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 our 3-part series, “Who Do You Say Jesus Is, and Why Does It Matter?” This week we focus on Peter’s affirmation that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.

[Matthew 16:13-20]. What prompts Peter to confess that Jesus is the Messiah?  What prompts us to testify that we, too, trust that Jesus is the Messiah, and what happens when we do? 

Come on Sunday and find out! 

Remember: There will be one service outdoors at 11:00 when we will also celebrate the Blessing of the Backpacks. 

Sermons in this series:

Who Do You say Jesus Is, and Why Does It Matter?

• August 16    Part 1: The Canaanite Woman Gets It Right - Matthew 15:10, 21-28 [Jesus heals the Canaanite woman’s daughter]
• August 23    Part 2: Peter Gets It Right - Matthew 16:13-20 
  [Peter says, “You are the Messiah.”]
• August 30    Part 3: Peter Gets It Wrong - Matthew 16:21-28 
  [Peter rebukes Jesus, and Jesus rebukes Peter]

Outdoor Worship this Sunday at 11:00 AM

Blessing of the Backpacks - Sunday, August 23rd!

All students are encouraged to bring their backpacks for the Blessing of the Backpacks at the 11 am Outdoor Service on August 23rd. We will have a special recognition of students as they begin the new school year. We hope you’ll come and celebrate with us as we begin a new school year!

Outdoor Service

On Sunday, August 23rd, join us for Outdoor Worship at 11:00 AM. Please bring your lawn chair.

Calling All Choir Members and Musicians!

Our Wednesday rehearsals will resume on Wednesday, September 2, in the choir room.

• Handbell Choir: 6:00–7:00 p.m. (on select Wednesdays throughout the year)
• Sanctuary Choir: 7:00–8:00 p.m.

If you are interested in joining either the Sanctuary Choir or the Handbell Choir, please contact Tracy Wieseman at tracy@silverspring.org. We welcome new members and would love to have you join us as we begin another season of music ministry!

Fall Faire is October 24! Please note the following important information:

The Volunteer Board will be up Sunday, August 30th. 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 pm.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 check on John’s availability to help bring things in from your car. 

Donations needed: nice boutique-y items – lamps, embroidered pillows, Christmas items, white elephant items,  toys, new items for Silent auction, etc. We are not taking small appliances, 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, and she will take it to the planning committee. Thank you! 

From Christian Education - Did You Know?!

Christian Education offers 8 Bible study classes each month for adults during the summer! We offer classes on Sunday morning, Monday afternoon, and Tuesday nights. Come and join us to discuss and learn! Contact Scott Pepperman, (puppytrainer52@aol.com) or Heather McCarthy (hjd.gmb@gmail.com) for more information.

Adult Forum and Sunday School

We meet this Sunday, different time, from 10 am to 10:45 am so we can take part in the service starting at 11 am. We continue our Eyewitness Bible course. This week we meet "The Right-Hand Man"! Join us in Room 204, bring your coffee! Come and learn, come and discuss.

Youth Church and Pre-K/K Youth Church are on summer recess.

Men's Bible Study - MONDAY, August 31st

We meet in Room 204, 7 pm - 8:30 pm, AND online via Zoom. If you need the link, contact Scott! We switch back to Monday nights starting on August 31st. For the next session we will explore the topic of "2 Thessalonians 3:10, If anyone will not work, neither shall they eat." How should Christian men interpret this passage in a world with poverty and social safety nets? We start by discussing a question posed in our last session - "What does it mean to you to 'thrive' over the next year?" We discuss our questions and opinions from a man's point of view. 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.

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.

Dining Out Group - August 26th

Join us for dinner at the Camp Hill Diner, 3608 Market Street (Carlisle Pike), on Wednesday, August 26th at 5:30 pm. Please sign up in the Gathering Place. Questions? Contact Jim Shoop at 717-761-7606. All are invited!

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.

Young Adults Christian Education Group, the Pathfinders!

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

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.

Earth Care

Good News!! Peanut butter jars and other PET1 plastics CAN be recycled.

Read  https://reader.pn.pennlive.com/2026/08/17/a-quick-scrape-is-all-your-peanut-butter-jar-needs-before-recycling/content.html

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN

A huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered at the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event. Your incredible energy and generosity pushed us far past our goal of 20,000 meals — we packed an amazing 26,568 meals! That’s enough to provide seventy‑two children with a meal every single day for an entire year.

Your impact didn’t stop there. Monetary contributions totaled $1,152.00. Five individual donations will each feed a child for a year, and one donation will feed a family of four for a full year.

One hundred and forty-eight church members and community volunteers showed up in a big way, and the difference you made is extraordinary. Thank you for bringing your heart, your hands, and your spirit to this effort. -- Fred Shatto, for the Mission Committee

ROARING in New Bern, North Carolina

Homes in New Bern, N.C. have been damaged by hurricane Florence in 2000 and Helene in 2500. 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 August include: pancake mix, pancake syrup and canned vegetables. Items can be placed in the bin outside the Chapel. Thank you so much!

CORE Youth

Parents and youth, you are warmly invited to join us for our Core Annual Calendar Meeting this Sunday, August 23rd, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM!

Come help us plan and look ahead to an exciting year. Immediately following the calendar session, our Core Youth Group will gather for an awesome evening filled with:

• 📖 A relevant lesson
• 🙏 Time in prayer
• 🎮 Fun games & connection

It’s going to be a great night to connect, plan, and grow together. We can't wait to see you there—come on out!

Core End of Summer Pool Party! 

Celebrate the end of summer with us! Core is hosting a pool party this Saturday, August 29th, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the home of the Jansons - 6103 Stephens Xing Mechanicsburg PA 17050. We will be catering Chick-fil-A for everyone! Please RSVP to Austin via email or text by Thursday, August 27th so we can get an accurate headcount for food. We hope to see you there!

Many Voices, ONE SONG!

Sunday, August 30, 2026, 4:00 PM

Location: Second Presbyterian Church, 528 Garland Dr, Carlisle, PA

• Guest Preacher: Rev. Cecelia "Cece" Armstrong, Co-Moderator of the 226th General Assembly
• Outstanding Music: Unity vocal choir, Unity Bell Choir, Unity Youth Choir, Hallelujah Chorus Sing-Along
• Food and Fellowship before and after Worship, special gatherings for children & youth

Planned by the Presbytery of Carlisle for our 7000+ members and 40+ congregations.

Check this website for more information: https://carlislepby.org/manyvoices/

YOU are invited to sing in the Many Voices Unity Choir

• Ages 8-98! 
• Led by Tyler Canonico-Dilley, Director of Music Ministries at Market Square Presbyterian Church
• We will be joined by the St. James Choir, directed by Charles McDonald, from St. James Presbyterian Church of Charleston, NC. Their pastor, Rev. CeCe D. Armstrong. will be preaching.  
• Dan Dorty will be the worship organist
• Derry Brass, directed by Scott Ramirez will also be in worship

You don't want to miss this glorious event!

Sign Up here (If you're unable to sign up online, call Tracy Wieseman at 717-395-4121 or email her at tracy@silverspring.org.) Music will be provided to those who sign-up. 

• Register by Aug 10th - we still would love for you to join us! 
• Register by Aug. 22nd - come on and sing! God welcomes all. 

Update: Those who have signed up with the registration link will receive practice materials shortly. Please contact Tracy if you do not receive an email with the practice materials or if you would like help signing up. 

REHEARSAL

Saturday, Aug. 22 @ 10am-12pm @Second Presbyterian Church (528 Garland Dr., Carlisle)

Prayers of healing and comfort:

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

Prayers for sympathy: Mike Kazor and family; Sylvia Morelli and family

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



Thank You

Many thanks for your thoughts and prayers, as they have certainly contributed to my recovery. I am truly blessed. Carol Bogar.   

SERVING THIS WEEK

Ushers:

Forrest and Linda Adams

Deacon Servers:

Megan Crompton

Downtown Daily Bread

for August 28th:

John Swan and Christa Lenk

SUNDAY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE

August 9
9 am Traditional Service - 113

9 am YouTube views - 90

11 am Gathering - 50

11 am YouTube views - 40

Christian Education - 21

August 16
9 am Traditional Service - 128

9 am YouTube views - 97

11 am Gathering - 54

11 am YouTube views - 42

Christian Education - 10

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.