serving jesus christ and our neighbors in portsmouth, oh since 1875
serving jesus christ and our neighbors in portsmouth, oh since 1875
Worship with us on Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
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).
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.)
Worship - Sun, April 14 (9:30 a.m.)
When do you most often hear someone talking about unity? Is it when everyone is getting along? Not so much.
So if the author of 1 John is repeatedly telling his readers/listeners that they are children of God, it’s probably because someone told them that they weren’t, right? There’s a story of schism and division behind these words, and that’s what we’re talking about in this service.
Worship - Sun, March 31 (9:30 a.m.)
Easter Sunday - a Resurrection celebration!
("Stealthy Joy" + a Cheez Doodle surprise!)
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.)
Ours is a choice-based pantry where our neighbors can shop for items using points determined by household size.
Emergency food available is available through the church office on days when the Pantry is closed. (Emergency food counts as that month's visit.)
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.
Pastor Thayer Wallace and our friends from Central Church Portsmouth have set up and begun distributing new socks 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.
Fri, March 8, 2024 is the one-year anniversary of our partnership between God's Pantry and Central Church's socks and shoes ministry!
We're grateful for this partnership as we serve our most vulnerable neighbors.
Welcome to Easter Sunday worship at Second Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth, OH! (9:30 a.m.) You can worship with us in the building - 801 Waller St Portsmouth, OH 45662, listen on WIOI, 106.67 FM/1010AM, or watch the live stream on our YouTube channel.
Easter Sunday is worship service with all the bells and whistles we can muster for a Resurrection celebration including brass, timpani, and the sacrament of communion as we examine the way "Stealthy Joy" sneaks up on Mary as she mourns outside Jesus' tomb. (When was the last time joy snuck up on you?)
MUSIC FOR WORSHIP, during the Prelude, Offertory, and Postlude, honors the birthday of the great composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. (Bach's birthday was originally celebrated March 21, in accordance with the Julian calendar, but modern adjustments to the Gregorian calendar place it on March 31.) Indeed, it has been a great week for the music of J. S. Bach here at Second Presbyterian Church!
THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION: If you are worshiping in the building with us, during the celebration of communion, the servers will bring you a tray of individually cut pieces of communion bread and then individual cups of grape juice. Please take one and hold on to it until all have been served, then we eat and drink together. If you are worshiping from afar, make sure to have your communion elements (bread/crackers, juice/wine/water) ready to go before the service.
Every MONDAY at 10:00a.m., a group of folks from Second Pres and friends from other churches and the community gather at Coffee at the Lofts to "spiritually loiter" at one of the crossroads of our community.
Everyone is welcome to drop in and say hi or to to linger for a while. (When the weather's nice, we like to meet under the "cabana" next to the coffeeshop!)
Location: Lofts Coffee Company & Roastery (842 Gallia St, Portsmouth, OH 45662)
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 most recent check from Kroger (Jan 2024) was for $154.79 from 30 households - that's an increase in both the amount AND number of households from last quarter! (Thank you!)
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!
From Pastor Allison:
I still remember the first time I saw Second Pres.
It was February 22, 2016. I had already had 2 Skype interviews with the pastoral nominating committee and was feeling hopeful about our first in-person conversation.
It was my first time in Portsmouth, and when I pulled up to the stoplight at the corner of Waller and 9th Street, I looked up at this big, beautiful, sprawling building, and my mouth dropped open. Then I took a picture since the light was still red – a picture I still have on my phone.
Later, when I walked into the sanctuary, I felt like I was coming home. It was similar to churches I had known before and yet it was different. The space was larger, the stained glass more stunning, and the soft organ music from the chancel more beautiful than any I had heard before.
I knew that this was a special place. That I was standing on holy ground.
(Read more HERE.)
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