Lent 2023 - Restoration Realized

Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebration of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.

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​During the season of lent our readings and sermons will draw on paired sets of readings from the old and new testaments to explore the nature of the restoration that is envisioned through the narrative of God’s relationship with the children of Abraham & Sarah, called for through the prophets, and how we recognize its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  

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Lenten Devotionals 2023 

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Spiritual Disciplines - Lenten Study at SCPC ~ Mondays During Lent
​Beginning February 27 ~ 11:00 am
Room 10
This Lent we will offer a study of six areas of spiritual discipline. Pastor John Porter, Associate Pastor Allison Maus, and Director of Youth Ministry Reed Dressler will lead six individual sessions looking at; fasting, study, service & submission, simplicity, meditation & prayer, and solitude. The good news of Jesus Christ is that through him we are liberated from attitudes and ingrained patterns of behavior that degrade and demean the glory of God revealed in all people and every element of creation. Though the gospel message about transformation is simple, our experience of transformation is not. Scripture teaches that we are not capable of transforming ourselves. It is by God that we are transformed and set free from sin.

Spiritual disciplines are practices that help bring us into God’s transforming presence. Drawing on a variety of resources including Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, our study will consider the nature of these spiritual practices and how we can move deeper and more fully into the life of freedom that we have received through Christ.

​If you can't join us in person - join us on Zoom:

Topic: Monday Lenten Study
Time: Every Monday during Lent: 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
 February 27 thru April 3, 2023

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86467211095?pwd=L0tkTlNEQ1NMdnJRUTJjODhoMUlFUT09

Meeting ID: 864 6721 1095
Passcode: 144319

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Lent 2023

February 22 ~ Ash Wednesday
February 26 ~ 1st Sunday in Lent
March 5 ~ 2nd Sunday in Lent
March 12 ~ 3rd Sunday in Lent
March 19~ 4th Sunday in Lent
March 26 ~ 5th Sunday in Lent
April 2 ~ Palm Sunday
April 6 ~ Maundy Thursday
April 7 ~ Good Friday
April 9 ~ Easter Sunday
April 10 ~ Easter Monday (church is closed)

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Fostering Restoration and Renewal
Lenten Small Group Offering - Mondays - 7:30-8:30 pm via Zoom
The Spiritual Life Committee is offering a 6 week (40 day) practice of fasting from the human tendencies that prevent us from enjoying the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), beginning February 27th through April 3rd. We will meet on Zoom Monday evenings 7:30-8:30 pm.  This is a small group experience with opportunities to practice, share and grow. You may attend any or all of the 6 sessions. If you are interested in participating, please email Mary Jane Kistler.

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Lent in a Bag
If you are looking for ways to bring more meaning into the season of Lent, here is an idea for you and/or your family or small group.

Lenten Bags are available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Ash Wednesday for those in our church community who enjoy a time of reflection while using symbols to help facilitate discussion. Inside the bag, you will find 5 different symbols that relate to Scripture to stimulate interesting thoughts and conversations.

These Lenten bags are meant for all ages to use to help guide you through the season of Lent with a time for reflection and discussion.

Small group leaders will be offered a chance to have one for their group, and others are welcome to take them from the tables in the back of the sanctuary. Only one is needed per family/couple/individual grouping.​

If you would like to have one and cannot get to church to pick one up, please call the church office at 814-238-2422 and let us know! We have a generous offer from someone to deliver them! Questions? Deannine Shipman, our Director of Education, will be happy to help you! 

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Adult Education Offerings for Lent

February 26 and March 5 ~ "Spiritual Disciplines"
Westminster Hall
Rev. John Porter will lead a two part Adult Education offering over two consecutive weeks covering four classical spiritual disciplines that we practice together as a community.  Richard Foster in “Celebration of Discipline” asserts “The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond the surface of living into the depths… God intends [them] to be for ordinary human beings: people who have jobs, who care for children, who wash dishes and mow lawns.  In fact, the Disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our relationships.”  In two sessions we will look at the last of the twelve spiritual disciplines Foster covers in the text; Confession and Worship on February 26th and Guidance, and Celebration on March 5th.
 
March 12 ~ "Reflections on My Work as a Missionary in Haiti" Westminster Hall, led by Connie Curilla 
What does it mean to be called to a life of service?  Join Connie Curilla as she shares about her lifelong work as a missionary in Haiti, including what led her to this line of work, what was accomplished, what work remains, and some surprises along the way. 
 
March 19 ~ Congregational Meeting to Receive the Report from the Pastor Visioning Team and Elect a Pastor Nominating Committee - join us in the Sanctuary

March 26 ~ "Hekima Place Trip Update"
Westminster Hall led by Cheryl Price and Mitch Kirsch
A group of SCPC members and friends will travel to Hekima Place, Kiserian, Kenya from July 18 – 28. Learn about the group’s plans for the trip, how Hekima is meeting an increased need for services to the girls it serves, and how the congregation can help the group meet its mission. 

April 2:  Palm Sunday Breakfast - No Adult Education offering in Westminster Hall  or Room 10
 
April 9:  Easter Sunday - No Adult Education offering in Westminster Hall 

“Connect"
February 26, March 5, 12, 19 (we will meet briefly following the Congregational Meeting on the 19th if time permits), 26,  and April 9
Room 10 (we will not meet on April 2, Palm Sunday)
This ongoing weekly small group discussion is 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 of interest through small group discussions. This is meant to be a time to sit with questions without needing the answers, speak from the heart, pray meditate, reflect, and be changed by the stories and sharing of others. Anyone with a desire to Connect more deeply, whether you are a believer or unsure what you believe, is invited to join us. 
Come as you are to listen, share, grow and be!

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Palm Sunday Breakfast is Back!
The SCPC Deacons will be serving all of the old favorites, so come and enjoy breakfast and fellowship with your church family.
 
Sunday, April 2nd
10:00 - 11:00 am
in the Social Hall
 
Our Palm Sunday Breakfast menu includes: French Toast Strata with Apple Cider Syrup, Sausages, Fresh Fruit and Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake.
 
Come for free breakfast and invite a friend. If you haven’t been back to church in a while, we miss you and hope you’ll use this as an opportunity to come back. 

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Easter Flowers ~ Orders Due by March 6

Orders are being taken until Monday, March 6 for spring flowering plants to decorate the sanctuary on Easter morning. Each plant costs $9.50 - order forms are on the back tables in the sanctuary or you may download and print it here. Please return your order, along with your check by March 6.

You may take your plant with you following the service on Easter morning.

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Ash Wednesday Service ~ Wednesday, February 22 at
7:30 pm
The Ash Wednesday service is being led by our FISH Youth Group! There will be implementation of Ashes, Communion, and Prayer Stations. The service will take place in the Sanctuary and all physical prayer stations will be accessible from that space. It will also be streamed online.

​Join us for a creative and contemplative time! 

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Holy Week

Palm Sunday -
Sunday, April 2
A Palm Sunday Breakfast is being planned - stay tuned!
Join us either in person or  online for our live-streamed service (on our YouTube channel) to celebrate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

​Worship is at 9:00 am.

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Maundy Thursday Community Meal and Service  Thursday, April 6 - In person or Live-Stream at 6:00 pm
​Join us for Worship at 6:00 pm on April 6th for a time to recognize our God, who washes feet and shares meals. This year our gathering will start in the sanctuary and continue over a shared meal in the Social Hall. We will share communion together in traditional and more expansive ways, and reflect on the surprising way love is shared in our lives. We invite you to bring a dish to share with our community.

There will be an option to attend virtually so stay tuned for details. 

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Good Friday Tenebrae Service - Friday, April 7 at 7:30 pm
The Service of Tenebrae follows a tradition of the church dating back to the eighth century.  From latin “Tenebrae” means “darkness”.  The service has traditionally been celebrated in the week between Palm Sunday and the festival of Easter.  During the service candles are extinguished sequentially representing the failing fellowship of Jesus friends as the time of his crucifixion draws near.  Through scripture readings shared throughout the service we recall Jesus’ disappointment and sense of abandonment.  These “Solemn Reproaches of the Cross” invite us to confront our own personal withdrawal from fellowship with Christ and failure to remain faithful to God’s indiscriminate and unconditional love.  Our good friday service will utilize this ancient tradition not to convey a message of condemnation but to bring us into an authentic experience of regret, repentance, and longing for the new life that comes through Jesus resurrection.

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 Easter Sunday Worship - Sunday, April 9
Celebration of the Resurrection

• A Sunrise Service with Communion at Windswept Farm ~ Our rebranded Youth Sunday School group, Oasis, is hosting a 7:00 am Easter Sunrise Service at Windswept Farm. It will be outside so please dress appropriately for the weather and bring a lawn chair. Getting to experience the new beginning of the day as we remember the meaning of Easter is a powerful experience which can lead to awe and insight. We hope you can join us for this experience! 
• 9:00 am at SCPC ~  we will worship in the Sanctuary for a celebration of our Risen Lord
• 10:00 am ~ Exploration Hour with Coffee Hour, Pathways, Oasis and Adult Opportunities 

For the Sunrise Service at Windswept Farm
What to Bring: Please bring a folding chair for seating, and we suggest wearing warm clothing and appropriate footwear for walking in wet grass. We will be seated widely in a beautiful field below the gazebo. The walk to the field may be muddy if there has been rain. Please pray for good weather!

How to Get there: From State College, take Fox Hollow Road towards the airport. Prior to reaching the main entrance to the airport, take a left off of Fox Hollow onto S. Fillmore Rd. Go 1.1 miles on Fillmore and you will see the sign on the left for the ReFarm Café at Windswept Farm.

Parking: Parking is limited, but deacons will be in the parking lot to help direct you and squeeze all of the cars into the space

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