State College Presbyterian Church ~ Welcome to our Congregation and our Worship! 

We believe that Jesus Christ came to reveal the fullness of God's love for us, and we continue to celebrate that love through praise,
sacraments, service, and community.

132 W. Beaver Ave
State College, PA 16801
Phone: 814-238-2422
email: officescpc@gmail.com

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Support Us ~ Thank you to everyone who has been able to contribute to our church during this challenging time; SCPC is blessed and fortunate to have such a caring and supportive church family.  For those who are able, please remember you can make your offering in any of the following ways:

• By check mailed to the church (address above)
• By direct bank e-check/bill pay (contact your bank)
• Through our online giving option: QR code to the right with your smart phone, or click the "give now" button.
• NEW: through our ACH/direct debit option: click this link for the form and either mail it in OR scan a copy and email to Michelle.
  • Beginning May 15, processing will occur on the 1st and 15th of each month; you may choose either (or both) days and one-time, monthly, or quarterly processing.
    
  • ACH processing occurs at no fee to SCPC.
  • Please contact Michelle with any questions.

                   Again, thank you and stay healthy, everyone!

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The Church Building is Closed Until Further Notice but our
Ministry and Mission Continue!

We are checking voice mail (814-238-2422) and emails (officescpc@gmail.com). Keep checking back here for spiritual offerings and church information and to stay updated on the latest news.

Click here to go to our Staff Page where you will find direct links to staff email addresses.

We continue to work on plans for how we will keep in touch with and care for one another in this time of isolation.
 
Pray for those who are most deeply affected, keep washing your hands, stay out of crowds and keep checking the website and emails for the latest information.

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About Us ~
State College Presbyterian Church is a warm, diverse, dynamic faith community with people of all ages and generations coming together to learn, serve and worship together​
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​In response to God’s unconditional love and Jesus’ example of hospitality, State College Presbyterian Church is called to be a welcoming community.  We affirm all people equally, regardless of, for example, race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, capability, religious background, or circumstance of life.  We are committed to removing barriers that separate us.  As we gather in worship, fellowship and service, all are welcome.

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Learn More About Us

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Listen to the Latest Sermon:

May 17, 2020 ~ Sixth Sunday in Easter ~ John 14:  23-29

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Click here to go to our 'Sermons" page to listen to past sermons

Get Involved ~
SCPC offers a wide range of ministry opportunities. Whether you'd like to learn more, pray more, or serve more, we have a ministry for you.

Learn More About Ministries

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Learn About Church Membership
If you don't have a church home, we invite you to consider becoming part of our Church family.  Contact our Membership and Program Associate if you have questions  or click the button below to learn more about how to become a member.

Learn  More About Membership

 Join our Community ~
Click the Envelope Above and let us Know How You Would Like to Hear from Us!

Support Us ~
Making an offering of our financial resources is an integral part of what it means to be a Christian.
​We have a variety of ways to make it easy for you to support our church.

Giving Options
Along with paying by check or cash (plate offering), an online giving option is available to make it more convenient for those who wish to contribute by credit card or directly from a checking or savings account.  Click the "Give Now" button to make a contribution or to learn more.
NEW: We now have an  ACH/direct debit option: click this link for the form and either mail it in OR scan a copy and email to Michelle.

• Beginning May 15, 2020, processing will occur on the 1st and 15th of each month; you may choose either (or both) days and one-time, monthly, or quarterly processing.
• ACH processing occurs at no fee to SCPC!

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Learn More About Stewardship

Stewardship ~ Make  your Pledge Online!   You can make your 2020 pledge by returning a pledge card or submitting an online pledge.  Click here to complete an online pledge.   This is submitted directly to the Financial Administrator.

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Worship With Us!
Though we cannot be together, brief worship services are being recorded for you to view.  Visit our Worship Service Videos page to view the library of services.  Worship services are posted on Saturdays (as soon as the link is available). Visit our Adult Education page to view the library of available video adult education offerings. 

Many thanks to all of those who are participating in bringing these messages to you and to Jerry Sawyer and Kerry Trout for producing, editing and posting these services.  We plan to continue offering this type of service throughout this time of isolation.

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Click below to view the May 24 worship service

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Adult Education is offered this Sunday on YouTube ~ "The Lessons We Learn From our Mothers - Naomi and Ruth" ~ with Allison Maus
This week, Associate in Ministry for College-Age and Young Adult Ministry, Allison Maus, focuses on Naomi and Ruth and the theme of identity and belonging. We'll look at Ruth 1:1-22 & 4:13-17. Tune in and join Allison for this discussion!

​Click here to go to our "News" page where you can view a video ministry update about what your church is doing while we are physically separated.

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Coming up for Pentecost ~ May 31
 We’ll be celebrating the Spirit in two weeks on Pentecost Sunday.  That’s when we often wear something red when we are in church.  For our celebration this year, we'll be asking you to take a picture of you and your family.  Wear something red.  Wear a bright hat.  Smile!  We want to see you.  Then send in your picture to Martha Trout, and we’ll post them as part of our Pentecost service.

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Get Ready to Celebrate the Lord's Supper on
Pentecost ~ Sunday, May 31
Your Session has been speaking and praying about how and when to resume celebrating the Lord's Supper. Though we may be separated physically in place or time, it is Christ who graciously invites us into communion and creates a community united through the sacrifice of his body and blood. 

The Session has decided to resume the regular, monthly observance of the Lord’s Supper, beginning on Sunday, May 31 as part of our online worship services. We will be stepping out of our normal pattern and trying something quite new but with the sure knowledge that the presence of Christ is never bound by time or space. 

Prior to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, we ask participants to do several things:

• Seek Christ in prayer that you might receive grace
• Consider who will be at the table with you and pray for them that they might find nourishment through Christ’s love
• Consider who might not be at the table, and pray for them that they may know the grace of Christ as well!

 
Finally, prepare bread and cup (grape juice or wine) before the service begins so that you will be ready to eat and drink following the words of institution.

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Providing Pastoral Support
As a wise saying that describes the pandemic goes, “We are all in the same storm, but we are not in the same boat.”  It is certainly the case that some among us bear weightier burdens than others.  Our congregation has been able to respond to financial crises within several of our member families who have suffered from job losses.  The continued fear and isolation have taken a toll on spiritual and emotional life, too.  Pastors Mike and Dean encourage you to reach out if you are having trouble in these days. 

We are available by phone or email.  We have church officers and a Crisis Response team that will come to your aid, as well, if you let us know what you need.  We are always ready to receive prayer requests and can include these during weekly worship or our Thursday email that Martha Trout sends to the congregation.   We also invite you to a weekly prayer time, Tuesdays at noon to share your joys or concerns.  Please, do not suffer alone and in silence.  Make some noise.  We want to hear from you!

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If you're having any trouble accessing our online resources, please call the church office and leave a message (814-238-2422).
 
Likewise, if you know of someone who is not receiving our emails with access to our worship services, and they do have an email address, please contact Martha Trout so they can be added to the email list. We'd love to have cell phone numbers as well for those shut-ins that may not have a landline number - so we can stay in touch!

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What about Public Worship Services?
The Session and the Worship Ministry Unit will carefully and prayerfully consider the safety and well-being of our congregation and community before any decision is made about resuming public worship. Unfortunately, gathering a large group of people in an enclosed space singing or speaking loudly (as in preaching) creates a high level of risk for virus spread.  It is also true that religious events, including funerals or bar mitzvahs, have resulted in large outbreaks of the coronavirus.  We don’t want to be super spreaders, and so until further notice we will continue to offer services on line with the possibility that an initial return to worship will be held in out of doors with generous social distancing.  So, please keep tuning into our remote offerings, and join us in the efforts to spread the Word, not the virus!
 

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Call for Letters to SCPC High School Graduates ~
 You'll be receiving more specific information about this project from Rev. Mike Ozaki

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Love During COVID-19: Loving Our Neighbors
This year, “Christmas in July” will be replaced with “Love During COVID-19.”
The project will assist the same neighborhood agencies that provide shelter (Centre Safe, Housing Transitions, and Centre County Youth Service Bureau) as well as other vital services (State College Food Bank, Centre Volunteers In Medicine). In meeting the issues of social distancing, high unemployment, and food insecurity, all these agencies are facing extraordinary demands on their resources.

Instead of items, SJMT is asking you to make direct monetary donations to the agency of your choice. This will help the agencies immediately in their mission as they need it during this difficult time.

Click here to go to our Mission Opportunities page to see the details of how you can help

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Virtual Prayer Meeting
 On Tuesdays at noon, we’ll be hosting a brief prayer meeting via zoom. Join us at noon from wherever you are (Eastern Time) as we share the joys and concerns of our congregation and pray together for our community and the world. We will gather together and if needed break into smaller groups to share and pray together.
 
Prayer Meeting
May 12, 2020 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
       Every week on Tuesday, until Jun 16, 2020, 6 occurrence(s)
       May 19, 2020 12:00 PM
       May 26, 2020 12:00 PM
       Jun 2, 2020 12:00 PM
       Jun 9, 2020 12:00 PM
       Jun 16, 2020 12:00 PM
 
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYrf--upzoqG9fI5eMfzukUX_bghRTmen1P/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqDMsHN2UsBiERpwQBIqgM-7xmH5fjfpbtUrgLiZJdwjDDt1ANbpNJNXV
 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82686691013?pwd=Wnc2eGVLL3VPbVJSMFRtNFNialJpQT09
 
Meeting ID: 826 8669 1013
Password: 273887
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,82686691013# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,82686691013# US (New York)
 
Dial by your location
       +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
       +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 826 8669 1013
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kd2lMpiTrT

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Online Member Portal and Online Directory Now Available!
 An online membership portal and online church directory is now available for our members! We are pleased to offer this convenience - now more than ever as we are separated from each other.
 
Invitations have been sent out to our active members, active members who live out of town, active non-members, affiliate members, regular attenders, friends of the church, and regular visitors - those who are listed in our church directory - if you fall into one of these categories and did not receive an invitation email, please contact Martha Trout, Membership and Program Associate.
 
As a reminder - this information is provided solely for our congregation's use and is not to be shared or used for any other purpose.

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We Can't Get Enough of Those Corona Concerts ~ Join the SCPC Music Showcase - Get Your Video In!
 
We're still looking for folks to join this fun project during our “stay-at-home” time. Does your child play a musical instrument? Let’s create an open showcase so we can all see and hear our young friends. All families are invited to make a video of your child/children playing a song on their musical instrument and send it to Ned Wetherald (https://www.dropbox.com/request/6L5gisjzjhnaYbn85Ls7). Ned will create short videos of several musicians and make them available for our congregation to see.
 
All levels please! This is NOT a contest. We’ll limit it to children and youth up to 18 years of age for now, but if there is interest, we may have a “senior” edition!
This is a great opportunity for us as a congregation to get to know each other better and for families to have a fun special project during these strange times. Questions? Email Ned.

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Men's Covenant Group Meeting via Zoom
The Men's Covenant Group has resumed meeting via Zoom.  They meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 7-8:30 pm.  If you are interested in being added to the email invitation list and to receive the access code, please contact Rob Huffard.

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Virtual Centering Prayer via Zoom
 The regular weekly Centering Prayer group offering has changed to a Zoom gathering. and will continue to be offered Mondays from 7:00 - 8:00 pm.  If you would like to be added to the email invitation list and receive an access code, please contact Mary Boutselis or Mary Jane Kistler.

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Wednesday in the Word
In the next 2 or 3 weeks, Wednesday in the Word will finish Kay Arthur's study, "Jesus: Understanding His Death and Resurrection: A Study of Mark 14-16". So, hopefully June 3rd or 10th we will start the last 2 sessions of the Chip Ingram video study "True Spirituality: Becoming a Romans 12 Christian". After that, hopefully June 17th or 24th we will start a new Kay Arthur study, "Living Victoriously in Difficult Times".

We welcome newcomers. Folks are invited to bring a Bible and join us for this study and time of fellowship. We meet via Zoom at 12:30 for lunch then 1:00 to 2:00 pm for the study.  Questions?  Contact Connie Curilla or Linda Edvar.

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Stay Connected!
Your elders, deacons, and church staff are working hard to on ways to continue church life now that public worship and meetings have been suspended for the foreseeable future.

Here is how you can stay connected until we are able to resume our regular worship and program schedule:
 

• Sunday Worship will be available each weekend on our YouTube channel (State College Presbyterian Church) with a brief sermon, music, readings, prayers, and a Children’s Time from Deannine Shipman - we will send out a link after the service is posted to YouTube, watch for an email on Saturday.
• Adult Ed sessions will be offered as well on Zoom or our YouTube channel on Sundays –that link will be included in Saturday’s email.
• A brief Virtual Prayer Meeting will be offered on Tuesdays at noon. Join us on Zoom, as we share the joys and concerns of our congregation and pray together for our community and the world. 
• Mike Ozaki hosts a “Sacred Pause” each week day at noon on facebook live on the church facebook page.
•  Ned Wetherald is providing occasional musical offerings Click here to access his Youtube page.
• Deannine Shipman is sending a weekly email with materials for families and children to use at home if they choose.
• Chrysalis is connecting on Zoom on Tuesdays, and FISH small groups are connecting on Zoom on Wednesday evenings. Presbyterian Student Fellowship is connecting on Zoom and Marco Polo - check PSF's facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
• Deacons have been reaching out to all church families to keep in touch and learn about needs of the congregation.
• A Response team is available to help with member needs.

Let us all be in prayer for our church, our community, and our world, seeking out God’s healing and strength as we move through these days, and please keep in touch with the church and with your neighbors!

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Stay and Play Connections
Preschool Parents? Get connected! Stay and Play Preschool is offering activities, ideas and information for parents and children on our Facebook page. Practical and Fun activities that can be done at home AND information to help parents help their children as well as themselves. Click here to join us! 

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Scam Email Reminder
 
Please be wary of scam artists trying to fool people into thinking that they are getting an email or text message from a pastor or staff member. 
 
Please be assured that the pastors or any staff member will NEVER contact you by email or text message with any urgent request to call or to donate money or purchase gift cards (or even a message saying "We need your help" or "are you available right now?"). Review any such emails carefully and skeptically; it's best not to even open them.  If you dig around a bit you will see that the email is not authentic and doesn't even come from the correct email address or phone number.
 
Please do not respond to fake emails. Deleting them without a response is the very best approach.  you can report these scams by contacting the Federal Trade Commission at their website or by phone (1-877-383-4357).

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We are Planning to Hold Summer Camps if we are Able!
Stay and Play Summer Camp Registration Now Available!

Click here to download the registration form.

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Online Giving Reminder
Remember - if you have signed up for an automatic plan for your pledge and are changing your pledge amount for 2020 you will need to log in to your online giving account and change the amount for the new year. And...if you have arranged for a once or twice a year deduction the charge will show up as "VP*STATE COLLEGE PRESTATE COLLEGE PA" so don't be alarmed when you see this charge. 

Also, if your credit card number or expiration date changes, you will need to login to your account to change that information.
 
Thank you for your continued support!  Please contact Financial Administrator Michelle Fortin if you have questions.

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 News & Events ​
There is more news to check out on our "News" Page -- click here!

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State College Presbyterian Church