Second Presbyterian Church
October 2, 2020
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Beginning this Sunday we will be returning to in-person worship. There will be two in-person services to choose from: 9:00 a.m. (outdoors) and 11:00 a.m. (indoors). You will need to provide contact tracing information if you plan on attending either, or both, of these services. (See below.) And if you are not yet ready to return to in-person worship, that's perfectly okay! Our live stream will be there for you just like it has been the last several years. Just click on the button above!
We have tried to think of what the experience will be like both for those worshiping in person and those worshiping at home, and have worked hard to design worship services that are fulfilling to each group. We have also done everything we can to ensure that things are as safe as they can possibly be for those who choose to worship in person. This will mean, however, that things are not going to be the way they were before the pandemic, and they are not going to be the way they have been for the last 6 months.
Please read over the guidelines for returning to in-person worship and activities below and remember that this is new for us, that we will be learning as we go, and that we are doing the best we can.
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Even though we are not limiting worship attendance, we are asking anyone who plans on attending worship on Sunday mornings to register in advance. We need to have an accurate list of attendees each week, along with contact information, for contact tracing protocols should someone in attendance test positive for Covid-19.
We will have on-site registration on Sunday morning for those who are not able register in advance. However, registering in advance will keep a line from forming prior to worship, which could delay worship from starting and/or compromise physical distancing measures.
Clicking the button below will take you to our registration page where you will have the option of choosing either the 9:00 (outdoor) or 11:00 (sanctuary) service, or both. (You will have to click the button a 2nd time to register for a 2nd service.)
Once you have chosen which service you plan on attending, you will be asked to provide your name, phone number, email, and number in your party. There is also a button on the home page of our website – www.2ndpres.org – where you can register, as well. Thank you in advance for helping us to stay as safe as possible during the pandemic.
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Beginning October 4th we are starting a new worship service at 9:00 a.m.
This informal service will be held outdoors, in the courtyard space between the chapel and sanctuary. The service is for anyone who would like to come, but is especially for those who would like to gather with others for in-person worship but do not feel comfortable doing so indoors. We ask that you still wear a face covering and maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from others.
The service will be an abbreviated version of the 11:00 service; we will hear the same scripture, sermon, and prayer as the later service. The one difference is that since we are outdoors, we will be able to sing hymns, which we will do joyfully!
The service is BYOC – Bring Your Own Chairs! – and we will not gather if it is raining.
We look forward to seeing you at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 4th in the courtyard!
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Guidelines for returning to in-person worship
The Session has voted to implement the following guidelines for in-person worship. Please note that these guidelines were agreed upon by the Session and are self-imposed, not out of fear but out of love and for the safety and well-being of anyone choosing to worship at Second Presbyterian Church.
The following guidelines are requirements for all worship services, indoor and outdoor.
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Wear a face covering. This is not just to protect and show our love for and others, but also allows us to focus on God, which is the purpose of worship. If someone is not wearing a face covering, others will be focused on that person and not on worship.
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Maintain a physical distance of at least 6 ft. Worshipers should observe appropriate physical distancing and refrain from physical contact with those outside of one’s household. Each household is requested to maintain a distance of 6 feet from other households. Again, this is not just for safety but to prevent distractions during worship. The pews in the sanctuary will be marked to help worshipers maintain the proper distance. The balcony is also available for seating at the 11:00 service.
The following guidelines are for the 11:00 service which will be held in the sanctuary.
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There will be no attendance limits for the worship service. The nursery will be open during worship and childcare will be available for children, infant to age 6. We encourage worshipers who fall into one of the high-risk categories for Covid-19 to seriously consider continuing to worship virtually via our live stream on Sunday morning.
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We request that everyone enter and exit the building through the main sanctuary door. Anyone who has difficulty with stairs may be dropped off at the portico and enter through that door.
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We request that worshipers stay in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings unless it is absolutely necessary to visit other parts of the building. Restrooms will be open and available for those needing to use them. Both the sanctuary and the restrooms will be thoroughly cleaned before and after worship, but not during.
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Offering plates will not be passed during the service. Plates will be placed at the entrances to the sanctuary.
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There will be no congregational singing until further notice. The hymns will be played on the organ and the congregation is invited o meditate on the words. (If you are worshiping online, sing away!) There will be a small chancel choir during the worship service who will maintain an appropriate distance from the congregation and each other, as well as wear special masks designed for singers. They will provide an anthem each week, as they are able.
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We will not celebrate the sacrament of communion until further notice.
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Pastors and liturgists will not wear face coverings while leading the service. They will conduct the service from behind the communion table in order to maintain a safe distance from worshipers. Pastors will not greet people at the entrance to the sanctuary following the service.
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Bulletins will be available for those who desire them. For those who do not, communal readings such as the Affirmation of Faith or Prayer of Confession will be projected onto a screen located at the front of the sanctuary.
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The Session of 2nd Presbyterian Church has voted to resume in-person worship and church activities in October in the following manner:
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We will return to in-person worship this Sunday, October 4th. Worship in the sanctuary will be at the usual time of 11:00 a.m. with no numerical limits on attendance. The session has also decided to add a 9:00 a.m. outdoor worship service for those who do not feel comfortable worshiping indoors. Details on this service are listed in a separate announcement. As we have done the last 4 years, we will continue to stream the service live on Sundays.
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Committees, ministry units, Bible study groups, youth groups, and other groups of the church may resume in-person meetings beginning October 1st with a limit of 25 persons or less and only in rooms where appropriate physical distance can be maintained. We will NOT have Wednesday night dinners this fall, and the Wednesday Night Bible Study will still be taking place online only. Further information can be found in October's Second Edition.
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There are a number of guidelines that we are asking people to follow as we resume in-person activities. These guidelines are ones that we have chosen to impose upon ourselves in order to protect everyone and keep everyone as safe as possible. They are listed in a separate announcement below.
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If you are not comfortable returning to in-person worship activities, please do not feel that you must. The worship service will continue to be streamed and committees that decide to meet in person will take steps to allow members to join the meeting virtually.
Finally, we understand there will be some people who are happy with this decision and others who are frustrated by it. Please know that the Session is doing its best during a difficult situation to think about what is best for our faith community.
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We will resume our chancel flower orders from a florist this Sunday. If you would like to "sponsor" an arrangement, please contact the church office and an order will be placed by the Church Administrator. The cost is $50.00, as it was previously.
The next available date is Sunday, November 1st!
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The Faith, Science & the Future Sunday School class, led by Dick Dodson, uses The Wired Word curriculum which looks at current events through the lens of faith.
As of this Sunday, October 4th, the Faith, Science, and the Future class will be meeting in the church library, first room on the right in the hallway just outside the sanctuary narthex. Start time, 9:45 a.m.
We will also be on the same phone conference we have been using for those who prefer not to attend in person. We’ll see how many we have in attendance and how satisfactory the phone conference is to determine how best to proceed after this Sunday.
Anyone who wishes to participate is welcome to join. Instructions for joining the class via phone conference is 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.
This Sunday’s Wired Word topic: The nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court has caused some people to hope that she will express her Catholic faith as a justice, and some to fear the very same thing. Because of widespread focus on her religious beliefs, expressing faith in the workplace will be the center of our discussion.
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- Brice Gilmer would like to let the congregation know that he is now going by the name of Douglas Hamilton. He is much happier and feels freer as Douglas. He asks that everyone begin addressing him as Douglas from this point on.
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Help us stay connected during this time of physical distancing and online gathering. 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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West View Elementary School is reaching out to our church to find help for a virtual student. The 9-10 year old, 4th grader, is learning from home but his mother has a medical appointment each week and cannot leave him alone. She is asking for someone to sit with him, for perhaps 3 hours, once a week, while he completes his school work and she visits the doctor due to a high-risk pregnancy. The apartment complex where they live has a manager’s building with a room, wi-fi, and even computers (though he has his chrome book from school).
It would need to be on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday when the manager is there, but mom’s appointments aren’t a set schedule; at least for now. They schedule mom at each appointment for the next appointment. Once it goes weekly, it should be the same day and time (hopefully!).
The Community School representative reports that this is a GREAT family. She has known them since coming to West View and wishes she could watch him! This would be a wonderful volunteer opportunity to simply share your time to help a family in need. The school would provide a background check and finger printing for the volunteer.
To Volunteer, PLEASE CONTACT: Susan Martin at West View Elementary. Phone # 865-594-4471 or email smartin@knoxed.org.
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The Officer Nominating Committee is interested in your suggestions for ruling elders to serve on the Session Class of 2024. 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.
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Our Wednesday night Bible study continues on October 7th at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. We will conclude our discussion of the movie Amazing Grace.
Directed by Michael Apted, Amazing Grace is a 2006 biographical drama about the campaign against the slave trade in the British Empire, led by William Wilberforce. Wilberforce's mentor was John Newton, the former slave trader who authored the hymn "Amazing Grace".
The film stars Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Gambon, Albert Finney, and Benedict Cumberbatch. It is available for rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube Movies, Redbox on Demand, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu, Microsoft Movies, Fandango Now, and DirecTV. The DVD can also be purchased on Amazon and we have a copy at the church. If you are interested in borrowing the church's copy, please contact the church office.
Our schedule for the fall is as follows:
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Oct 7 - Amazing Grace
- Oct 14 - Gathering Around the Word: Praise God the Creator
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Oct 21 & 28 - Bridge to Terabithia
- Nov 4 - Gathering Around the Word: Praise God for His Mighty Acts
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Nov 11 & 18 - Lars and the Real Girl
- Nov 25 - Thanksgiving Break
- Dec 2 - Gathering Around the Word: Confession & Pardon
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Dec 9 - Elf
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The September-October Upper Room is available! If you would like one, Sandra Butler has copies that she would like to hand deliver to you!
Please contact Sandra directly by phone (659-4416 or 584-4397)
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Recently, Pastor Tim and a few other actors filmed a play at the Oak Ridge Playhouse called Alabama Story. Rehearsals were on Zoom for two weeks, then was put on stage with the actors wearing masks, staying physically distant, and sanitizing before and after every entrance and exit onto the stage. The play was filmed without an audience and – for the first time for the actors – without masks. It is streaming online through Sunday, October 4th.
Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones and is a true story about a children’s book from 1959 called The Rabbits’ Wedding. Many in the state of Alabama tried to ban the book because they felt its depiction of a black rabbit and white rabbit getting married promoted interracial marriage and the co-mingling of races. The play tells the story of how one librarian stood up to a powerful state Senator in protecting the freedom to read. Pastor Tim plays the author of the children’s book, along with a few other characters.
If you are interested in seeing Pastor Tim in the play, supporting the local arts, (or both!), click the button below to purchase your streaming pass.
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Notes from the Book Lady of Second Pres:
What began as unusual is now our new normal. I am glad that so many of you have been able to remain healthy and safe. I am delighted to list the following autobiographical books by the renown author Madeleine L’Engle. Jean Kerr said of A Circle of Quiet: “I know it will give great consolation to ordinary people who sometimes wonder why they bother to get out of the bed in the morning.” That rings true to me during this COVID-19 crisis. Her other books in the four- book series are: The Summer of the Great Grandmother, Irrational Season, and Two-Part Invention. These books are not long.
For young parents is the book Calm and Compassionate Children by Susan Dermond. I met her at a Church and Synagogue Library Association conference when the book first came out. Although my children were grown, I read this book in preparation for my grandchildren.
Many of us attended the Zoom study this summer on racism. Some wanted to know what can be done further. This book, donated by Cheryl Ragsdale, might help with that desire. By using your gift of servanthood Steve Sjogren suggests 101 Ways to Reach Your Community.
For children (and adults) the book Who Is My Neighbor by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso helps the reader to see new ways of seeing others as our neighbors. Amy-Jill Levine is professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson is a book about first days at school and being an immigrant. All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold is a rhyming text that introduces a school where diversity is celebrated and songs, stories, and talents are shared.
Finally, the Library has placed a book in the children’s collection to honor the birth of Finley Nelson Homer Kennedy. It is No One Else Like You by Siska Goeminne. It emphasizes that there are so many people in the world yet no one is exactly like YOU!
Remember, I will bring books to you. This is not a burden, but a joy.
The Second Pres Book Lady
Please contact Liz Peebles directly at 247-4503; 660-9597 (text available); enp3613@gmail.com.
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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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Prayer List:
Please keep Geoff Duggan, Emily Rose, Dr. Ed Carver, Kathy Thomas, Bill Gosnell, Aggie Bell, Will Pruitt, Dotty Barbour, Mariann Thuesen, Donna Downen, Brice Gilmer, Frances and Mary Johnson, Ken Frazer, Daniel Robertson, 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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The Church Directory was recently updated. You can view it on our website (2ndpres.org) by going to the 'About Us' tab and selecting 'Directory'.
This page is password protected, and the password is the same as before.
However, if you still need the password, please contact the church office.
Church Office Hours of Operation:
Monday through Thursday
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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