Silver Spring Presbyterian Church | | |
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:
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Glorify God: Glorify and praise God through worship, discipling, sharing faith
and serving with love
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Show Compassion: Compassion expressed as care and concern for all
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Share Hospitality: Inclusive hospitality through welcome, acceptance and fellowship
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Nurture Relationships: Nurture relationships through respect, support and communication
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Steward God's Gifts: Faithful stewardship of all God's gifts
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March 22, 2026
Our Sin and God's Grace
Part 4: The Cure for Sin
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This Sunday, we conclude our four-part sermon series, “Our Sin and God’s Grace: The Cure for Sin.” Drawing from the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, we will explore what it means to live in the Spirit- God’s spirit. From there, we journey back to the Old Testament and the prophet Ezekiel’s vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, before moving forward to the raising of Lazarus, who had been in the tomb four days – an event of deep significance in Jewish tradition. It is interesting to note, while our first response to seeing bones, we think of death, but in Scripture, they signify much more – God’s power to restore a life filled with sin, by renewing and bringing new life in Christ.
See you on Sunday!
Pastor Lisa
Sermons in this series:
Our Sin and God’s Grace
February 22 Part 1: "The Original Sin" [Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 – Adam and Eve’s disobedience]
March 1 Youth Sunday
March 8 Part 2: “The Sin of Testing” [Exodus 17:1-7 – The Israelites grumble and God provides]
March 15 Part 3: “The Sin of Blindness” [John 9:1-41 -- Jesus cures the man born blind]
March 22 Part 4: “The Cure for Sin” [John 11:1-45 – Jesus raises Lazarus]
| | Online Services this Sunday | | 11 AM The Gathering Service | | |
Palm Sunday - March 29th
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 2nd
Worship Service at 5:30 pm in the Gathering Place
Simple Supper and Communion
Good Friday - April 3rd
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 5th
Worship Services at 9 am and 11 am
Sunday School / Youth Church at 10 am
Nursery for children 3 and under upon request (please contact the church office)
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Join our 2026 Lenten Series
Seeking to find meditative, reflective silence and deeper connection with God in your spiritual life? Join us March 25 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm for the final session of our Lenten Series.
Through guided reflections, shared conversation and spiritual exercises, we will learn how to apply discernment in everyday life and cultivate awareness, clarity, and faithful responses throughout the Lenten season and beyond within a supportive, prayerful community. We hope to see you there!
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Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
CE and the CORE Youth are pleased to announce that this year's Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, March 28th, from 9 am to 11 am. It is open to children from 1 to 10 years old. We will be serving coffee and donuts starting at 9 am. The Hunt will begin at approximately 10 am and last as long as there are eggs. The Easter bunny will make an appearance to meet the children and be available to take pictures. Prizes will be awarded to finders of the special "golden" eggs.
Look for a decorated basket in the Gathering Place, if you would like to donate candy or empty plastic Easter Eggs. This will be SSPC's next outreach event, come one, come all!
UPDATE: Several members of our Membership Committee will be there to assist children after the Hunt to make cards for "Caitlin's Smiles" Foundation. Come and watch or come and help this great outreach event!
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, March 30th. You can also click here for the order form.
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Fellowship Palm Sunday Reception
Your Fun-loving Fellowship Committee is hosting a Palm Sunday reception in the Gathering Place on Sunday, March 29, 10-11 am, between the two services. There will be a selection of finger foods for you to enjoy with coffee and conversation. There is no sign-up for this event, but donation baskets will be available.
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One Great Hour of Sharing – Special Offering – Palm Sunday, March 29
In Isaiah 58, the prophet exclaims, “Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in” (Isaiah 58:12). As the people of Israel returned from the cloud of exile and struggled to rebuild their lives, Isaiah questioned their efforts: [Are you not called] “to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them?” (Isaiah 58:7).
When we give to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS), we are combining our efforts with thousands of churches across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to repair peoples’ lives — people who are hurting, oppressed, lost or on the margins of society. The exact people about whom Isaiah is speaking. The people we are called to connect with every day, but especially in the light of the Good News of the resurrection.
Your gift to One Great Hour of Sharing to benefit Presbyterian ministries to end hunger and poverty, provide assistance after disaster strikes, work with sustainable community development, and come alongside immigrants, migrants, and refugees. This is an opportunity to participate in God’s ongoing repair of the world God so loves and see how giving opens your heart to God’s work in your own life.
The Intergenerational Choir
The Intergenerational Choir will practice this Sunday, March 22nd. We will start to prepare for our next special performance on Palm Sunday. All Sunday School children are invited to sing, along with parents and grandparents. Come and join us as we praise the Lord with song!
Adult Forum and Sunday School, Room 204, 10:10 am
We continue our Max Lucado Lenten Study "He Choose the Nails". This week's lesson is titled "He Choose to Invite Us into His Presence". Come and learn. Come and discuss. See you there!
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. This week we will be making Lenten cards for members of the congregation who are unable to attend services. Come and help or come and watch!
The Pre-K/K youth Church, Room 108, 10:15-10:50 am
The Pre-K/K youth Church meets this week. Each class will include singing, a lesson, and play time!
Gathering Video
The Gathering Video for this week is from the contemporary Christian group, Home Free. The song is "Amazing Grace". Last week, Pastor Don taught us the story behind the song, now listen to the song again, acapella by this great group. Come at 10:55 am to see the performance or stay after the Benediction for an encore performance.
Monday Bible Study - March 23rd
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. We continue our 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.
Dining Out Group - March 31st
Join us at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, March 31st, at Snappers Bar and Grill, located at 120 East Allen Street (across Walnut Street from the library). Please RSVP no later than Monday, March 30th. Sign up in the Gathering Place or contact Joan Bretz - call 717-657-3645 or email jbretz1@earthlink.net. Hope to see you there!
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Ladies Tea Luncheon on May 2nd
Ladies, reserve May 2nd for the annual Presbyterian Women’s Tea Luncheon starting at 11 am. This year’s guest speaker will be from Pink Hands of Hope – a non-profit in our community committed to supporting women fighting breast cancer.
Please sign up in the Gathering Place, or click HERE to sign up through Realm.
Breast cancer has touched the lives of so many people, and we would like to know if you are among them. If you or an immediate loved one has ever used the services of Pink Hands of Hope in Mechanicsburg, please let us know by contacting Ellen Frey or Carol Service.
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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 Matthew. Members of the group also recently participated in the Meal with a Mission in late February! Come and discuss, come and learn!
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. We are planning our next outing to the Dillsburg Morris Laundromat on Saturday, March 22nd! We will update the congregation soon.
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.
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Tai Chi - Starting April 22nd
We are starting a Tai Chi class at Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. Tai Chi is traditional martial art from China which has been practiced for centuries. While it is practiced as a functional martial art for self defense, Tai Chi has become more widely known for its benefits to wellness and longevity. Practicing Tai Chi has been shown to help increase circulation, decrease pain in joints, help increase mobility, improve balance as well as improve overall quality of life as we age.
At its core, Tai Chi centers around four principles: breath, balance, posture and relaxation. Through a series of simple movements, breathing exercises and meditation, we learn how to apply these principles in a functional way to our everyday lives. By learning how to move the body more efficiently and with more awareness, it becomes easier to apply good mechanics and alignment in any activity to avoid unnecessary injury or strain. This is a beginner class and open to all - bring a friend!
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WHEN? 9:15 to 10:15 am every Wednesday beginning April 22nd.
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WHERE? Room 202/203
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WHO? It will be taught by Stephen Maclay (Stephen has been teaching yoga at SSPC for several years.)
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DRESS? Comfortable. loose fitting clothing (typically barefoot but socks are fine).
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COST: $10 per class or pay in advance $50 for six (6) consecutive Wednesday classes
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QUESTIONS? Contact Lisa Janson at 717-385-5228 or lisaj626@gmail.com.
Short Stories
A group of us are writing a series of short stories reflecting the precious and tender work of a minister of word and sacrament. Please find the latest installment on the bulletin board. Any questions about this, please reach out to Pastor Lisa. If you would like to share something funny, meaningful, a God-sighting, please let me know. And let me know what you think! Warm regards- Lisa
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Earth Care - Batteries [cont'd]
The best way to cut down on single-use battery waste is to use rechargeable batteries in devices you use frequently. Modern nickel-metal hydride [NIMH] rechargeable batteries can be used hundreds of times, work as well as alkaline batteries in most devices and can be recycled for free at major stores [ex. Batteries Plus] when they wear out.
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Feed My Starving Children
We extend our sincere appreciation to the twenty-eight Silver Spring volunteers who participated in the fourth annual Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) MobilePack™ event at the Turning Point Church. Through your efforts, 42,758 meals were packed, which will provide nourishment for 117 children over the course of a year and contribute to saving lives globally. For further insight into the impact of your contributions, please visit the FMSC YouTube page and view any of the "Food at Work" videos.
For the Mission Committee-
Fred Shatto
New Hope Ministries
Needs for March include: pancake mix, pancake syrup, and shampoo. Items can be placed in the bin outside the Chapel. Thank you for your help to our local community!
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CORE Youth
Join us this Sunday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM for an evening of service and community. We’ll kick things off by preparing for our upcoming Easter celebrations as we stuff eggs together. Afterward, we will transition into a meaningful time of reflection and intercession at the prayer board, concluding the night with some high-energy games. We can't wait to see you there!
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Prayers of healing and comfort:
Kris Carpinello and her parents, the Arbogasts, Gail Bumsted, Roxanne Dagino, Fred Frey, Margaret Glockner, Chad Hall, Betty Hawk, Russ Janson, Ron Kutz, Ken Miller, Pat Miller, Bill Moore, Rich Morelli, Betsy Neilson, Deb Pfaff, Chris Sebring, Tanya Wagner, Chris Winning
Prayers for sympathy: Bill Cook for the death of his mother
Prayers for our Military Members & First Responders: Olivia Chase, Jacob Flenner, Wyatt La Pointe, Justin Ledvina, Josiah Scandle, Chloe Scott
Thank You
My family and I have so appreciated the prayers for Scott at the time of surgery and during his recovery. He was comforted by your prayers, and felt God’s presence throughout these past months of successful surgery and recovery. Scott returned to his school and resumed teaching PE on February 18th.
With grateful hearts and many thanks,
Lucy Vaughan and family
Since the first day we walked into Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, many years ago when we first lived in Mechanicsburg, we loved everything about this church. When we moved back to this area 3 ½ years ago, and returned to SSPC, it truly felt like coming home. But now we are again moving from this area, and we will have to say goodbye once again to SSPC, and to all our friends we have here. It was so nice getting re-acquainted with so many old friends. We are wishing everyone connected with this wonderful church the very best. The church office will have our phone number if anyone ever wants to touch base about anything.
Glenn ‘Ed’ and Janet Maurer
| | Per Capita for 2026: $34.66 per member | | | |
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
THIS MONTH
- Budget is recommended to be finalized.
- Acceptance of Terms of Call are recommended.
- Authorization of all SSPC members to serve communion, including youth who have been confirmed and trained is recommended by the session.
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SERVING THIS WEEK
Ushers:
Carol Service and B.J. Lopez
Deacon Servers:
Holly Lawrence and Deb Pfaff
Gathering Snack:
Ashley and Kate Ringquist
Downtown Daily Bread
for March 27:
Pat and Angie Katzenstein
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SUNDAY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE
March 8
9 am Traditional Service - 98
9 am YouTube views - 108
11 am Gathering - 44
11 am YouTube views - 15
Sunday School - 16
March 15
9 am Traditional Service - 120
9 am YouTube views - 75
11 am Gathering - 50
11 am YouTube views - 23
Sunday School - 50
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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.
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