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.
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
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!
SERMON PODCAST
Source: sermons
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.
Dee Norton Volunteer Opportunities
The Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center relies on volunteers to help achieve their mission to prevent abuse, protect children and heal families. Volunteers are key to providing a child-friendly and welcoming environment for children and families who come to the Center. There are many ways for individuals to become involved through their volunteer opportunities. Find out more here.
Source: /missions
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.
Steeple Fund
Second Presbyterian Church is the PC(USA) "Historical Site #1," the designated oldest recognized Presbyterian building in America! But this church is not a monument, it's a mission. We are a congregation known for its friendliness and its heart for service to ALL God's people. We are committed to serving our still-creating God in ways that are yet to be imagined! We hope you feel called to contribute toward the preservation of Second Presbyterian Church and the many ways in which God is working through this particular place.
Be a part of the legacy of Second Presbyterian and GIVE TODAY. Contribute to the fund (choose Steeple Fund from the drop down ‘fund’ options), in the offering plate, or deliver your donations to the church office.
Last year the property committee oversaw extensive studies of the materials that make up our buildings. The studies concluded that the structure is sound and a fund has since been founded to paint the steeple. Under the leadership of Patterson Smith and the Property Committee, the Mixed Adults Sunday School class helped kick off a fund to paint the steeple as they pledged significant contributions in early 2019.
As of November 12, 2019 there is $68,525 pledged toward the The Steeple Fund. Estimates are being submitted and work is expected to begin soon.
Source: /give
Sunday, November 17, 2019
SERMON SNAPSHOT
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) –
SERMON PODCAST
Hear our Children’s Choir sing:
Source: sermons
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
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,
SERMON PODCAST
Source: sermons
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.
Tuesday Treasure Thought with Rebecca
I grew up in the Methodist church up the road in Columbia. In the fifth grade, my mother was a substitute teacher at my school, my Girl Scout leader, and my Sunday School teacher! It was too much. But looking back, I am happy that I was raised in a caring Christian family that taught me the importance of being a good student, an active volunteer, and a follower of Christ. When I joined the church as a young teenager, I learned the importance of pledging and have done so ever since.
Like many young adults, I fell away from the church during my college years. Fast forward to marrying Cress, we knew it was important as a young married couple to find a church home in NYC. Our happy place turned out to be Fifth Avenue Presbyterian, where we were active members and financial supporters for many years.
Before we moved to Charleston, while Cress was in the process of interviewing with the Search Committee, I visited Second Presbyterian solo (well, SaSa was along for the ride in my tummy), and came to the church “incognito,” wanting to see if I would feel at home with the congregation. I slipped into a pew (not my backrow seat I’ve had now for 15 years!), hoping no one would notice me. I remember which pew in which I sat and who was sitting in front of me. Although I never gave up my identity, there was no escaping the friendliness of the congregation. Many of those people, including Miss Betty Aimar who was particularly kind to me that day, have passed on. But Second Presbyterian continues to be a beacon of light in the Holy City.
Being the “preacher’s wife” is not always easy. I have for the most part helped over the years where I could, but with my job and family duties, my plate is quite full – just as I know it is with yours. Last year, though, thanks to Debbie Smith, I was asked to be a Deacon and am having a great time working with my fellow deacons to bring life back into our Second Sunday lunches. And this year, it has been a true pleasure to work alongside David Savard to lead our Stewardship season. I didn’t agree to take this on because I am the preacher’s wife; I did it because as a member of this congregation, I care for this church and all of you. I want to see us flourish and to be able to do all the things we are called to do. I want it to be a place where young children can grow up, like Lily and SaSa did, feeling they have the love of their church family surrounding them. You all are my treasure – your friendly faces and the joy we have worshiping and working together!
But it takes money. We all need to dig deep to make sure that our beloved church is on strong financial footing. Cress and I will be making our pledge in the next week or so and I know we will do whatever we can to support the work of this church.
Like my father who pulled his checkbook out of the secretary in the living room each Saturday night and wrote out his check to the church, I too still like the act of writing out my check each Sunday and putting it in the plate. You may prefer the online giving option we offer. But however you choose to give, it is important to make that commitment on Sunday, November 17th.
The work of the church never stops. It doesn’t take the summer off. The doors are open and the lights are on 52 weeks a year. It is imperative that we give cheerfully and consistently, if we want to see Second Presbyterian thrive. I invite you to join me in stepping up to – and into the plate – with a generous pledge to the lifeblood of this historic church.
- Rebecca
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 3, 2019
SERMON SNAPSHOT
Dear Friends in Christ –
This Sunday Jesus speaks salvation. You say, "Of course.” But I say that in Luke’s gospel this Sunday Jesus speaks to yet another of the despised, the easy to ridicule, the easy to dismiss. Jesus not only speaks to a short guy in a tree, he calls him down from the limbs of the sycamore and invites himself to supper! Of course the proper folk scoff and grumble, but Jesus allows the fellow, a sinner in the crowd’s eyes to stand his ground and state his case – his integrity that no one present could have imagined…but Jesus.
We forget so quickly that when we look into the eyes of another, we look into the eyes of an eternity! So we’re told. Who may we be ridiculing, dismissing with contempt in our pettiness and myopia?
Jesus calls us to better – and God’s sacred word shows us the way.
See you in church. We’ll share communion… and salvation!
In Christ,
SERMON PODCAST
Source: sermons
Thursday Treasure Thought with the Mitchells
Our Treasures at Second Presbyterian
Marion: Nine years ago I returned to the family home on Wadmalaw Island. The first year back was occupied with preparations for moving in after sixteen years of rental and for leaving our home of eighteen years in Chesterfield, Missouri. When we were all here, we visited churches to get our bearings and to know the lay of the landscape. Because I grew up in Second from infant baptism through confirmation and beyond, it was on our list. We were immediately drawn in by the warm welcome of the Mixed Adult Sunday class. Not only the inclusive welcome by all but also the strong Biblical conversations led by Dingle Howe with contributions from Robbie Staubes, Evelyn King and Dolores King were treasures to know. The Education Building we were in brought back middle school memories of how it was created by a fund campaign (whose treasurer was my father) made by members who gave treasure to build something not just for themselves but for all who follow.
Since joining Second in 2012, I have been head usher, session member, clerk of session, and Tea Room beverage server. These opportunities plus “Beautify the Yard Days” to pitch in alongside others and to socialize at oyster roasts and church dinners are also treasure builders. All these make me realize that when we build together we all grow together and provide for others to join and grow. Will you build your treasure this stewardship season?
Sarah: Heritage at Second Presbyterian has meant a lot to me as well. My great-great grandfather was a Scots mason who came to Charleston to work on Fort Sumter in the 1840s, and he and his wife were members here. When I worship in our beautiful sanctuary as they did, I feel closer to them. As I have participated in our wonderful community services, true treasures, I have imagined sharing with them the glorious spirituals soaring to the ceiling.
For my years here, now almost a decade, I treasure especially the music ministry, with its gems, Julia Harlow and Lee Lingle. Being able to ring the bells and sing with the choir to the glory of God is a true blessing. I also treasure the mission mindfulness of our congregation. We are a Matthew 25 church, reaching out in the name of Christ to feed, clothe, heal, teach, and minister spiritually to God's people at the Shaw Center, in our own Fellowship Hall with Hands of Christ, at the Star Gospel Mission, in rural homes on Wadmalaw Island, at Thornwell, in flooded neighborhoods of upstate South Carolina, at hospitals in Haiti and the Congo, at Water Mission sites around the world, and in the refugee camps of South Sudan. Many of these ways we do mission have been supported by the Tea Room or special offerings through the year, but our pledges toward the budget give the foundation to the whole church program, strengthening us to serve.