News and Events

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Get the latest news in our PresbyPost Newsletter -- Click here to go to the PresbyPost page where you can view and/or print the latest issue.

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Internal Security System in Operation During Stay and Play School Year
The internal security system will be in use each weekday from 9:00 am - 2:30 pm during Stay and Play Preschool hours. This only affects internal doors in the education wing of the building. The system is not locking any external doors.  HOWEVER, to get to the main church office without needing to be granted access through a locked door, one may  go through the Fraser Street entrance of the Sanctuary and down the hallway on the main floor to the office.  No doorways between the sanctuary and the office will be locked on that floor. 

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Restroom Renovations Completed!
All of our restrooms have been given a refresh!  Renovation included the following:  new tile floors in five restrooms, new paint, new partitions made of recycled plastic, new sinks and faucets, new "silent-close" toilet lids, automatic soap dispensers, new towel holders, new radiator covers, and new motion-activated LED lights.  The orientation of the ground floor and second floor women's restrooms was rotated 90 degrees to allow more room in these small areas.  What you won't see is the new centrally-located water heater which should mean hot water in a few seconds.  Also, what you probably won't see, but should hear is a motion-activated exhaust fan in each restroom.  The pictures below are of the women's restroom across the hall from the main office.  If you have questions, contact Don Hartzell.

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Angel Tree 2019
The Angel Tree and accompanying boxes of angels will be on the bridge starting Friday, November 15.  Volunteers at SCPC have collected “wish lists” from several local agencies including Youth Service Bureau, Centre Safe (formerly Women’s Resource Center), Park Forest Day Nursery Preschool, Windy Hill Presbyterian Home, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, and many others. 

We hope you’ll take a moment to stop by the bridge (by the front of the sanctuary) to check out the tree and select a gift for one of these great agencies and the many people they serve in our community.  Detailed instructions for signing up to provide gifts and how to label them will be included in an upcoming bulletin insert and will also be posted by the tree on the bridge.  Please note: If a request asks for several items, you only need to purchase one of the items listed, but you may purchase more if you wish.  

Please drop off the gifts no later than Monday, December 9.  The elves will sort and deliver the gifts shortly after that.

The Angel Tree has been a wonderful mission effort from our church family to the local community for many years.  Please join us and help support our neighbors during this advent season.

Please contact Carrie Miller (814-441-5577) with any questions you may have.

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Pre-Advent Soup Supper and Program
Tuesday, November 26
Supper begins at 5:30 pm
 
Join us for a simple soup supper and lots of fellowship, and a fun program including singing and a special game show.  Fun for the whole family.
 
The program will end around 7:30 pm
 

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Gift for Kiribati
In January, as guests of the Kiribati Uniting Church, Dean and Peggy Lindsey will spend several weeks on the island of Tarawa and surrounding islands in the South Pacific.  The Republic of Kiribati is a very poor country, isolated and hard to reach.  The Kiribati Uniting Church has a small seminary that is in need of theological resources.  Dean and Peggy hope to bring books and e-readers to help, along with Sunday school curriculum for the church’s children’s programs.  If you are interested in supporting this effort, please talk to Rev. Lindsey.

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Lunch with the Pastor
Join Dean Lindsey on the 4th Wednesday of the month at Wegmans at noon and have Lunch with the Pastor!

Upcoming Dates:

• November 27

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Small Group Connections ~ It's not too Late to Get Involved!
We have a variety of groups happening this Fall, and we would love for you to get connected. These groups are an opportunity to be honest about how we are discerning our lives and growing in faith with people invested in our journeys and community. Are you ready to join a group?
 
Click here to learn about the groups and sign up if you are interested

If you have questions, please contact Allison Maus.

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Centering Prayer 
 10:15 -10:45 am on the third Sunday of the month in the Conference Room
12:15 - 12:45 pm every Wednesday in the Tower Room
Any relationship grows in depth with good listening. This applies to our relationship with God. If we wish to deepen our relationship with God, it helps to set aside some time to listen…to be still and to make space to be aware of God’s presence. One method for cultivating this stillness and space is through Centering Prayer.
 
Centering Prayer is a prayer method rooted in the ancient Christian tradition of the Dessert Fathers and Mothers who recognized the essential nature of silent, receptive prayer.  In this silence, we allow ourselves to be receptive to God’s presence and action within us.  Centering prayer is grounded in relationship with God, through Christ, and is a practice to nurture that relationship.
 
Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer - verbal or active prayer - into a receptive prayer of resting in God.  If practiced regularly, it can help us be more aware of God’s presence and action in our daily lives.
 
Whether you are simply curious about Centering Prayer, have tried it and think that you “can’t do it” or have an established practice with this form of prayer, please join us the third Sunday of the month between services in the Martin Room.  Guidance and resources will be offered for those who are beginning and community in praying will be there for all. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Boutselis marybouts@gmail.com or 814-883-4225.

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Caregivers Needed!
We are hoping to hire for our childcare rooms!  
 
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have some experience working with children, be willing to get clearances or have them already, and will be interviewed. We have shift openings for Sunday mornings, Tuesday late afternoon/evenings, and Wednesday evenings.
 
Applications will be emailed to those who are interested. Anyone interested should email: Emma Sutterlin, Childcare Coordinator.

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P.O.L.O (Parents of Little Ones) Fellowship
The first Tuesday of each month ( beginning October 1st) from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm, parents of a child under six are invited to drop the kids off at child care or LOGOS and come on an evening out of childless conversation, dinner, drinks, and fellowship with others in the same crazy stage of life.  If it’s your first time please RSVP by contacting Pastor Mike (michaelscpc@gmail.com) or call the church office.  POLO offers these special nights along with other parent focused opportunities to connect.
 
Because, let’s face it, parenting can be isolating and hard. This is why "POLO Fellowship" was created.  To help us connect, share experiences, and build supportive community with others as God intended. A donation of $10 is suggested to help defray the costs childcare & dinner for children . Registration papers are available in the SCPC office. For questions contact Pastor Mike at michaelscpc@gmail.com.

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​Make Dinner For Centre House Shelter 
​Would you like to make a difference for some folks who would benefit from your help? Here is a great opportunity for you: on the 2nd Friday of each month, someone (or a group) from SCPC prepares and shares a meal with the residents of Centre House.

Centre House provides shelter and food to folks who are experiencing homelessness or are in crisis, but also guidance to reach a more stable housing future. Residents must be over the age of 18 unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or legally emancipated. The Centre House shelter is located at 217 East Nittany Avenue and open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and is staffed 24 hours a day. There is no charge to stay at Centre House. 

Volunteers are asked to arrive at around 5 pm on the assigned Friday with all of the makings to prepare a meal. A phone call by the volunteer to Centre House on the day before will provide information about the number of residents to expect as well as any dietary restrictions that may exist. The volunteer(s) will involve the residents (who are required to participate as part of the conditions of their residency) in the food preparation and cooking as well as setting the table, etc. Everyone then sits down and enjoys the meal together. The residents are responsible for cleaning up after the meal. The typical time commitment for volunteers is approximately 2 hours. The kitchen at Centre House is fully stocked with pots, pans, cooking and food prep utensils as well as some basic ingredients like oil, butter, salt and pepper, etc.

If you, you and your family, or you and some group of friends/relatives would like to volunteer to prepare/share a meal, please contact Mike Cullin (814)571-9157).