Christmas Day 2019
Source: sermons
Christmas Eve 2019
Christmas Eve Service
Source: sermons
Sunday, December 22, 2019
SERMON SNAPSHOT
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 -
SERMON PODCAST
Source: sermons
Sunday, December 15, 2019
SERMON SNAPSHOT
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!
SERMON PODCAST
Source: sermons
Sunday, December 8, 2019
SERMON SNAPSHOT
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!
SERMON PODCAST
Source: sermons
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
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