May - June 2023

FROM PASTOR LISA

The laws of physics teach us that on level ground, the heavier an object is, the slower the acceleration will be. (If an object is dropped from a higher level, its speed (depending on its weight) will quicken as it falls to the ground.)

The former lesson in physics was driven home to me (no pun intended!) the other evening when I was driving a go-kart at the youth outing at Sports Emporium before the always-popular lock-in at church. One of the youth in attendance was too small to actually drive the go-kart by herself, so lucky me! I got to drive the go-kart - not once, but twice so this young lady could enjoy a fast (and safe) ride! 

With my right foot pushing the gas pedal all the way down to the floorboard, we couldn’t figure out why our go-kart couldn’t pass the cars in front of us. Then I realized with our combined weight, which was a little more than 200 lbs., we were heavier than the cars in front us, and those cars were able to accelerate more quickly. An ah-ha moment!

When I explained this to the young woman, she understood, and I know she is looking forward to when she can drive a go-kart by herself one of these days!

Friends, this is exactly how worry and doubt affect our lives. These unwelcomed emotions weigh us down. They make us sluggish and slow. We’re not light and free because we have things on our mind and in our hearts. We’re to lighten our load, give those burdens to Jesus (Who promises His yoke is easy), and try to live lives free of worry and doubt. Jesus reminds us:

Matthew 6:25-27, and 31-34 - Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?



31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-27, and 31-34)

Go lightly and be a blessing to others because you are so blessed! Pastor Lisa

Welcome New Members through Confirmation!

Recently, Max Miller, Brayden Pierce, Matthew Ringquist and Lilly Taylor joined Silver Spring Presbyterian Church after completing several months of Confirmation classes taught by Pastor Lisa and Elder Diane Lupia! The students completed a journal on the Gospel of Mark, learned about important faith-related topics such as the importance of prayer, tithing, mission outreach and developing a statement of faith, among the many subjects they learned over the course of an academic year.

Welcome Max, Brayden, Matthew and Lilly!

Message from the Deacons

Deacons will have their final meeting of the year in June with outgoing and incoming members. We look forward to August when activities resume. 

Worship Music

Sanctuary choir rehearsals have concluded for the season. Our first rehearsal for next year will be August 30, 2023 at 7:15 in the choir room. If you are interested in joining the choir for the season or for a Sunday, all you need to do is show up for rehearsal. 

If you are interested in joining The Gathering band as a vocalist or an instrumentalist, you may contact Kyle at any point in time to arrange a very informal audition. 

If you are interested in providing special music for the Traditional Service over the summertime please contact Kyle Weary.

The Intergenerational Choir has concluded for this school year. We will resume meeting in September on Sunday mornings at 10 am for 10-15 minutes at the beginning of Sunday School. We enjoyed singing with the congregations in both services this past year. Please consider joining us when we resume in the fall. We enjoy our time singing together and would love to have YOU! Please contact Tracy Wieseman for more information. 

Christian Education News

The Christian Education Committee supports the worship life of our congregation by helping Silver Spring members and friends address our inherent hunger to know and love God with our minds as well as our hearts.

           Upcoming events and recaps from your Christian Education Committee:

• Sunday School and Sunday Bible Study for Adults – The Children's Sunday School is over on June 4th; the Adult Sunday Morning Bible Study will continue all summer, on most Sundays.

• This spring the youth of the church and the Sunday School are growing a Victory Garden at SSPC. Working with the Earth Care Group and Buildings and Grounds, we formed the garden and started our planting. A gate has been added and additional planting will be done by the end of May. We look forward to harvesting from the garden and donating the produce and flowers to our local community and church members.

• CE sponsored a “Spring Fling” dance in April. It was a huge success! Attendees learned how to dance “The Swing”, “The Foxtrot” and several line dances. The music was great, and the salad bar was also great and well received. Plans are being made for another dance later in 2023 or 2024. CE raised $100 for our Youth.

• Movie Night/End of School Bash – Plans continue for our end-of-year bash on June 4^th, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Join us for great hot dogs and hamburgers, bring a side dish and we will enjoy a movie night together. The CE Committee has chosen the movie “Jesus Revolution.” The event is open to our SSPC family, our SSPC Preschool family and our local community. Watch for further details to come and sign up for the event by clicking the link below. Last names beginning with A-M, bring a dessert; last names beginning with N-Z, bring a savory side dish. There no cost, but donations are welcome. Sign up HERE through Realm. There is also a paper sign up form in the Gathering Place.

• Moses! Another successful CE event. We had 30 folks from the congregation and friends attend this amazing show and lunch at Shady Maple. Plans are being made for another visit to Sight and Sound for the Christmas show and back next spring to see the story of “Daniel.” Come along!

• CE Coffee Hour. CE sponsored a coffee hour, about every other week, in the SSPC Preschool for parents and staff. Staff and parents took part in the event and agreed it was a great time of fellowship and food! We look forward to future events throughout the next school year.

• Teacher Recognition. The CE Committee provided cards and gift cards to celebrate our Sunday School teachers on Sunday, May 14^th. We want to thank all our teachers for their hard work and faithfulness this church year.

• High School Graduates Recognition. The CE Committee will provide cards and gift cards for our 2022 and 2023 High School Graduates on June 4^th. We congratulate all Graduates on their hard work and success. We catch up with the 2022 graduates after missing them last year.



Earth Care Spotlight: Pennsylvania American Marten Reintroduction

Pennsylvania has a rich history of wildlife reintroductions. These efforts have included species like elk, river otter, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and even white-tailed deer which were once uncommon or completely extirpated from the state. These reintroductions have resulted in great success stories. Now the Pennsylvania Game Commission is planning to reintroduce an iconic species to the forests of Penn's Woods...the American Marten. Formerly the Pine Marten, this small weasel known for its climbing ability was extirpated from Pennsylvania at the turn of the 20th century due to hunting and deforestation. But as forests have returned to our state, so too has the quality habitat that harbors this species. They prefer mature unbroken forests with dense understories. Such large expanses of forests can be found across the northern tier of the state, and much of it is state-owned, offering additional protection for martens. Like other weasels, American Martens feed primarily on small mammals, but will also eat birds and some plant material. They will hunt on the ground but also in trees. They will also hunt and find shelter beneath the snow, seeking out crevices and burrows covered by winter's snowpack. Some hunters are concerned that the reintroduction of another predator could harm populations of game species, particularly turkey. Currently there is no evidence that martens prey upon wild turkeys.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is working with public interests to commit a source of wild martens to trap-and-transfer to Pennsylvania, likely from a state with a healthy population. Final approval for the reintroduction must pass through PGC's board of commissioners. But the hope is that in the next few years American marten will be repopulating Pennsylvania's north woods, once again adding to the diversity of our state's wildlife.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Fortitude can also be interpreted as self-control, which is so important in today's culture!

Note funny cartoon below!

Hal and Janet Schrader and Lucy Vaughan, longtime friends, teaching colleagues and church members recently participated in SSPC's Oral History Project. Lucy played the organ for Hal and Janet's wedding many years ago in Dover, DE at the First Baptist Church!

"Tell me the story of Jesus, write

on my heart every word;

Tell me the story most precious

sweetest that ever was heard.

Tell how the angels in chorus sang as

they welcomed his birth;

Glory to Thy in the highest

peace and the tidings to earth.

Tell me the story of Jesus."

(Hymn by Eddy Arnold)

CORE Youth Group

We just had our Spring Lock-In, which was a blast! We went to Sports Emporium, Sheetz, and played a ton of games during the all-nighter (photos above, below and to the right).

We look forward to the summer with VBS, our backyard mission trip, and many other special events!

Jane "Grandma" Brown turns 102!

Jane Brown, longtime member of Silver Spring Presbyterian Church recently turned 102 years young! She was celebrated with song and applause at the May 7th church service, which was also her birthday. Jane credits her longevity to good genes, her deep faith in God and a great sense of humor. Happy Birthday dear Jane!

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