Mother's Day Special Offering

Since 1954, Presbyterian churches in South Carolina have marked Mother’s Day with an offering to support the ministry of Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina to older adults. 

Presbyterian Communities operates six retirement communities across the state that hundreds of seniors call “home.” Each location provides a full range of accommodations and services from independent and active living to healthcare and memory support.  

Living at a Presbyterian Community, residents find everything they need to live life to its fullest.  They are empowered to “grow old,” and not just “get old.”

And yet, after years of living at their community, some will find their financial resources dwindling, perhaps due to a costly medical crisis or to extreme old age.

Thankfully, the Presbyterian churches who founded this ministry continue to sustain it, so that residents who have outlived their life’s savings can continue to call PCSC “home.” One way they do this is through the Mother’s Day Offering, which is used solely to provide charitable care for residents who can no longer pay for the full cost of their care.  

Because the cost of charitable care can run to $1.5 million or more, it is truly a blessing that generous Presbyterian churches and their members help to shelter and care for each and every one of these through the Mother’s Day Offering.

Please give generously – thank you!!!

Mother's Day Special Offering

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Since 1954, Presbyterian churches in our state have marked Mother’s Day with an offering to support the ministry to older adults that is provided by Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina.

PCSC operates six retirement communities which hundreds of seniors call “home.” As you can imagine, 2020 was difficult for Presbyterian Communities. The ever-changing regulations restricted visitation, and residents had to adapt to communicating digitally with their families. Thankfully, vaccinations were made available early to seniors, and the communities have begun to “open up” again for visitation.

Living at a Presbyterian Community, residents find everything they need to live life to its fullest. Each location provides a full range of accommodations and services including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Healthcare and Memory Support. Residents are empowered to “grow old,” and not just “get old.”

And yet, after years of living at their community, some will find their financial resources dwindling, perhaps due to a costly medical crisis or to extreme old age.

Thankfully, the Presbyterian churches who founded this ministry continue to sustain it. One way we do this is through the Mother’s Day Offering, which is used solely to provide charitable care for residents who have outlived their life’s savings.

It is truly a blessing that generous Presbyterian churches and their members help to shelter and care for each and every one of these through the Mother’s Day Offering.

On Mother’s Day, May 9, our congregation will continue this tradition of caring that touches the lives of these seniors in need. Because of your generosity, these folks will continue to call Presbyterian Communities “home,” and know that they are truly cared for and not forgotten.

You can give in the church service or online.

Christmas Joy Offering: Being Together

MINUTE FOR MISSION

Being Together

“Many hands make light work.”

“Teamwork makes the dream work.”

“If we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.”

There are lots of ways to say it — but working together really does make bigger and better things possible.  And, lots of times, working together makes it more fun, too.  In fact, there are times made better just by our ability to be together, to be with one another.

That is something that really rings true, doesn’t it?  Being together. During these past months, many of us weren’t able to be together in person.  We have always been together in spirit, and in faith.  But we missed seeing each other.  We missed seeing faces we love — up close and personal.  But that doesn’t mean we haven’t been together.  And we definitely have not been alone.

There is a word that comes up a lot during this season we call Advent in the Church, and it points to the same sentiment, but about God: “Emmanuel.” Emmanuel means “God is with us,” and, in Jesus, we Christians claim that God took on human form to be with us. "God is with us” is more than just saying God is along for the ride. It states God values togetherness and relationship with us, leading us to value togetherness and relationship with one another.  When we are all together as we are today — and even when we are apart.

The Christmas Joy Offering is one way we join together as Presbyterians from around the country.  We do this to meet the needs of vulnerable people we might not be able to meet as individuals or as single congregations.  We might not be able to meet face to face with those who need the support that our gifts provide, but we are very much still together. 

The gifts we share connect us.  They also change lives.  Through the Christmas Joy Offering, we support church workers and their families who experience critical financial needs through help from the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions.  We connect with the young people attending Stillman College, Presbyterian Pan American School, and the Menaul School, supporting the education and leadership development for students of color, who will soon be leaders in our Church and in the world.

“God is with us.” All the time. During this season of Advent, as we approach Christmas, I can’t think of a more perfect gift than that.  Thank you for sharing those lessons and those truths, through your gift to the Christmas Joy Offering.

Please give generously, for “if we all do a little — together — it adds up to a lot.”

Let Us Pray ~

God, we are your Church, together. Because of your son Jesus, we are brought together to serve those who lead your Church but find themselves in need. And we are brought together with students at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color, who have the potential to lead your church and world in the future. In the name of the Christ, Emmanuel we pray, Amen.

 
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God saw the great needs of the world and offered a perfect gift, Jesus Christ. In Jesus, we receive the perfect gift of God being with us, and of being with those in need—the gift of being together when we are near, and being together when we are apart.

The Christmas Joy Special Offering is an opportunity to join other Presbyterian churches throughout the country to support our PC(USA) leaders. Through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, our gifts honor the faithfulness of current and retired church workers in need. These generous actions bear witness to our response to Christ's charge to love one another.

Christmas Joy Offering: A Love Story

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God saw the great needs of the world and offered a perfect gift, Jesus Christ. In Jesus, we receive the perfect gift of God being with us, and of being with those in need—the gift of being together when we are near, and being together when we are apart.

The Christmas Joy Special Offering is an opportunity to join other Presbyterian churches throughout the country to support our PC(USA) leaders. Through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, our gifts honor the faithfulness of current and retired church workers in need. These generous actions bear witness to our response to Christ's charge to love one another.


MINUTE FOR MISSION

A LOVE STORY

Rev. Ken Tracy has spent much of his more than 30 years with the PC(USA) helping congregations work through conflict and revitalize their membership — a mission grounded in love.

If you have the opportunity to talk with Rev. Tracy for even a few minutes, it’s easy to understand why he would be really good at tackling difficult conversations and helping others heal — he laughs easily and has an infectious personality that quickly draws you in.

Along the way, he’s built a legacy of love and faith with a focus on ministry and service within the church. His wife Carol has been by his side throughout all these years.

His first call was at the Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, Presbyterian Church. He then went on to work within Boulder Presbytery, now known the Presbytery of Plains
and Peaks, and serve for seven years as the executive of Utah Presbytery and then as the pastor at St. James Presbyterian Church in Tarzana, California, following the Northridge earthquake in 1994 that damaged the St. James sanctuary. He went on to lead a congregation in the Alaskan village of Hydaburg, taking him and Carol to the smaller churches he loved to serve. It was in Alaska that Carol got very sick.

“We made three trips to Seattle to see doctors, and the shared grants handled by the Board of Pensions picked up 100 percent of our expenses,” he says. “They paid for our flights, hotel, meals, rental car, whatever we needed.”

The doctors discovered that Carol had significant damage to her lungs due to an exposure to black mold; so they turned again for help to the Board of Pensions, which is funded in part by the Christmas Joy Offering. Now they live in Monte Vista Grove Homes in Pasadena, a retirement community for retired pastors, church workers and missionaries. “Carol now lives in skilled nursing, and I live in independent living. Her room is about 30 feet from me,” Rev. Tracy explains. “I’d never heard of a shared

grant until I was the executive at the Utah Presbytery and a member needed some support. I didn’t realize then that years later it would also help my family.”

This is a love story. Not just about Ken and Carol’s love for each other and love for the mission they have served side by side for so many years, but also about God’s love and the love we show with our gifts. Half of the Christmas Joy Offering goes to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions to help current and past church workers and their families in their time of need critical financial need. The other half supports education and leadership development at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.

Please give generously, for when we all do a little — it adds up to a lot.

Let Us Pray ~

In our passionate leaders,
we see the echo of your passionate love for us, O God.

Thank you for the gift they are, and receive our gifts
to support church leaders, past, present and future.

Amen

Season of Giving

Yesterday David reminded us of something different that we could do on Cyber Monday rather than shop — to go make your pledge for 2021 if you haven’t already! Hope some of you took advantage of that easy way to make your commitment.

Well, today, I’m sure that your email inbox is already filling up with appeals for GIVING TUESDAY. While all non-profits are especially in need this year due to the pandemic, so is the church. Sure, support your favorite charities, but remember what hopefully is at the center of your life, God and your faith. So today, why not give to Second Presbyterian Church first with an extra gift for this year or to get current with your 2020 pledge.

Step up to the plate today. Be generous. Make a difference for our church and its vital work in the community and the world.

Stay warm and stay safe!

Thanks,
Stewardship Team

Season of Giving: Cyber Monday

Advent is a season of giving. We're enticed by clever marketing to shop Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. The commercial celebration continues with Cyber Monday– today, November 30.

While you're online taking advantage of those great offers, remember to give here too. If you haven't done so already, make your pledge for 2021. Don't forget to get current on your 2020 pledge, too, if you can.

The church needs your support now more than ever. Step up to the plate, and make Second first in your giving plan.

Thanks,
Stewardship Team

 

AND! If you shop Amazon this holiday season (and throughout the year) make sure your purchases go to support the mission and ministry of Second.  Link your account at smile.amazon.com to "Second Presbyterian Church" and Amazon will automatically don…

AND! If you shop Amazon this holiday season (and throughout the year) make sure your purchases go to support the mission and ministry of Second.
Link your account at smile.amazon.com to "Second Presbyterian Church" and Amazon will automatically donate a percentage of eligible purchases to the church when you checkout through smile.amazon.com.
Or connect from your phone! Open your Amazon App > go to Settings > click AmazonSmile > Turn On.

 
Watch David's stewardship reminder for us all from the Sunday church service.

Watch David's stewardship reminder for us all from the Sunday church service.

Amazon Smile

Support Second with your shopping throughout the year!

Your Amazon shopping can give back to Second Presbyterian Church. Link your account at smile.amazon.com to "Second Presbyterian Church" and Amazon will automatically donate a percentage of eligible purchases to the church when you checkout through smile.amazon.com or connect from your phone.

To connect your mobile account to Amazon Smile:

Open your Amazon App > go to Settings > click AmazonSmile > Turn On. If this doesn’t work, within the Amazon app, type ‘Amazon Smile’ in the search bar and it should give you the option for a one-click activation.