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

March 30, 2025

Walking Through Lent with Jesus,

Part 4: "Reconciling Relationships"

In Sunday’s message “Walking Through Lent with Jesus, Part 4: Reconciling Relationships,” against the backdrop of the Prodigal Son, we will learn about God’s boundless mercy, inviting those lost back into a relationship with God. This parable, rich with symbolism and meaning on various levels, illustrates God’s grace and mercy – as a wayward child returns home, expecting punishment but receives love and forgiveness instead. The parable reminds us that no matter how far we stray, God welcomes us with open arms.

Join us for worship on Sunday to learn more!



Pastor Lisa

Sermons in this Series:

Walking through Lent with Jesus

• March 9            Part 1: Passing the Test - Luke 4:1-13 [Satan tempts Jesus]
• March 16         Part 2: Resisting Fear - Luke 13:31-35

[Pharisees warn Jesus about Herod]

• March 23         Part 3: Producing Fruit - Luke 13:1-9 [Parable of the Fig Tree]
• March 30         Part 4: Reconciling Relationships - Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

[Parable of the forgiving father]

• April 6             Part 5: Anticipating Death - John 12:1-8 [Mary anoints Jesus’ feet]

9 AM Traditional Service

11 AM Gathering Service

Annual Easter Egg Hunt at SSPC - March 29th at 11 am

This year's Easter Egg Hunt, presented by the SSPC Preschool and SSPC Youth will be on Saturday, March 29th.

It will be held behind the Preschool classrooms, at 11 am. Please bring your Easter baskets to collect your eggs. There will be lots and lots of eggs, special prizes, and an appearance by the Easter Bunny! Happy Easter!

LENTEN DEVOTIONS -

Wednesday Evenings in Lent:



• 6:00 pm, Wednesday, April 2 & 9 – “The Message of Jesus: Words that Changed the World” – click here for a video preview: https://adamhamilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/The-Message-of-Jesus-Preview.mp4
• Each class begins with a short video followed by a discussion of that week’s theme. Together we will deepen our faith by taking a fresh look at six of the most important themes in Jesus's teachings, why they matter, and how they speak to us today. They include Jesus’s preaching on the Kingdom of God, the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the “I am” sayings in John, and more. 

Easter Lily Orders

Help us celebrate Christ's resurrection by ordering an Easter lily to decorate our beautiful church. Order forms can be found in the Gathering Place. Lilies are $15.00 (checks only please, made payable to SSPC). 

Please submit your order by Monday, April 14th. You can also click here for the order form.

Amazing, Breathtaking, Inspirational!

The reviews are in and due to popular demand, the SSPC Intergenerational Choir is making two return performances, not to be missed. The choir will perform on Palm Sunday and also on Mother's Day, in the Gathering Service. Come and watch, come and join in! This choir is a mix of our congregational members, grandparents, parents, youth and one dog!

Opening Video for the Gathering

This week's opening video features a video from contemporary Christian Country singer, Larry Fleet featuring Morgan Wallen. It speaks of where you can find God, a church, a fishing boat on the water, a hayfield, even a barstool. It also speaks of finding God over a pill or a bottle, it is quite meaningful. Come and view it at 10:55 am, in the Chapel or stay for the encore after the service.

Fellowship Palm Sunday Reception

Your Fun-loving Fellowship Committee is hosting a Palm Sunday Reception in the Gathering Place on Sunday, April 13th, 10-11 am, between the two services. 

There will be a selection of finger foods and punch for you to enjoy, while you socialize. There is no upfront cost for this event, but donation baskets will be available. There is no sign-up for this social event, just come and enjoy.

Adult Forum and Sunday School, Room 204

The Adult Forum and Sunday School returns this week as we continue our Lenten Study, "He Choose the Nails" by Max Lucado. This week's lesson is titled "He Choose to Forgive Us". This class is for all adults from 19 to 99! Come and join us to watch and to learn more about our faith. See you on Sunday!

Youth Church at 10:00 am, Room 112

Youth Church is our Sunday School program. We meet and sing, study our Bible, participate in arts and crafts, earth care, and much more. This class is for children from 6 to 18. Parents and grandparents are welcome and encouraged to attend and join in with our teachers, in our new home!

Preschool Sunday School, 10:00 am

Our Preschool program begins with singing together and will enjoy a lesson on Jesus and the Bible, crafts, earth care and storytelling. This class is for all children from 2 to 6. Parents and grandchildren are welcome to attend as well. Come and join us!

Women's Tea: April 5, 2025 in the Gathering Place

April is such a lovely time to gather with your women friends and share a spot of tea, and good conversation! With that goal in mind, we are having a Women’s Tea on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 11:00 am.

Please sign up in the Gathering Place or click HERE to register on Realm by March 30, so we can prepare accordingly. Any questions, please reach out to Pastor Lisa Chase or Linda Wallower. We will be collecting a free-will offering to benefit Peace Promise, a non-profit that works with women who have been exploited by the sex industry.

Lunch Bunch Group - April 9th, 11:30 am

Join us for lunch on April 9 at Black N Bleu Restaurant, located at 6108 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg. Please sign up in the Gathering Place or contact Arnita Hawkins at (352) 630-5213. All are welcome!

Spring Work Day - Saturday, April 12, 8 am - Noon

The Buildings and Grounds Committee invites you to welcome Spring by pitching in and lending a hand or two (we'll even take a few feet) to help spruce up the church campus. Help is needed with all manner of yard work and even a little housework, including raking, weeding, pruning, and light cleaning in the buildings. No hands or feet will be idle and it's a great opportunity to get some practice in for those chores at home. We will have some light refreshments to help replace any calories you might lose. Please mark your calendars and plan to have some fun in the sun!

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Palm Sunday - April 13th

Worship Services at 9 am and 11 am

Palm Sunday Reception at 10 am

The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering will be received.

Maundy Thursday - April 17th

Worship Service at 5:30 pm in the Gathering Place

Simple Supper and Communion

Good Friday - April 18th

Service of Tenebrae at 7:30 pm in the Meeting House

Join us for a moving reflection of Christ's death on the cross.

Easter Sunday - April 20th

Worship Services at 9 am and 11 am

Children's Easter Celebration at 10 am

Nursery for children 3 and under

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering to be received April 13

We began our observance of the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday with a reading of Isiah 58.   The prophet implores us to see those on the margins, the hungry and afflicted, as those for whom God holds great care. And so should we. Showing our love, sharing our love, is how we repair the breach in so many of our interactions in this world.

In this country and around the world, millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education and opportunity. OGHS makes a difference through three programs: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People. These programs all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance works alongside communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation of natural or human-caused disasters.

Presbyterian Hunger Program takes action to alleviate hunger and the systemic causes of poverty so all may be fed.

Self-Development of People invests in communities responding to their experiences of racism, oppression, poverty and injustice and educates Presbyterians about the impact of these societal ills.

OGHS has been a catalyst for love for over 75 years. Your gifts help those who are fighting for basic needs and seeking to change the structures that perpetuate poverty, oppression and injustice. Your gifts bring a beacon of love and hope in our world and put the power of healing into the hands of those who need it most. Join us on April 13 and make the choice to implement love and justice, for they are the only currencies in God’s economy.

Wednesday Afternoon Adult Christian Education Book Class

For many years, a traditional Bible study has met on Wednesday afternoons and CE is continuing this long-standing tradition. We meet in the Parlor at 1:00 pm every Wednesday. We begin a new study by Max Lucado called "God Never Gives Up on You: What Jacob's Story Teaches Us About Grace, Mercy, and God's Relentless Love" Come and learn, come and discuss. This class is for adults from 18 to 99.

Monday Bible Study - April 14th

All are invited to join this unique study. We meet 1 pm to 3 pm on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. We continue a new study of Revelations as we watch sessions by Reverend Gary Hambrick, from Leesburg, Virginia. Come and learn, come and discuss. This class is for adults from 18 to 99!

Young Adults Group, the Pathfinders!

New in 2025, CE and young leaders from SSPC have begun a new group for young adults over 18. The group has met several times, adopted the name, "Pathfinders", elected officers and are planning future meetings and events for all SSPC young adults and friends. For further information, contact Ty Headley or John Goff. We are excited to report the success of the first event of 2025, at John and Kat Goff's home. There was great food, fun games, like corn hole and time for reflections and conversations amongst the young adults gathering there. This group is for young adults from 19 and older, single or married! This new effort is specifically for our young adults and they are leading this effort and charting their own course.

Young Families Christian Education Group

Also new in 2025, CE has begun a new effort for our young families. We are meeting one Sunday a month with young families for lunch and discussion. We are planning one or more events this summer featuring earth care, food, fun and fellowship built for our young families. All interested families can contact Scott Pepperman at puppytrainer52@aol.com or 717-389-5100 for more information.

Vacation Bible School: June 22 - June 26, 2025

The CE Committee is very excited to announce plans for the SSPC 2025 Vacation Bible School. The dates are Sunday, June 22nd to Thursday, June 26th. VBS will be evenings only, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. It will include a light dinner, music, crafts, a Christian Education program, Earth Care and much more. The theme for this year is "Jesus Rescues" and will include Jesus stories from the Bible where he rescues characters in the Bible. (An idea from one of our Confirmation Students, Jayme Whittle!) As always, many hands make for light work, if you are interested in helping in any way, contact Pastor Lisa or Scott Pepperman and Drew Crompton, co-chairs of CE. We will need help with food, decorations, crafts, music, and or course teaching! VBS-YES!

SSPC Name Badges

"At our Baptism, God called us by name!" How wonderful it is to be called by our name, especially on a Sunday morning in church! As we invite guests and new members into our church, it would be nice to have them know our names. If you have a name badge, I challenge you to wear it; if not, contact me and I will arrange to get you one. If you are a new member, let me know and I will get you one. Simply contact me, Scott Pepperman, at puppytrainer52@aol.com. The cost for each badge is $6. Once you receive your badge, simply give a check to the church office made out to "SSPC". If you lost your badge or magnet let me know and I will order a replacement.

Something new! Discount cards to support the SSPC youth

The SSPC Youth are launching a new effort to raise additional funds for our Christian Education programs. We believe in giving back to the congregation and not just asking for additional funding. So far this year we have plans to raise nearly $12,000 from donations and contributions.

Here's how it works: the Discount Cards feature savings from 15 local and national programs, like restaurants, family fun centers and service organizations. (For example, Sal's Pizza in Mechanicsburg, Dad's Garage in Mechanicsburg, The Bagel Boutique in Mechanicsburg, Trindle Bowling Alley in Camp Hill, and Jiffy Lube in Mechanicsburg). The card is usable for one year, and can be used over and over, increasing your savings each time you visit. Each card costs $15 and can easily be paid for in just several visits to one of the featured businesses. This is how the SSPC youth can give back to our congregation.

I will have several with me each Sunday. Reach out to me at puppytrainer52@aol.com or call me at 717-389-5100 to request a card or cards. Then make out a check for SSPC and drop it off at the office or give it to me. They are great to use or give as gifts. For each card we sell, the SSPC Christian Education program will make $10, and we hope to sell 200 cards in 2025. As always, the CE Youth appreciate your support of our efforts and your prayers. Look for new ideas and efforts from the CE Youth throughout 2025. Blessings, Scott Pepperman and Drew Crompton.

Tinner-Fehr Scholarship

Thanks to the Tinner/Fehr families, SSPC students have a wonderful opportunity. Applicants for this scholarship must be current, active members of SSPC and either a high school senior or college student committed to a career in human healthcare and/or a human healthcare-related field of study. To apply for the scholarship, they must write a short essay that includes, but is not limited to, listing of the colleges to which they are applying, chosen major, career goal, and explaining how SSPC has influenced their lives and future career choices. Please submit your essay to the Deacon Moderator (Shawn Marshall) or to the church office by May 15th.

Happy Birthday to You!

We wish you a very Happy Birthday to those celebrating in April!

Click HERE for the April birthday list.

Earth Care - Here are several hints to avoid using plastic Easter basket grass. These will not harm the planet:

• Buy Easter grass made with 100% recycled paper. You can get these at office supply stores, sold as packing materials. These can be reused as packing supplies for gift bags or packing materials.
• Easter grass can be made out of shredded Aspen wood fibers. This material is biodegradable
• Natural raffia is a great alternative to plastic Easter grass
• Make your own by shredding tissue paper, magazines, junk mail, leftover crafting paper, whatever you have at home. Or use this as a filler so as not to buy so much of the decorative Easter grass.

New Hope Ministries

Needs this month include: pasta, peanut butter, and toilet paper. Please place items in the bins located outside the Chapel. Thank you so much!

CORE Youth Group

CORE will be meeting on Sunday, March 30th, at 6 pm. We will begin with a prayer, and Christian video, share a meal together, followed by a lesson and discussion and then begin stuffing Easter Eggs for our Annual Easter Egg Hunt!

CORE and Confirmation Class serve at Meal with a Mission! Several of our youth assisted with the Meal with a Mission on March 19th. They helped to set up, prepare food, serve to the members and guests assembled and clean up. Thanks to the following youth who helped, RJ Holt, Jackson Beck, Brin Hipp, Jayme and Brooklyn Whittle, Kyla Callahan and Kate Hall. As a thank you for all their work, the Youth Mentors will be taking them to Sweet Frog after we finish the Easter Eggs this Sunday evening.

CORE is from 6 pm to 8 pm in the CORE room, downstairs at the church in the Preschool on most Sundays. CORE is open to all youth from sixth grade to twelfth grade. CORE is about fellowship, service and Christian Education. Come and join us at our next meeting!

Confirmation Class this Sunday at 4:30 pm.

Prayers of healing and comfort:

Nancy Kauhl, Forrest Adams, Nancy Thomas, Rich and Chris Sebring, Tom Gross, Pat Langdon, Margaret Glockner, Elizabeth Bentzel, Debbie Bitting, Betsy Eichelberger, Ron Kutz

Prayers for our military members:

Olivia Chase, Justin Ledvina, Josiah Scandle, Wyatt La Pointe

Prayers of sympathy: Alix Fider for the death of her grandmother; Carol Barstow and Susan Bruner on the death of Carol's sister

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.