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 (106.7FM 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.)
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.
Serving Our Neighbors
Update from God’s Pantry: In April, we served a total of 279 people from 155 households including 90 seniors, 145 adults, and 44 children. Many thanks to those who volunteer their time in this critical ministry and all those who support it financially!
(In March 2025, we served 274 people from 143 households including 89 seniors, 139 adults, and 46 children.)
Our most recent quarterly check from Kroger Community Rewards arrived: $177.27 from 36 households. (Thank you to our new households!)
(The last check was $178.98 from 34 households.)
Please round up at the checkout, and pick God’s Pantry at Second Pres as your "Community Reward Program" (BB589) choice.
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.
Celebrating 150 years - Appreciate the past, celebrate the present, anticipate the future
Organ Recital by Jared Johnson
Thurs, June 5 (7 pm) Organ recital presented by Jared Johnson with a reception to follow in the parlor
The Program:
Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 547 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, op. 122 Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
(“Lo, how a rose e’re blooming”)
Symphony for Organ No. 5 in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1 Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
I. Allegro vivace
II. Allegro cantabile
III. Andantino quasi allegretto
IV. Adagio
V. Toccata
This recital is free and open to the public. It will also be live streamed from our YouTube channel
Jared Johnson is the Canon Director of Music at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, where he leads the Cathedral Choir and oversees the music program.
Prior to his appointment in San Francisco, he was the Director of Music at Trinity Cathedral in Columbia, SC, where he founded both a boys’ choir and a girls’ choir, and he taught on the music faculty of the University of South Carolina.
As an organ recitalist, he has appeared in major venues throughout North America, Great Britain, and Australia, and his recordings appear on the Pro Organo and JAV labels.
A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, Dr. Johnson is a graduate of Portsmouth High School, Oberlin College, and Yale University. As a high school student, he served as the organist for Second Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, and First Christian Church. He studied organ at Second Pres with James Burke and Mark Frazier and spent many happy summers as the rehearsal accompanist for the Southern Ohio Light Opera.
Choral Concert: Second Pres Chancel Choir & Friends
Fri, June 6 (7 pm) Choral Concert featuring the Second Pres Chancel Choir & Friends with reception to follow in the Parlor
The selections in the first half will include César Franck's dramatic "Psalm 150," Johannes Brahms' inspiring "How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place," Howard Goodall's enchanting setting of "The Lord Is My Shepherd" (featured in the television series The Vicar of Dibley), and John Foley's lovely "Come to the Water" in a choral arrangement by Lynda Hasseler.
The second half of the concert will feature John Rutter's dynamic work "Gloria," accompanied by a brass octet, organ, and percussion. Hymns and organ voluntaries will also be heard through the concert.
The choir is under the direction of Dr. Stanley Workman, Jr., director of music/organist of Second Presbyterian Church, assisted by Dr. Jeremiah Martin, Organist.
This concert is free and open to the public. All are welcome. The concert will also be live streamed from our YouTube channel HERE.
Community Open House
Sat, June 7 (10 am-2 pm) Anniversary Open House with live music and activities
Start out under the tent and sign our guest book, peruse the church merch, participate in our ambitious 150 bucket packing service project, try the Rubber Chicken Scavenger Hunt (for the young and young at heart!), a Typewriter Scavenger Hunt (each one has a theme!), and create some tile art (using old roof tiles), then make your way into the building to look around, listen to live music, and add to our living timeline!
Anniversary art will also be raffled off - tickets are $1 each and 6 for $5.
Pentecost Worship and Lunch
Sun, June 8 (9:30 am) Pentecost Sunday, communion, and special music with lunch to follow in the dining room
On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on the disciples and those gathered in Jerusalem. Pentecost is often called the “birthday” of the church, and it is a fitting day to conclude our 150th Anniversary festivities. As we do on special Sundays, the service will include guest musicians (a brass sextet and percussion) and the anthems “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place” by Johannes Brahms and “Upon This Rock” by John Ness Beck. (Worship will be live streamed.)
We are also grateful to First Pres for our new Pentecost parament for the communion table in honor of our 150th Anniversary.
It's also a communion Sunday, so if you're tuning in from afar, make sure to have "the elements" (bread/crackers and juice/wine/water) ready before the service. If you'll be in the building with us, the elements (bread and grape juice) will be served to you in the pews.
Worship will be live streamed on your YouTube channel HERE.
Following worship, please join us for Johnny Marzetti (using the recipe from our friends at First Pres - the best version of this baked pasta casserole in the world!), tossed salad, garlic bread, and cake with water/iced tea/coffee to drink.
Anniversary Service Project
We're off to a great start to our goal of packing 150 emergency clean-up buckets through World Service to celebrate our 150 years!
BUT we've still got a ways to go ... can you help us out? HERE's the bucket list items.
One industrious shopper visited 4 places and filled her bucket for $45. CWS estimates the value of the buckets as $75 each. Any size donation will get us that much closer to our goal!
Besides donations dropped off or sent to the church, we can take online donations through our website and PayPal. More info here: https://secondpres-portsmouth.org/giving.
Items are due by Sun, June 1. (We'll pack them at our Anniversary Open House on Sat, June 7.)
Anniversary Art
We're raffling off 3 pieces of Anniversary Art during our 4 days of festivities!
The first piece is a photo by a friend of the church (on acrylic) donated by another friend of the church. (It's 12x18.)
The second and third pieces were created by Charlotte Gordon, director of the Southern Ohio Museum (and Portsmouth Mayor!) using roof tiles that were damaged in the September 2024 storms and some clay pieces she threw.
Tickets are $1 each and 6 for $5 and will be available at all the events.
Winners will be drawn at lunch after worship. You don't need to be present to win so make sure you write LEGIBLY on the back of your ticket so we don't have to pull a second one!
Upcoming Events at Second Pres
Join us for a summer game night on Fri, June 20 at 6 pm in the parlor. Bring a game and a snack to share. Or just bring yourself - you're enough.
Attention Year-of-the-Bible-ers! We're gathering at 6 pm in the parlor on Tues, June 24 for a mid-year check-in carry-in/potluck! Bring a dish to share, and we'll gather around the table to fellowship and encourage each other on this big journey we're on together.
"Christianity and World Religions: Questions We Ask About Other Faiths" (Adam Hamilton)
In Sunday School, the conversation often asks, “What do other religions believe about that?” (That being grace, salvation, eternity, etc.) So now we’re going to find out by reading the book, “Christianity and World Religions: Questions We Ask About Other Faiths” in Sunday School following worship and coffee hour. We can also do a weekday morning or evening group - let me know if you're interested in that!
round 1 - 150th Anniversary festivities (Feb 8, 2025)
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Coffee & Conversation
The Coffee & Conversation group (folks from Second and other churches) meets at 10 am 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!