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 begin a 3-part Sermon Series entitled “The Path to the Kingdom.”  Together we will explore what Jesus teaches his disciples (and us!) about the Kingdom of God. This week Jesus teaches his disciples about true greatness. [Matthew 8:1-5, 10-14]. How might our lives change if we pursued what Jesus describes as true greatness? How might our faith be different? Our relationships? Our world?

Come on Sunday and find out! 

Sermons in this series:

The Path to the Kingdom

• September 6         Part 1: “Childlike Greatness”  [Matthew 18:1-5, 10-14 – Jesus teaches the disciples who is greatest in the Kingdom]
• September 13       Part 2: “Heartfelt Forgiveness”  [Matthew 18:21-35 – Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servants]
• September 20       Part 3: “Celebrating Grace”  [Matthew 20:1-16 – Jesus tells the parable of the laborers in the vineyard]

Traditional Service - 9:00 AM

The Gathering - 11:00 AM

Labor Day Holiday

The church office is closed on Monday, September 7th for the Labor Day Holiday. Please be safe and enjoy your holiday!

Sympathy

Our prayers and sympathy are extended to the Kutz and Farinelli families upon the death of Ron Kutz this week. Please keep them all in your prayers.

RALLY DAY AT SSPC! September 13th

Before and after both services, we will all enjoy a time of food, fellowship, and faithfulness. If you have been wondering how you might deepen your involvements in the life and ministries of SSPC, or maybe you just want to get a sense of the breadth of activities that we undertake here in Jesus' name, this is for you! 

While you enjoy some delicious finger food, you will have the opportunity to explore displays highlighting the work of our various committees and groups, as well as their suggestions for hands-on engagement based on your specific interests and skills.  There is no expectation that you must join a committee in order to do this. Just come and see how Christ might be calling you to be his hands and feet in a new or different way here at SSPC!

Looking forward to seeing you for this special day with your Silver Spring church family! 

Plans for Fall Faire are underway. Please note the following:

The Volunteer Board is up in the Gathering Place. There will be many opportunities to help out the week of Fall Faire, and perhaps the week before. If you like to be in the kitchen and help make our signature sticky buns and apple dumplings, please sign up for that. If you like to go through and help set up the different areas – Boutique, Christmas Shoppe, Toy Store, Silent Auction, White Elephant, there will be opportunities for that as well. The bulk of the event’s set up will be beginning Sunday afternoon, October 18th, and we will work all that week to prepare the areas for the big day on Saturday, October 24th. We will need volunteers to help out with serving lunch and clean-up after the event. 

We will accept donations beginning Sunday, August 30th AFTER the Gathering Service until 2 p.m.. Other days during the week, to help accommodate staff schedules, please reach out to us the days you would like to drop things by during the week. Please call the office to speak to Priscilla, who will know John’s schedule, to check his availability to help bring things in from your car. 

Donations needed: nice boutique-y items – lamps, embroidered pillows, Christmas items, white elephant items, toys, children's books, jewelry, new items for Silent auction, etc. We are not taking small appliances, linens of any kind, books, or glassware anymore, but if you have a beautiful set of bone china, tools, or decorative items you want to donate, we will take those. If you are not sure, let Lisa Chase know what you have (you can email her photographs of the items and show her in church), and you can decide together!

Meal with a Mission - September 23rd

The next Meal with a Mission will be Wednesday, September 23rd at 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. We will serve a simple supper and afterward preparing Welcome Home Kits for Christian Churches United. The items being collected are:

• Laundry Basket: rectangular, plastic, 2 (two) bushel -- one per kit
• Cleaning Buckets: 2 to 2 ½ gallon – one per kit
• Toilet Brush – one per kit
• Spray Bottle of All Purpose Cleaner – one per kit
• Spray Bottle of Bathroom Cleaner – one per kit
• Cleaning Cloths/Rags (new) – two per kit
• Liquid Hand Soap – two bottles per kit
• Laundry Detergent – one box or bottle per kit

There are bins to place the cleaning supplies in the Gathering Place and by the Preschool; the laundry baskets and cleaning buckets can be stacked by the bins.

For the Simple Supper, please sign up in the Gathering Place, or click HERE to sign up through Realm. Thank you for your support of the Meal with a Mission projects!

Calling All Musically Gifted Families!

Do you or members of your family sing, play an instrument, or have another musical talent you'd like to share? We are looking for individuals and families interested in participating in our Family Christmas Eve Service.

Whether you are a vocalist, instrumentalist, or would like to be involved in another musical way, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with SSPC's Intergenerational Choir Director, Mandy Bevenour, at amandapenguin@outlook.com if you are interested in participating. Mandy is coordinating the music for this service, and your participation will help make it a meaningful and memorable celebration for our congregation while also supporting her growth and experience as she prepares for a future career in music education. We look forward to sharing the gifts and talents of our church family as we celebrate the joy of Christmas together.

Fall Newsletter Deadline

Please have any articles for the Fall 2026 Enlighten Newsletter to Brad Bumsted (bradebumsted@gmail.com) and Lisa Chase (lisa@silverspring.org), no later than September 16^th!

Friday Faith Walk Hiatus until October 16th at 9:30 am

The Friday Faith walk will take a short break, while Pastor Lisa is on vacation and continuing education. We will resume promptly at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 16th. The Faith Walk is no longer weather-permitting, because we walk and pray inside the CE building on nasty weather days. All are welcome to join. Members and friends of SSPC who have walked and prayed have found it to be a very meaningful experience. There is time to catch up first, then pray! 

From Christian Education - Did You Know?!

Christian Education offers 8 Bible study classes each month for adults and coming soon two new Bible studies in October 2026! We offer classes on Sunday morning, Monday afternoon, and Tuesday nights and starting soon, Wednesday afternoons. Come and join us to discuss and learn! Contact Scott Pepperman, (puppytrainer52@aol.com) or Heather McCarthy (hjd.gmb@gmail.com) for more information.

*Something new from Christian Education, coming this fall, 2026! We will begin a new Sunday morning Bible Study for Moms! And we will begin a new Sunday School class for High School and Middle School. Watch for details in the coming weeks!

Also coming this fall, Sunday morning nursery for infants to three (3) year olds. Stay tuned for details.

Adult Forum and Sunday School - Room 204, 10:10-10:50 am

We continue our Eyewitness Bible course. This week we meet "Mary Magdalene!" She was the woman who was possessed and saved by Jesus. Bring your coffee and come and discuss!

Gathering Video this week

This week our video is from contemporary Christian singer, Crowder. The song is called "Good God Almighty". It talks about needing God to find us so we can experience his mercy. Come at 10:55 am and watch the video or stay after the Benediction and view it again.

The Intergenerational Choir, Youth Church and Pre-K/K Youth Church will resume on September 20th.

Men's Bible Study - Monday, September 14th

We meet in Room 204, 7 pm - 8:30 pm, AND online via Zoom (2nd and 4th Monday evenings of the month). If you need the link, contact Scott! We will explore the topic of "James 5:16, confess your sins to one another." Does it mean that Christian men should be fully transparent with each other, or is selective vulnerability wiser?" We also will discuss the question of how Christian men can communicate better in the present world? Suggestions for courses of study are welcome - contact Scott Pepperman at puppytrainer52@aol.com. This class is for all SSPC congregation men and friends, ages 18 and above.

Circle Rebekah – Thursday, September 10th

We are starting another year of Bible study and fellowship. Bible Study from 1:00 – 2:00 in Room 204, led this month by Kathy Henderson. Gather between noon and 12:15 in the Parlor with your sack lunch for lively conversation, or arrive at 12:30 to enjoy a dessert prepared this month by Elizabeth Bentzel. This year’s Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study is “United Through Christ, Bound to Each Other” by Rhonda Mawhood Lee. The first lesson is “Unity in Christ, Wisdom from God”. Pickup a copy of the bible study from the church office. To join remotely there is a Zoom link; and for those without computer access we have a phone dial-in number. For a copy of our schedule and the Zoom information, contact Emily Krebs, 717-805-5778 or bekrebs@verizon.net.

Monday Afternoon Bible Study - September 14th

All are invited, come and join this unique study. We meet 1 pm to 3 pm, every first and third Monday of the month, in Room 204. We continue our in-depth study of the Gospel of John, by Pastor Skip Heitzig. Come and join this growing group of interested adults, men and women! Learn and discuss.

Wednesday Afternoon Bible Study will reconvene in the fall.

Young Adults Christian Education Group, the Pathfinders!

CE and young leaders from SSPC have begun a new group for young adults over 18 called the "Pathfinders." For further information, contact Ty Headley. Currently, the group is studying from the Book of Matthew. Come and discuss, come and learn!

Spiritual Direction Small Group on Zoom – Keeping the Crazies out of Christmas

Pastor Lisa is designing a spiritual direction small group, which will begin October 29th, and run for four consecutive weeks on Zoom. The class will be held Thursday afternoons from 2-3:30 pm. The last class will be held in person, on December 3rd,  with a special class and exercise. Topics to be explored-the American Christmas Crazies Origins, Special Christmas Memories, The True Meaning of Christmas, etc. Look for a sign-up sheet in the Gathering Place, beginning the latter part of September, and a Realm email the first part of October. This will be a very informative, special class, where,  in itself, a beautiful Christmas memory will be made.♥

Calling All Cooks & Casserole Enthusiasts!

Our MealTrain, coordinated by the Deacons, is a simple way to care for members of our church community when life gets a little complicated—whether they’re recovering from illness, aging in place, welcoming a new baby, or simply in need of a little extra support.

Helping is easy — prepare a meal, arrange for delivery, or give a gift card. Best of all, you can share a favorite family recipe or test drive a new one. Simply, dust off that casserole dish and make dinner one less thing to worry about for one of our members. 

Right now, one of our members could use help with a weekly dinner in November or December. It’s a small commitment that can make a big difference—and proof that good food and good neighbors are a pretty great combination.

Want to sign up to help one of our members? Need a MealTrain? Contact Holly Lawrence at hjl12058@outlook.com or Beth Winters at beth.winters@comcast.net. Remember, no culinary degree required. No one is checking your plating. We promise.

Lunch Bunch -September 16th

Join us for lunch and fellowship at Olive Garden on Wednesday September 16 at 11:30 am. Olive Garden is located at 6520 Carlisle Pike. Please sign up in the Gathering Place or call Karen Henry at 717-697-3453.

Wine Tasting Group - September 19th

The next wine tasting will take place on Saturday September 19th at Jim Worden & Joyce Shirley's house at 2139 Arbor Court, Mechanicsburg 17055. As usual, please bring a dish to share and the cost of the wines will be split at the end of the evening among those who tried them. It will begin at 6:30 pm. Please respond to Jim at pontiac416@gmail.com or sign up on the sheet in the Gathering Place.

Sight and Sound Trip - We are going again!

CE is again organizing a bus trip to Sight and Sound, to see the presentation of Joshua! We will meet at the church at 9 am, on Tuesday, September 29th. After the presentation, we will enjoy fellowship and lunch at Shady Maple Restaurant. Limited tickets are available, so reserve your seat now! The cost is $198 per person for the bus, show and lunch. We plan to be back to the church before 6 pm. Contact Scott Pepperman, or sign up in the Gathering Place. Checks can be made payable to SSPC. Questions, contact Scott at puppytrainer52@aol.com.

Did you know? Handy Helpers a Godsend to many! 

The Handy Helpers (HH) program is intended to function as an outreach service of SSPC and its Mission Committee to provide free assistance to church members. The requested work usually involves home maintenance, repair, or for a HH to act as an advisor for the home owner to make certain they understand the terms of the contract for issues that can be resolved and completed by a local contractor so no unfair advantage is taken. We also can recommend reputable professional contractors for various tasks. Some services are simple as replacing a light bulb in a ceiling light, repairing a toilet valve, pruning shrubs or rides to the doctor or the airport. Other services can be more complex such as replacing shower valves or sink faucets, painting a fence or minor cosmetic care to a house. This is not a complete list as there are many other tasks that have been completed over the past years. We also ask that Handy Helper requests are projects that can be completed in 3-4 hours. However, professional projects have may unlimited times available, but that depends on the scope of the project. 

The Handy Helper team includes 25 members - 20 SSPC members and 4 friends of the church and averages 35 projects per year completed with 71 handy helpers using 232 man hours per year. Any questions please contact co-chairs Roy McLain at 717-421-2065 or Jonathan-at-your-Service at 717-732-0618.

Laundry Ministry Update - Loads of love!

The SSPC Youth and CORE members continue their Laundry Ministry here at the church. We continue to collect quarters in the Gathering Place, and purchase laundry cards to hand out to patrons at local Morris Laundromats.

Donation Update: We will be traveling to the Morris Laundromat in New Cumberland next time we go out to spread evangelism and hand out gift cards! We have donated 10 gift cards to New Hope Ministries to spread our gifts! Thank you, congregation!

Storyboard Ministry

The Youth have an easel in the Gathering Place with Post-it notes and markers for your prayer requests (no names, please). Each Sunday we 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. 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 beside the Storyboard. Feel free to place any answered prayers that you are thankful for in the box. God does indeed answer prayers! Blessings.

Happy Birthday!

We wish you a very happy birthday if you are celebrating this month!

Click HERE for the September birthday list. Extra sheets are in the Gathering Place.

Earth Care

In 2025, independent lab testing found that roughly 90% of toothpastes it examined contained detectable lead, including Crest, Colgate, Sensodyne and Tom's of Maine. Included in this are dozens of formulas marketed for children and many sold as "natural" or "green."

ROARING in New Bern, North Carolina

Homes in New Bern, N.C. have been damaged by hurricane Florence in 2000 and Helene in 2024. Homeowners in New Bern still need help rebuilding/repairing their homes. This is another opportunity for the ROAR Team to assist our brothers and sisters in need in the name of our savior Jesus Christ. Teams from our Presbytery Lend a Hand group have made multiple trips to New Bern because there is a great need for help there. New Bern is a seven-to-eight-hour drive from Mechanicsburg. 

The ROAR trip work week will be from Monday, October 05 through Friday, October 09, 2026. Most people will travel to New Bern on Sunday, October 04 and return home on Saturday, October 10, 2026. We work full days from Monday through Thursday and a half day on Friday. The work will vary from installing sub-flooring, finished flooring, hanging/finishing drywall, carpentry, painting, minor electrical and/or plumbing repairs, or miscellaneous repairs as needed. As always, a ROAR Team is not a specific group of volunteers. A ROAR Team is made up of people of varying skills who are willing to spend a week helping people in need and enjoying good fellowship with members and friends of Silver Spring Church. You don’t need a truck load of tools, only a willingness to help. If you have hand tools and/or battery powered drills or saws, that will be helpful. If not, there are always extra tools available on the work site.

If you are interested in being a part of this ROAR Team or need additional information, please contact Terry Reed: tsreed@verizon.net or 717-766-2714.

Notes prepared by Terry Reed for the Mission Committee

New Hope Ministries

Needs for September include: cereal, boxed helpers, and canned tuna. Items can be placed in the bin outside the Chapel. Thank you so much!

CORE Youth

There will be no CORE youth group this week in honor of the Labor Day holiday. Have a safe labor day and we will see you back next week.

Prayers of healing and comfort:

Carol Boyer, Roxanne Dagino, Carol Gebert, Margaret Glockner, Angie Katzenstein, Pat Miller, Eliza Myers, Betsy Neilson, Chris Sebring, Bill Spoon, Ruth Stoll, Millie Swatt, Tanya Wagner, Amy Wentz, Chris Winning

Prayers for sympathy: Jeanne Farinelli, David Kutz, Jim Kutz and all their family members for the passing of Ron Kutz

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

SERVING THIS WEEK

Ushers:

Tony Kren and Tracy Bryan

Deacon Servers:

Claudia Brown

Angie Katzenstein

Downtown Daily Bread

for September 11th:

Jean Smith and Lisa Scherlinsky

SUNDAY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE

August 23
11 am Outdoor Worship - 103

Christian Education - 5

August 30
9 am Traditional Service - 111

9 am YouTube views - 106

11 am Gathering - 54

11 am YouTube views - 26

Christian Education - 22

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.