Second Presbyterian Church
August 21, 2020
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While we are not able to worship together in person, we are worshiping together virtually! Join us on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. for worship by clicking the tab above, or clicking on the "Sunday Live stream" button on the home page of our website, www.2ndpres.org.
Also - if you click the blue button above you will be able to download the worship order so you can follow along at home!
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Following the Assurance of God's Love, we will pass the peace by texting one another. Choose a fellow church member, family member, friend, relative, or loved one, have their number ready to go, and send them a text that says, “May the peace of Christ be with you!" |
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Worship:
The Session met for its regularly stated meeting on Tuesday, August 18th and decided to continue virtual worship only at least through September. The church building will also continue to be closed to group meetings and in-person activities indoors. With the University of Tennessee and Knox County Schools resuming classes, the Session felt it was wise to wait and see how this resumption of in-person activities in our community will impact the spread of Covid-19 before making a decision about returning to in-person church activities. Once again, this decision is not being made out of fear but out of love and concern for our members. Three people in our congregation have contracted Covid and one of those died. The Session wants to be as careful as possible before resuming indoor in-person church activities.
The church office will remain open during normal hours, as it has been, but we continue to ask that you only come to the church building for essential business and that you call and make an appointment before coming. The Session will reconsider the matter of returning to in-person worship and activities at its stated meeting on Tuesday, September 15th.
Virtual Congregational Meeting:
The Session has called a congregational meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 2nd at 6:00 p.m. for the matter of electing two at-large congregation members to the Nominating Committee. Due to the current pandemic, the Session has decided to make this a virtual congregational meeting to be held over Zoom.
A link to the Zoom congregational meeting will be emailed on Tuesday, Sept. 1st to everyone on our email distribution list. If you already receive emails from the church there is nothing you need to do. You will automatically receive a link to the congregational meeting.
If you do not receive emails from the church and would like to be added to the list, or if you would just like to receive this one email with the link, call or email Audrey in the church office and let her know. (ajohnson@2ndpres.org / 865.523.2189) If you have not participated in a Zoom meeting before and would like a tutorial, let Audrey know and someone will be in touch with you to help.
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Normally, the deadline for the coming month's Second Edition newsletter is the 20th of each month. However, I (Audrey) failed to put a reminder in last week's email blast. Therefore, the deadline for the September Newsletter will be extended until Tuesday, August 25th. I apologize for any inconvenience! Please email (ajohnson@2ndpres.org) or call (865-523-2189) with your submissions. Thank you! - Audrey
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The Faith, Science & the Future Sunday School class, led by Dick Dodson, will resume meeting via telephone this Sunday. The class uses a
curriculum called The Wired Word which looks at current events through the lens of faith. Anyone who wishes to participate is welcome to join. Instructions for joining the class are below:
Start time: 9:30 a.m.
Phone number to call: (712) 775-8972
Conference code: 179021
*Please be advised this is a long distance call for any who
might be using a home phone with long distance charges.
100th Anniversary of Amendment Giving Women the Right to Vote:
On August 26, 2020, the United States observes the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote (though some hurdles, including racism, did remain). The women's suffrage movement was a long struggle driven by the belief that women were citizens who deserved the same rights as men. Because of this anniversary, the rights and roles of women will be the topic of this Sunday’s The Wired Word.
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We are in need of a few volunteers who are willing to be present on Sunday morning and run the laptop computer for our Worship Live Stream. Seth Reynolds has been doing this every Sunday since worship moved to online only, but he is heading back to school and would like a break.
If we get 2-3 volunteers we can rotate Sunday responsibilities. You do not need any special expertise, as we will train you for the job. A comfort level with technology and familiarity with computers is a big help, however!
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From the Service & Outreach Committee:
The Volunteer Ministry Center focuses on finding permanent housing for the homeless. They serve over 5,000 people annually through their services. They also provide 40 beds for emergency shelter and offer 57 apartments through Minville Manor. The center also provides dental care and served 1,400 patients last year.
Every year the VMC holds a program called "Carry the Torch". This is usually a luncheon with guest speakers and serves as a fundraiser for their services. Second Presbyterian Church supports the VMC annually as well as through this special program.
This year, because of Covid-19, the event will be offered online, via YouTube, on October 1st at 12:15 and again at 7:15. Krista Tippett, an NPR podcaster, will be the guest speaker. If you are interested in watching this ceremony via YouTube, please send your email to tracy4edu1@aol.com and I will send you the link to the "Carry the Torch" presentation. This will be a very informative, interesting, and touching program on a very important mission.
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Notes From the Book Lady of Second Pres:
Well, here we are still sheltering somewhat in place. So I have some books that may interest you. If you like British/ American history then you might like The Husband Hunters: American Heiresses Who Married into British Aristocracy by Anne De Courcy.
The following are books dealing with African American stories: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult; The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas ; Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorran; You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson; The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins; Dear Martin by Nic Stone; Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson.
Other fiction books are: Midnight Champagne by A. Manette Ansay; Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (soon to be a Netflix movie); The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs.
The Second Pres Book Lady
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Our blog is being updated as regularly as possible during our hiatus from in-person activities. It may be a devotion, an interesting story, something uplifting, something silly, or anything else that we think might be helpful. You will continue to get an email alerting you whenever a new blog post is uploaded.
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THANK YOU FROM THE COMMITTEE OF
SERVICE & OUTREACH!
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Thanks to everyone that donated school supplies, provided donations, and helped with the work day. Your generous donations demonstrate your care and concern for children and teachers during a most difficult school year opening. |
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Welcome Finley Nelson Homer Kennedy!
Finley was born on August 7th, 2020 at 1:35 a.m.
Patricia and Geoffrey (mom and dad) are doing well
while grandparents Terry & Kay Weaver are over the moon.
Finley was 8 lbs., 7 oz and 21 inches long at birth.
If you would like to assist the Kennedy's with meals, please click here to sign up online!
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Prayer List:
Please keep Mariann Thuesen, the Testerman family, Donna Downen, Frances and Mary Johnson, the Beals family, Ken Frazer, Daniel Robertson, Bonnie Beals, Mark Pierson, Debbie Eads, Brice Gilmer, and Jennifer Levy-Tatum in your prayers.
Please contact the Church Office (523.2189 or ajohnson@2ndpres.org) with prayer concerns to be listed in the weekly email or bulletin.
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Church Office Hours of Operation:
Monday through Thursday
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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