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).
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
A CHOICE-BASED FOOD PANTRY
We are grateful to all of our God's Pantry volunteers and donors for all their support!
God's Pantry is open on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Wednesdays of the month from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Look for the sign near the entrance.
And we're now partnering with Central Church Portsmouth and their Socks & Shoes Ministry. They give away new socks and gently used shoes to our neighbors who visit the Pantry. (Questions? Call the Central Church office at 740-353-5846.)
At the Pantry, we follow the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services income guidelines, and "points" to spend on food, household, and cleaning items are determined by household size.
The Pantry is also accessible from the ramp entrance (facing the PHS track) with a chairlift from the first floor to the basement. Contact the church office to use this alternate entrance.
Emergency food is also available by contacting the office (740-353-4159) when the Pantry is not open. Other community resources are available here.
Good News from God's Pantry!
Pastor Thayer Wallace and our new 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.
NOTE: They currently need gently used tennis shoes of all sizes and new low-cut/no-show socks! Boxes are available by the sanctuary entrances, or donation can be dropped off in the office during the week Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
If you have questions, please call the Central Church office at 740-353-5846.
Please pray for all the wonderful possibilities that will come from this partnership!
Good News from God's Pantry!
This month, God’s Pantry turns 42!
To celebrate throughout the month of October, we’re looking for 2 kinds of donations:
1) Adult clothing (especially women’s pants and men’s shirts)
2) Personal hygiene items (shampoo, soap/body wash, deodorant)
Donation bins are available by the sanctuary entrances. Also, feel free to drop things off during the week.
Central Church continues their weekly (new) socks and (gently used) shoe ministry.
So, if you’re cleaning out your closet this fall, consider what can be passed along to someone else!
Vaccine Clinic
We are glad to partner with the Scioto County Health Department to present this vaccine clinic.
Weds, Oct 11, 2023
10am - 2pm
Everyone is welcome to take advantage of this vaccine clinic for flu shots and NEW COVID boosters!
Questions? Call the Health Dept at (740) 355-8358.
THANK YOU!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who supported our Ice Cream Social & Dessert Auction fundraiser for our annual "Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols" service (Tues, Dec 19 at 7:30 p.m.).
It was the first time hosting this event since 2019, and we are so grateful to see so many friends mixing and mingling and cake walking and bidding together. In fact, seeing so many people of different ages and backgrounds laughing and playing together - it was truly a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven!
Together, we raised almost $5000 for our "Lessons & Carols" service!
If you didn't get a chance to participate, you can still donate by mailing a check to the church (801 Waller St Portsmouth, OH 45662) or using our online giving and choosing the Special Music Fund.
The Intersection of Spirituality and Mental Health
A conversation using K.J. Ramsey’s book, The Lord is My Courage, which explores Psalm 23.
Here’s the plan:
- First meeting: Sun, Oct 8 at 5:00 p.m. Bring a bag dinner so we can dine and discuss. We’ll spend part of the time reflecting on the book, part of the time talking about mental health, and part of the time experimenting with spiritual practices like breath prayer, mindfulness, and meditation. (About 2 hours total.)
- If you are interested in the conversation – for yourself or to better understand someone else in your life – but don’t like to read, you are STILL invited to participate! And if you don't want to read but DO want to be part of the discussion, you are still invited to participate!
- We’ll likely meet 5 times total and schedule those meetings so as many folks can come as possible.
- If you haven’t already told Pastor Allison you’re interested, let her know now, order the book, and start reading!
Prayer and Communion Service at Hill View
Our next Hill View Prayer and Communion Service (with the Deacons, Dr. Stan Workman, and Pastor Allison) is scheduled for Sat, Oct 7 at 3:00 p.m.
This is an afternoon service instead of our usual Saturday morning. We're experimenting to see if this is a more convenient time for folks to attend.
Game Night
Fri, Oct 20
6:00 p.m.
Bring a game and a snack to share!
(Or, just bring yourself - you're enough.)
Welcome back!
Welcome back to the Chancel Choir - including our SSU students! - AND Ma Kilgen, who returns to us from her summer spa vacation with our friends at Peebles-Herzog, Inc.
From Dr. Workman:
Over the summer, the organ received extensive renovation by the capable hands of Peebles-Herzog, Inc. The renovations dealt primarily with the North chamber - releathering of the pouches that control the playing of the individual notes of each stop, the repair of aging pipework and wiring, and the installation of a new chime action. In addition, a new and up-to-date combination action has been installed in the console (the keyboards and pedals from which the organist plays).
This new action is the ‘computer brain’ of the console, and controls the many technological aspects of the organ: multiple levels of memory for numerous organists, a piston sequencing system, (a piston is a button that stores a combination of stops) that facilitates the quick changing of stop settings, a transposition feature that allows for the lowering and raising of the key of the music, and a sequencer which allows the organist to program/play a piece into the organ, for later playback.
These are just a few of the new and wonderful features available to us now!
Save the Date!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for two important dates in the musical life of our church ...
Sun, October 29th at 7 p.m.
PIPESCREAMS! Our annual organ “Spook-tacular!”
Sun, November 19th at 4 p.m.
Welcome Home, Ma Kilgen concert with Dr. Stan Workman and Dr. Jerry Martin
Giving thanks for the organ renovations this summer
Tuesday, December 19th at 7:30 p.m.
Our annual “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols”
THANK YOU - building fundraiser
Last year, the Second Pres building (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996) went through a round of renovations, and we called it, “This Old (Beloved!) Church!” Exterior building restoration and preservation work was done on the top of the bell tower (1910) and over two of the entrances to the church (Eighth St and Waller St, 1911) due to failing mortar and falling pieces of the building.
We set a goal of raising $10,000 in the 40 days of Lent to benefit these projects. Thank to our members and friends, near and far, we not only met but SURPASSED our goal by raising $12,225 by Easter Sunday! Since then, donations have continued to come in. This week, the fundraising board is coming down, much later than anticipated. And we want to give one more update. As of Thurs, May 18, you have given $14,725.
Alice Walker is quoted as saying, "'Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding."
THANK YOU.
OPEN OFFICE HOURS
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)
God's Pantry
Can you help our choice-based food pantry that’s been in operation for over 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!
BUILDING RESTORATION PROJECT
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.)