Effective immediately, all in-person worship services are suspended at least through the end of January. The Session will take up this matter again at its next regular stated meeting on January 19th and make any adjustments or further recommendations at that time.
Additionally, the Session has also decided to close the church building for the same period of time. The staff will continue to work from both home and the office, the church phone and emails will be answered during normal office hours (M-Th 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.), and the regular business of the church will continue uninterrupted.
However, other than the preschool, the building will be closed to both groups and individuals until the end of January.
For more information regarding this decision - please click HERE.
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While we are not able to worship together in person, we are worshipping together virtually! Join us on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. for worship by clicking the button above, or by 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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The flowers this week were given by Betty McCollum,
in memory of Brick McCollum.
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Advent Devotionals will be available beginning this week. A digital version is on our website under the “Publications” tab, or you can simply click the button below. Hard copies are also available on the table in the vestibule outside the atrium. To request a copy be mailed to you, please email or call Audrey.
Advent begins next Sunday, November 29th.
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The Discipleship Team is offering a new spiritual growth opportunity this Advent season by becoming an Advent Prayer Partner. Anyone who wishes to participate may do so. Prayer partners can communicate by notes, phone, email, Zoom, Facetime, or even a well-distanced lunch. Partners can read and discuss the Advent devotional together, have a casual discussion, or just exchange prayer requests.
Since we must stay distanced, we hope that this prayer partnership will draw us closer together as a congregation. To participate, go to the home page of the website or call or email the church office and leave your name with Audrey (523-2189, ajohnson@2ndpres.org). You may decide to participate anytime during Advent season.
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If you, your family, your group of friends, Sunday School Class, Fellowship Group, or any other combination of folks are interested in lighting the candles on the Advent Wreath – VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON – this Advent season, please let Pastor Tim know.
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The deadline for the December Second Edition is
TODAY (Friday, November 20th)!
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we will need to be firm with this deadline. Please contact Audrey (ajohnson@2ndpres.org or 865-523-2189) no later than today with your submissions! Thank you!
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Check out the Pastoral Care page on our website. On this page we will share more specific updates regarding those on our prayer list. It will be updated frequently by the church staff.
Visit our website: 2ndpres.org. The page is located under the 'About Us' tab and is called 'Pastoral Care'.
To keep all information private, the page is password protected. Please contact Audrey at the church office (via email: ajohnson@2ndpres.org or phone: 865.523.2189) for the password.
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Our Wednesday Night Zoom Bible Study is on hiatus through the end of the year.
The Discipleship Team and the pastors are in the process of planning new ways to engage our congregation in spiritual formation and growth during Advent and in the new year. Keep checking this space, the worship order, and the newsletter for details!
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On Saturday, December 5th the church will be hosting a work day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Please bring your mask, tools, gloves, and plan to work physically distanced!
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For the past several years we have hosted the WordPlayers for our last Wednesday night dinner of the year. They usually offer a touring production of a play during Advent, however due to Covid-19, this year they have made a film of their Advent story.
They are offering this video from Nov. 29 through Dec. 25.
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The Second Readers Book Club invites the congregation to participate in the collection of new, stuffed animals to be given to the Juvenile Court for distribution to the children going through the court system. These children face much stress during these times, and Judge Irwin and other court personnel have found that the children are comforted by the animals and having something of their own.
We have collected animals for several years and invite the congregation to join us in this endeavor. Animals must be new, about 12” long, and cuddly. Each animal costs approximately ten dollars.
If you would like to participate but cannot shop, we will do this for you. Checks may be sent to the church, but please include in the memo line something along the lines of, "for stuffed animals donations" so the office knows where to direct your donation.
A donation bin will be available in the vestibule for drop offs. This opportunity will run through the end of the year and delivery to the court will be in early January.
Any questions? Call Margaret Sullivan at 865-588-3103.
Thank you for you participation!
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Members of the Wednesday Night Cooking Teams have begun collaborating to create a homecooked meal, and will gather safely at the church to package them into individual portions, that they will then distribute to some of our members who are living in their homes but may not be getting out and about to pick up dinner or groceries to make a home-cooked meal.
The teams would love to have your help in cooking and/or distributing meals in hopes that this ministry might be able to grow in the coming months. If you’re interested in helping by cooking a portion of one of the meals and/or would be willing to deliver some of the meals, please contact Leslie Matthews: flowlilly@gmail.com, (865) 765-0549.
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The Faith, Science & the Future Sunday School class uses The Wired Word curriculum which looks at current events through the lens of faith.
We will meet via phone conference only beginning this Sunday, November 22nd at 9:30 a.m. All are welcomed to participate.
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.
No 'Normal' Thanksgiving This Year, but Maybe in 2021
For people in many states this coming week, Covid-19 restrictions will be the spoiler of Thanksgiving. And even in states without significant restrictions, concerns about the virus itself hover in the background. Given that approval of at least two vaccines is imminent, we can look forward to next Thanksgiving -- Thanksgiving 2021 -- with the hope of it being more "normal." That gives us reason to think about the Bible's phrase "The days are coming when …" or what we might call the Bible's "tomorrow factor." So that will be the topic of Sunday’s installment of The Wired Word.
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HELP US FILL UP THIS SECTION!
We would love to hear what good things are happening in your lives!
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Help us stay connected during this time of physical distancing. If you have a joy, celebration, milestone, an honor, recognition, or some good news you would like to share with others, send it to Audrey at ajohnson@2ndpres.org.
Be aware that our weekly email is posted on our website and social media, so anything you share may be seen by anyone. We look forward to hearing what good things have been happening in your life!
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The November-December Upper Room is available! If you would like one, contact Sandra Butler and she will hand deliver one to you!
Please contact Sandra directly by phone (659-4416 or 584-4397)
There are also copies available in the vestibule.
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Prayer List:
Please keep the Frazer family, Imogene Posey, Katie Sergent Keene, Betty McCollum, Brenda Goslee, Mariann Thuesen, Emily Rose, Dr. Ed Carver, Bill Gosnell, Aggie Bell, Dotty Barbour, Donna Downen, Douglas Hamilton, Frances and Mary Johnson, Ken Frazer, and Jennifer Levy-Tatum in your prayers.
Please contact the Church Office (865.523.2189 or ajohnson@2ndpres.org) with prayer concerns to be listed in the weekly email or bulletin.
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