observing lent
This Lent ... pay attention, be astonished, then tell about it.
The season of Lent is upon us. This time is intended to be a season of prayer, fasting, and self-examination leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.
So, how do you want to be different when you wake up on Easter Sunday?
If you have an answer to that question, consider adopting a spiritual discipline for the 40 days of Lent to help you make those changes.
THIS BROCHURE contains a buffet of suggestions as well as the opportunity to sign up for an accountability group! Among the many individual spiritul disciples we suggest, we're also offering 2 weekly Zoom book studies:
Lent in Plain Sight: a daily devotional by Jill Duffield exploring the ways God works through ordinary people, ordinary objects, and ordinary grace.
The Grace of Les Miserables: a Lenten study that explores the themes of grace, justice, poverty, revolution, love, and hope each represented by a character in Victor Hugo's beloved story.
Mugs
Get Your Second Pres Mug Today!
Here's your chance to get your very own SECOND PRES MUG featuring the picture of the church by local artist, Charlie Haskins and a Bible verse on the reverse side!
(Or buy one for your friends and loved ones!)
All we ask is a $5 donation. We'll even ship it to you if you pay the shipping! (We've mailed several out, so we can give you a good idea of how much the shipping would be.)
Want to know more or place an order? Give us a call at the church (740-353-4159) or send us an email (secondpres@yahoo.com).
covid-19 update (12.26.20)
A letter from Pastor Allison
Dear Members & Friends of Second Pres,
I am so grateful that while our building was closed from March until June, the ministry and mission of Second Presbyterian Church never stopped! And I am also glad that we have put strict mitigation protocols in place for our life together, especially in our worship.
We know that COVID-19 will continue to affect our individual lives and our life together as a community of faith, though none of us knows exactly how long that will last.
We will continue to provide Worship on Sundays at 9:30a.m. for friends and members of Second Pres in mulitple ways:
- In-person at 9:30 a.m.
- Live radio broadcast simultaneously on WIOI (106.7FM 1010AM)
- Livestream on the church's Facebook page - anyone can access this!
- A recording of the livestream is uploaded to our YouTube channel for our subscribers
As always, if you are not comfortable worshiping in person, that is fine with me. I want you to make the best decision for your situation. Since what is known about COVID-19 is ever-changing, our goal is to monitor new information and alter our safety practices as needed.
Be of good courage & know that you are loved,
Pastor Allison
#sayyourprayers #washyourhands #wearamask
Please CLICK HERE to read more what to expect in worship.
praying through the pandemic
Prayer in a time of COVID-19: a pandemic prayerbook
Even while the building is closed, we can still #bethechurch in our community!
Our latest effort at being the church and a peaple of prayer during this pandemic is the creation of a pandemic-oriented prayer book (with special attention to health care workers) prepared by Pastor Allison with contributions from Lindsay Monihen (Member, All Saints' Episcopal Church) and Rabbi Susan Stone (K.K. Beneh Abraham Congregation).
Please feel free to use it in your daily prayers and share it with your praying friends!
- You can access it as a Google doc from any internet-connected device:
https://tinyurl.com/pandemicprayerbook
- You can download it as a PDF here.
From a Christianity Today article:
“In recent days, as COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic and countries have taken urgent measures to stem the spread of infection, I wish I could say that my first impulse has been to pray. It’s probably more honest to say that I’ve obsessively refreshed my feeds.
The crisis is urgent, and I feel powerless. But perhaps feeling small is the best reminder to pray. Prayer is how we actively practice believing, so simply, so confidently, that God has the whole world in his hands.
It’s where we “let petitions and praises shape our worries into prayers, letting God know our concerns” (Phil. 4:6–7, The Message).
Prayer is never the last resort of God’s people. It is our first point of action.”
Praying through the pandemic
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
MOST SUNDAY ACTIVITIES ON HOLD UNTIL END OF COVID-19
CONNECT IN PERSON
SUNDAY SCHEDULE at church
8:45 a.m. Choir rehearsal
9:30 a.m. Sunday morning worship (sanctuary)
10:45 a.m. Coffee fellowship (parlor)
11:15 a.m. Post-sermon discussion for youth & adults (parlor)
12:00 p.m. Bone & Fiddle Dance Collective rehearsal
7:00 p.m. New Beginnings NA Group
CONNECT ONLINE
Facebook: Second Presbyterian Church - Portsmouth, OH
Instagram: @secondpresportsmouthoh
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