Plan Your Visit

For Swarthmore Presbyterian Church to truly be a dynamic and growing congregation, we need new voices to join our own in proclaiming God’s word. We need new hands to help us fulfill God’s mission and help care for God’s people. We need new ideas and perspectives to help us see and hear what may be hidden to us. For 120 years, SPC has opened its arms and heart to all of God’s children, and now we hope to welcome you into our church family. So please, come and take a closer look!

We want you to feel welcome and comfortable during your first visit to SPC. Here we’ve attempted to answer a few common questions.

What time should I arrive?

If you are looking for a full morning of education, worship, and fellowship, plan to arrive around 8:45 am. Christian education classes begin at 9:00 am for adults, youth, and children, and you may need a little extra time to find your way around to our various education and nursery spots, plus you need some time to grab a cup of coffee or tea before settling in for the adult education class of your choice.

If you want to just join us for worship on Sunday, our traditional services start at 10:15 am. Again, plan to arrive a little early to allow time for parking and making your way into the Sanctuary or Chapel. If you are an early riser, you might want to check out our less-formal early worship service at 8 am in the Chapel.

Following our 10:15 worship service, we hope you will drop by Fellowship Hall for snacks and a chance for our members to greet you.

What should I wear?

Please feel free to wear whatever you feel most comfortable wearing. On Sunday morning you will see dresses and skirts, slacks, suits and ties, polo shirts, jeans, or shorts. Whatever you wear, you will be welcomed here!

Where should I park?

Parking is available in the lot behind the church building. If there are no spots available there, you may park along Harvard Avenue, the street in front of the church building. We also have a gravel parking lot on the opposite side of Harvard Avenue, directly across from the main church entrance.

What door should I use?

There are several ways to enter the building. We recommend that visitors enter through one of the two main entrances facing Harvard Avenue. Ushers, church members, and building signage will direct you to where you need to go.

Is there handicap accessibility?

Yes, we have several handicapped parking spaces available in the parking lot behind the church. Our first floor is handicap accessible, with ramps located at each end of the building, as well as in front of the building, leading into Fellowship Hall.

What will my children do on Sunday morning?

At SPC, we want all of God’s children, at every age, to be engaged. Christian education is provided to all children ages 3 and up beginning at 9:00 am. Following our Sunday school classes, children are always welcome to join us in worship. In our Sanctuary, worship bookshelves are filled with items to keep little hands busy and older minds engaged, if needed. During worship, children are called forward during “A Time with Children” for a special lesson geared specifically to their young minds and interest. Afterwards, they are welcome to either stay in worship, or head up to McCahan Hall for enrichment activities until worship concludes.  In our Chapel worship service, considered our most “kid-friendly” service, participants are invited to worship God with hands and feet, as well as words and songs.

Is childcare available?

Of course! Childcare is available from 8:45 am to 12:15 pm in our Nursery, located in the back corner of McCahan Hall. Our Childcare Coordinator is there every Sunday, providing a fun, safe, and consistent presence for the children.

For more Frequently Asked Questions, go to the Connect with Us page

Contact Us! We Would Love to Hear From You

Upcoming Events

April 17, 2025
  • April 17, 20256:30 pm - 7:15 pm

    Maundy Thursday Potluck Supper (Fellowship Hall)

    On this holy evening, we will gather in Fellowship Hall as a church family for food and fellowship. All are invited to bring a dish for the buffet and to gather around tables for a shared meal. Please click here to RSVP so that we may plan well.

  • April 17, 20257:15 pm - 7:45 pm

    Maundy Thursday Communion (Fellowship Hall)

    From our time of fellowship, we will shift to a brief service of communion, recalling the last Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples and observing the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper at our dinner tables. Following Communion, those attending the Service of Tenebrae will process to the Sanctuary in silence.

  • April 17, 20257:45 pm - 8:45 pm

    Tenebrae Service (Sanctuary and Live Stream)

    A Service of Tenebrae is a Service of Shadows, moving methodically through the final stages of Jesus’ life and ending finally at the cross. Passages of scripture, music, and prayer are each followed by the extinguishing of light, until the entire sanctuary is in darkness. We depart in quiet for the vigil of loss and expectation.

  • April 17, 20258:00 pm - 9:30 pm

    AA (McCahan Hall)

    Swarthmore Presbyterian Church welcomes AA participants to weekly meetings in McCahan Hall. Entrance is via a door on the west end of the parking lot (across from the ABC House) under a covered walkway there.

  • April 17, 2025

    Maundy Thursday

April 18, 2025
  • April 18, 20251:00 pm - 2:00 pm

    Labyrinth Walk (begin at Garden entrance/Loeffler Chapel in case of rain)

    On Good Friday we are pleased to offer a labyrinth walk led by a trained labyrinth facilitator. The session will begin with a brief introduction to this meditative practice for those who are new to praying in this way, and will be offered rain or shine, thanks to the canvas labyrinth that we are able to set up indoors.

April 20, 2025
  • April 20, 20257:00 am - 8:00 am

    Easter Worship in the Garden (Memorial Garden & Labyrinth)

    This is a joyful early morning celebration of the resurrection held in the Memorial Garden.  We come with the women to the tomb and peer in. Among the new day light, the trees, and the early morning birds, we raise our alleluias! 

  • April 20, 20257:45 am - 8:30 am

    Easter Breakfast (Fellowship Hall)

    Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna! Celebrate this day of days over a cup of coffee or tea and a light breakfast that features communion bread pudding.

  • April 20, 20258:15 am - 9:00 am

    Choir rehearsal (Sanctuary)

    Sunday morning preparation for worship.

  • April 20, 20259:00 am - 10:00 am

    Easter Worship (Sanctuary and Livestream)

    These Easter services are joy-filled celebrations of the resurrection of our Lord. All are encouraged to bring flowers to adorn the cross! Our Easter cross is fashioned from the Chrismon tree, stripped bare for Lent, and adorned with flowers — signs of new life — on Easter morning. Musical traditions include the sounds of brass and the singing of Händel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Those who have lost a close friend or family member this year are invited after worship to take home one of the potted lilies that adorn the Sanctuary this morning. There is festive fellowship for all in Fellowship Hall between the two services.

  • April 20, 20259:20 am - 10:00 am

    Godly Play (Godly Play room)

    Following "Time with Children" (which happens just before the Sermon) children age 3 through 5th grade are invited to attend Godly Play, a Montessori-based method that engages children through their innate meaning-making language: Play.

  • April 20, 202510:00 am - 11:00 am

    Easter Fellowship (Fellowship Hall)

    Hallelujah!  He is Risen!  Our Parish Life team provides beverages and cookies this morning in between services and invites everyone to enjoy one another's company in Fellowship Hall. Please make a point of saying hello to someone you don't yet know!

  • April 20, 202511:00 am - 12:00 pm

    Easter Worship (Sanctuary)

    These Easter services are joy-filled celebrations of the resurrection of our Lord. All are encouraged to bring flowers to adorn the cross! Our Easter cross is fashioned from the Chrismon tree, stripped bare for Lent, and adorned with flowers — signs of new life — on Easter morning. Musical traditions include the sounds of brass and the singing of Händel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Those who have lost a close friend or family member this year are invited after worship to take home one of the potted lilies that adorn the Sanctuary this morning. There is festive fellowship for all in Fellowship Hall between the two services.

  • April 20, 202511:20 am - 12:00 pm

    Godly Play (Godly Play room)

    Following "Time with Children" (which happens just before the Sermon) children age 3 through 5th grade are invited to attend Godly Play, a Montessori-based method that engages children through their innate meaning-making language: Play.