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

Our next communion will be served at the 8:00 am Easter Sunday service.

Sacraments

Communion or the Lord’s Supper is one of two sacraments that Presbyterians celebrate in conjunction with the rest of Christendom. As Presbyterians partake of the bread and the cup of the sacrament, they acknowledge the very real spiritual presence of Christ in the elements. We celebrate the Good News of the Gospel that Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead for our salvation in our participation in the Lord’s Supper. We do this at State College Presbyterian Church ten times a year to acknowledge our faith, to remember and express our gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice for us, and to strengthen the ties of our Christian community as we share this feast with one another.

Baptism: While communion is a sacred obligation among Presbyterians to be celebrated regularly, the other sacrament, baptism is done one time only. Baptism is done to a person, not by the individual. It is a sign of God’s grace extended to the individual through no action of her or his own, no merit, no deserving. By baptism, persons are received into the church universal, not just the local congregation. Baptism is the beginning of the individual’s faith journey, not a sign of maturity in the faith. For that reason, Presbyterians baptize infants and children, with parents and the congregation making promises to raise the children in the faith, but Presbyterians also baptize adults, who make their own promises to study scripture and nurture their own faith. Learn more about baptism.

Presbyterians practice open communion. That is, all those who have been baptized, whether members of the Presbyterian Church or not, are invited to participate. Baptized children may participate if their parents have instructed them in the practice and believe they are ready to partake. When the service is by intinction, the ushers will indicate when it is time for the congregation to come forward, row by row, by the side aisles to receive the elements. Each person should break off a chunk of bread from the common loaf and dip a corner into the chalice of grape juice before eating. Those who prefer not to use the common loaf and chalice may take an individual piece of bread and separate cup from the tray on the stand nearby. Then return to their seat by the center aisle.  When the service is in the pews, the elders will pass first the bread and then the cup. Hold the element until all have been served and the officiating minister gives the signal to eat or drink, so that all may commune together, expressing the unity of Christ. There are cupholders in the back of the pew in front of you to hold the cup after you have partaken.

In the Presbyterian Church, a minister of the Word and Sacrament presides over the sacrament, assisted by ordained officers of the church, elders and deacons. Preparation of the elements of the Lord’s Supper is under the direction of the Worship Ministry Unit.  (Contact Joanne Chuckran, if you would like to assist in baking wafers). The currently serving elders, in a rotation provided by the Worship Ministry Unit, assist the ministers in the communion. A member of the congregation, usually a serving elder, also assists at baptism. Presbyterian elders are responsible for the mission and government of the congregation. As such, it is their task to provide for the worship of the people of God, including the observance of the sacraments.

2008 Communion Observances:

Maundy Thursday

Easter (8 a.m. service only)

April 20

June 15

August 10

October 5  (World Wide Communion)

November 23 (Christ the King Sunday)

We use two formats for serving communion at State College Church. When there are two Sunday morning services, communion is by intinction at the 9:00 a.m. service and by pew service at the 11:15 a.m. service. On Ash Wednesday, Maunday Thursday, Easter (8 a.m.), intinction is also used. When there is one Sunday morning service only (June 15 and August 10), communion by pew service.

For more information about communion, please contact Ginny Rainey via e-mail or by phone at: 814-867-7878.