TOMORROW, Saturday December 11th, the church will be hosting a work day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.!
If weather is inclement, call or text Neal Peebles Saturday morning for information at 865-384-8734.
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Join us in person or virtually for our Sunday Worship Service at 11:00 a.m. To watch: click the button above or visit our website, www.2ndpres.org, and click the "Sunday Live stream" button on the home page.
We will also email an active link on Sunday morning.
Also - if you click the gray button above you will be able to download the worship order so you can follow along at home!
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There will be a brief called congregational meeting following worship
THIS Sunday, December 12th, for the purpose of electing two at-large members to the Nominating Committee.
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We are currently in PHASE YELLOW.
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Audrey will be out of the office on Monday, December 13th to celebrate her recent graduation from Tusculum University!
Phone coverage has been arranged for the hours of
9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
All emails/phone inquiries will be returned on Tuesday.
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Reminder!
Carry the Torch will be held on
Thursday, December 16th from 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Please note that masks must be worn inside the convention center.
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The Service and Outreach Ministry Unit would like to thank Dick Dodson and Joe Clark for their help in the application process to buy food from Second Harvest for the FISH program at Second Presbyterian. This will result in substantial savings for our church and we appreciate their assistance with this development.
The congregation of our church continues to nourish, support and care for the children at West View Elementary School. When the school asked for help in funding new playground equipment, one of our members donated the entire amount needed to replace and extend the slide. This will not only serve the children during the school day but will present a safe and fun play area for the entire community on weekends and school holidays.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)
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The Christmas Joy Offering will be received on Sunday, December 19th and Christmas Eve.
When we give to the Christmas Joy Offering, we share our love with the leaders of our Church - past, present, and future.
50% of your gifts assist current and retired church workers and their families with critical financial needs.
50% of your gifts make it possible for students to learn and grow in faith at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.
On checks please note "Christmas Joy Offering" on the memo line.
Checks can also be mailed to the church office if you are not worshipping in person.
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The Officer Nominating Committee is interested in your suggestions for ruling elders to serve on the Session Class of 2025.
Ruling elders in the PC(USA) are defined as "persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills of leadership and being compassionate in spirit.” They are chosen by the congregation “to discern and guide its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life.”
Please click the button below to submit your suggestion.
The deadline for submissions is January 1st.
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Our Stewardship Pledge Period is a time when friends and members of our congregation are asked to prayerfully consider our response to God’s call for our church – and our response to God’s abundance in our lives. Click the button below to read this year's stewardship letter from Tim Wright and the Stewardship Ministry Team. If you have not yet made a pledge, please consider doing so.
You may make your pledge via the button titled "2022 Online Pledge Form" below.
Thank you for your commitment to the mission and ministry of 2nd Presbyterian!
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Our Making Room Advent Devotionals are now available.
A digital version will be on our website under the “Resources” tab, or you can simply click the button below. Hard copies are also available in the vestibule and narthex.
To request a copy be mailed to you, please contact Audrey.
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Paul Sexauer is looking for a couple of volunteers to help out with the sound system on Sunday mornings. As a result of all the virtual services over the past year, a number of hardware changes have greatly simplified the process and therefore no knowledge of, or experience with, sound board operation is required. Hands on training and support during services will be provided.
If you think you might be interested, stop up in the balcony after a service and Paul will give you an overview of how it all works. Alternately, if you can stop up in the balcony between 10:30 and 10:45 on Sunday morning, Paul will give you an overview of the process and you can then sit “second chair” and watch the entire process during the service. It is really fairly easy!
We’re also looking for some volunteers to help out with the video side of the service. Stopping by the balcony after the service will allow you to see that as well. As with the sound, no technical knowledge is required to volunteer. Our goal is to have multiple volunteers so that scheduling can be as flexible as possible.
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There will be a reception following worship on December 19th to honor Jan Barber and her years of service to 2nd Presbyterian Church.
As a thank you, we are taking up a love offering for Jan.
If you would like to make a donation to this love offering, please send your donation to the church and designate it for Jan's love offering.
Come join us in saying thank you to Jan and celebrating her retirement.
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Once again the church will be having Drive Thru Christmas Caroling.
Date: Dec 19th from 3-5 p.m. in the Courtyard.
Needed: Volunteers to sing and volunteers to transport some of our shut ins.
No need to get out of your car, just drive by and listen and sing along.
There may even be Hot Chocolate and Candy Canes along with Lots of Fun.
Mark your calendars now and let Jan Barber know if you are willing to help out in any way!!!
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Our Christmas Eve Carol and Candlelight Service is one week from today, at 5:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there and being together in person this year, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.
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The Second Readers group is once again collecting stuffed animals for Judge Irwin’s juvenile court. These animals are given to children coming through his court and provide much comfort to these children who are experiencing very stressful circumstances.
Animals may be left in the box in the Atrium or if you prefer, you may make a donation and we will shop for you. The animals must be new and hopefully smallish, about 12-16 inches. Please, none of the huge ones. Thank you for your support and let’s remember these families in our prayers.
Questions, call Margaret Sullivan. 865-588-3103.
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Arts and Crafts circle of Presbyterian Women
is beginning a new project.
We are dressing dolls to donate to Isaiah 1:17 House. This is a 501-c3 organization which provides a safe place for children who have been removed from abusive situations until a foster placement can be found for them. They are removed with only the clothes they are wearing, and without any of their toys.
Since they have never had a new toy, the organization has asked that anything we donate should be new, not used.
They have plenty of stuffed animals, but were thrilled when we offered to make clothes for dolls we would purchase and donate!
We have the dolls, but realized we need something for the boys!
So, after conferring with the organization, we are asking the congregation to help us by purchasing and donating superhero action figures.
These can be any superhero, such as Spiderman, Batman, etc. Please place the action figures on or near the Christmas tree located in the atrium.
Because this is an on-going project, the items do not have to be given in time for Christmas. Children are served throughout the year, and will be allowed to select a new toy to take with them to their foster home.
I will be happy to talk with anyone who has questions.
Cheryl Ragsdale
865-684-8999
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Come join the choir!
In Phases Yellow and Green the choir will sing without face coverings. If you are interested in lending your voice to the choir, we invite you to come to the sanctuary at 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning for choir rehearsal. No experience necessary – just a willingness to sing praise to the Lord!
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Our FINAL Wednesday Night Bible Study of this semester is Wednesday, December 15th.
We will meet in the Mary Chambers Room.
The Bible study is currently in-person with a virtual option for those who wish to join from home. (Zoom link is below.) We also gather for dinner at 6:00 p.m. with each person/family providing their own “brown bag” meal. We will continue with the "brown bag" practice through December.
Dinner: 6:00 p.m.
Bible Study: 6:30 p.m.
This fall we are studying The Kingdom Parables of Jesus, those parables in which Jesus says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…” The format is lecture/small group discussion. Pastor Tim reviews the story for 10 minutes or so and then we break into small groups for discussion questions together. The discussion questions are provided.
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Notes from the Book Lady at Second Pres:
I have three Thanksgiving books to recommend for young and old alike. There are times when an easy book can be very informative in a colorful way. The first book is Thank you, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving. As the title suggests, Sarah Hale, a magazine editor and author, persuaded President Lincoln to transform Thanksgiving Day into a national holiday.
A second fun book is Balloons Over Broadway: The True story of the Puppeteer of the Macy’s Parade. The book tells the story of Tony Sarg and his long-lasting gift to America – the inspired helium balloons.
The third book is a collection of poems about a family’s activities on Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving At Our House: Thanksgiving Poems for the Very Young is written by Nancy Carlstrom. A fourth easy book for the very young is What is God Like? Written by Rachel Held Evans with illustrations by Matthew Turner.
A good youth read is The Boys in the Boat: The True Story of an American Team’s Epic Journey to Win the Gold at the 1936 Olympics. This is adapted for young readers by Gregory Mone.
Remember to sign the card in the back of the book and place in the container on top of the card file.
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If you like to shop, the Fish Pantry mission is in need of the following household and personal items:
-Dish Soap
-Bath Soap
-Shampoo
-Toothpaste
-Deodorant
-Pet Food (small canned or bagged quantities, wet or dry for dogs or cats)
Our once-a-month Fish team receives phone call requests for food and these additional items; then they are sorted, packed, and delivered to each client's household.
All donations should be newly purchased, and any quantities would be greatly appreciated.
They can be dropped off into the “Fish” bin that sits on the floor in the coat rack area just off the atrium. Thank you!
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Compassionate Cuisine is a program from the Care and Compassion committee and our Cooking Teams. This group is 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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Pick up your
November-December
Upper Room Devotional
in the vestibule
(Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or at the narthex entrance into the sanctuary!
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On the Pastoral Care page of our website, 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 'Members' tab.
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 Wi-Fi network is for use by anyone who visits the building.
The network is “Second Presbyterian Church” and the password is Psalm100.
Please feel free to save it as a network that connects automatically for your device.
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Prayer List:
Please keep the family of Alex Robinson, Pam Maples, the family of Mary Johnson, Frances Johnson, and Joshua Peter Hamilton 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.
Names remain on the prayer list 4 weeks unless requested by the individual or a close family member of the individual to keep them on longer.
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