Commitment Sunday

This Sunday, November 15th, is Commitment Sunday. While many of us may not physically be back in church, it is still Commitment Sunday, the time when we make our pledge to the work, the mission, and the maintenance of Second Church so that we can formulate our plans and budgets for 2021.

So we’re posting and we’re mailing this simple statement, request, appeal, reminder -- Step up! Step up to the plate! More than a clever concept from our Stewardship Committee leaders, David Savard and Rebecca Darwin, it’s a call to action, an invitation to each of you to commit by making a pledge to God’s kingdom work through Second Church.   

It’s been hard to get together, but it’s important that we stick together and that we stick with the church. How do we do that? How may we honor the primacy of Jesus in our lives and for the hope of mankind? It starts with the heart.

• Honor the covenant you made as you joined, whether this year, last, or a decade or more ago.

• Make a commitment, a pledge that reflects your love for Jesus and will enable the work we get to do in God’s name through Second Church. 

• Be disciplined. The needs of the church don’t stop for Covid or for summer. You may give cash, or by check, money order, online or automatic bank draft, but please, if possible, make a pledge. A pledge is not a contract and may be amended if need be.

God’s work will be done. May it be done through Second Presbyterian. It takes you, me, our teaching and painting and recording and posting, and prayers and our money. It’s a practical issue. It’s a relationship issue. This is a spiritual issue. Our God loves us, so we must love God and God’s creation. Our God forgives us so we must forgive. Our God is scandalously generous. It’s our time to step up and give back!

In anticipation, confidence and in joy -

2020 Stewardship Report

April 16, 2020

What is your treasure?

The Stewardship team adopted Matthew 6:21 as its 2020 campaign theme: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We were inspired by Sarah Craven’s sermon last summer that focused on this moving verse from Matthew. Our goal became challenging each of us to ask ourselves: What is our treasure, what are the treasures with which God has blessed us, and what are the treasures that Second Presbyterian Church offers to each of us? 

Stewardship is not just a fund-raising campaign: It is an on-going movement, where we consider the health of the church and the role that we—as stewards of the church and children of Christ—can play, to build up the church and ensure its strength for generations to come. With this in mind, our charge as a church family becomes maintaining a robust presence in our community, not only through our physical building, but also through our mission work, reaching out to the world in need. Together as the Second family, we can make certain that we are meeting the needs of each other, while offering programs that are inviting to new and prospective members.

To allow us to get to know each other better and to explore our treasures as a church family, we hosted “Meet a Member” presentations during the worship service, in preparation for Commitment Sunday, November 17. Longer-term members introduced newer members of the church who answered the questions: “What is your treasure?” What motivates you? What is important to you? Where do you put your time, your money and your energy? In addition, we published twice-weekly email reflections by members of the church family, where they shared their treasures and the important position that Christ and Second holds in their lives. The series was so popular, that we continued the presentations through year-end.

On Commitment Sunday, we hosted an Opportunity Fair after the worship service. On goal was to not only make our financial pledge but also to consider our talents and identify areas where they could best be used. Areas included Music & Worship (Music & Worship Committee and Choirs), Fellowship (Men’s Society, Book Club and Young Adults), Service (Care Team, Hospitality and Property & Grounds), Missions (Missions & Outreach, Tea Room, Hands of Christ, Walk for Water, Shaw Center, Vacation Bible School and Pride) and Discipleship (Bible Studies and Sunday School). Wonderful connections were made, as members and guests enjoyed delicious snacks and explored opportunities at Second. 

As of this writing, pledges and commitments total $241,430 from 72 family units, which is still short of our $270,000 target. Our goal is to ultimately include 100 participating families of the 175 family units and 226 members of our church. It’s not too late to pledge in support of our treasures at Second. Remember that a pledge is not a contract but a commitment to sustain the work of the church. We recognize that so many of our members make regular contributions throughout the year, which are incredibly important and extremely appreciated. Please consider converting those regular gifts into a pledge, so we may include them in the budget to enable the wonderful programs of the church. Thank you for keeping your pledges current. To date, we have received $72,357, which is actually a bit ahead of where we’d expect to be three and a half months into the year. 

We look forward to seeing you again in person, where we can celebrate our treasures as one. We are apart, but together as members of the Second Presbyterian Church family. Thank you for your support, your prayers and your stewardship.

- Rebecca and David

Sunday, December 22, 2019

SERMON SNAPSHOT

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Dear Friends in Christ – 

“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way:” 

Imagine this – one day you’re a respected fellow in the community – a tradesman, a carpenter, you come from a good family, a royal line!  Life is sweet… and quiet. You’re looking forward to a new life, a new life with the young woman to whom you are betrothed. Next step is marriage.    But why are people whispering? You haven’t lived together. You’ve never been intimate. She’s pregnant? She says it’s the Holy Spirit – the Holy Spirit of God?

Come worship this Sunday, this 4th Sunday of Advent. 

We’ll sing carols. The trumpet will play. We’ll enter into the blessed mess of the incarnation and be blessed. 

In anticipation -

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SERMON PODCAST

Sunday, December 15, 2019

SERMON SNAPSHOT

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Dear Friends in Christ – 

One of my favorite columnists is Michael Gerson. He is Christian. He lives and writes in Washington, DC. He comments on much of the dross and drivel of the day with what I consider to be a perspective consistent with one who follows Jesus. He speaks truth (yes, it is ascertainable) and advocates for what we (followers) would believe to be in Christ, of Christ.  

In an article this past week in the Washington Post he describes Advent:

    “This is the time of the Christian year dedicated to expectant longing. God, we are assured, is at mysterious work in the world. Evil and conflict are real but not ultimate. Grace and deliverance are unrealized but certain. Patient waiting is rewarded because the trajectory of history is tilted upward by a powerful hand… the assurance at the heart of Advent is the antidote to fear. No matter how desperate the moment, we are told, time is on the side of hope.”

In these times we need an antidote to fear - and to incivility and to pandering and distraction. We need to believe the reality of the mystery we proclaim. 

In our text for this 3rd week of Advent, John is in prison - pacing, agitated, fearful that his work, his life may have been in service to a poser. 

When he sends his disciples to question Jesus. The incarnate God (thank you) says this, “Tell John…”  

See you in/to worship!

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SERMON PODCAST

Sunday, December 8, 2019

SERMON SNAPSHOT

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Dear Friends in Christ – 

Have you ever seen John the Baptist on an Advent calendar? More likely you would see him as an action figure in a PlayStation game – Prophet of the Wild – dressed in camel’s hair, wind in his face and torn, sleeveless t-shirt with locusts and honey on his breath! 

Silly image? Maybe. Irreverent? Not meant to be, but not necessarily wrong. John was a man of the wilderness. He turned his back on his priestly lineage opting for the desert where he prophesied and baptized by water – carpenters, scribes, farmers and Pharisees from all Judea and Jerusalem.  

John proclaimed the coming of the one more powerful who would baptize with the Spirit and with fire – the one who himself would be driven into the wilderness and made fit for the harsh road he would walk. 

In advent we walk towards God’s light through the darkness that has not, that does not, that will not prevail, but was overcome by the incarnate. 

Let’s walk together this Sunday –

See you in worship!

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SERMON PODCAST

Tuesday Treasure Thought with Orion

Orion recently became a member of Second Presbyterian Church only to learn shortly thereafter that his fiancé was moving and his career was calling. With Orion’s permission, we’re sharing his letter to Cress about his life changes and what a treasure he has found in this church.

Join your Second Family as we commit our treasure in service to the Lord by pledging your 2020 gift this Stewardship season. When you enter into a partnership with the body of Christ, you are not only building up treasure for this generation but also for generations to come.

Tuesday Treasure Thought with Pat

I have been a member of Second Presbyterian Church for 56+ years and was an active participant in many aspects. One of the longest commitments I had was serving as Treasurer for the Women of the Church. I remember every year when it was time to re-up, Virginia Legare acting as Secretary, would say, “Well Pat, I’ll serve another year if you will.”  That lasted well over 40 years. 

Shortly after we joined the church, my husband Ed and I taught Sunday School to high school level students, challenging at times but very rewarding. Ed also served as Head of the Sunday School Department and as a Deacon and Elder. Of course my children attended both Sunday School and Church and Gail later on taught as well as teaching Bible School in the summers.  We all loved attending Wednesday night suppers and enjoyed being a part of a growing church community. 

Lastly, a role I thoroughly enjoyed was serving as Church Wedding Director. A position that often required hours of preparation but I loved every minute and found the end result so satisfying. 

What Second Church means to me is hard to put into words. I don’t know how to describe the love, friendship and support I have felt over the years. I acquired lots of wonderful friends while attending and still remain close to so many. Worshiping at Second Church has strengthened my faith and provides a comfort in both good times and bad. I can always rely on this wonderful church family that I still treasure to this day.

-Pat

Join your Second Family as we commit our treasure in service to the Lord by pledging your 2020 gift this Stewardship season. When you enter into a partnership with the body of Christ, you are not only building up treasure for this generation but also for generations to come.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

SERMON SNAPSHOT

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Dear Friends in Christ – 

Since the establishment of the church, people have sought to co-opt its power or ignore it. From Constantine to our modern era, tyrants have attempted to seduce its leaders. So in 1925 in response to secularization and the rise of nationalism, Pope Pius XI established a new feast day for the Roman Church – The Feast of Christ the King – a day to bring the focus back to Jesus.

The day is a "hinge” day between the season of ‘ordinary time’ and our preparation for the coming, when we “walk into expectant darkness, waiting for the light to dawn, and straining to hear the first cries of life” (Debi Thomas – Journey with Jesus), the incarnation, the enfleshment of God. 

In the time of Samuel, the people greatly offended Yahweh, the God who had liberated them from Egypt by insisting on, pleading for, whining until God relented and allowed them their wish for a king, a flesh and blood ruler. This ushered in one of the darkest eras of the people of Israel. So what do we make of a king now? Is the term even relevant? Our narratives are drenched, are saturated in images of the royal… and the rest. And yet it’s "the rest" that Jesus preferred and doted on. 

So as a fellowship of "the rest", let’s gather this Sunday and sing and pray and pledge our fealty to the only one who is worthy. Come, let’s gather and worship the Christ.

As members of "the royal priesthood", of all believers, let’s worship our king.

See you in worship!

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SERMON PODCAST

Thursday Treasure Thought with the Schuhs

In the spring of 1969, we made our first visit to Charleston in the middle of the Hospital Strike.  Fred was interviewing for a position in the Plastic Surgery Department at MUSC and Sallie tagged along as an add-on hoping for something in Pediatrics.  There were armed guards everywhere around the hospital.  It was a little intimidating.  But Fred got the job, and a place was found for Sallie and we LOVED Charleston in spite of the strike and what went with it.  We came back 2 weeks later and bought our first home.  We moved here in July with 2 and 4 year old boys and immediately started looking for a church home and a Sunday School for the boys.  We had both grown up in the Presbyterian tradition, and after a couple of weeks our neighbors Sue and Rev. Tom Horton invited us to 2nd Pres.  We loved its warmth and friendly people, and “Miss Betty Lou” completely captivated our 4 year old.  It is now 50 years since we joined.

In that time, we have served on the Diaconate and on the Session.  We have both sung in the choir.  We have been part of the yard clean up.  Fred was part of the crew that worked on the restoration of the belfry and re-flooring and up-dating the choir room. Sallie has taught Sunday School.  We jointly taught a class for young adults on “The 5 Love Languages.” (For those of you who don’t know it, we can really recommend it.  There are also versions for children and for teens.)   More recently we have been active in the 2nd Edition Book Club.

In our spare time since retirement, we have spent time on hobbies, woodturning and knitting especially, with our boat and in our garden.  We have traveled some as well, most often to visit children, grandchildren and friends, but also for fun and for meetings.

Our faith and our church have always been a central part of our marriage and our lives.  Our daughters were married here and some of our grandchildren were baptized here.  Our friends here have supported us through some of the tough times – everyone has them.  Our church needs from each of us what we have to give.  At different times in life, what we have to give may vary.  Sometimes it may be for projects like yardwork, tearoom, teaching, sometimes expertise in a given field, sometimes financial support.  And in some of the tough times, our church and the friends we make here will be able to respond, as our faith tells us God always does, “Lean on me.”

- Fred and Sallie

Join your Second Family as we commit our treasure in service to the Lord by pledging your 2020 gift this Stewardship season. When you enter into a partnership with the body of Christ, you are not only building up treasure for this generation but also for generations to come.

Tuesday Treasure Thought with Joshua

I have been a member of Second Pres since September of 2018 and found the church after returning from my deployment less than three weeks prior. 

Needless to say, I am a service member in the “Wild Blue Yonder” of . . . ? You guess it, the United States Air Force! I have lived an adventurous, topsy-turvy life thus far and have done - or currently do, should I say - a little bit of everything. From combat medicine and private piloting to now farming and air transportation, I’ve scrolled through the Rolodex of activities and have excelled in them all to some degree or another.

Being the Jack of All Trades, I participate at church and serve at God’s pleasure as a Deacon on the Hospitality Committee, in the choir - singing a joyful noise or playing my trumpet, and bringing the goats by, every time I can get, during our “Beautify the Yard” events. 

Most of the congregation may not know one of three facts: I’m a triplet, in elementary school I went to the regional finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and I’m the middle of 12 siblings!

Yes, there are two more “Joshuas” in the world - another boy and girl. With the blessing that is my large family, it is also my most treasured aspect of our church - this family, our family, and the community we have created.

I live just over 600 miles away from my family, but it is my Second Presbyterian Church family that sustains me, especially being so far away. When I moved to Charleston back in September of 2016, I had nothing and no one. I had moved away to college in northern Ohio back in January 2015, which was a mere 2.5 hours away from home, creating some reasonable distance but nothing considerably great. However, when I got to Charleston, I longed for that sense of community and family gathering that I have since found in our church.

I feel it is important, most especially during these times, to give to the life of the church with our time, our money, and our service to sustain this loving, diverse, and vibrant community of like-minded believers, so that we may continue in fellowship for another 200+ years!

-Joshua

Join your Second Family as we commit our treasure in service to the Lord by pledging your 2020 gift this Stewardship season. When you enter into a partnership with the body of Christ, you are not only building up treasure for this generation but also for generations to come.

Thursday Treasure Thought with Halley & AJ

Although we have been scarce lately in our Sunday service attendance, (we just welcomed our first son James in August), AJ and I have been members at Second Presbyterian for 8 years. Growing up in Christian homes, AJ and I both have been active in church since childhood. AJ in particular has fond memories of his dad cooking for church luncheons and both parents singing in the choir which they still do to this day. I was fortunate enough to have a strong youth group which set the foundation of the importance of a church family in my teen years.  

AJ is from northwest Ohio and I am from upstate South Carolina. We met here in Charleston while I was attending the College of Charleston and AJ was in residency at MUSC. It wasn’t quite love at first sight but after a flower delivery and a follow up call or two I was eventually won over and the rest is history. We were married by Cress at Second Presbyterian. After we finished school and training we were fortunate enough to find jobs in a city we love. AJ is a physician at MUSC and I work in finance at Garden & Gun Magazine. 

As a young couple we attended the weeknight Life Groups where we met some of our closest friends here in Charleston, friends we still keep to this day. It was these weeknight groups that kept us engaged with the Church. Gathering with other people at similar stages in life to socialize, study and enjoy a beverage was a moment we treasured as individuals and as a couple. Like his father, AJ too enjoys cooking for a crowd and any chance to cook in the kitchen with Mrs. Sue Henderson. I have always enjoyed volunteering with Hands of Christ. Watching the children shop with great anticipation for a new school year is a joy and privilege. 

As we enter into a new phase in life I hope that my son will feel the love of his Second church family the way AJ and I have. We look forward to giving joyfully and serving our God in the months and years to come.

- Halley & AJ

Join your Second Family as we commit our treasure in service to the Lord by pledging your 2020 gift this Stewardship season. When you enter into a partnership with the body of Christ, you are not only building up treasure for this generation but also for generations to come.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

SERMON SNAPSHOT

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Dear Friends in Christ –

“Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.” – II Thessalonians 3:13

This is the last phrase in our text for this Sunday. It couldn’t come at a better time in the life of our country and in the life of our church.  Many forces attack the Body of Christ. Paul identifies some in our text – meddling, gossiping, entitlement, busyness, burn out, misplaced priorities. But none more sinister than God’s people abandoning our charge, surrendering our privilege to work for God’s realm, therefore denying ourselves the joy the obedient know. 

These attacks we see in scripture and we experience in real life may appear in broad strokes, but it comes down, always comes down to the personal, the individual, the peoples (to use an Old Testament term) that comprise Christ’s body.

The first reading from the prophet Isaiah speaks to the future when ‘the wolf and the lamb shall feed together.’ We ain’t there. 

Folks, this Sunday is going to be terrific as the trumpet sounds, the word is proclaimed, we bring our commitments forward. And afterward we get a glimpse of many, but not all of the opportunities for fellowship, discipleship and service. A real glimpse of what we get to do in the name and for the love of Jesus. 

Invite your friends, your colleagues. Invite especially those with whom you may have amends to make. Share the wondrous things being done through Second Church – through you. 

With great joy in being your pastor (and great anticipation) –

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SERMON PODCAST

Hear our Children’s Choir sing:

Tuesday Treasure Thought with Debra

Giving Thoughts 

The Lowcountry is my home. I grew up in a Methodist Church, one in which my paternal great Grandfather gave land on which to build the Church. I changed to Presbyterian after I completed my undergraduate degree at the College of Charleston. My husband, Brian McQueen, and I returned to Charleston in 2009 after 11 years in Greenville where I served as Assistant City Attorney for Greenville.  I practice law and teach at Charleston School of Law. 

I joined Second Presbyterian Church about six years ago.  My life motto has been to work for solutions and work for positive changes.  In my service as an Elder and as Treasurer, I realized the importance of living a life for Jesus Christ and approaching everyone and every endeavor with honesty and integrity.  We were created by God. All that we have is God’s.

We have a duty to return to God a portion of what God has given to us.  Giving may mean sacrifice – giving more money than you think you are able; volunteering as an usher or liturgist; serving as an Elder or Deacon; setting out the garbage and recycling containers; raking and pulling weeds to “Beautify the Yard.”  My gratitude for the members of Second Presbyterian runs deep. The Holy Spirit is powerful. We have this moment to give, to love, to be honest, to be like Jesus Christ. This moment too is God’s. We cannot look to the other person to give in our place. We cannot sit on our hands and pray for change. Faith without works is dead. Second Presbyterian Church will only be sustained with everyone giving. We will see positive change when we care for and embrace those old-time, long-serving members. We must work together to sustain Second Presbyterian Church.

- Debra

James 1:26

Join your Second Family as we commit our treasure in service to the Lord by pledging your 2020 gift this Stewardship season. When you enter into a partnership with the body of Christ, you are not only building up treasure for this generation but also for generations to come.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

SERMON SNAPSHOT

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Dear Friends in Christ –

This Sunday Catherine is joining the church. She’s excited! She told me she’s found a place where the word of God is preached and lived and seen in the people. That God’s presence is felt in the house.

Catherine is a companion to residents at Bishop Gadsden – already engaged in the work of the realm. What presence she brings. What a gift to this body. 

We’ll be engaging Paul’s letter to the Corinthians – his 2nd. 

Come and celebrate with God’s people. Come meet and worship with and welcome Catherine.

See you Sunday,

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SERMON PODCAST

Thursday Treasure Thought with Lee

Some of you may not know this, but I grew up in a family full of ministers. My father, my grandfather on my mom's side, my uncle and cousin on my dad's side are all Lutheran pastors. Needless to say, church life has been an integral part of my upbringing.  Like Rebecca said in her message Tuesday, being a family member of the pastor can be difficult at times, but also very rewarding. I remember fondly all my church parents growing up leading me by example and not letting me get away with too many shenanigans! That family experience here at Second is what has kept me here since college. It’s hard to believe that I have been here since around 2002ish, but just joined last year! I feel that I have been a part of the family the whole time though. Especially in the choir family here.  

Music and nature is how I personally commune with God. Specifically choral music. There is just something special about a group coming together to make something greater than the sum of its parts. I find the same awe when I get to take time to explore the beauty of nature around our historic city. I have been blessed with many great musical opportunities in my life. I have sung in choirs with various symphony orchestras and am a founding member of our local professional choir, the Taylor Festival Choir.  Music is not my entire life though. I spent 13 years working in special education and before that many years working outside of education with people with various disabilities. I also love to exercise, cook (I have a big green egg that I love to make everything from cake to brisket in), and have a slight addiction to the xbox!  

I love that our "Second Family" slogan is not just words on paper. It is truly exemplified by everyone here, welcoming all regardless of where they are on their own personal journey of faith, and also orientation or ethnicity. While we are not perfect, we do strive to follow the accepting and loving example of Christ. Not only do we have an amazing church family, but an incredible historic sacred building to worship in.  Doing God’s work is not easy. It requires sacrifice in all aspects of life. Time, talents, and finance. As a former schoolteacher I can't help but grade myself as I write this reflection. I give myself an B for sharing my time, and A for talents, but I must admit I find myself failing when it comes to tithing. I am going to endeavor to fix that. I truly believe that for all churches to succeed in our mission of sharing the good news of Christ, they must be supported in all ways by all members to the best of their abilities. I encourage us all to reflect on how great or not so great we are doing in that mission and to recommit ourselves to continuing to do all of God's work that makes life at Second so special!

-Lee

Join your Second Family as we commit our treasure in service to the Lord by pledging your 2020 gift this Stewardship season. When you enter into a partnership with the body of Christ, you are not only building up treasure for this generation but also for generations to come.