Summer Interest Groups
Looking for a way to get connected and have some fun this summer? Check out our Summer Interest Groups! These groups provide opportunities to learn a new skill (or polish up an old skill!), meet new people, engage in conversation, make meaningful connections, and hopefully have some fun!
Registration opens on May 18, 2025!
CONVERTIBLE CRUISIN'
Leader: Steve Spangler
Join us in your convertible as we explore the highways and byways of Lancaster County and the surrounding countryside. Your convertible, T-top or removable hardtop are all welcome. So, come, use your convertible for the reason you bought it in the first place. In the past we have gone as far south as Havre DeGrace, north to Sunbury and lots of other places in between... sometimes just for ice cream, but we will take the long scenic way to get there! The group will usually do one trip per summer month (June through September) with some modifications for weather. Sign up and watch your email for dates, locations, and times.
Please note: This summer interest group is not an official function of the church. Any liability must be assumed by the operator of the vehicle, and proper insurance must be carried by each participant.
DISC GOLF
Leaders: Dan Lindenmuth, Dan Fethkenher, Mark Heisey, Dave Hostetter, and Jack Baker
Where: Alternating between a few different courses in Lancaster County
When: Mondays from 6PM until dark
Can you throw a frisbee or want to learn a new low-impact sport? If so, you are the perfect candidate for Disc Golf. We are looking for individuals, couples, and families at all skill levels to come play. There is no cost to play at any of the courses. We will provide plenty of discs if you don’t have any. This is a friendly, non-competitive time and we're planning ways to mix it up to make it fun for all skill levels! If you have any questions, please ask. At the end of the season, we'll plan a cookout! It’s a fun way to officially end our time together.
Courses we plan to visit: Roland Park (Akron); Herr Park (west of Lancaster, north of Millersville); and Buchmiller Park (just south of Lancaster City)
PICKLEBALL
Leader: Denny Johnson
When: Various weeknights at 6:30PM (usually Mondays or Tuesdays)
Come join our summer interest group and learn how to play PICKLEBALL! No experience necessary! Anyone high school age through great-grandparents is invited to join us! It’s a great game for singles, couples, parents and teens, grandparents and grandkids. We usually play at the Warwick Middle school courts (located behind the Lititz Rec Center) to play this very social, non-strenuous, totally fun game. We use a very simple APP to keep you informed of dates and locations.
You will not need any equipment to start out! We will have paddles and balls available for anyone who wants to try it. You will be paired with similar skill levels to keep it fun! Last year we had over 50 sign up to play. We generally get 10-15 players each week. New players are usually playing well by the second week. Come and enjoy this fun game and meet some new friends!
LADIES' REFIT
Leader: Lizz Cagno
Where: LEFC's Crossover Room
When: Mondays at 6:30PM
REFIT is a fitness format that makes working out a FUN experience! This workout is for ladies of all ages, body types and fitness levels - anyone can do it. You do not need to commit to the whole summer, you can come once or as many times as you'd like. Bring someone from your oikos and let's enjoy being active together this summer.
BACKYARD GATHERING 5.0
Leaders: Bruce and Jalisa Gingrich
When: TBD
Where: The Gingrich's backyard
Who: Open to adults who attend LEFC and are looking to get to know other LEFCers!
We would love to open our backyard to provide an environment for you to get to know some people in our LEFC church family and hopefully create some lasting relationships and memories! Grab your lawn chair, a snack to share, and a lawn game (if you have one!) and join us for a relaxing evening outdoors!
GOLF
Leaders: Alan Beck
When and Where: Dates and locations TBD
Welcome to our golf interest groups. Our season runs from June to October, and we play 1 Sunday per month. There is no commitment. You can play every month or pick and choose.
GAME NIGHT
Leaders: Gay Gillespie & Cathy Hart
Where: LEFC Room A1/A2
When: June 9 and 24, July 9 and 24, August 6, 21, and 25 from 6pm-9pm (drop-ins welcome!)
Who: older teens and adults
We promise that if you come out for game night you won't be "Board"! We have plenty of games, both old and new. Try one of ours or bring one or more of your favorites. Drop in any time, the games start/stop throughout the evening. Let the games begin!
Fiber arts
Leader: Susan Owsiany
Where: LEFC Room A5
When: Every other Monday beginning June 2, 6:30 to 8:00PM
Join us as we crochet, knit, cross stitch, embroider or whatever type of Fiber Arts you prefer! Come when you can and leave when you must, we are a very informal group. Needlework has been proven to sharpen your brain, so if you are looking to acquire a new skill, need inspiration, or just want to make some new friends, we hope you’ll come join us every other week! If you are looking for a service project, well, that option is available as well.
ladies' card making crew
Leaders: Cindi Balson and Donna Robinson
Where: LEFC Room A5
When: June 29, July 27, and August 17 from 1PM to 4PM
Ladies interested in crafting homemade cards are welcome to join us in creating cards to be used by the Deaconess board to send out on behalf of LEFC. Those who have crafting supplies and equipment are encouraged to share them so that we can pool our resources and talents to be a blessing to our church body.
rec soccer
Leader: Jesse Buckwalter and Sam Counts
Where: LEFC's soccer field
When: Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:30PM
Who: Anyone age 16+
Join the Soccer Interest Group for fun, fellowship, and fitness! Whether you're a seasoned player or just enjoy kicking the ball around, this group is open to all skill levels. We meet bi-weekly for casual games, friendly competition, and time to connect with others in the community. It’s a great way to stay active and build relationships through the love of the game. Cleats are needed! Shin guards are not required.
backyard volleyball
Leaders: Ben and Jen Spead
Where: The Spead's backyard
When: Tuesdays at 6:15PM throughout the summer
Come out for some fun with backyard volleyball! We plan to have a couple of courts set up so that we can accommodate all skill and passion levels (a competitive court and a laid-back court if there is enough interest). We will meet weekly throughout the summer on Tuesdays with warmups starting at 6:15 pm. Focus is middle school and older for volleyball, but younger kids are welcome to come and hit a ball around or watch. Non-volleyball family members are welcome to chat on the porch while the others play.
food smoking
Leaders: Mike Moeller
When: June 14, July 19, and August 16
Do you have a smoking habit? Then join this food smoking summer interest group to share delicious food, recipes, and techniques! We will gather one Saturday evening per month over the summer in a Lititz home and take turns bringing a smoked appetizer, side dish, and meat to share with the group. Sign ups are limited to 12 people (spouses invited to come).
Theology nights
Leader: Sam Shoemaker
When: TBD
Join us at Theology Nights, a gathering designed to deepen your Christian faith through meaningful discussions. Using an engaging discussion format, we create an interactive environment where you can explore theology, gain different perspectives, and connect with like-minded individuals. Stay tuned for updates on the venue as we strive to find a welcoming space for contemplation and fruitful dialogue. Get ready for an enriching exploration of theology and faith, where your contributions and perspectives matter, and where you grow in your Christian life alongside fellow believers.
Moms at the Park
Leaders: Allison Meson and Kristen Snyder
Where: Parks in Lititz and surrounding areas
When: 1st and 3rd Friday of the month from 9:30 to 11AM
Who: Moms of infants to 5-year-olds. Older children are also welcome!
Looking for connection with other moms of little ones? Join us as we explore parks in the Lititz and surrounding areas. This group is meant to be a casual place to connect with other moms in the same or similar stage of life, share any prayer requests, and let those little ones run out some energy at the playground. The group is geared towards moms with children 5 and under but anyone is welcome! Invite your friends, family, neighbors and join us when you can for some summer fun! Come once or as often as you like! We look forward to connecting with you this summer.
Grandmothers in Prayer
Leaders: Mary Tortorello
When: Wednesday mornings, 10:30AM to 12PM
Where: LEFC Room A3
Join us this summer for Grandmoms in Prayer, an arm of the international prayer group, Moms in Prayer where we will pray with other grandmoms for our grandkids and their schools, impacting them for Christ. We live in a culture that seeks to blind our grandchildren to the reality of God's love for them. You can make a difference in their lives by interceding for them, using God's Word, praying together with other grandmothers that our grandchildren and their schools will be transformed by Christ.
Cheeses And Jesus
Leaders: Tim Nafe
When: June 14, 28, and July 26 from 3PM to 5PM
Where: LEFC's Mill Coffeehouse (Crossover Room Entrance)
Calling all cheese lovers, and brave souls ready to embrace the funkier side of fromage! Get ready to sniff and savor an array of delectable cheeses, from silky brie to bold blues. In this interactive class, we'll explore the secrets behind aging, pairing, and—most importantly—how to sound fancy while discussing your favorite cheese. Whether you're a seasoned cheese enthusiast or just here for the snacks, this experience promises laughter, learning, and a whole lot of cheesy goodness. Sign-ups are limited to 8-10 people per date listed. Cash donations accepted to offset the cost of session materials; any proceeds will be donated directly to LEFC.
Basic Tool skills
Leaders: Steve Fetterman
When: Monday evenings, June 2-23, 6-8PM
Where: LEFC Room A6
Beginning with the most familiar tools and discussing how to use them properly in practical situations.
Sabbath reading
Leaders: Mike and Julie Nightengale
When: second and fourth Saturdays at 4PM (June 14 - August 23)
We aim to read the weekly synagogue texts based on Luke’s report in Acts 15 about the Jerusalem Council. After these readings, you can share any passage that connects or is meaningful to you. Following this, inspired by Paul's travels in Acts 17, we will have a focused discussion: "They came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and for three Sabbaths, he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. 'This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,' he said" (Acts 17:1-3 NIV). Location and reading schedule will be communicated via email.
Sourdough Bread Baking
Leaders: Sue Shaub
When: Every other Tuesday beginning June 10 from 6:30 to 8PM
Where: LEFC Room A4
Are you interested in baking with sourdough? Whether you are a newbie or you have experience using sourdough, please join us. We will explore the variety of uses for sourdough, from the classic crusty round loaf to sweet bakes. Our first session will focus on sourdough basics for the beginner, along with different styles for maintaining your sourdough. Sourdough starter will be provided for anyone who needs it. Subsequent sessions will focus on various ways to utilize sourdough. Recipes will be provided to work with between sessions. At each meeting we will enjoy samples and share our sourdough successes or failures in the past weeks. We will troubleshoot problems and discuss techniques for greater success. We may also practice some techniques with dough.
The Art of good skincare
Leader: Jennifer Bardales
When: Thursday, June 26 and Tuesday, July 29, from 6:30 to 8:30PM
Where: LEFC Room A4
Are you interested in how to take care of your skin the way a Dermatologist would? Would you like tips and tricks on keeping your skin looking younger and healthier? Jennifer Bardales is a Physician Assistant who has specialized in Dermatology for the past 13 years. She will be offering two informal educational talks on how to prevent skin cancer and what you can do at home to protect yourself better. She will also be talking about good moisturizers, anti-aging products, and cosmetic treatments advertised on social media or at an office clinic. She’ll also touch briefly on over-the-counter and prescription options for acne if there's interest! Take home samples will be available!