Winter - Spring 2026

News for SSPC friends and members

Let us reflect during this season of Lent and prepare our hearts for the Glorious Celebration of Easter!

FAITH

Recently, Winter Storm Fern buried Central PA under a foot of snow. As I watched the snow fall from my living room window, I recalled a minister telling his congregation that God gives us “snow days,” to slow down, and to remind us that God is in control. Not us. 

Snow interrupts our plans. It slows us down and forces us to release our sense of urgency and productivity. Snow days create quiet. Roads are empty and the usual noise of life, except for snow plows and blowers, is reduced. The stillness of a beautiful snow fall, which Fern produced, invites us to pay attention to what is – a landscape covered in snowflakes, no two alike, and to that sense of hush and peace. In my own pause, I focused on God’s presence.

 Snow days can help us listen for God because they remove distractions and invite attentiveness. This kind of noticing is central to spiritual direction. Spiritual direction helps us become aware of God’s presence in everyday life, including our emotions, energy levels and moods. When we slow our bodies and minds, we are better able to listen. Simple practices help with this listening, such as grounding our feet, quieting our minds and slowing our breathing. Deep intentional breathing reminds us that life itself is sustained by God. Scripture reminds us that God gives us our very breath and our breathing can be a way to pray without words.

With that in mind, we invite you to attend our four-week, Wednesday Lenten Series, which will begin March 4th, which will focus on meditative practices, discernment and prayer.

You may sign up for the Lenten Series here through Realm or in the Gathering Place.

In closing, a snow day reminds us that stillness is not wasting a few minutes or even an hour. It is sacred, holy time for us to connect with the Creator. It is an opportunity to stop, notice and listen. When we accept that invitation, we will discover that God is present with us always.  

Pastor's Note: It's Sunday, February 22nd, and the Enlighten Newsletter is in its final stage of editing. Weather experts are forecasting a Nor'easter for our area, where we can expect up to eight inches of snow today and Monday, February 23rd. Take the 'snow day' to linger and be in awe of God's beautiful winter creation of snow flakes. Don't rush - just be. God Bless - Pastor Lisa

SSPC SPOTLIGHT

The Campomizzi and Dierich Families

Church is a Family Affair!

Church is truly a family affair for the Campomizzi and Dierich families. Members of a close-knit extended family, they faithfully attend the traditional Sunday morning service together.

Rick Campomizzi and his wife, Krista, this year will celebrate 40 years of marriage. They first met in middle school and were high school sweethearts — a tender family tradition. Together they have three children: Kayla Campomizzi Dierich, Maura and Noah, their son who is getting married in October.

Kayla is married to her best friend and wife, Ashley. They continued the family tradition of meeting in school, when playing on the East Pennsboro High School basketball team. Ashley and Kayla were married in 2016, and they have a son, Crew, who will turn four in April and attends SSPC Preschool. This spring will be especially exciting for the families, as Ashely is expecting a baby girl in April, and Maura is also expecting a baby girl in June, via an IVF sperm donor.

Professionally, the family serves in a variety of meaningful ways. Rick is owner of Assisted Living Locators, helping seniors navigate senior living options. Krista is a retired nurse, who spends her days caring for her grandson Crew. Maura followed her mother’s footsteps into nursing and is a pediatric oncology Registered Nurse for Hershey Children’s Hospital. Kayla is an elementary school teacher in Carlisle, and Ashley is a retail development manager for T-Mobile.

Church involvement includes the following: Rick is a Deacon, and he and Krista serve as Captains of their Care Community; Ashley also served as a Deacon and built sets for Vacation Bible School, while Kayla helps out with the Pre-K Youth Church program. Maura is a member of SSPC’s membership committee. Individuals within the family enjoy a wide range of hobbies, which include: Gardening, going to the beach and reading, baking cookies, attending Taylor Swift concerts, DIY projects, and woodworking.

Together, the Campomizzi and Dierich families embody faith, devotion, and love — in their church, their professions, and their growing family.

Brad Bumsted named Editor of Enlighten Newsletter

Brad Bumsted is an award-winning journalist who has spent fifty years reporting for newspapers in Pennsylvania and Florida, as well as for a Washington D.C-based national wire service. He covered the legislatures, governors and courts in both states and wrote about Congress and federal agencies for Gannett News Service, owned by the company that launched USA Today. He’s written extensively about U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races and followed presidential candidates. His work has been featured in front-page stories in USA Today, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Cincinnati Enquirer, as well as newspapers in Nashville, Honolulu, Wilmington, Florida Today, New Jersey and California.

In Harrisburg, as a state Capitol reporter, he covered all or part of the administrations of seven governors, Tom Wolf, Tom Corbett, Ed Rendell, Mark Schweiker, Tom Ridge, Robert P. Casey and Dick Thornburgh. Most of his career at the Pennsylvania Capitol was for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and its then-string of suburban papers. He also worked there for LNP Media Group (Lancaster Online) and, earlier, with Gannett News Service.



Bumsted, who has written two books about corruption in Pennsylvania, appeared alongside former Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Baer in five episodes of PA Political Digest's 2023 podcast on corruption, hosted by political consultant Chris Nicholas.The first segment focuses on the “Meteoric Rise and Fall of Kathleen Kane” the former state attorney general who went to prison. The podcast can be found at papoliticaldigest.com.

Thank you for your gifts Brad! We are blessed to have your leadership!

Our Church Community

Meal with a Mission

Join SSPC members and friends for our next Meal with a Mission on Wednesday, February 25th! We will begin with a simple supper at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall, and then we will assemble School Activity Kits for Mission Central in Mechanicsburg. 

Needed items are listed below and collection bins are in the Gathering Place and gym hallway.

SCHOOL ACTIVITY KITS: Mission Central distributes these kits every year to tens of thousands of children at local schools, local non-profits, police organizations, and disaster relief agencies who work in hard-hit places like Texas and Florida. Some kits are even sent to partner agencies in under-developed communities in Africa.  

The following items are still needed to assemble the School Activity Kits for Mission Central:

• Scissors - 6
• Coloring tools (more info below**) - 73
• Pencil sharpeners - 3
• Pencils (wood or mechanical) - 656
• Spiral or Composition Notebooks - 90

** Coloring tools may be: crayons (boxes of 24) or colored pencils (6-12) or colored markers (6-12)

Thanks on behalf of the children at risk who will benefit from these kits!

Click HERE for the interview with Pastor Don by the Synod about our "Meal with a Mission."

All things Music!

The Sanctuary Choir rehearses most Wednesday evenings 7-8 p.m. We sing most Sundays and are ALWAYS looking for new members. 

 The choir will sing for Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Easter services as our next focus, in addition to most Sunday mornings. Come to rehearsal on Wednesday nights to join us! 

The Handbell Choir will be ringing in March and May. We rehearse on Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. Please email Tracy (tracy@silverspring.org) if you are interested in ringing. 

 The Gathering Band is always looking for singers and musicians. Please email Tracy (tracy@silverspring.org) if you are interested in playing or singing!



The Intergenerational Choir meets every Sunday during the first 10-15 minutes of Sunday School. We will be singing at a Gathering service in March, so stay tuned for more information regarding the exact date. If you are interested in singing with us, feel free to join at any time!

Please contact Mandy Bevenour (amandapenguin@outlook.com) if you have other questions. 

Our wonderful SSPC Preschool

Greetings! Everyone in the preschool is eagerly awaiting spring! Parent teacher conferences are being held in March. Registrations are well underway for the fall. Current families have been informed of their class placements and tours are still occurring to community families. If you’d like to register, email preschool@silverspring.org quickly before we fill up! Some classes are already fully enrolled for the fall.

TEA LUNCHEON MAY 2nd -- THINK PINK!

Registration will open March 2nd for the annual Presbyterian Women’s Tea Luncheon on Saturday, May 2nd starting at 11 AM in the Gathering Space. This year’s guest speaker will be from the non-profit Pink Hands of Hope – a non-profit in our community committed to supporting women fighting breast cancer. There is no cost for the luncheon, but a donation basket will be available, and the proceeds will go to Pink Hands of Hope. Please join us to hear about what Pink Hands of Hope is doing in our community. If you can, please wear some pink clothing to the event to make the event extra fun.

ROAR serves in Florida

Editor’s Note: For the 34th year, ROAR (Reach Out And Rebuild,) continued as the mission arm of Silver Spring Presbyterian providing housing to those in need with mission leader Terry Reed heading a team in early February that traveled to Tallahassee, Florida. Eighteen church members and friends made the trip. ”The average age of the Team is 77 to 78 years young,” Reed, 81, wrote later. “Neither knee replacements, heart issues, asthma, spinal surgeries or other health issues could prevent this group from being the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior serving others in His name,” Reed said. “The Team is thankful for the prayers of the Congregation as we completed a safe and productive work week.” The age of the volunteers is noteworthy, not only because of their ability to push through pain and their endurance, but because of the lack of young people. Unless that changes dramatically, Reed said later, there will come a point in the not too distant future when the ROAR trips could come to an end.

Reed's Report:

The mission team spent the week of Feb.2-6, cleaning and repairing manufactured homes in the Maryland Oaks Crossing (MOC) community in Tallahassee, Florida. Initially, we were to work with Big Bend Habitat For Humanity building a new home, but their lack of planning left us with nothing to do. Fortunately, Habitat put us in contact with Good News Outreach, Inc., an organization that owns and operates MOC. God never fails to guide us to where we are needed to serve our brothers and sisters in need.

Good News Outreach provides affordable transitional housing for at-risk families with dependent children at Maryland Oaks. The group provides counseling, tutoring, life skills classes, and a monthly food pantry, to mention a few services available to residents. We worked with Kevin, the community maintenance supervisor who coordinated our efforts through the week.

We worked on two homes accomplishing the following items:

• Cleaned all parts of both homes, including mold and mildew.
• Thoroughly cleaned two electric ranges and a refrigerator.
• Removed, cleaned and reinstalled blades from ceiling fans, glass globes

from all light fixtures, and all electrical device plates in both units.

• Repaired a large hole in the floor in one unit.
• Painted the entire interior of both units, including all the doors.
• Removed the kitchen sink cabinet and countertop and installed new

cabinets and countertop in one unit.

• Removed and reinstalled interior storm windows so the window jambs

could be painted.

• Rebuilt two back door decks and steps.
• Replaced rotted deck boards on a third of the front deck at one unit and

the entire front deck on the second unit.

-Terry Reed, Contributor

Christian Education

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. Here are some events we have planned:

Youth Sunday, March 1, 2026

SSPC youth have created an original drama titled "The summer I turned Christian." Join us at both services - Traditional at 9 a.m. and Gathering at 11 a.m., to witness how belief in Jesus Christ transforms lives. March 1st is also a Communion Sunday, and some of the confirmed youth have received training to help serve Communion. Join us for a special celebration of God's Love through Jesus Christ and our amazing young people.

Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 28th 10 a.m.

Christian Education will again sponsor a community Easter Egg Hunt, prior to

Easter Sunday. Members of our youth group, CORE, will work together to stuff

Easter Eggs for this fun event that features an important message, outreach. We

will provide coffee and donuts to start our day, divide up into age groups and on

the signal we will let loose to collect hundreds of brightly colored Easter eggs

stuffed with sweet treats. A visit from the Easter Bunny will highlight the day.

Needing a Date with your Beloved? Parent's Night Out - May 9th, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Christian Education will provide a “Parent's Night Out” event again just before

Mother’s Day. We will provide a fun afternoon for children from two years old to

ten years old. Volunteers from CE and our Youth group will provide some age

appropriate arts and crafts, a pizza and chicken nugget party, watch a special short

film, and play in the gym. Parents are invited to drop off their children and enjoy

some time away to shop, dine or just relax.

Annual Backyard Bash and End of School BBQ - June 14th

CE Families and Young Children, are planning a couple of upcoming events for

early and mid-summer. These include our Annual Backyard Bash and End of

School BBQ. Completewith some great grilling and sides, and summer time music, it promises to be a fun event for all.

Park-Picinic Gathering in July

There will be an event for our young families and children. CE is planning an

outdoor BBQ with games and fun for young families, in a carnival like

atmosphere. We will gather on a Sunday afternoon in July to enjoy fun and

Fellowship.

Hold the Dates - VBS 2026 "Our God is an Awesome God" August 3-7, 2026

SSPC CE is planning a wonderful VBS experience for children ages potty-trained 3-year-olds through 10-year-olds, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 noon. More information will be available mid -March 2026. For more information please email Pastor Lisa at lisa@silverspring.org - Scott Pepperman, CE Chair and Enlighten Contributor

Please click on the image above to listen to our theme song for this year's VBS!

CORE YOUTH

CORE Youth and leaders gather for a group shot by a 'bunker."

Actors from 2026 Zeteo production find their way by following green foliage planted by other Wasteland survivors.

Earth Care

It’s only February, but if you’re like me you’re already planning your spring plantings, getting excited for those first floral displays in April, and witnessing nature’s green up in a few short months. Often this flush of color includes both the plants we enjoy and the

weeds we’d rather not see. It’s common for homeowners to grab herbicide to deal with

weeds around the house, and although these popular chemicals can deliver quick results, they can have unintended negative consequences on insects, birds, aquatic species, even domestic animals and humans. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center annually reports pesticides in its top 10 pet toxins, and many lawn care products are linked to higher rates of lymphoma and cancer. It’s very easy to overapply these powerful herbicides, leading to excess chemicals in the environment that can leach into groundwater.

These big brand herbicides have a time and place, but I try to minimize

their use around my house in exchange for more earth-friendly products, like vinegar,

mowing, or hand pulling weeds. A vinegar solution (I use 5% white vinegar, table salt,

and a dash of dawn dish soap) will knock out almost any weed I spray, but reapplying

may be needed if weeds have a strong root system. Other Eco-friendly herbicides use

natural ingredients like citrus oils and essential oils (clove, cinnamon) to burn down

weeds. Nowadays, most big box retailers sell these organic herbicides, so they’re

readily accessible to the public. Mowing is the fastest and cheapest way to handle

weeds- especially large patches- but be prepared to mow multiple times. Finally, hand-

pulling weeds is effective because it guarantees the entire plant is removed from the

garden. Nurse crops, mulch, and solar tarps are other alternatives to clear weeds, but

we’ll save that discussion for another day! - Stefan Karkuff, Earth Care

Missions

Sara's House of Hope

On Sunday, January 18th, SSPC Mission Sunday, we heard from Sara’s House Of Hope, which is a nonprofit ministry and Family Recovery Center offering education, support groups, and compassionate care to those impacted by a loved one’s substance use or loss. Lori and Terry Mishler, the parents of Sara Mishler, shared their journey from devastating grief to answering God’s call and how they turned their grief over Sara’s death into a ministry to help others impacted by substance abuse. Founded in memory of their daughter, who passed away from an overdose in 2015, the nonprofit’s mission is to help, heal, and strengthen families with grace, truth, and community. They believe there is always hope, and healing begins when you know you are not alone. They spoke about how no one prepares you for the ripple effects of addiction -- the isolation, the grief, the chaos. And too often, there is nowhere to go, no space to process, no roadmap for navigating it. ​Sara’s House of Hope was born to be a space where families can breathe, grieve, and begin to heal. Whether your loved one is actively using or you have lost someone to this disease, they exist to walk with you.

Their mission is to be a life-changing resource by: 

• Offering support groups for grieving families and those with loved ones in active use.
• Providing education about addiction and recovery.
• Advocating for families who need a voice.
• Helping families find pathways to treatment and healing.
• Creating a safe, judgment-free place where recovery begins, and love is never in short supply.

Sara’s House of Hope | Family Recovery Center

1023 Mumma Rd Suite 102, Wormleysburg, PA 17043

wecare@sarashouseofhope.org

@sarashouseofhope.org

- Cheryl Moore, Missions Co-Chair

Around the Church...

Our dedicated, fun-loving Fellowship Committee organized a delightful Valentine’s Day Chocolate Galore, for all members and their families to come together on Sunday, February 15th, during the Coffee Hour at 10 a.m. This special gathering served an array of delectable chocolates and treats, sure to satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth.

The SSPC Wine Tasting Group met recently at Dr. Ken Harm's lovely home to sample delicious wines from a winery outside of Washington, D.C. For more information on how you can be involved, email Jenny Bell, belljen000@gmail.com.

Next Enlighten Newsletter is scheduled to be distributed June 22, 2026. All articles must be in to Brad Bumsted, Editor, and Pastor Lisa Chase by June 8th. Thank you!

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