Advent 2022 ~ Not Just a Season

Advent 2022 ~ The four weeks leading up to Christmas are a time of preparation.  Special holiday traditions designed to set the season apart as one focused on goodwill and good cheer.  During these four weeks, worship services focus our reflection on the themes of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy.  Though they come and go every year, the celebration of Christmas can be more than just an event, and Advent is more than just a season.  Celebrating the promise of Christ’s birth brings into sharp relief the challenge of living according to his grace.  The spiritual preparation of advent is intended to be an ongoing part of our lives as we wait for the completion of God’s redeeming work. 
 
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”  Titus 2:11-13.

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Advent/Christmas Worship -
9:00 am in-person worship services and live-streamed (the live-stream will also be available to view at any time when the service has concluded)
Christmas Day and New Year's Day Worship services at 10:00 am

November 27 ~ First Sunday of Advent
Romans 13:11-14
​Matthew 24:36-44
~ Adult Ed (10:15 am) ~  Small Island, Big Song, Part 2

December 4 ~  Second Sunday of Advent
~ communion
Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19
Romans 15: 4-13
Matthew 3: 1-12
~ John Porter, preaching
~ Adult Ed (10:15 am) ~ "What Are We Waiting For? Reflections on Advent" Daniel Falk & "Connect"

December 11 ~ Third Sunday of Advent 
Psalm 146: 5-10
Luke 1: 46b-55
James 5: 7-10
Matthew 11: 2-11
~ Allison Maus, preaching
~ Adult Ed (10:15 am) ~ "What Are We Waiting For? Reflections on Advent" Daniel Falk & "Connect" 
4:00 pm ~ Christmas Candlelight Service (childcare available)

December 18 ~ Fourth Sunday of Advent  
Psalm 80: 107, 17-19
Romans 1: 1-7
Matthew 1: 18-25
~ John Porter, preaching
~ Adult Ed (10:15 am) ~ "What Are We Waiting For? Reflections on Advent" Daniel Falk & "Connect"

December 24 ~ Christmas Eve Services
~ Children and Youth of LOGOS lead this Christmas Eve Service (4:30 pm)
~ Casual Christmas Eve worship (7:00 pm)
~ Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service (11:00 pm)

December 25 ~Christmas Day
​~ worship at 10:00 am  
Come as you are: Carols-Coffee-Cinnamon Rolls!
Activity worship bags will be available for families with children
Isaiah 52: 7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1: 1-4, (5-12)
John 1: 1-14
~ NO Pathways, Oasis, or Adult Ed
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January 1 ~ New Year's Day
​~ worship at 10:00 am
​Activity worship bags will be available for families with children
~ NO Pathways, Oasis, or Adult Ed

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Advent Devotionals ~ Every year we offer an advent devotional that connects us as a community and helps us to reflect on this season of recognizing God with us. This year in lieu of a daily email devotional we encourage you to connect with other wonderful offerings. 

Members of the Sustainability Circle invite you to download the Presbyterians for Earth Care Advent Devotional, which follows the daily lectionary, and includes short reflections and actions.  It is available in both whole-page “web” format, and in “print” format to be printed double-sided, and folded into a book.   Both versions are at presbyearthcare.org/devotional-and-worship-aids/.

Another daily devotional offering we recommend is Words for Waiting, the ukirk (PCUSA campus ministry) advent devotional. With both a daily email post option or a pre-downloaded booklet you’ll be guided through the season by reflections from college students and campus ministers, including Pastor Allison, throughout the country. Sign up for daily emails or download this resource at ukirkadvent.org.

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​2022 Poinsettia Orders - CLOSED
For those who ordered poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary - you may take your poinsettia(s) with you following the 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service.

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Adult Education in Advent
November 27, December 4, 11, 18 ~ Connect -an ongoing weekly small group discussion led by Bizz and Zack Maser and  Jamie Bauman
“Connect” is an invitation to deepen your relationship with others and with God by contemplating scripture, lyrics, writing, poetry, and other topics. Come as you are to listen, share, grow, and be!

December 4, 11 and 18 ~ A Three Part Series ~ "What Are We Waiting For? Reflections on Advent" with Daniel Falk in Westminster Hall
​In the midst of trees, cookies, and Hallmark movies, the Christmas narrative is so familiar as to become a banal but warm and fuzzy children’s story. It can be difficult to hear the dangerous and subversive messages that the Gospels of Matthew and Luke were telling. Daniel Falk will lead a three-part series (Dec 4, 11, 18) exploring the different ways that the Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell the story of the birth of Jesus and its meaning in the context of ancient history and ours. Along the way, we’ll reflect on Advent themes in some carols, poems, and art. 

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​Christmas Candlelight Service
The 95th Annual Christmas Candlelight Service will be Sunday, December 11, 4:00 pm. We are preparing “What Sweeter Music” – a cantata of arrangements of Christmas tunes to be performed with orchestra.
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Sunday, December 11, 2022
4:00 pm
or live stream below

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The Angel Tree
The Angel Tree is up on the bridge and there are plenty of gift requests for everyone!  Please take a moment to choose a gift to give to an individual or agency.  Bring the wrapped gifts back to church by Monday, December 12.  Take all gifts to the church office - especially gift cards - there will be a special box to put gift card gifts. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Volunteers Needed for Delivering Gifts
In addition to shopping for Angels, we are in need of volunteers to deliver the collected gifts to Angel Tree agencies during the day on Thursday, December 15, and on Monday, December 19.  If you can help, please fill in this form  so Cricket can match drivers or helpers with agencies.

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Advent Organ Recitals
We are delighted to present our Advent Organ Recital Series again this year.  The idea is to provide an opportunity to get away from the “busy-ness” of the season and listen to some beautiful organ music and afterwards we hope to share a simple fellowship lunch with homemade soup.  The recitals are about 30 minutes and present a variety of organ music by several area organists. They are scheduled for 12:15 pm on Wednesdays, to give our Stay and Play parents time to pick up and clear the parking lot. 

• December 7 - Ned Wetherald, SCPC organist
• December 14 - Mark Ferraguto, PSU Professor
• December 21 -  Mary Bahnfleth, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church organist 

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Christmas Offering — Children of Hekima Place 
This year’s Christmas Offering will be a gift to our friends at Hekima Place to spend as it’s most needed. Hekima Place, in Kiserian, Kenya, provides a home and education for girls in need. We are lucky to be connected to the Hekima community through past visits to Hekima and conversations with founder Kate Fletcher, who recently had lunch with a few SCPC folks considering traveling with a mission team from SCPC in the summer of 2023. 

Throughout December, you will find envelopes for this Christmas Offering at the end of each pew, or you can donate by check or online as usual. Please write "Hekima" in the memo of your check so that we can direct your donation as you intend! 

Your donations will support the people and work of Hekima, and not the SCPC trip. ​

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PATHWAYS and OASIS Christmas Party on December 18
For the last Sunday of our regular children/youth programs, we will hold a Christmas Party during the Exploration Hour in the Fireside Room!  Our party will be hosted by OASIS (grades 6-12) and attended by all the PATHWAYS (3, 4, and K and grades 1-5). 

Children will go to their regular classrooms first to check in/attendance, and then go right to the Fireside Room by 10:15 a m for the party with OASIS youth.  

Parents should pick up children outside the Fireside Room at 11:00 am.

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Blue Christmas Service  ~ Wednesday, December 21st at Grace Lutheran Church
For many, holidays like Christmas mean joy and family togetherness. But for those walking with losses or other life challenges, these can be times of deep pain and feeling the blues. This Blue Christmas Service of Hope gives space for your feelings, and support in knowing you are not alone.

​We will gather by candlelight at 4:00 pm, Wednesday, December 21st. Afterwards, pastoral caregivers will be available to talk or pray. The door is open all to receive light for your journey in the love of Christ. 

Christmas Day Dinner ~ December 25
Sign-Ups and Reservations
The annual SCPC Christmas Day Dinner is happening again this year and you are invited to be a part of it. We will be offering in-person dining in the Social Hall as well as drive-thru take-out for those who are not yet comfortable dining in-person. The meal is free to all, regardless of faith. This is our church's annual Christmas gift to the community, so we hope that you will join us to eat, volunteer or donate!

Dining room seating in the Social Hall will be by reservation only this year, in order to prevent crowding in the dining room. If you would like to make a dining room reservation, please signup here by December 18th. If you miss the dinner sign up deadline, can call the church office to be put on the list.

Take-out orders are available for drive-thru pickup for those uncomfortable with in-person dining and must be reserved in advance. Orders will be packaged and ready to be heated. Delivery is available for those who are physically unable to come to the church. To reserve take-out meals for pickup or delivery, please signup here by December 18th.

We need many hands to make the Christmas Dinner a success. Are you able to donate items or volunteer your time for the event? Is so, please signup to help.

Volunteer shifts for Christmas Day and setup before, please signup here.

Donations of food and supplies, please signup here.
(Financial donations towards the dinner can also be made by sending a check to the church office with "Christmas Dinner" in the memo.)

Thank you for your generosity and for helping our church to celebrate Christmas with the community!

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​College-Age and Young Adult Christmas Eve Open House
We're so glad you're back! Join us on December 24th before the 11:00 pm service to say hello to friends old and new and enjoy some refreshments. We'll be in the Martin Room 10:15-10:45 pm.

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Christmas Eve Worship  ~ Saturday, December 24

4:30,  7:00 and 11:00 pm

• 4:30 pm ~ The youth of the LOGOS program will lead the early 4:30  pm service (childcare available in Room 101)
• 7:00 pm ~ A casual Christmas Eve service 
• 11:00 pm ~ The Chancel Choir will lead the 11:00 pm service which will include music, readings, carols, Communion, and candle-lighting

We hope you will worship with us on this wondrous night - live stream links available below.

Christmas Eve 4:30 pm Service

Christmas Eve 7:00 pm Service

Christmas Eve 11:00 pm Service

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Christmas Day Worship ~ Sunday, December 25~ Come and Worship the
​New Born King!
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We will have one worship service on Sunday, December 25 at 10:00 am.
Come as you are for carols, coffee and cinnamon rolls  - or live stream the service!

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First Night State College ~ December 31, 2022
SCPC will be hosting events on December 31st as part of State College's First Night activities.  Buttons are required for many of the programs and concerts.

Click here to visit the First Night website