serving jesus christ and our neighbors in portsmouth, oh since 1875
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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.)
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 are 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.
We are knee-deep in planning for our 2025 SESQUICENTENNIAL (150TH) CELEBRATION!
(In fact, we may have more ideas that we can possibly fit in one weekend!)
Our next planning conversation is scheduled for Tues, Aug 20 at noon. (Bring a lunch if you need to!)
We're trying to categorize our activities and put together a timeline to follow. And we're looking for folks to help us - these are the "teams" we think we'll need + 1 captain for each team:
· History/records
· Commemorative Booklet
· Publicity
· Free SWAG (stuff we all get) & merch (to sell)
· Interactive elements (mission project, living timeline, communal art project)
· Food and hospitality
· Concert and worship planning
Have you ever thought about just how much of what is beautiful and important in the world arises from what looks like suffering and adversity? How disadvantages for some are advantages to others?
That the "underdog" succeeds more often than we think?
Using the story of David and Goliath, master researcher and storyteller Malcolm Gladwell will challenge us to rethink success, motivation, and the role of adversity in shaping our lives.
Join us Monday nights at 6:00 p.m. for a 1 hour discussion of 1 chapter every week. Contact the church for more details: 740-353-4159 or secondpres@yahoo.com!
Many thanks to all those who filled in answering the phone and the door while Rebecca, our office administrator, was on vacation last week - we appreciate you!
We are glad to partner again with our friends at the Animal Welfare League and host a discount spay/neuter clinic for low/fixed-income households!
REGISTRATION: Sat, July 27, begins at 10am
(CLINIC is scheduled for Thurs, Aug 8 )
LOCATION for registration and clinic:
Second Pres Church - 801 Waller St Portsmouth, OH 45662
(See image for more details.)
We know a few folks worship from home because they need to be careful of their health. (We also guess there are a few more we don't know about.)
To try to make a place for you where you feel safer, we now have a section of pews reserved for people wearing masks.
If you have been longing to worship in person but are worried about your health, give this a try and see how it feels.
It was an abolute JOY to host the Imani Milele Children's Choir, along with Pastor Neely and the Pleasant Green Baptist Church, as they travel the US on their "The Light of Hope" tour.
This organization cares for over 5000 orphans and vulnerable Ugandan children. Of those 5000+, only 1800 are sponsored. Can you help? It's only $35 a month.
Find out more here: https://www.imanimilele.com/about-us.
We are a Christian organization on a mission to rescue, educate, develop, and improve lives of Uganda’s orphaned and most vulnerable children. We overcome the obstacles in their path by equipping them with the necessary skills to become productive and self-sustaining leaders in society.
Our team is comprised of individuals with diverse academic and professional backgrounds, and we like to think that we’re pretty blessed.
Even though our team comes from different professional backgrounds, we’re brought together by the same purpose – to serve those in need by making the most with whatever resources we have. We hope you will join our mission.
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.
*While the Lofts is closed on Mondays in the summer, they're meeting at Tim Horton's.
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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