Announcing...
The 2025 Pennsylvania State
Sunday School Convention
The 2025 Pennsylvania State Sunday School Convention will be held on Saturday, October 25th, at Otterbein United Brethren Church, 146 Leitersburg Street, Greencastle, PA 17225 (Franklin County).
IMPORTANT: Note the CHANGE IN LOCATION! We were originally planning to return to Mt. Pleasant United Brethren Church, Chambersburg, for our 2025 convention, but because of their continuing remodeling project, it was
necessary for us to move to a different church.
Otterbein United Brethren Church
The 2025 event will follow a one-day format. The convention will begin on Saturday morning with an Opening Devotional Session, featuring a message by Rev. Jonathan Yoder, Associate Pastor of Care and Visitation at Calvary Church, Lancaster, PA.
Rev. Jonathan Yoder
The rest of the day will be dedicated to workshop training. There will be four 60-minute workshop periods, with up to seven different workshops in each period.
There will also be displays and exhibits, and a delicious catered lunch served by Redemption BBQ, from Shippensburg.
Everyone is welcome and invited to attend!
All Sunday School and Christian Education Teachers and Leaders, Pastors, Directors of Christian Education, and All Persons Interested in Sunday School are Invited to Attend the 163rd Anniversary
PA State Sunday School Convention!
CONVENTION SCHEDULE...
Saturday, October 25th...
8:00 to 9:00 a.m....................................................Registration (displays open)
9:00 to 10:10 a.m................................Devotional Session & PSSSA Business
(Rev. Jonathan Yoder, speaker)
10:20 to 11:20 a.m.............................................................Workshop Period #1
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.....................................................Workshop Period #2
12:30 to 1:50 p.m.................................................Lunch Break (displays open)
1:50 to 2:50 p.m................................................................Workshop Period #3
3:00 to 4:00 p.m...............................................................Workshop Period #4
SCHEDULE for the 2025
CONVENTION WORKSHOPS & LEADERS...
PLEASE NOTE: Workshop titles, leaders and times are subject to change without notice. Main areas of concern: (C) - Children, (Y) - Youth, (A) - Adults, (L) - Leaders, (G) - General Interest. Each workshop will be 60 minutes in length.
WORKSHOP PERIOD #1
(10:20 to 11:20 a.m.)
“Leadership Lessons of Jesus” (C, G) - Leader: Susan Yoder, former Administrator of the Triple C Nursery School, Quakertown, and Chief Administrator of a Christian school in Eastern Lancaster County.
“In Search of Meaning: The Parables of Jesus” (A, L, G) - Leader: Dr. Tim Dugan, pastor of St. Matthew’s U.C.C., Carlisle Springs, PA.
“Parking My Complaints” (G) - Leader: Travis Zimmerman, Pastor of Beauty Beyond Brokenness Ministry.
“Leading with Power and Wisdom (based upon the Book of James) (A, L, G) - Leader: Rev. Peggy Jones, Retired U.M.C. Pastor, currently speaking at renewal services, conferences and retreats, from Carlisle, PA.
“Words That Are Misunderstood or Misapplied in Scripture” (A, L, G) - Leader: Rev. John Metzger, Missionary/Educator with Ariel Ministries fr the past 25 years.
“The Full Armor of God” (G) - Pastor Robert Berry, Pastor of Big Spring U.M.C. and a member of the P.S.S.S.A. Board of Directors.
“Strength for the Struggle” (A, L, G) - Leader: Donise Cheeks, Adult Sunday school teacher and Bible study leader at Shiloh Baptist Church, York, PA, and a member of the P.S.S.S.A. Board of Directors.
WORKSHOP PERIOD #2
(11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
“Compassion That Makes a Difference” (A, L, G) - Leader: Rev. Johathan Yoder, Associate Pastor of Care & Visitation at Calvary Church, Lancaster, PA.
“Discipleship, Disciple, Discipline: What’s the Difference?” (C, G) - Leader: Susan Yoder, former Administrator of the Triple C Nursery School, Quakertown, and Chief Administrator of a Christian school in Eastern Lancaster County.
“Selected Miracles in the Old Testament” (A, L, G) - Leader: Dr. Tim Dugan, pastor of St. Matthew’s U.C.C., Carlisle Springs, PA.
“Armed for Battle: Prayer and the Armor of God” (A,G) - Leader: Debbie Chatley, youth Sunday school teacher and ladies Bible study leader at Dublin Mills Community Church,Hustontown, PA., and Vice-President of the P.S.S.S.A.
“God Saves!” (A, L, G) - Leader: Leader: Travis Zimmerman, Pastor of Beauty Beyond Brokenness Ministry.
“Faith and Fitness” (G) - Leader: Erin Rosenberry, women’s Bible study leader and fitness enthusiast.
“Who is Predominantly Speaking in the Hebrew Scriptures?” (A, L, G) - Leader: Rev. John Metzger, Missionary/Educator with Ariel Ministries for the past 25 years.
WORKSHOP PERIOD #3
(1:50 to 2:50 p.m.)
“Teaching Children in the Church & Sunday School (Part 1: Today's Kids...
What Are They Like)" (C, L, G) - Leader: Rodney Pry, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Sunday School Association.
“The Lost Art of Outreach: Sharing Christ for Sunday School Growth” (A, L, G) - Leader: Dr. Bill Niblette, retired Christian educator with over 50 years of service as an educator, workshop leader and Sunday school teacher, and a member of the P.S.S.S.A. Board of Directors.
“Stories Behind the Hymns” (G) - Leader: Patti Hann, Sunday school teacher and public speaker for over 30 years, from Chambersburg.
“Armed with Truth: Wielding the Sword of the Spirit” (A,G) - Leader: Debbie Chatley, youth Sunday school teacher and ladies Bible study leader at Dublin Mills Community Church,Hustontown, PA, and Vice-President of the P.S.S.S.A.
“Teaching Bible Lessons Creatively Through Unique Illustrations” (C, Y, A) - Paul Boxmyer, Pastor of Garden View Church of Christ, Williamsport, and a member of the P.S.S.S.A. Board of Directors.
“Always Be A Cowboy” (G) - Leader: Chaplain Joel Nupp, Chaplain for Cowboys For Christ.
WORKSHOP PERIOD #4
(3:00 to 4:00 p.m.)
“Teaching Children in the Church & Sunday School (Part 2: Teaching Methods That Work With Today's Kids)" (C, L, G) - Leader: Rodney Pry, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Sunday School Association.
“Nurturing People for Sunday School Growth” (A, L, G) - Leader: Dr. Bill Niblette, retired Christian educator with over 50 years of service as an educator, workshop leader and Sunday school teacher, and a member of the P.S.S.S.A. Board of Directors.
“Becoming A Healthier You” (G) - Leader: Mindy Hartman, vocalist, narrator, blindness educator and natural health advocate, from Chambersburg, PA.
"Stories Behind the Christmas Hymns” (G) - Leader: Patti Hann, Sunday school teacher and public speaker for over 30 years, from Chambersburg.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE
2025 STATE CONVENTION...
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? - All interested persons are welcome! Sunday school teachers and leaders, pastors and other Christian education workers are especially encouraged to attend. Registration is required for all persons attending.
LOCATION & DIRECTIONS - The host church for this year's convention is Otterbein United Brethren Church, 146 Leitersburg Street, Greencastle, PA .
Directions to the church will be posted soon!
If you need additional information, contact the P.S.S.S.A. office. Call 717-652-1930 or 1-800-358-2303.
ACCOMMODATIONS - There are a number of hotels and motels in the Greencastle/Chambersburg area. For more information, contact the P.S.S.S.A. office.
LUNCH - A delicious lunch will be served by Redemption BBQ, from Shippensburg. The menu is as follows:
Choice of pulled pork or BBQ brisket sandwich
Shanty beans (a local twist on baked beans)
Smoked baked mac & cheese
Coleslaw
Chips
Cookies
Drinks
The cost of the lunch is just $18.00 per person. Reservations and pre-payment are required and must be received by October 17th. Lunch costs are extra for all persons registered as individuals or under a "church registration."
EXHIBITS & DISPLAYS - Again this year we have invited a number of Christian publishing companies, other resources ad organizations to have displays at the convention. There will also be a bookstore selling resources and materials to help you and your church in your work.
HANDICAPPED ACCESS - The host church is a large, modern facility that is handicapped accessible, with an elevator. Handicapped parking is also available.
HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS or want to know more about the PA State Sunday School Association? Contact us by calling 1-800-358-2303 or 717-652-1930. E-mail us a mail@sundayschoolhelp.org.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
TO REGISTER, clip or photocopy the form below. Use this form to register as an individual, to make a "church registration" and to make reservations for the
Saturday catered lunch.
INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATIONS are $30.00 per person (the lunch cost is extra).
CHURCH REGISTRATIONS allow any number of persons from the same church to attend the event for a single payment of $150.00 (lunch costs are extra). A list of the names and home addresses of all persons attending under a church registration
MUST be sent or E-mailed to the P.S.S.S.A. office by October 17th.
LUNCH COSTS are extra for all persons. The cost of the catered lunch is just
$18.00 per person.
ALL CHURCH REGISTRATIONS AND LUNCH RESERVATIONS must be made and paid by October 17th.
TO REGISTER, mail the completed form below with full payment due to: P.S.S.S.A., 5915 Fox Street, Harrisburg, PA 17112. Make checks payable to "P.S.S.S.A." You can also register with your VISA, MasterCard or DiscoverCard by calling the P.S.S.S.A. office (1-800-358-2303 or 717-652-1930). AND, you can register online by clicking on the "Register Now" button below.
Click on the Registration Form to copy and save it.
Then paste and print on a separate piece of paper.
