The 2020 Annual Report of The Session

The Session is the Governing Board
of the Church

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The session is made up of currently serving ruling elders and installed pastors. The Book of Order says elders, deacons, and pastors must be of strong faith, dedicated discipleship and love Jesus Christ.  Together they are gifts to the church, guiding the work of the church, so that the whole people of God may flourish. In most years, the session builds on the accomplishments of previous years and ever so slightly adjusts the course to meet the needs of the time.  2020 was not such a year.  COVID-19 placed challenges never seen before on your church officers.  They rose to the occasion:
 
 Your Worship Ministry folks transformed our worship from in-person to online seamlessly keeping what mattered in worship in the forefront. They made consistent use of our congregational Medical Advisory Team in adjusting our programming to the health and safety needs of our members. Your Finance folks waded into the legalese of the CARES Act and secured a grant that kept our staff intact while we adjusted to the new reality.  The Education Ministry folks shredded their lesson plans and converted their studies and fellowships to ZOOM—overnight.  The Fellowship folks brainstormed ways of maintaining community and being the presence of Christ to our members, keeping safe distances.  Our Building and Property folks completed roof repairs and painting amidst restrictions on gathering. Social Justice and Mission Ministry folks responded to both the Black Lives Matter movement and to mission needs of the State College community, pivoting their focus to put our mission resources where they were most critically lacking. Personnel folks crafted safe environments for our staff and enabled folks to complete their tasks from home or socially distanced in the building. Your ministerial staff seamlessly provided leadership during Dean Lindsey’s sabbatical, continuing to step up and adjust as the infection hit our community. Your elders and pastors tossed aside the words “We have never done it that way” and lived into the Foundation of our Presbyterian Polity, which is that “Christ calls the Church into being, giving it all that is necessary for its mission in the world, for its sanctification, and for its service to God.”  God provided and the ministry of the church continued.

Ginny Rainey, Clerk of Session

The session of the State College Presbyterian Church normally meets monthly on the second Sunday evening of the month.  Each ruling elder is elected by the congregation, usually for a three-year term, but is ordained to the broader church for life.  This year, elders and pastors gathered additionally to respond to the challenges of the pandemic, bringing to the occasion all of their energy, imagination, intelligence and love, meeting by ZOOM video conference.  Elders serve on one or two ministry units/committees of the congregation. They assist at the sacraments, may serve on presbytery committees and may be elected commissioners to presbytery, synod or General Assembly meetings.  In 2020, elder Beth Farmer represented us and Huntingdon Presbytery as elder commissioner to the 224th General Assembly. Jim Finley and Lam Hood represented us on the creation of the Krislund Five-Year Plan.

Significant events for Session in 2020 included the completion of the replacement of the sanctuary roof, application for and reception of a CARES ACT/ PPE loan, safe operation of Stay and Play Preschool, hosting presbytery (in January), initiation of online giving, provision of weekly online worship services, focus on housing ministry opportunities in State College,
 
The session expresses its sincerest thanks to those staff who have served our congregation in ministry in 2020: Senior Pastor Rev. Dean Lindsey, Associate Pastor for Youth and Mission Rev. Michael Ozaki, Director of Education & Program Deannine Shipman, Director of Music Ministry Ned Wetherald, Associate in Ministry for College and Young Adult Ministries Allison Maus, Membership and Program Associate Martha Trout, Financial Administrator Michelle Fortin, Coordinator for Middle School (Chrysalis) Diana Malcom, Secretary Janet Heasley, Assistant Financial Administrator Anne Thomas, Stay and Play Director Laura Steager, Assistant Stay and Play Director Aida Pistone, Kitchen Coordinators for LOGOS and FISH Mike and Amy Gordon, Building Manager Todd Hockenberry and Evening Custodian Colett Spicher. Their adaptability and dedication to serving God in this place went above and beyond their job descriptions in 2020.  Their service to the ministry of Jesus Christ is a beacon of light in the world and a joy to behold. Appreciation is expressed to the many volunteers, who continued to serve the church, hands on, while social distancing, making and distributing meals, repairing and painting our building, supporting our youth programs, singing alone to create our online choir, producing our ZOOM programming, adapting and living out our mission service in the wider community. You, all of you—pastors, session, staff, volunteers, have lived out Christ’s commands to proclaim the good news, offer God’s grace and call people to discipleship in Christ.  Even in fearful times, you have glorified God and enjoyed God now and forever in covenant fellowship. We thank you!
 
Submitted by Ginny Rainey
Clerk of Session 2020