OUR MISSION is to love and praise God, love and nurture our church family, and love

and serve our neighbors,

   through worship, prayer, fellowship, education, hands-on work, financial support

    and compassionate care,

     in order to follow Jesus and make known the Kingdom of Heaven.

OUR VISION is to be a grace-filled family of faith sharing Christ’s love with all.

OUR VALUES:

• Glorify God: Glorify and praise God through worship, discipling, sharing faith

and serving with love

• Show Compassion: Compassion expressed as care and concern for all
• Share Hospitality: Inclusive hospitality through welcome, acceptance and fellowship
• Nurture Relationships: Nurture relationships through respect, support and communication
• Steward God's Gifts: Faithful stewardship of all God's gifts

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Sunday we continue the 3-part Sermon Series entitled “The Life of Discipleship.” Having taught his disciples about the nature of God’s Kingdom and the powerful attraction of living its values as described in the Beatitudes, Jesus tells them that they are Salt of the Earth and Light of the world [Matthew 5:13-20].  As disciples, they are to live with justice and righteousness that exceeds even that of the Law! What does that mean for you and me?

Come on Sunday and find out! 

Sermons in this series:

The Life of Discipleship

February 1 - Part 1: "The Call and the Kingdom"  [Matthew 4:12-23, 5:1-12 -- The Beatitudes]

February 8 - Part 2: “The Light and the Law”  [Matthew 5:13-20 -- Salt & Light]

February 15 - Part 3: “The Cost and the Reward”  [Matthew 17:1-13  --  the Transfiguration]

9 AM Traditional Service

11 AM The Gathering Service

Annual Meeting - February 8th

The Session has called the Annual Meeting of the Congregation for Sunday, February 8^th at the conclusion of the 9:00 am worship service in the Meeting House for the purpose of receiving the 2025 Annual Report and the 2026 budget, and voting on the Pastors' Terms of Call and the at-large members of the Nominating Committee.

Those who are on the live stream for the 9:00 worship service can simply remain on the live stream at the conclusion of worship until the meeting starts. Voting on the live stream will take place in the chat field. 

MEAL WITH A MISSION - FEBRUARY 25th

The next Meal with a Mission is Wednesday, February 25^th.  We will begin with a simple supper at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall, and then we will assemble School Activity Kits for Mission Central in Mechanicsburg. 

Needed items are listed below and collection bins are in the Gathering Place and gym hallway.

SCHOOL ACTIVITY KITS: Mission Central distributes these kits every year to tens of thousands of children at local schools, local non-profits, police organizations, and disaster relief agencies who work in hard-hit places like Texas and Florida. Some kits are even sent to partner agencies in under-developed communities in Africa.  

The list of needed items are: 

Scissors -Child-sized, round or pointed tips

Paper – 8.5”x11” spiral or top bound notebook, Composition notebook, loose leaf paper inside 2-pocket folder

Pencil Sharpener - Any size

Ruler - Metal, wooden, or plastic (must include inches AND centimeters)

Pencils - Any color, sharpened or not; mechanical pencils are OK

Pens - New pens with blue or black ink only

Eraser - Any color or size

Coloring – crayons, markers, colored pencils

Bag - Cloth or 2-gallon plastic

Thanks on behalf of the children at risk who will benefit from these kits!

Please sign up:

1. Sign up on the sheet in the Gathering Place, or
2. Click HERE to sign up through Realm.

Sympathy

We extend our prayers and sympathy to Bob Sloane for the passing of his dear wife, Ada. Please keep Bob, their daughters, Lenor Hersey, Ada's sister, and other family members in your thoughts and prayers.

Session encourages all confirmed members to serve communion!

At its January meeting, the Session, in accordance with the Book of Order, authorized and encourages all SSPC members who have been trained to serve communion. This includes all members who have been confirmed. There is a sign-up sheet in the Gathering Place. If you need training, please indicate that on the sign-up sheet or contact worship co-chairs B.J. Lopez or Ashley Ringquist. Rev. Dr. Wahlig or Rev. Chase will arrange for training. 

Blood Pressure Sunday

Come to Room 201 this week to have your pressure checked between 10:00 - 10:45 am.

Adult Forum and Sunday School 
We will not meet this week due to the Congregational Meeting.

Youth Church this week, Room 112

We will continue with the Dwell curriculum, studying about Jesus and the Bible, and will sing, do crafts and play games. This class is for children from 5 to 17! Parents and grandparents are invited to attend along with the children.

The Pre-K/K youth Church, Room 108, 10:15-10:50 am

PreK – K Youth Church is back in the swing of things on Sunday. Each class will include singing, a lesson, and play time!

The Intergenerational Choir

We will practice on Sunday, February 8th. We are preparing for a special Valentine's Day weekend presentation. All Sunday School children are invited to sing, along with parents and grandparents. Come and join us as we praise the Lord with song!

Circle Rebekah - Thursday, February 12th

Join us Thursday, Feb 12 with Bible Study from 1:00 – 2:00 in Room 204, led by Claudia Brown. Topic: Finding our joy in Christ. Prior to the lesson, we have fellowship time. Bring your sack lunch to the Parlor between noon and 12:15. Tracy Bryan will provide a dessert at 12:30. Please join us in person OR join remotely via Zoom. For the Zoom link or a phone dial-in number, contact Emily Krebs, 717-805-5778 or bekrebs@verizon.net

Fellowship Valentine Reception -

Sunday, February 15th

Your fun-loving Fellowship Committee will be hosting a Valentine Reception featuring chocolates between the two worship services.  

Make sure to stop in the Gathering Place for a sweet treat with coffee and conversation.

Gathering Video

The Gathering Video for this week is from contemporary Christian singer, Phil Wickham. The song is "Battle Belongs". It tells the story of how God wins every battle. No matter how messy your life may be, God is there with you. No matter how messy, Jesus sees you. Faith equals hope. Come at 10:55 am to see the performance or stay after the Benediction for an encore performance.

Lunch Bunch Outing

Please join us on Thursday, February 19, at 11:30 for an enjoyable lunch at Brothers Family Diner, 705 Gettysburg Pike in Mechanicsburg. A sign-up sheet is in the Gathering Place. All are welcome.

Healing after loss

This is an invitation from St. James Presbyterian Church to attend a grief care group. Author Michael Hollings tells us “There is no way out, only a way forward.” Life is hard and full of loss. How do we move forward? You are invited to join us at St James Presbyterian Church as we explore the book Healing After Loss by Martha Hickman.

• What: Life & Loss / Grief Care group
• When: First & Third Wednesday of the month at Noon
• Where: St. James PC USA 1425 Orr’s Bridge Road, Mechanicsburg, PA
• Contact: Emails to StJamesOffice@verizon.net or call 717-732-7848

May God bless you and keep you.

Monday Bible Study - February 9th

All are invited to join this unique study. We meet 1 pm to 3 pm, every second and fourth Monday of the month, in Room 204. In January we began an in-depth study of the Gospel of John. Come and learn, come and discuss.

Wednesday Bible Study

Our Wednesday Afternoon Bible Study meets each week in the Parlor from 1-3 pm. The group is studying Max Lucado's new book, "Taming Your Thoughts". This class is for adults from 19 to 99. Come and learn, come and discuss.

Wine-Tasting Group

On Saturday February 21st at 6:00 pm Ken Harm will be hosting the next wine tasting evening at his house at 105 Federal Drive, Mechanicsburg 17050. If you'd like to sample different wines and have an enjoyable evening with fellow Silver Springers and friends, please consider joining us. We ask that you bring an hors d'oeuvre to share. At the end of the evening the cost of the wines is shared among the group - usually around $10-$12 per person. If you are interested, please rsvp before February 14 to Jenny Bell at belljen000@gmail.com. 

Young Adults Christian Education Group, the Pathfinders!

CE and young leaders from SSPC started a new group for young adults over 18. Watch for new events being planned! For more information, please contact Ty Headley. The group is currently studying from the Book of Acts.

Laundry Ministry Update

The SSPC Youth and CORE members continue their new ministry here at the church, the Laundry Ministry. We continue to collect quarters in the Gathering Place, in the laundry basket and purchase laundry cards to hand out to patrons at local Morris Laundromats. The weather has curtailed our efforts, but we will be back at it soon. Thanks for the prayers and quarters!

Storyboard Ministry

The SSPC Youth started a new ministry called the Storyboard Ministry! Here is how it works: The Youth have an easel in the Gathering Place with Post-it notes and markers. Fill out a Post-it note with a prayer request or hope (no names, please) and each Sunday we will collect the requests and pray for them at our CORE meetings. Whatever is on your heart, put it on the storyboard and we will pray for each request.

We continue to pray each week around the Storyboard, thanks to everyone who continues to add requests. If you see a request that you would like to take with you and pray for, feel free to do so. If you want to add one, please do as well. Our new box for answered prayers is now in place beside the Storyboard. Feel free to place any answered prayers that you are thankful for in the box. God does indeed answer prayers! Blessings.

Something fun to look forward to in the New Year!

Check out the story on the bulletin board in the Gathering Place this week! Short stories will be shared to spark curiosity, build connection, and provide a fun, delightful literary treat to look forward to. As the stories begin, we will invite you to share your own experiences – especially the funny, surprising, heartwarming, and bittersweet moments of being a member of a church. Stay tuned for more information! 

Earth Care

Can black plastic be recycled?

White and clear plastic is most valuable because it can be made into colors. Black plastic can only be recycled into black plastic which makes the value of a batch less. Optical sorting machines cannot detect black, so these need to be sorted by hand; thus the cost goes up.

In case of inclement weather,
 check our website at www.silverspring.org for 
updates on cancellations or schedule changes.

Feed My Starving Children

According to UNICEF about 13,000 children under the age of five die every day, with malnutrition being a major underlying factor in these premature deaths.

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN (FMSC) is a Christian non-profit organization committed to feeding God’s starving children. With God’s help they work together with local organizations and ministries to end hunger. They have developed a process they call “Mobil Pack” that allows them to pack, label and box thousands of meals in a weekend.

Locally, the Turning Point Church Mechanicsburg is hosting a Mobil Pack operation on the weekend of March 13-15. Their goal is to raise $65,000 and pack over 200,000 meals.  

The Mission Committee is recruiting a team to volunteer on Friday March 13th for either the 2-4 PM or the 6-8 PM shift. Not all work requires standing. While donations are welcome, they are not required.

Early volunteer registration begins on February 9th. If you’re interested, please send an email to Fred Shatto at fredshatto@gmail.com and indicate which shift you can volunteer. This is a great event and fun for people to do together. I hope you can join us. 

Fred Shatto

New Hope Ministries

New Hope Ministries can use the following items for February: pasta noodles (anything EXCEPT spaghetti), pasta sauce, and dish detergent. Items can be placed in the bin outside the Chapel. Thank you very much!

CORE Youth

Due to the Super Bowl, there will be Core this Sunday afternoon from 3 PM - 5 PM. We will continue working on our Youth Sunday production. We will return to regular Core timing next Sunday. I'll see you at 3 PM! - Austin

Prayers of healing and comfort:

Kris Carpinello's parents, the Arbogasts, Gail Bumsted, Roxanne Dagino, Margaret Glockner, Betty Hawk, Ron Kutz, Judy La Pointe, Jan Maurer, Pat Miller, Betsy Neilson, Kathy Rutledge, Chris Sebring, Jonathan Service, Scott Vaughan



Prayers for sympathy: Bob Sloane and his family; Charlie Dagino for the death of his mother; Randall Chase and family

Prayers for our Military Members & First Responders: Olivia Chase, Jacob Flenner, Wyatt La Pointe, Justin Ledvina, Josiah Scandle, Chloe Scott

Thank You

I wish to thank my church members who joined American Legion Post 109 Mechanicsburg. Our membership now includes 12 veterans from Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. I can't describe my personal feelings for your commitment to our programs, some of which are children and youth, scouting, scholarships, sports, Toys for Tots, emergency fund, disasters, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, homeless vets, meals, wounded warrior, and the list goes on. You make a difference. Thanks again. In God we trust, Past Commander Chaplain Elizabeth Hall-Bentzel

I want to thank everyone for all your prayers, well-wishes and cards. I really appreciate them all.

Thank you, Christa Lenk

SERVING THIS WEEK

Ushers:

Mike and Nancy Gawlas

Gathering Snack:
Heather McCarthy

Deacon Servers:

Christa Lenk

Sarah Neville

Downtown Daily Bread

for February 13:

John Swan and Jo Day

SUNDAY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE

January 25

SNOW!!!

February 1

9 am Traditional Service - 120

9 am YouTube views - 92

11 am Gathering - 43

11 am YouTube views - 37

Sunday School - 44

GIVING OF YOUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS ELECTRONICALLY:



1- Direct Link to our Website:

https://onrealm.org/silverspring/-/give/now



2- If you’d like the church to set up contributions for you, please complete and return the attached form by clicking here.

For questions, please email Diane Rabold, Business Manager, at dianer@silverspring.org.

Please Note:

To submit information for the weekly announcements, please email Priscilla in the church office by Thursday morning. Please note that we reserve the right to edit articles due to space and can only publish information directly related to church-sponsored events.