serving jesus christ and 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).
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.
In July 2024, we served 324 people in 170 households – 92 senior citizens, 182 adults, and 50 children.
Partners in the Pantry - Socks & Shoes
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.
Prayer & Communion Service at Hill View Retirement Community
Sat, Sept 7 at 3:00 p.m. in the Forrest Room
Please join us for a time of fellowship and worship.
Non-Hill View-ers are welcome to join us too - the Forrest Room is located inside the main entrance to the main building - 1610 28th St Portsmouth, OH 45662.
Many thanks to the Deacons for organizing this service for our members and friends at Hill View.
Back to school blessings
During worship on Sun, Sept 8, we are going to offer Back to School blessings for anyone involved in education – students, teachers/ professors/ administrators, Dept. of Ed employees, school nurses - name your involvement in education, and we'll bless it!
(This includes a token of appreciation for you too.)
Celebrating Stanford in a BIG way!
A Stanford Evensong Concert
Featuring works of Charles Villers Stanford for voice and organ
Sunday, September 8, 2024
4:00 p.m.
Second Presbyterian Church
801 Waller St. Portsmouth, OH 45662
A reflective vocal and organ concert in the form of an Anglican Evensong service (held near sunset) to celebrate and give thanks for the music of Irish composer Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924), whose 100th memorial anniversary is celebrated this year. #stanford100
This concert is organized by Dr. Jeremiah Martin (a native son of Ireland) and Dr. Stanley E. Workman, Jr. (Director of Music at Second Pres).
Vocal pieces will be performed by Mariah Ginn, Lynnsey Williams, Justin Wiget (Director of Music at All Saints' Episcopal Church), and Dr. Workman with Dr. Martin at the organ and Rev. Allison T. Bauer (Pastor, Second Presbyterian Church) leading the prayers.
2025 -- 150th anniversary!
SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
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, Sept 17 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
Game Night
Campfire + outdoor games
Fri, Sept 27 at 7 pm
Do you have outdoor games we can borrow?
Can you contribute something to a S'more buffet?
Find the sign-up sheet in the sanctuary or call/email the office!
save the date
The return of our favorite fundraiser!
SAVE THE DATE:
Sun, Oct 6 (4 - 6 pm)
It’s the return of the ice cream social and (the high-stakes!) dessert auction!
$7 for a hot dog, chips, ice cream, cookie, and a drink.
Join us for a $1 cake walk for a chance to win cupcakes, a Chinese auction, and the dessert auction to end all dessert auctions featuring homemade delicacies from the kitchens of our members and friends.
(This is a fundraiser for our “Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols” service held every December for 30+ years.)
Summer Book Group
Emotionally Healthy Relationships: an 8-week discipleship course
(October 2024)
Think about all your relationships:
- You and God.
- You and your parents.
- You and your siblings.
- You and your kids.
- You and your partner or spouse.
- You and your coworkers.
- You and your boss.
- You and your neighbors.
- You and your friends.
- You and your church friends.
- You and your doctor(s).
- You and your hairstylist.
Do you see the common denominator here? It’s YOU! If you want healthier relationships, it all starts with YOU.
Pastor Allison is eading this 8-week discipleship course beginning in October which is designed to teach us to love others in an emotionally healthy way.
And since loving others and loving God cannot be separated, you will also grow in your personal, first-hand relationship with Jesus by incorporating stillness, silence, and Scripture as daily life rhythms.
WARNING: This is serious stuff! Each class will be 1.5 hours long + there will be a little homework from a workbook as well as a daily devotional to read. This will take some commitment on your part to get everything you can out of this material.
If all goes according to schedule, we'll finish just in time for Thanksgiving – learn new skills to navigate challenging relationships and create peace around the table.
Coffee & Conversation & CINNAMON ROLLS!
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)
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 check from Kroger (May 2024) was for $173.57 from 33 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!
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.)