LANSE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH

January 4, 2009

UPCOMING EVENTS

This week @ Lanse Free Church

Tuesday (1/6): Pastor Matt @ Regional Pastor’s Group
New Elders and Facilities Team Transitional Meeting-7pm

Wednesday (1/7): Kids for Christ Leaders Social

Thursday (1/8): Gisewhite’s Link Group Begins Studying Love Walked Among Us

Sunday (1/11): Sunday School – 9:00am
Worship – 10:00am

Greeters Next Sunday1/11: Wally & Nesta Kephart

Nursery Next Sunday 1/11: Pam Weaver & Jessica Milliron

Children’s Church Next Sunday 1/11: Cathie & Laurie Verost

Preschool Children’s Church 1/11: Tonya Harned & Regina Hayles

Prayer Room Next Sunday 1/11: Lloyd & Dora Hampton

Prayer Room Today 1/4: Blair & Ruth Murray

January

13 Elder Board Meeting - 7pm
14 Family Bible Night Begins Again - 7pm
18 Annual Reports Due to Holly
18 Sanctity of Human Life Sunday: Visit by A Woman’s Concern
25 Annual Reports Meal & Meeting
28 Missions Committee Meeting, 8pm
31 Men’s Ministries Wild Game Dinner
30-1 Miracle Mountain Ranch Snow Camp

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
Are You Ready to Read Your Bible in 2009?
Take the Bible Reading Challenge!
Pastor Matt & Heather are going to make a pancake breakfast in January 2010 for any and all who read the entire Bible in 2009.

Grab a Plan
Two different reading plans are available in the foyer. The Discipleship Journal plan is great for making it through the Bible in a year and has built in “catch-up” days. The other plan leads you through the whole Bible and then New Testament and Psalms twice and goes along with the “For the Love of God” companion books.

Plan to Read
Make sure you have a Bible in a readable version and make a plan today to get started! See Pastor Matt with questions about the plan and see Holly if you need to purchase a good Bible (available at our cost).

Link Groups-New Books
Link Groups are our church’s small groups which meet in homes throughout the week. All of our Link Groups will be reading through a new book by Paul Miller called “Love Walked Among Us” in the first few months of 2009. “Love Walked Among Us” is a study of the way that Jesus loved people. It’s the natural next step from our “Learning to Love” series. We’d love to have you join us!

If you are already in a Link Group, there should be a free copy of the book in your box. If you aren’t yet in a Link Group, grab a free book today and join one. If you can’t join a group at this time, you can still read the book. Copies are available for only $7.00 (talk with Pastor Matt if that cost is a hardship).

We currently have 3 Link Groups:

•Blair & Ruth Murray [345-5425], Some Sunday Evenings, Starting January 4th.

•Bob & Sylvia Gisewhite [342-4445], Every Other Thursday Evening, Starting January 8th

•Pastor Matt & Heather Mitchell [345-4275], Some Sunday Evenings, Starting January 4th

Other groups may be forming. Talk with Pastor Matt if none of these groups fit your schedule or if you’d like to be trained to lead a Link Group. GET CONNECTED!

Transitional Meeting for New Facilities Team and Elders
The new Elder board and the new Facilities Team will be meeting on Tuesday January 6th at 7pm to plan and coordinate for 2009. If you are a part of either of those ministry groups, see Keith Folmar for an agenda.

Kids for Christ Leaders Social
Jeff & Becky Schiefer are opening their home this Wednesday, January 7th at 7pm for all KFC leaders to get together for a time of fellowship. If you have any questions, please see Jeff Schiefer.

Annual Report
Its annual report time! If you lead a ministry here at church, we will need a report from you! Please e-mail your report to Holly at the church office by Sunday, January 18th.

Financial Statements
If you need a statement of your financial giving for the 2008 year for tax purposes, please contact the financial secretary, Ruth Murray.

A Big Thank You!
Heather and I are very thankful for the Christmas offering for our family. It is a joy to be your pastor! Thank you. — Pastor Matt

A Special Thank You
Cindy Green, Anita Allen & Holly Lockwood would like to thank the church & the leadership board for the special Christmas gift. We enjoy serving alongside you in ministry!

Upcoming Special Adult Sunday School Classes
January 11th TBA
January 18th Presentation from A Woman’s Concern Pregnancy Resource Center
January 25th New Classes Begin

White Out & Artic Blast 09 at Miracle Mountain Ranch
White Out weekend is on January 30-Feburary 1 for ages 8-12. Cost: $85 per person. Come join us for a great weekend of winter adventure and learning from God’s Word. We will kick off on Friday night at 7:00 and wrap up on Sunday around 2:00 PM. Artic Blast 09 weekend is on February 13-16 for ages 13+ Cost: $109 Kick off is Friday night at 7:00 and concludes at 1:00 on Monday afternoon. Contact Marilynn Kristofits, if interested in attending.

New Audio on Lansefree.org
After a brief break, there is new audio of our sermons available on the church’s website: lansefree.org/audio. If you are tech-savvy, there is now also a link for “podcasting.”

New Baptism Class
Pastor Matt is preparing to offer another Baptism Class soon. If you have not been baptized as a faith-follower of Jesus Christ, please sign up in the foyer to indicate your interest. The class will be scheduled around your calendar. See Pastor Matt with any questions.

Library Refurnishing
Do you have arm chair, side table or coffee table that you would like to get out of the way, bring it to the church library. We want to make a comfy spot to read or chat. See Heather Mitchell if you have questions.

Wild Game Dinner 2009

January 31, 2009 at Morris Township Firemen’s Rec. Center, Morrisdale. Don’t miss this one! Our speaker will be famed wildlife biologist and adventurer Wade Nolan. Wade is a native of Western PA, but lived in the Alaska Wilderness for 17 years. He has led kayak expeditions in the Arctic Circle, produced 100s of hunting videos, and won numerous awards for his films on wildlife management. Wade will teach a seminar on hunting white-tailed deer, featuring 10 tips that will make you a more effective hunter!

5:00pm: Whitetail Deer Hunting seminar

6:00pm: Dinner, followed by more insights by Wade

This is a free event, but you must have a ticket for entry. If you would like to donate a wild game meat or dish, please call Tom Hampton at 345-6906.

Wild Game Dinner Tickets
Tickets for the January 31, 2009 Wild Game Dinner are now available. There is a need for 15-20 people to distribute tickets. If you are interested, please see Wally Kephart.

Wild Game Dinner Planning Team
If you would be willing to serve on the planning team for the Wild Game dinner, please see Tom Hampton. There is a need for individuals to oversee a food team serving team, set up and take down, sound and video, and promotion.

Men’s Ministries Fund
The LEFC Men’s Ministries are formulating plans for a few high-impact events in 2009, including the Wild Game Dinner with Wade Nolan. If you would like to give to this ministry to defray the cost of speakers, building rentals, etc, please mark your gift “Men’s Ministries.

Sound/Video Improvement Project
The church family decided to pursue improvements to our sound system and explore options for a video projection system in the auditorium. If you would like to give towards this project, mark your gift Sound/Video and pray for our leaders as they research out the best solutions for our needs.

Outreach Cards
As we pray for people who are outside of our church, let’s also send them a note of encouragement, prayer, and witness. Grab an Outreach Prayer Card from the Resource Table in the Foyer and send it to someone you are praying for.

Allegheny District Church Planting Prayer & Support Team
If you have agreed to be a part of the support team for the AD Church Planting Mission, please mark your gift accordingly each time you give so that we can keep a good record. Thank you!

Weekly Prayer Meeting
Every Wednesday at 7 p.m., we gather together to praise God for His work in our lives and intercede for the needs of our church family, community, and world. You are invited to join us for this awesome time, year around.

Men’s Breakfast
All men are invited to meet at the Pumpkin House on Sunday mornings at 7:00 am for breakfast, fellowship, and Bible study. See Blair Murray or Wally Kephart for any questions.

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RAISE HIS PRAISE

Praise God for His love that reaches to the heavens, and His faithfulness to the skies (Psalm 36:5).

Praise God for His many blessings that he poured out on us in 2008!

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PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Pray for the Murray’s rental property. That the Lord would give clear direction to them as to how to proceed with the former rental property–to turn it into a retreat or to rent it.

Continue to pray for Kelly Beck, Bridget Betler (Carolyn Dobo’s daughter), Abby Danko, Melanie Dunlap (Dottie Glass’ daughter), Wendy (Leathers) Grimminger, Donna Hamilton, Amber Shimel who are expecting. Pray for God’s protection as they continue through their pregnancy.

Continue to pray for God-centered, healthy and strong marriages.

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PRAY FOR MINISTRY

Pray for all the preparation and planning for the Men’s Wild Game Dinner.

Pray for Family Bible Night. Pray that God would work through the teachers, small group leaders, worship team members, librarians to make disciples of young people!

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PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES

Pray for the Panaggio family as they will be traveling throughout the month of January. Their Panaggio update is posted on the missionary news bulletin board in the foyer.

We received a prayer letter from the Cone family and it is posted on the missionary news bulletin board. Pray for their weekly meetings in Kentzou, Cameroon with the C.A.R., Fulani refugees. Rejoice with them that two of the Fulani followers of Jesus that they knew from Mobinu, near Bohong, turned up among the refugees! They learned that Mobinu has been totally abandoned due to banditry. However, the group has grown larger and they continue to worship in northern Cameroon.

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PRAY FOR OUR ALLEGHENY DISTRICT

An email from Jim Culbertson, Director of Church Planting:

“By way of praise, I wanted to share with you how God has been at work on the behalf of His ministry through us. A Christmas Eve offering totaling nearly $2000 was taken toward our efforts at one of our Ohio churches, and another man gave an additional $1000. Please continue your prayers and continue to praise God for His ongoing provisions.”

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PRAY FOR PEOPLE

Pray for the family of Chloe (Carolyn Dobo’s great niece) as she cam home from the hospital and the doctor’s have told the family that she only has a couple of weeks to live.

Pray for Emily Crain’s family (Emilee Kephart’s friend) who lost her dog in the fire they had in their home last week.

Pray for stability for Dave & Donna Hamilton’s living situation. There has been some problems on their landlord’s end. Also, pray for Dave’s job situation to improve. Their desire is for a local driving job. Pray for endurance and God’s will.

Please pray for Dane & Abby Danko’s cousin who is getting deployed to Iraq at the beginning of January. He and his wife just had a baby. Pray for God’s protection as he will be there for a year.

Pray for all the teens at West Branch and other schools. There is a lot of pressure that goes on and sometimes it’s hard to say no.

Pray for A Woman’s Concern agency in State College as they seek a person to fill the Executive Director position.

Pray for Zachary Duckett and family (Bob & Sylvia Gisewhite’s nephew).

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PRAY FOR OUR NATION

Continue to pray for our service men & women in Iraq serving our country.

Pray for all the hurricane victims and rescue workers.

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PRAY FOR HEALTH AND HEALING

Pray for healing and a growing faith in Christ during this time of their afflictions.

New Requests: Pray for Barb (Dane Danko’s grandmother) as the doctors found a lump. Pray for her as she goes through the testing.

Upcoming Surgery: Dora Hampton

Recovering From Surgery: Jeff Powell, Linda Maines, (Sylvia Gisewhite’s sister), Pat Turik (Anita Allen’s mom), Ellen Smith, Nancy Morlock, Wally Kerlin (Dan Kerlin’s dad), Jim Bowers (Kay Robison’s friend).

Medical Treatments/Testing/Therapy: Pray for the Lord’s peace and patience for Alaina McGivney (Kay McGivney-Knaul granddaughter), Cindy Green, Kevin, Adalyne Elizabeth (Charlene Ball’s great niece), Casey Duckett, (Bob & Sylvia Gisewhite’s nephew), Sylvia Gisewhite, Wendy (Leathers) Grimminger, Thomas (Sylvia Gisewhite’s friend’s relative), Jerry Martin (Shelly Milliron co-worker’s son), Mike Milani & his children, (Holly Lockwood’s friend), Wally & Susan Kerlin, (Dan Kerlin’s parents), Parker Sipprell (Jeff & Becky Schiefer’s friend’s boy), MaryJo Wigman (Marilynn Kristofits’ mom), and Oscar & Joanne Mann.

Ongoing Problems: Pray for the Lord’s peace and patience for Emma Lamb (Dan Kerlin’s cousin), Beth Bubb, (Emilee Kephart’s friend’s step mom), Robin Forest (Bob Gisewhite’s sister), Patty Smith (Sylvia Gisewhite’s friend), John & Judy Achmoody (Jen Kerlin’s parents), Lois Coyle (Rike DeGrasse’s friend), Ray Zimmerman, Katie Hurley, Betty Pritts, Ellen Smith, Jen Keith (Sylvia Gisewhite’s friend), Bob & Lois Owens, Leora & Dave Schiefer (Jeff Schiefer’s parents), Lonetta Muirhead (Jeannie Netterblade’s grandmother), Ian Lutz & family, and Brittany (Kathy Moore’s friend).

Cancer: Pray for the Lord’s strength for the following people and their families: Dora Hampton, Chloe (Carolyn Dobo great niece), Charlene Ball, Ryleigh Benninghoff (Carley Schwartz’ friend), Richard Kilmer (friend of Ken and Dawn Boyd), Shane (Rick & Sharon Michaels nephew), Damien (Heather Hurley’s friend’s great nephew), Sandra (Kathy Moore’s sister), Adam Gee (George Leathers co-worker’s son), Rae Jean Smith (Sylvia Gisewhite’s neighbor), Ryan Zawada (a son of friends of Jonalie Evans), Judy Barbard (Anita Allen’s friend Barb Myers friend), Margorie Walborn (Tom Hampton’s co-worker’s spouse).

Need of Transplants: Josh (Anita Allen’s 29 yr. old cousin) and Robbie Haines (Holly Lockwood’s cousin).