The Family Table

Dear LEFC Parents,

Here are some savory items to set the table for disciple-making in your family this week:

It’s Sign-Up Sunday!

Has your family registered yet for our Fall Retreat? Today is Sign-Up Sunday! Take the opportunity now to register for a weekend of faith-building, fellowship, and lots of fun with your LEFC Church Family! We strongly encourage all of our LEFC families to come and enjoy time together!

Fall Retreat is a weekend getaway on October 18-20! All ages are encouraged to attend and will have a place to engage during age-specific breakouts. You’ll have opportunities to play games, eat a s’more around the campfire, chat with old friends and get to know new ones! The camp is just one hour away, and transportation can be provided. The cost is only $25 for an individual and $50 for couples and families, which covers housing, food, and activities for the weekend. Teens can also attend on their own if your whole family can’t make it.

Have questions? Contact Jordyn Skacel. Registration information is online or on the table in the foyer. [More: Fall Retreat FAQ’s.]

Youth Group Continues Tonight!

The new youth group will continue meeting tonight at 7:00 at the church. Missed last week’s meeting? No problem! Join us tonight! All students in grades 7 and up are invited for games, snacks, and fun while learning to study the Bible together. Our group will be continuing their study on the book of Ephesians. Teens are encouraged to bring their own Bible (let us know if your student doesn’t have their own). See Cody and Holly Crumrine for more information.
West Branch Trunk or Treat

We are excited to once again be present at WB’s Trunk or Treat on October 23rd! Would your family enjoy the passing out glow sticks from 6-7:30? Contact Jordyn Skacel if you are interested in connecting with local families in this way.

Children’s Ministry on Sunday Mornings

If your child is an infant through 7th grade, we have nursery, Kids Bible Classes, and Snack and Yack available for your family on Sunday mornings. Check out more information about these ministries here!

“The Tower of Babel” Kids Bible Class Devotional

You have free access to a family devotional based on the curriculum our kids are studying each week in KBC! It’s called “The Gospel Project at Home.” Today’s Bible Study is “The Tower of Babel” (Volume 1: Unit 1: Session 5), and the devotional can be found at this link.

Scroll down to the bottom of this email for more information about how to access The Gospel Project at Home.

Contacting our Director of Family Ministry

You can contact Jordyn Skacel, our brand new Director of Family Ministry, at families@lansefree.org or 814-592-9280. She would love to hear how she can serve your family well!

And for dessert…

Our recommendation for family discipleship this week is a new book that gives parents a guide to responding to their children’s hot-button questions on key points of cultural confusion.

Do you feel prepared to talk to your children about abortion, sexuality, gender, technology and politics? In the introduction to What Do I Saw When…?, Andrew and Christian Walker write:

“It is really difficult to be parents in today’s culture. We feel this ourselves. Actually, every parent in every culture in every generation has probably had to face difficulties of their own and said the same thing. But today’s culture seems to be moving at such a fast rate that it feels impossible to keep up with what’s happening. It’s difficult to stay on top of discipling our children to understand and rely on God’s word. We hope and pray that we are discipling our children to use their knowledge of Scripture to stand firm against the war Satan is waging through mass cultural confusion” (pg. 2).

Andrew is a professor of Christian ethics and public theology, and Christian is an elementary school educator and former children’s ministry leader. The Walkers may be uniquely qualified to produce a resource like this, but they don’t claim to be parenting experts:

“We are writing this book because we also need this book in our own home just as much as we want you to have this book in your home. We are parents of three young girls who ask us questions daily. We are parents who strive to lead our children to understand the way God created the universe and the way we fit into his world. We are parents who eagerly pray for their salvation. We need help with all of those things too!” (pg.3).

The Walkers have endeavored to create a resource that is accessible, trustworthy, and age-appropriate. They have written it both as a “defensive and offensive resource” to prepare parents both before they run into the hard conversations with their kids (proactive) and also a place to run after they come up for more fortification (reactive). Each chapter follows the same pattern of introducing a important cultural topic, providing biblical foundations and guides for conversations at different levels (they call them “floors”) for comprehension. “Remember that you want to be the first person to have the conversation with your child to be able to lay the biblical foundation. Otherwise, culture will form the foundation for you. Stay vigilant and keep ahead of culture” (pg. 6).

Pastor Matt is familiar with the Walkers’ teaching and has become familiarized with the contents of the book. He recommends it, “…not as the last word on these topics but a good word on each of them worthy of time and attention.”

Chapter 1: Human Dignity
Chapter 2: Abortion
Chapter 3: Sexuality
Chapter 4: Gender
Chapter 5: Homosexuality
Chapter 6: Identity
Chapter 7: Transgenderism
Chapter 8: Technology
Chapter 9: Political Engagement
Chapter 10: Hostility and Persecution

More from the Walkers:

– Read: Introduction and Chapter 1: Human Dignity
– Read: A Parent’s Guide to Talking with Kids about Technology [Adapted from Chapter 8]
– Read or Listen: 4 Issues Your Children Are Facing That You Never Had To
– Listen: How to Talk with Your Kids about Sexuality, Screen Time, and Hostility at School

What Do I Say When…? is available in the church library.

We hope your family eats it right up.

Jordyn Skacel, Director of Family Ministry
Matt Mitchell, Pastor