the tent outside after each service and say hi to Pastor Kerry and Robin Doyal.

Communion Statement

The Elders have been praying about how and when to resume celebrating the Lord’s Supper as a church family. At this time, we have chosen to wait until the whole church can safely partake together. The biblical teaching on Communion emphasizes church unity and waiting for each other in love (see 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). While different churches will choose to handle these things in different ways, we believe that we should postpone our celebration until the “all clear” is sounded and the full church can gather around the Lord’s Table together once again.

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 and spend some time praying together.

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.

Notes of Encouragement

Nate Kerlin and Regina Hayles are both currently at boot camp for the Army. If you need their address to send a note of encouragement to them, contact the church office.

Clean Team

Our clean team could use extra hands to help clean the church, both in preparation for our 8am service and between our morning services. If you are willing and able to help, please contact Cindy Green.

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.

Greeting Team

We are looking for a few people willing to help greet and seat people on Sunday Mornings. You can greet people behind one of the tables and remind them to pick up their worship service supplies, or you can help find seats for everyone and dismiss them after services. Talk with Joel Michaels today to sign up to help.

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.

More Links to Helpful Resources:

No new links this week as Pastor Matt is away. Check out these websites for helpful content:

The Gospel Coalition

Desiring God

https://www.epm.org/

https://www.biblicaltraining.org/

https://www.challies.com/

https://www.efca.org/blog

Pastor Matt’s Blog