November, December and January PresbyPost

PRESBYPOST

INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Season of Advent Mission Corner

Hello friends! It has been a VERY busy three months since the last edition of the PresbyPost! The Spirit is most certainly at work in and through SCPC, and for that, we remain grateful! In the following pages, you will find some reports on a few of the activities that have taken place over the last few months, as well as plenty of information about upcoming events and opportunities to engage. Be sure to read cover to cover ( with calendar in hand ) and plan to join us as often as possible to continue to build up our community and our faith. As always, we are better and stronger together! Hope to see you soon! Blessings, Pastor Scott!

Stay & Play Preschool Mid Week Programs Christian Education From the Finance Team More from the Church

THE SEASON OF ADVENT Sunday morning worship during Advent will feature the lighting of the Advent Candles by different groups in the congregation, as well as a special sermon series exploring the traditional themes of Advent—Hope, Joy, Love, and Peace. Join us each Sunday to experience the season in its entirety!

The Christmas Poinsettia Order Form can be accessed here!

Advent Devotionals Are you seeking a deeper connection to your faith this Advent season? We suggest using Draw Near: Lighting the Advent Path with Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy from the Presbyterian Outlook. To receive this digital devotional, please get in touch with Laura Green in the church office at officescpc@gmail.com , and she will ensure you are added to the distribution list. Additionally, printed copies of this devotional will be available in the church office. We also recommend a creative devotional from Illustrated Ministry titled Do Not Be Afraid which is perfect for children and families. This interactive resource encourages coloring and doodling, allowing you to engage more deeply in reflection through its illustrations and creative spaces. You can download it here to print at home or visit the church office to pick up a physical copy.

THE SEASON OF ADVENT Advent Organ Recitals This year’s Advent Organ recitals will take place on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm and will all be followed by lunch in the Social Hall. Join us for lovely music of the season plus delicious food and fellowship.

Christmas Candlelight Service We invite you to our Candlelight Service on Sunday, December 14, at 4:00 PM . This year’s event will feature an Advent and Christmas Hymn Festival by Michael Burkhardt. Join our Candlelight Choir, accompanied by brass instruments, organ, oboe, and handbells, for a delightful evening of choral and congregational music. The service will include readings from scripture and reflections inspired by the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Afterward, please join us for a light supper provided by the Deacons in the Social Hall . Childcare will be available in room 101. Rehearsals began in October, but if you're still interested in joining the choir, please reach out to Heike.

THE SEASON OF ADVENT

Pathways and Oasis Christmas Celebration! Mark your calendars for our annual Christmas Party with the children and youth on Sunday, December 21, at 10:30 AM in the Fireside Room. Stay tuned for more details! Typically, we have a wonderful time with a cookie decorating session and singing cheerful holiday songs to embrace the Christmas spirit! Christmas Eve Worship Services 4:00 pm - Our LOGOS children and youth will present “Do Not Be Afraid: A Christmas Pageant” based on the narratives surrounding Jesus’ birth from the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Childcare is available. 7:00 pm - A service of Lessons and Carols appropriate for all ages, with plenty of opportunities to sing your favorite Christmas carols. 11:00 pm - A traditional Christmas Eve worship service including communion, with music led by the Chancel Choir. Each service will include the Festival of Light & singing of “Silent Night”.

Visit our Advent & Christmas Page for more information.

MISSION CORNER

To everyone, Jesus issues an invitation to abandon the story they will lose themselves in, and instead, to enter the story they will find themselves in . ― Brian D. McLaren in The Story We Find Ourselves In: Further Adventures of a New Kind of Christian

Our next Juniper Block Party will be Sunday, December 7, 2:45-4:00 for the party, or come at 1:45 to view the service first. Find us at the top of the hill in Building #1930. Signups are at tinyURL.com/Juniper2025 . We’d especially love to have some music and a chance to sing at this one! Sign up, or let Cricket Hunter or Dick Bundy know if you might lead.

Our CROP Walk team was small, but mighty this year, and was supported by generous donations – including the Deacons’ contribution that matched the first $500 raised, SCPC contributed more than $1400 this year. All of the contributions support the work of the State College Area Food Bank, and the food security work of Church World Service. Thank you!

MISSION CORNER

By the time this newsletter hits your inbox, the cards we created for our incarcerated neighbors will have been delivered to Centre Peace, so they can be scanned and printed inside for our recipients to receive them by Christmas. We’re so glad that so many folks stopped by Oasis’ Card Corner to make cards, and that many made cards at home, too! Watch the Weekly Update for our final number and some shots of our stacks of cards that will carry encouragement, care, and prayer to neighbors who need to know they are remembered.

We will host Centre LGBT+ for their Giving Thanks gathering on Sunday, November 16 . It’s a beautiful (and tasty!) event, and hosting dishwashers also enjoy the delicious food. Let Cricket know if you might like to join the dishwashing crew that evening missionatscpc@gmail.com .

MISSION CORNER

November 16 is also the opening Sunday for our Angel Tree! FISH will be readying the tags for us earlier that week, and the bins with the yet-to-be-chosen angels will be set out on the bridge, so they’re accessible even on school days, any time the building is open. Join Westminster Hall Adult Ed that day to learn a bit about the agencies we support with this ministry. Consider making your gifting a party by inviting a friend or two to choose angels, too, and making a date to wrap and visit together. Gifts are due in the church office on December 8 , then we’ll need elves to do some last-minute shopping to fill in any gaps, wrap those items, organize, and deliver. Volunteer signup can be found at tinyurl.com/SCPCAngelTree2025 Not a shopper? Our gift to Out of the Cold staff and guests is two of their nights at a hotel that provides respite for staff and guests alike. Not a wrapper? Gifts for Youth Service Bureau participants must be in gift bags so that they can be inspected before distribution, and gifts for Housing Transitions get a “welcome home” note, but they don’t need to be wrapped – they are household startup items that will be distributed as people move out of shelters and into apartments as needed.

MISSION CORNER

Watch the Weekly Update for reservations, sign up sheets, and spread-the-word flyers. Reach out to Clark Moose at cam168@psu.edu if you’d like to join the organizing team.

SCPC has sent three teams of volunteers to Hekima Place since 2019. We have formed ongoing relationships with the staff and the girls, and we are excited to build on this foundation as we return in July 2026. If you are concerned about travel requirements and safety, the good news is that no special vaccines are required. The Hekima Place grounds are surrounded by a wall and are very secure. The locked gate is staffed 24/7, and volunteers never leave the compound unescorted.

The 2026 team will leave State College on Tuesday, July 14 to arrive in Kenya on Wednesday the 15th, and we'll leave Hekima Place on Wednesday, July 29 to arrive in State College on Thursday the 30th. Contact Cheryl Price ( clprice73@gmail.com ) for specific information about costs and travel arrangements. Please consider joining the team. It is a life-changing experience!

MISSION CORNER

Mark Your Calendars! Join us for a week of hosting Out of the Cold at their location, 318 S. Atherton, from January 26 to February 1 . Now is the perfect time to start organizing your committee or small group to lend a hand. Keep an eye on the Weekly Update for the sign-up sheet. Important Details: Hosting hours are from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM . Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM (or shortly thereafter). Additionally, we are reintroducing our extra winter volunteer role: a driver who is comfortable navigating in the dark and potentially adverse weather conditions. If you're an enthusiastic cook but prefer not to drive after dark, you can send food with someone else or carpool to assist with hosting in person!

Stay & Play Preschool has kicked off the 2025-2026 school year with lots of fun activities! It has been wonderful to hear all the voices and giggles fill the preschool halls once again. We are excited to see what fun adventures await our classes this school year! STAY AND PLAY PRESCHOOL

Music Class with Alanna Alanna Leicht is back for more music fun with Stay & Play Preschool this school year! Our students enjoy singing, dancing, and learning about new instruments and the sounds they make each week. Ms. Alanna always keeps things fun and exciting during her music classes. We are happy she is back for another amazing year of music! 2025 Fire Station Visit The Stay & Play Fox & Raccoon (Fours) Classes went to visit Alpha Fire Company this October for their fire safety unit. The children got to hear from a real firefighter about his job as a community helper. They were even able to sit in a fire truck and take a tour of the station. Thank you, Alpha Fire Company, for another great field trip, and thank you for keeping our community safe!

STAY AND PLAY PRESCHOOL

Picture Day 2025 Bright Eyes by Mallory came and did school picture days again this fall. Our families here at Stay & Play really appreciate the opportunity to purchase these precious moments as a preschool keepsake. Fun fact, Picture Days are also a fundraiser for our program! Stay & Play receives a portion of all photo sales back to help our school thrive! Thank you, Bright Eyes by Mallory, for another great round of school pictures!

MID WEEK PROGRAMS

We have been gathering for several weeks now. We started the year with a lively Pirate Night—"Argh, me mateys!"—where some brave souls walked the plank! The Minute- to-Win-It games brought an unexpected surprise as the fire alarm went off, teaching us valuable lessons for better preparation in the future. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed Chrysalis singing at church a few weeks back. They also recently held their fall retreat at Krislund, which was a delightful experience. This Tuesday, we're all excited to wear our Silly Socks and host a Bring-A- Friend night!

We are also gearing up for several exciting upcoming events:

Chrysalis will take part in Angel Tree by shopping in the coming month. The Geckos will sing on November 9 , followed by Chrysalis on the 16th . Preparation for the Christmas Eve Service will begin very soon. Simultaneously, the children and youth will all be singing on December 14. The final rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service will be on December 16. Children are welcome to join us on any Tuesday if they are not already part of our program, but please let us know in advance!

MID WEEK PROGRAMS

Chrysalis is off to a great start for the program year! We are continuing our nature themes and started with the theme of Mountains. We’ve read about Mount Sinai in the Bible, talked about mountain-top and valley- low experiences, and dodged “rocks” while playing games. Chrysalis also had the chance to spend a weekend in the mountains at Krislund for our annual fall retreat. We got to practice our teamwork, sing around a campfire, and tie-dye our shirts. All in all, it’s been a great time getting to know new friends while reconnecting with old friends at Chrysalis!

We are eagerly anticipating the remainder of the fall season . Chrysalis will be exploring our upcoming program themes: Oceans, Rivers, & Lakes, as well as Animals. With Heike's assistance, we will engage in worship activities. Additionally, we plan to head downtown to shop for Angel Tree gifts. We are particularly excited about our annual Christmas party, where we will enjoy a book exchange along with plenty of festive fun.

MID WEEK PROGRAMS

FISH, our Wednesday evening high school program, is back to meeting weekly for dinner, fellowship, and meaningful conversation. This fall, FISH has already begun the program year with a spirit of joy and community. We have enjoyed evenings filled with laughter, thoughtful dialogue, and renewed relationships as both returning and new participants have joined in. FISH continues to be a space where youth can be themselves, support one another, and grow in faith.

Our high school youth who participated in the Presbyterian Church (USA) youth conference, Triennium, held in Louisville, Kentucky, over the summer had an incredible experience! During Triennium, they built new friendships, enjoyed games, delved into the Bible, and engaged in meaningful worship services. Everyone who took part expressed that they had a joyful and impactful time. We hope that the experiences gained at Triennium will offer lasting spiritual benefits throughout their lives.

MID WEEK PROGRAMS

FISH Upcoming Events

FISH will once again participate in creating Angel Tree tags, followed by shopping for gifts on December 3. We eagerly anticipate the joy that the Angel Tree season brings! On Saturday, December 13 , FISH will host a Lock-In at the church, featuring an evening of fellowship, games, and community bonding. From January 23 to 25 , we will have our Winter Retreat weekend at Krislund Camp. This retreat offers a chance for relaxation, laughter, and reflection amid the beautiful surroundings of Krislund. All high school youth are warmly invited to join FISH as we share in life, laughter, and faith together.

MID WEEK PROGRAMS

CAYAM Fall Recap PSF and YoPros have had a dynamic and successful start to this semester. During our first meeting of the year, our PSF students delighted in pizza, ice cream, and engaging conversations on the SCPC lawn.

We made new friends at the PSU Involvement Fair. Enjoyed a wonderful retreat weekend at Krislund. Officially launched the adopt-a-college-student program.

Meanwhile, YoPros continue to meet regularly for Theology Untapped, game night afternoons, and various special events. The CAYAM Corner has been open after Sunday morning services, providing a welcoming space for college students, young adults, and CAYAM committee members to connect and engage with one another.

PSF Preview 1.We gather every Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the Fireside Room. All undergraduate and graduate students are invited! Come for the meal. Stay for the community. 2.Connect with us on Instagram @presbyspsu. 3.During finals week, we will provide study space along with complimentary snacks and food! Save the date for the winter retreat, planned for January 17-18 at Krislund.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Explore

Explore is our high school church membership program designed for youth to delve into our faith and the church. This program provides a space for them to reflect on their spiritual journeys and consider what it means to be part of a faith community. In 2026, Explore will take place over six sessions on Sundays, at noon after Exploration Hour, in the Fireside Room. The scheduled dates for Explore are February 22, March 1, March 15, March 22, March 29, and April 12. Each session will involve conversations, reflections, and activities aimed at helping our youth deepen their understanding of Christian faith and the life of the church. We are excited to offer an educational, engaging, and meaningful experience through Explore as we accompany our youth on their paths of growth in faith and community at SCPC.

Pathways Update! Our Sunday morning educational classes for age 3 to 5th grade, known as Pathways, have been going wonderfully this Fall. We have an amazing group of volunteer teachers, and we're having a great time gathering on the top floor! We utilize the Growing in Grace & Gratitude curriculum, which is packed with engaging stories and crafts/activities. Each Sunday kicks off with snacks and water, and once a month, our music director, Heike, joins us to sing with the classes. We warmly invite more children to join us on Sundays!

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Family Devotional Now Available from PCUSA Growing in God’s Love: A Family Devotional is designed to be flexible for all ages, abilities, and attention spans, making faith formation at home a breeze. “As a parent whose faith has deconstructed and evolved, I believe Growing in God’s Love: A Family Devotional is a godsend. It is hopeful, reflective, and truly safe for the whole family to enjoy together.” —Matthew Paul Turner, New York Times best-selling author of What Is God Like? and When God Made You This family devotional provides readings and conversations that foster closer relationships with God and each other, whether gathered around the dinner table or settling in for bedtime. Adults and children can delve into Scripture stories, tackle significant questions, and learn together how to embody their faith in everyday life. As part of the Growing in God’s Love resource collection, daily readings explore and apply Scripture with trustworthy theology, offering substantial, progressive lessons in faith for all generations. Each day focuses on a key text that can be read from the Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible or any Bible translation you prefer. After each devotion, engage with one or more of the Discuss, Discover, and Do prompts to reflect on and deepen the lessons as a family. A few copies of this new book will be available in Deannine's office for those interested in viewing or purchasing it. If you buy one of the copies we have at church, the price is $13.00 , as we secured them on sale. Alternatively, you can explore it online: https://www.pcusastore.com/Products/0664269184/growing-in-gods- love.aspx

FROM THE FINANCE TEAM Are you making a gift of stock to State College Presbyterian Church? We are so appreciative! Please remember to let Michelle

( finadmscpc@gmail.com or 238-2422 x207) know so that she can keep an eye out for the notification on our receiving end (through Morgan Stanley). There is often no name attached to the gift and we do not know who/where to send acknowledgement paperwork. Thank you!

***THANK YOU***THANK YOU***THANK YOU******THANK YOU*** As we head into the final quarter of the year, the Finance team would like to thank everyone for their contributions; we appreciate your generosity! Because of YOU, SCPC is a vibrant church community, offering programs for all of our members and their families. While considering your 2026 SCPC pledge, please be mindful of our challenges for next year’s church budget. Those challenges include the need to increase mission outreach to our local community’s non-profits, due to state and federal budget cuts, as well as a new associate pastor joining our staff. These are both difficult and hopeful times, yet with God’s grace, we can support and help meet the needs in our church and broader community. Just a reminder that our online and ACH Giving Options are outlined on the SCPC website (Ministries/Generosity). As you consider your generosity pledge for 2026, please remember if you are using online giving, it may be necessary for you to log in to our system and make changes to your scheduled giving; feel free to call or email ( finadmscpc@gmail.com ) Michelle if you need assistance. If you are using ACH, Michelle will reach out to you to confirm you want to continue in 2026 (or email her at finadmscpc@gmail.com ). Wishing everyone a very happy Thanksgiving and holiday season from the Financial Affairs Committee!