Join our virtual Palm Sunday service at 11:00 a.m. by clicking on the "Sunday Live stream" button on the home page of our website, www.2ndpres.org (or by clicking the button above). We will also email an active link on Sunday morning.
Also - if you click the green button you will be able to download the worship order so you can follow along at home!
Palms are available for pick up under the portico.
We hope that you will pick up your palms and wave them as we sing the first hymn on Sunday morning.
|
|
|
|
At their most recent meeting, the Session decided to resume in-person worship on Sunday, April 18th. Please see the upcoming April Second Edition for more information and our reopening guidelines.
For those who are still not comfortable worshiping in person, we invite you to continue to worship with us via our live stream.
|
|
TOMORROW, Saturday March 27th, the church will be hosting a work day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
If there is a question about changes due to inclement weather, please call or text Neal Peebles on Saturday morning (865-384-8741).
Please bring your mask, tools, gloves, and plan to work physically distanced!
|
|
Holy Week Reflections – March 29th-April 1st @ 8:00 a.m. (YouTube & Website)
Each morning at 8:00 a.m. during Holy Week, Pastors Tim and Sarah will be posting 5 minute reflections on Stephen’s speech prior to his stoning, as recorded in Acts 7. Stephen’s speech recalls the history of the Israelite people.
The reflections are as follows:
Monday Acts 7:1-6 Abraham to Joseph - Pastor Sarah
Tuesday Acts 7:17-34 Moses - Pastor Tim
Wednesday Acts 7:35-53 The Promised Land - Pastor Sarah
Thursday Acts 7:54-8:3 Stoning & Death - Pastor Tim
|
|
Maundy Thursday Worship – April 1st @ 6:15 p.m. (streaming)
We will celebrate Holy Thursday together via live stream. This will be a service of Word & Sacrament. In addition to music, Scripture, and a lesson, we will celebrate communion. You will need bread/crackers/wafers and juice/wine. If you would like one of the self-contained communion cups, they are available in the vestibule.
If you cannot come to the church to get them, please let us know and we will bring some to you.
Good Friday Prayer Service – April 2nd @ 12:00 noon (streaming)
Join us via livestream for a service of worship and prayer at noon on Good Friday. There will be Scripture readings, prayers, and silence. We encourage you to find a quiet, meditative place for this service.
|
|
The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering is the single, largest way that Presbyterians come together every year to work for a better world.
As Jesus says in Matthew 25, the Church belongs with those in need - with those suffering from natural and human-caused disasters; with those lacking access to food, water and healthcare; and with those struggling for justice, righteous, and peace. Through our gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, we are there because we are the Church, together.
Checks may be mailed to the church with One Great Hour of Sharing marked on the memo line.
One Great Hour of Sharing helps improve the lives of the suffering and the vulnerable through three life-saving programs:
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
- Presbyterian Hunger Program
- Self-Development of People
|
|
|
|
On Friday afternoon the cross will be placed under the portico, where the ashes for Ash Wednesday and the palms for Palm Sunday were.
We invite you to come by anytime Friday afternoon or Saturday and place flowers on the cross, just as we normally do during in-person Easter worship.
On Sunday morning we will bring the cross into the sanctuary where it will be present for the worship service. Weather permitting, we will place the cross outside the sanctuary following worship and we invite anyone who wishes to come and take their picture with it to do so.
|
|
Each Wednesday during Lent, 2nd Presbyterian Church has presented a noontime concert for reflection. The final concert of this series will be posted this coming Wednesday, March 31st. Music will be provided by Matthew Mimbs, David Stultz, and guest musicians from the community.
Each concert will be 20-30 minutes in length. Log on to our YouTube Channel (or go to our website) each Wednesday at noon (or anytime thereafter) for music to help you reflect on your Lenten journey.
|
|
|
|
Pastor Tim is currently leading us in a study of The Book of Confessions. A new lesson is posted on our YouTube channel and on our website each Thursday. We invite you to study the lesson at your leisure. On the 2nd Wednesday of each month, we meet at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom to discuss the lessons from the previous month.
The newest Bible study is linked below, and has been posted on our YouTube channel, as well as on our website. There are also questions for further reflection on our website (both the video and questions can be found below and under the Wednesday Night Bible Study tab).
|
|
We are excited and looking forward to coming back to "in person" worship on April 18th!
We are in need of 2 volunteers on Sunday mornings for the Nursery and Toddler/Preschool classes.
If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Holly Grimm at hgrimm@2ndpres.org or 865-243-6353.
|
|
We have a new Wi-Fi network for use by anyone who visits the building.
The network is “Second Presbyterian Church” and the password is Psalm100.
This network covers the entire building, as well as the sanctuary courtyard and parking lot. Please feel free to save it as a network that connects automatically for your device.
|
|
Please see below for information about opportunities and resources to receive your vaccines!
1. Volunteer Pharmacy in Hardin Valley
2559 Willow Point Way, Knoxville 37931
Phone: (865)560-0135
2. Walmart Pharmacies
3. Vaccinate Tennessee
866-442-5301
*This website includes how to “get in line” for the vaccinations and to find out when you are eligible based on questions relative to demographic info (mainly age) and medical history. And when eligible, how to search for an open slot (which does not have to be in your county of residence). If you don’t mind travelling to a surrounding county, there is the potential to get vaccinated quicker in less populated areas.
|
|
Due to permitting delays beyond the control of Habitat or any of our building partners it has been necessary to postpone the start of our build from its previously scheduled start date of March 20th.
A new start date has not been chosen yet, but it is hoped that construction can begin later in the Spring. If you have previously volunteered, you do not need to do anything at this time. Once a new start date has been announced we will notify you so that you can volunteer for the new build dates. Thanks for your patience!
A BIG THANK YOU!
Once again members and friends of Second Presbyterian Church have demonstrated their generosity by contributing a total of $6,710 towards our church's portion of the Habitat Build. This is over and above the $5,000 which was pledged from the John Smartt Endowment Fund and makes our total contribution $11,710.
To those who made these contributions, the members of the Service and Outreach Ministry Unit thank you so very much for your very generous response!
|
|
The Session has determined that committees, ministry units, Bible studies, Sunday School classes, youth activities, and any other groups of the church may now resume in-person meetings.
Face coverings should be worn by everyone who comes to the building and proper physical distancing guidelines should be observed. Meetings will be limited to 25 persons or less and held only in rooms where appropriate physical distance can be maintained. Outside groups that are not part of the church will also be allowed to use the church building for meetings and gatherings beginning in March, with the same guidelines.
We will NOT have Wednesday night dinners, and the weekly Bible Study will still take place online only.
The Church Administrator will assist groups in scheduling meeting rooms so that safe physical distancing may be maintained. Please do not plan a meeting at the church without notifying the Church Administrator. Some groups may not be able to meet at their normal meeting times and the number of groups able to meet on church property simultaneously may be limited. The Church Administrator will have final determination in scheduling church groups.
It is up to each individual group to weigh the risks and make its own determination regarding whether or not to meet. The Session would like to remind groups that just because they are allowed to meet in person doesn’t mean that they should or that they must meet in person. Any groups that choose to meet in person should make allowances or opportunities for individuals who do not yet feel comfortable meeting in person, to join the meeting virtually.
Finally, please remember the Five Core Principles: practice physical distancing; wear cloth face coverings when in public and physical distancing can’t be achieved; wash hands properly and often; clean surfaces regularly; stay home when sick.
|
|
The church office is now open for its regular office hours, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
In order to maintain social distancing guidelines and not take any unnecessary risks, we are still encouraging folks to complete all church business via phone and email and to not come to the church office unless absolutely necessary.
If you do find it necessary, however, we ask the following:
1) Make an appointment. If at all possible, we would prefer that you please call and make an appointment to see whomever you need to see or do whatever business needs to be done. This allows us to keep density at a minimum and to avoid having too many people on the property at the same time.
2) Wear a face covering. We are asking anyone coming to the church office to please wear a face covering while on the church property. This is for the protection of everyone, including office staff. We will have disposable masks available, should you forget yours.
3) Do not come if you are sick. If you are sick or have symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, fever, or shortness of breath, please do not come to the church office. Additionally, if you have had direct contact with someone who has recently had symptoms, please refrain from coming to the church office.
4) Avoid congregating in groups. Please conduct whatever business you have at the church office quickly and efficiently. We ask that you not “hang out” or congregate in staff offices, especially the church administrator’s office. Once you have conducted your business, we ask that you leave the church premises to make room for others who need to conduct their own business.
5) Maintain physical distancing. For your safety and the safety of the church staff, we ask that everyone stay at least 6 feet away from staff and from one another whenever possible while on the church premises. Remember, “farther is safer.”
|
|
Books from the Book Lady
For those that want to continue their understanding of people of color in honor of Black History Month, there are some books that might help: (for adults) This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges; a small book with lots of pictures beginning with Ruby as a six-year-old black student who integrated an all-white elementary school in New Orleans; Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges (a Jane Addams Peace Assn. Award book) Ruby’s narrative and pictures make this book come alive advancing our understanding of how hard it was to break through the separate but equal mindset (older Elementary thru adult).
Dear Martin by Nic Stone follows Justyce McAllister who is a student at the top of his class until he is put in handcuffs (middle school thru adult); Darius the Great is not OK by Adib Khorram: Darius is on a journey of self-acceptance on a trip to Iran (middle school thru adult); Martin’s Big Words: the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.(Elementary thru Middle school).
A Band of Angels: a story inspired by the Jubilee Singers by Deborah Hopkinson: living in Tennessee you should know the story of the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University. This group brought the beloved laboring field songs to light – songs we know today as Negro spirituals (elementary-adult).
In addition to the books above for elementary aged children, there are two more: I Am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer from his series Ordinary People Change the World (I also have Abraham Lincoln); Skin like Mine by Latashia Perry celebrates diversity among young children.
Remember it is my pleasure to deliver books to you. Contact Liz Peebles directly for all your book delivery needs!
|
|
|
|
The March-April 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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
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 at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome 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.
|
|
|
|
Prayer List:
Please keep Kim Elrod, Alex Robinson, the Wilson family, Derryl Kasler, Peter Douglas Hamilton, Amy Cross, and Aggie Bell 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
