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 (92.1FM 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.)
To visit the Pantry, you'll fill out a form and need to bring a valid ID (driver's license or state ID), proof of residency in Scioto County, and social security numbers for anyone in your household.
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.
Ours is a choice-based pantry where our neighbors can shop for items using points determined by household size. Emergency food is available through the church office on days when the Pantry is closed. (Emergency food counts as that month's visit.)
APRIL 2026 GOD'S PANTRY UPDATE:
We provided food and basic needs for 267 people in 152 Scioto County households made up of 76 seniors, 158 adults, and 33 children. We also gave out 2 emergency food bags on days when the Pantry was closed.
Thank you for your continuing support of this important community ministry!
NOTE: If you would like to directly care for our most vulnerable neighbors who struggle to regularly put food on their tables, monetary donations are always welcome and give us the most flexibility to buy what we need at any moment.
Partners in the Pantry - Socks & Shoes
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.
Social Media
LIKE & FOLLOW us to keep up with what God is doing at Second Pres!
Facebook: Second Presbyterian Church – Portsmouth, OH
Instagram: @secondpresportsmouthoh
YouTube: Second Presbyterian Church Portsmouth, OH
(livestreamed worship services and concerts)
Send us an email to be added to our weekly Constant Contact newsletter:
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Second Pres believes taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health. (They’re the same thing.)
We believe you can love Jesus and still see a therapist and take medication. This will be our sermon and prayer focus for the month.
If this is important to you too, take a Mental Health Awareness bracelet from the baskets by the bulletins to say (without using any words) that you will listen to and honor someone who is struggling.
Faith + Mental Health Book Study
1. Do you ever feel like you’re doing everything “right,” but still feel overwhelmed or exhausted?
2. Have you ever found yourself “white-knuckling” your way through life, only to realize that stops working after a while?
3. Have you ever felt like your faith should be helping more than it is?
If you’re tired of feeling like the answer to every problem or question is that you should "just try harder," you’re not alone. Join us for a discussion of "Try Softer" by Aundi Kolber, a book that gently explores the intersection of faith, mental health, and the stories we carry in our bodies.
Together, we’ll make space for honest conversation, deeper awareness, and a more compassionate way of living. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just come as you are.
(Open to anyone in the community. And if you're curious but don't want to join the group, we encourage you to read the book on your own!)
To learn more or sign up, call us (740-353-4159) or send us an email (secondpres@yahoo.com).
Sometimes growth comes not by pushing harder but from learning to pay attention to your body, your limits, and the ways God sees you, hears you, and meets you in difficult places. "Try Softer: A fresh approach to move us out of anxiety, stress, and survival mode and into a life of connection and joy" by Aundi Kolber (M.A., L.P.C.)
End of the Choir Season
The Chancel Choir will meet on Weds, May 20 for dinner at 6:00 pm, and for one last rehearsal at 7:00 pm before their summer break starting in June.
They will sing in worship on Sun, May 24 (Pentecost) and Sun, May 31 (Trinity Sunday).
Our thanks and appreciation to the Chancel Choir for their dedicated service to the music of our worship services.
Game Night
Our next Game Night is scheduled for Fri, May 22, 2026, at 6 pm in the Parlor.
Bring a game and a snack to share! Or, if it's been a long week, just bring yourself - you're enough.
Upcoming game nights: Fri, June 19 and Fri, July 24
Pentecost Sunday
On Sunday, May 24, we will celebrate Pentecost, a celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit given to the church.
Red is the color of Pentecost, representing the divided tongues of fire that rested on the disciples gathered together, so we encourage you to wear red for the service.
And we will celebrate communion together using the red parament on the communion table, a gift from First Pres for our 150th anniversary (2025). If you are worshiping in the building, the servers will bring the communion elements (the bread and the cup of grape juice) to you in the pews. If you are worshiping from afar, please have your elements (bread/crackers and juice/wine/water) ready before the service begins.
Celebrating 10 Years on Sun, May 31!
Please join us in celebrating Pastor Allison’s 10-Year Anniversary of faithful service and ministry at Second Pres!
We invite everyone to stay for a special celebration immediately following worship on Sunday, May 31, to enjoy a time of fellowship as we honor Pastor Allison’s dedication, leadership, and commitment to our church family over the past decade.
Also to celebrate, we’re trying to raise $1,500 to cover one loan payment for the building’s exterior restoration and preservation work (completed in 2023).
Donations can be made online and through the offering plate with a note in the memo line.
Rummage Sale
Second Pres Rummage Sale
(801 Waller St. Portsmouth, OH 45662)
Sat, June 13, 2026
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
WHAT TO KNOW
* Enter the building using the 8th Street entrance (facing the old PHS Gym) and follow the steps down to the dining room
* Hot dog, chips, and a bottle of water will be available for $5
* Bake sale
WHAT TO EXPECT
Clothing and accessories: men, women and children
Bedding and linens
Household items
Kitchen ware
Garden supplies
Toys and games
Small appliances
Holiday decor
Plenty of treasures for everyone!
Call (740-353-4159) or email (secondpres@yahoo.com) with questions or for more information.
Summer Sacred Concert Music Series - Scioto Catholic Parish
You can see our favorite organists performing in the Summer Sacred Music Series (2:00 pm) hosted by St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish!
Sun, June 21 (Holy Redeemer)
Dr. Douglas Leightenheimer
Sun, July 19 (St. Mary's)
Dr. Jeremiah Martin
Sun, Aug 16 (Holy Redeemer)
Our own Dr. Stan Workman
Sun, Sept 13 (St. Mary's)
Patrick Torsell (Parish Director of Sacred Music)
SSU Spring Choir Concert
On Sun, April 26 we hosted the Shawnee State University Spring Choir Concert, directed by our own Dr. Stan Workman: “A Concert of Classic Sacred Anthems, from Bach to Rutter.”
Want to watch it? Or watch it again?
Click HERE.
Coffee & Conversation
The Coffee & Conversation group (folks from Second and other churches) meets at 10 a.m. 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 - stop by and say hi!
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!
Christmas Eve Worship
Thanks to all who joined us for Christmas Eve worship.
If you missed it or would like to watch it again, here are the links.
Livestream link here: https://youtube.com/live/yRMU4W7GLwk?feature=share
Large-print bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ug6tiEni4yQJqtOA3TjSPa3LpUtiZmhc/view?usp=sharing
Large-print sermon here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hTLJ_i5-gr3-loUyXI6Ct4MXtncWqNqM/view?usp=sharing
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
There are no words to describe the experience of this year's Lessons & Carols. And how grateful we are to all those who helped to make this a spiritually transformative experience.
So we won't even try.
Here's a LINK to the livestream if you want to watch it or watch it again.