.
The Tri-Penn charge is part of the Northern Association, within the Penn Central Conference, whose headquarters is located in Harrisburg, (approximately 90 minutes from the charge). Located in central Pennsylvania in a region called Penns Valley, the Tri-Penn charge is surrounded by areas of natural beauty with mountains, streams and fertile farm land. State College and the Pennsylvania State University are less than 15 miles away, and their influence on the Penns Valley area is becoming more noticeable as time progresses.

The Tri-Penn charge includes Emmanuel (Tusseyville), Grace (Spring Mills), and St. John’s (Farmers Mills) congregations. The charge is unique in that both Emmanuel and St. John’s are unioned with Lutheran congregations. The Lutheran congregation at St. John’s is part of the Spring Mills Lutheran parish. The congregation at Grace church is only U.C.C. This unique situation allows the U.C.C. minister to conduct two services each Sunday: one at Grace and ne at either Emmanuel or St. John’s on alternating Sundays. The early service is scheduled for either Emmanuel or St. John’s with a 10:45 a.m. service at Grace. (Prior to the formation of the Tri-Penn Parish in 1971, the charge had included Trinity U.C.C. church in Centre Hall.)

In 1977, Tri-Penn constructed a parsonage along state route 45 between Centre Hall and Spring Mills. The parsonage is centrally located within the Tri-Penn charge. Although most members of the three churches reside within a five to ten mile radius of the parsonage, there are a few regular members outside of that area.

The Tri-Penn governing body consists of councils from each of the three churches (each church council has six member). The Tri-Penn Council holds a re-organizational meeting each January and meets quarterly thereafter; each church council also meet quarterly. Committees for Tri-Penn include representatives from each church and are selected by the three church councils prior to the January joint council meeting where they are formalized..

A committee and news editor are responsible for the Tri-Penn newsletter which is usually published bi-monthly. A part-time secretary is responsible for bulletin preparation and a few other special items as scheduling permits.

The parish takes pride in its close working relationships with the Lutheran congregations at Emmanuel and St. John’s and in the cooperation which has been developed throughout Penns Valley and with other U.C.C. congregations and pastors, as well as with all denominations throughout the Penns Valley area. An excellent rapport has also been developed throughout the Northern Association of the Penn Central Conference.

The Tri-Penn congregations enjoy a number of social events and special services throughout the year, and frequently arrange them in various ways. Services during Lent and Christmas, for example, are sometimes scheduled within the charge, and at other times they are arranged with various churches in the community.

Each congregation differs relative to the diversity of its members and "house of worship," thereby offering unique opportunities to achieve different goals and objectives, while at the same time providing its own distinct contribution to the "TRI-PENN PARISH.