Mission at SCPC

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Christmas Before Halloween!
Would you make a Christmas card or write an encouraging message to a person who is incarcerated in Centre County? Centre Peace reports that these cards are the only mail some folks get all year. Sign your card with ONLY your first name (or only your middle name, if your first name is unusual). Small groups, committees, or individuals that would like to participate can pick up blank cards in the office, and find directions here, along with answers to some common questions. 

Please don’t be shy about your decorating! This is an all-ages opportunity, and the idea is to deliver a card that is a sliver of warm, imperfect, human connection. The only decorating caution is that each card will be scanned and printed to be delivered to individuals in a prison-approved process, so 3-D features won’t work well. Drop-off boxes for completed cards can be found at both the Parking Lot entrance and the Post Office entrance. 

Everyone is welcome to stop by a Card Corner in the Social Hall on October 30th, during Coffee Hour. You will find cards, stickers, markers, and pens, and friends. Stop in to write, decorate, or both on your way to your Exploration Hour destination, or make it your after-worship activity. 

You can learn more about Centre Peace at centrepeace.org.

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Community Needs and Opportunities
We have been made aware of some needs in the community for warm and warming items: blankets, coats, boots, and heaters for folks who are cold. If you have warm blankets, comforters, flannel sheets, coats, or boots that you no longer need, but that still have lots of use in them, please reach out to the church office, and we can let you know about sizes that we know are currently needed. 

If your household is really stretching to make ends meet this year — or if you know households that are — there is an opportunity for households of one or more people to receive Thanksgiving dinner supplies. There are no income or proof-of-situation requirements. Learn more here. As the form itself says "keep in mind that sometimes the best gift is allowing yourself to receive!”
Please spread the word.

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SCPC supports many local agencies including:

• ARC of Centre County
• Bridge of Hope
• Centre Helps
• Centre Safe
• Centre Volunteers in Medicine
• Housing Transitions
• Interfaith Human Services
• Out of the Cold
• Park Forest Day Nursery
• State College Food Bank
• Youth Service Bureau

​If you would like more information about SCPC and our Mission Projects - please contact 
​Cricket Hunter, SCPC's Mission Associate at
​(814-238-2422).

And Internationally:

• Hekima Girl's School
• Haiti Fund (through the Comprehensive Development Project)

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When imagining the possibilities for new, improved, or expanded mission projects, the sky is the limit for the State College Presbyterian Church!   We are committed to “big” projects such as sponsoring and building a Habitat House and international mission relationships with communities in Togo, Haiti, Thailand and elsewhere.  It is also important that we continue our commitment to all current mission projects and trips and turn our focus on improving how the stories of those significant mission experiences are shared with the rest of the congregation.  We must be sure that our church community continues to make regular connections to our ongoing and established activities as “mission projects” (e.g., the angel tree and other local projects).

​Want to Join the Mission Team?
Please join the Social Justice and Mission Team if you’re interested in being a part of the church’s mission and outreach team.   We generally meet at 5:30 pm on the first or second Monday of each month.  Mission and outreach happen in all corners of the church, through Deacons, FISH, and many places.  SJMT is SCPC’s committee that helps determine the charities and causes that the church’s budget supports, explores and advocates for social justice in the model of Jesus, and helps to launch and facilitate new mission initiatives including mission trips.

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Pictures from our summer 2019 trip to Hekima Place in Africa ~ We are Planning to Return to Hekima in Summer 2023!

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