A PC(USA) church serving Jesus Christ & our neighbors in Portsmouth, OH since 1875
WORSHIP
Worship with us on Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
- in the building,
- by listening to the service on WIOI (92.1FM 1010AM),
- or by watching the live stream on our YouTube channel (search for Second Presbyterian Church Portsmouth, OH).
The time we spend in worship feels utterly unlike any other time in our week - peaceful, calming, nonanxious. Our beautiful old sanctuary brings us deep peace; the traditional hymns, choir, and organ keep us connected to our roots; and thoughtful sermons provoke us to think about things like faith and life and service from a new perspective. We leave feeling like we've drawn closer to God.
Following worship, we enjoy a light coffee hour together in the parlor (10:30 a.m.-ish) and then a multigenerational discussion group Sunday School class where we talk about everything from the sermon to current events in the world to current events in our lives (11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.-ish). (Usually this is a sermon post-mortem.)
In addition, bulletins can be mailed or emailed to any who would like to have a copy in their hands. (We normally drop them off at the post office by noon on Thursday.) Please call (740-353-4159) or email (secondpres@yahoo.com) to be added to our list!
If you're looking for a place to worship, there's a place for you with us.
(Thanks to friend of Second Pres Jon Burton for the photo of the sanctuary.)
God's Pantry
God’s Pantry (our 40+ year-old choice-based food pantry) is open on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Wednesdays of each month from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (One visit per month.)
To visit the Pantry, you'll fill out a form and need to bring a valid ID (driver's license or state ID), proof of residency in Scioto County, and social security numbers for anyone in your household.
Please contact the church office at 740-353-4159 if you have questions, are interested in donating, or would like to know about volunteer opportunities.
Ours is a choice-based pantry where our neighbors can shop for items using points determined by household size. Emergency food is available through the church office on days when the Pantry is closed. (Emergency food counts as that month's visit.)
UPDATE FROM GOD’S PANTRY:
During October, we served a total of 410 people from 227 Scioto County households including 78 children, 230 adults, and 102 seniors.
During September, we served a total of 266 people from 139 households including 42 children, 146 adults, and 78 senior citizens.
NOTE: If you would like to directly care for our most vulnerable neighbors who struggle to regularly put food on their tables, monetary donations are always welcome and give us the most flexibility to buy what we need at any moment.
Partners in the Pantry - Socks & Shoes
Pastor Thayer Wallace and our friends from Central Church Portsmouth are distributing (new) socks and (new and gently used) shoes to our neighbors in need when God's Pantry is open.
If you have questions, please call the Central Church office at 740-353-5846.
Social Media
LIKE & FOLLOW us to keep up with what God is doing at Second Pres!
Facebook: Second Presbyterian Church – Portsmouth, OH
Instagram: @secondpresportsmouthoh
YouTube: Second Presbyterian Church Portsmouth, OH
(livestreamed worship services and concerts)
Send us an email to be added to our weekly Constant Contact newsletter:
30 Day Generosity Challenge
We've been talking a lot about generosity lately. Now, are you ready for a 30-day generosity challenge leading up to Thanksgiving?
Donations to God's Pantry are included as generosity challenges:
soap or body wash (18-20 oz);
shampoo (18-20 oz);
deodorant (2.6 oz);
toothbrushes and toothpaste;
feminine hygiene products
How many days do you think you can meet the challenge? Check it out HERE.
Game Night
If you can manage to get yourself up off the couch the day after Thanksgiving, join us for GAME NIGHT on Fri, Nov 28 at 6:00 p.m.
Bring a game and a snack to share.
(Or just bring yourself – you’re enough!)
Tour of Historic Places
Sun, Dec 7, 1-5 p.m.
Second Presbyterian Church’s history tells a story of vision, resilience, and community. From our founding in 1875 and through fires, arson attempts, and rebuilding, our congregation has continually demonstrated faith, determination, and creativity.
We are grateful to be part of Main Street Portsmouth in Bloom’s “Tour of Historic Places” in 2025 as we celebrate our 150th Anniversary of serving Jesus and our neighbors.
We – the congregation and our pastor, Rev. Allison Bauer – hope you will stop by and visit us at 801 Waller Street, across from Portsmouth High School.
From 1-2:30 p.m. our Director of Music, Dr. Stanley Workman, will play favorite Christmas carols on the piano and organ. And he’s going to record some music using the technology on our recently renovated pipe organ, affectionately known as “Ma Kilgen.”
The Shawnee State University Choir will begin their rehearsal at 3:00 p.m. for their concert at Second Pres on Mon, Dec 8 at 7:00 p.m. (Several of the Second Pres Choral Scholars who sing in our choir also sing in this choir as well as some regular choir members and Pastor Allison.)
We also have a small mission project we could use your help with. We have donations of feminine hygiene products that need to be packed in smaller bags. Could you help us with that? There will be a table with those supplies set up near the refreshments graciously provided by MSP.
Lastly, this is our 150th anniversary year, and part of our celebration was to create a living timeline of our history (and Portsmouth history too). Members and friends have been adding special church events in their life (baptisms, marriages, etc.) to our timeline. We hope you will add yours too! If this will be your first time visiting or if you’ve been here before for something special – add it to our timeline!
Ticket-holders will travel from site to site on their own, looking and learning about local history. They can be purchased for $25 per person at the following locations:
Morgan Brothers Jewelers
Trendz Within
Scioto County Welcome Center Gift Shop
Christmas Dinner
Sun, Dec 7 is our Christmas dinner!
We start with the Wassail bowl at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:00 p.m.
Here's the menu: pork roast, potato casserole, green beans, applesauce, and dessert with tea, water, and coffee to drink.
Please RSVP to the church office by Mon, Dec 1 (740-353-4159 or secondpres@yahoo.com).
Shawnee State University Fall Semester Choir Concert
Dr. Stanley Workman, Director of Music at Second Pres, is glad to present the Shawnee State University Fall Choir Concert (of which he is also the director!) on Monday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church.
(If you worship with us in person or by livestream, you'll see some familiar faces from the pulpit and the choir loft!)
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
This is our favorite worship service of the year - our Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, a 30+ year old tradition at Second Pres and a tradition at King's College in England since 1880.
The service begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tues, Dec 16, and we fill the sanctuary for this, so we encourage you to come early to find a parking spot.
(For those of you who participated in and donated at our Fall Fest fundraiser - this is the fruit of your generosity.)
Christmas Eve
Join us for Christmas Eve worship with carols (with special brass!), candles, and communion at 6:00 p.m. on Wed, Dec 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Spirituality and Mental Health
Second Pres is part of a group of churches gathering to explore how we can better support mental health.
The group will meet in January 2026 to discuss ways to encourage open conversations, mutual support, and connections to professional help. Plans include offering mental health first aid training, suicide prevention training, and resources on spiritual practices that promote well-being.
Talk to Pastor Allison to get involved!
Nurturing mental health in our local faith community
PipeScreams Spooktacular Organ Concert
Thanks to all those who participated in and donated toward our PipeScreams Organ Concert Spooktacular! (This is a fundraiser for our Organ Preservation Fund to keep Ma Kilgen singing.)
Thanks to Stan Workman for orchestrating another "Ex-Stan-a-ganza;" to Jerry Martin for his organ-playing, theremin magic, and tech production skills; to organists, Aaron Shows, Patrick Torsell, Stan Workman, Doug Leightenheimer, and Jerry Martin; to the Second Pres singing nuns: Mariah Ginn, Julie Hines, Kathryn Ogden, Aimee Sundeen, Lio McElroy, Val Webb, Tracey Henderson, and Pastor Allison; and Second Pres Choral Scholars, Kathryn Ogden, Lio McElroy, Jarod Emerson, and Josiah Burton.
Watch the remastered PipeScreams video here: https://youtu.be/LDnqD0vQNFg
Coffee & Conversation
The Coffee & Conversation group (folks from Second and other churches) meets at 10 a.m. on Mondays at Tim Hortons (1130 Chillicothe St) for coffee and conversation about life, faith, and current events.
There’s a chair for you around the table!
God's Pantry
Can you help our choice-based food pantry that’s been in operation for 40+ years?
Choose us as your Kroger Community Rewards organization, and when you shop with your rewards card, the people we serve benefit!
Our NPO (Non-Profit Organization) number is BB589 – “GOD’S PANTRY SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.”
And make sure you say, “Please round that up!” when you check out!