State College Presbyterian Church

Worship Schedule
Sundays
Worship: 9am & 11:15am
Sunday School: 10am
Coffee Hour: 10am

Wednesdays
Taize Service: 5pm

Special Worship
Sunday Bulletin

View FISH Photos

What is FISH?

FISH stands for "Fellowship In Senior High." It is an outreach ministry of the State College Presbyterian Church to area high school youth - a program of the Education Ministry Unit.

In FISH the whole person is ministered to through a variety of activities, discussions, retreats and service/mission projects. FISH is designed to enable youth, with compassionate leadership, to develop strong moral and spiritual values. Leaders and youth together confront and discuss issues pertinent to today's youth.

FISH is adults and youth in partnership. Its goal is to create a sharing and caring community to any high school youth wishing to participate. Without imposing religion, FISH leaders are called upon to share their experience of Christ's unconditional love.

The FISH Format

FISH is made up of youth and leaders. Each week all gather at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights at the church for a common meal. Following dinner there is a time for large group singing, fellowship and announcements. Typically, the large group then breaks into smaller groups for discussion of the evening's topic. These groups consist of 2-3 leaders with 8-10 youth each-giving a small group feel in the midst of a large group program. The evening concludes following a large group closing circle beginning at 8:30 p.m.-a time of prayer and reflection. Besides the weekly meetings there are retreats, fundraisers, service projects, and a worship service. These activities help maintain a large group identity and give the youth an opportunity to interact with more of their friends and other leaders.

Program Content

Leadership for FISH is provided by a team of adults who work together with youth to create programs, develop projects, plan retreats, organize fundraisers, and decide on rules of conduct and policy. The most important work of the leaders, who range in age from 20 to 50+, is direct involvement with the youth to provide nurture and support.

Overall direction for FISH is the responsibility of the Associate Pastor, Joel Blunk. Joel provides pastoral care, theological interpretation, and spiritual guidance for the leaders and youth. Patti Kephart, the FISH Assistant. is responsible for handling registration, attendance and general organization. Martha Trout, Program Associate, is responsible for administration and the management of information.

FISH Activities

Retreats - for building community, looking at deeper issues of faith and life, and a week-long retreat at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland to end the program year.

Mission Opportunities - a week-long mission trip over Spring Break to work on building and renovation projects as well as work with an after school youth program and soup kitchen.

FISH Worship Service - on the first Sunday in June FISH youth lead the worship service at State College Presbyterian Church.

Fundraisers - necessary to supplement the cost of the program and help make mission projects and retreats affordable.

Spaghetti Dinner - a time for FISH to give something back to the many who help make our youth group possible.

Leadership Commission - First Wednesday of each month representatives from each small group meet with leaders before dinner to plan program topics, choose special event themes, address concerns, and make decisions on behalf of the larger group as necessary. The commission is affectionately known as the "FISH Commish".