Lenten Devotional: Vulnerable Prayers

Vulnerable Prayers

Becoming more human or allowing ourselves to get more fully in touch with our humanity has been a theme that has continuously been coming up for me in this season of Lent. Yesterday, I had the honor of preaching at Second and I preached on Mark 14:32-42, Jesus praying in Gethsemane, if it has been a while since you have read or heard this scripture, I urge you to give it another read. 

In the text Jesus is wrestling with God and praying what I believe is an incredibly human prayer: “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want” (Mark 14:36). I know I have prayed a similar prayer and I wonder, have you? I find that this text brings me comfort for many reasons, one being that Jesus is so human here as are his very sleepy disciples. I can’t help but see this text as an invitation; an invitation to allow God into our messes, even the ones we create ourselves. I have hope that when we pray raw and vulnerable prayers, like Jesus did in the garden, God honors them, hears them, and is present with us as we offer them—even if God doesn’t necessarily answer them in the ways we think God ought to or in the ways we might want. 

May we be renewed and strengthened by the love of God this week and always. May we take heart in knowing our Lord never falls asleep and is always awake. May we try and stay awake, but be willing to accept God’s grace when we inevitably fall asleep. 

—Margaret Fleming

About the author

Margaret Fleming has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church since 2017. A native of Mt. Pleasant, she found herself back home after graduating from Columbia Theological Seminary in May 2020. She resides in Mt. Pleasant with her husband Will, a fourth-year medical student at MUSC. She is a candidate for ordination in the PCUSA and is currently serving as a Chaplain Resident at Roper Hospital.

Margaret's ordination service will be held on April 18, 2021 in the sanctuary.

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“Meeting people at their point of need and inviting all into a dynamic relationship with Christ.”

Baroque Music Concert

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Enjoy your Sunday afternoon with beautiful music on March 21, 4:00 pm. 

Freewill offering in person or via Venmo @johnsamuelroper

Celebrate JS Bach’s 336th birthday live or virtually!

John Samuel Roper, flute, Tim O’Malley, viola da gamba, and our own Julia Harlow, harpsichord, will play a concert both in-person here at the church (masked, distanced) and live streamed here.  

Composers include Michel Blavet (French, 18th c.), Anna Bon (a child prodigy of mid-18th c. Italy), Georg Philipp Telemann and Johann Sebastian Bach. 

Bulletin- March 21

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

 “Meeting people at their point of need, Inviting all into a dynamic relationship with Christ”

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - Please fill out a contact card to assist with COVID-19 contact tracing and to let us know you worshiped with us in person today even if you are a member. If you’re a visitor, online or in person, and would like more information please feel free to fill out a card or email Pastor Cress.

INFORMATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Second Presbyterian is a church community where you will be known and nurtured. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here. Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here.

And get connected! Join a small group here. While we may be practicing social distancing these days, there are still ways to be involved and to offer your time, talents, and resources in service to others. Please reach out to our Director of Community and Communications Jordyn Pritchard to get connected.

A Pivotal Moment--Gethsemane

Online Church is posted on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Watch here.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, March 21, 2021

This Lenten season, we have been following Jesus throughout his final week. This Sunday we reach the Thursday of his final week and a lot happens. We will walk alongside Jesus as he prepares his disciples for what is to come—anointing, betrayal, denial, arrest, and death. Mark 14 is a chapter full of the events of Thursday and Mark 14:32-42 shares the account of Jesus in Gethsemane, a vulnerable fully human moment and also a pivotal one.

Let us gather together to journey alongside and worship the One who became fully human, who knew suffering, and who loves us with an everlasting love.

Grace and Peace,
Margaret

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Margaret Fleming has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church since 2017. A native of Mt. Pleasant, she found herself back home after graduating from Columbia Theological Seminary in May 2020. She resides in Mt. Pleasant with her husband Will, a fourth-year medical student at MUSC. She is a candidate for ordination in the PCUSA and is currently serving as a Chaplain Resident at Roper Hospital.

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Interested in becoming a member of Second Presbyterian? Email Cress for more information.

Listen to sermon podcasts here. Click here to view all Second Presbyterian Church videos. Find upcoming events and announcements here.

Lenten Devotional: Suffering and Celebration

Suffering and Celebration

Last week, I wrote about how Lent is a time to do things that will draw us closer to God and in doing so we become more fully human. By acknowledging our reliance upon God and learning what it means to answer the call to follow Christ, we recognize not only our full humanity but the full humanity of others. In answering the call to follow Christ we are invited to move closer to people and their pain, to bear witness to their suffering and in learning to be present in the suffering we learn how to more fully celebrate in times of joy.

The society we live in offers us amazing ways to numb ourselves to the pain of this world—our pain and the pain of others. A few of my personal favorite numbing tools are scrolling through social media, store websites, and buying things I don’t need all in the search of a quick fix to alleviate pain or to make me happy. However, as I wake up to my full humanity by drawing closer to God—I learn that the numbing does not help but rather hinders real relationship. In this Lenten season I am personally being challenged to connect fully, without numbing, to my humanity and the humanity of others. It hurts, it is some of the hardest work we have to do—yet it is holy as it draws us closer to one another and to the One who created us all and calls us beloved.

As we enter into this week, may we do so as fully human. May we step into others’ pain and suffering and into their joy, laughter and love with our whole selves and may we find that Christ goes with us, Christ is already there, and that Christ surrounds us. 

—Margaret Fleming

About the author

Margaret Fleming has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church since 2017. A native of Mt. Pleasant, she found herself back home after graduating from Columbia Theological Seminary in May 2020. She resides in Mt. Pleasant with her husband Will, a fourth-year medical student at MUSC. She is a candidate for ordination in the PCUSA and is currently serving as a Chaplain Resident at Roper Hospital.

Margaret will be preaching at Second Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 21, 2021 and we are excited to host her ordination service on April 18, 2021.

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“Meeting people at their point of need and inviting all into a dynamic relationship with Christ.”

Bulletin- March 14

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

 “Meeting people at their point of need, Inviting all into a dynamic relationship with Christ”

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - Please fill out a contact card to assist with COVID-19 contact tracing and to let us know you worshiped with us in person today even if you are a member. If you’re a visitor, online or in person, and would like more information please feel free to fill out a card or email Pastor Cress.

INFORMATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Second Presbyterian is a church community where you will be known and nurtured. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here. Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here.

And get connected! Join a small group here. While we may be practicing social distancing these days, there are still ways to be involved and to offer your time, talents, and resources in service to others. Please reach out to our Director of Community and Communications Jordyn Pritchard to get connected.

Eyes Up

Online Church is posted on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Watch here.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, March 14, 2021

Dear Friends in Christ —

How often— from work to drive home radio— do you hear folks refer to Wednesday as ‘hump day’? Like an imagined mountain you climb, the midpoint of a project, an accomplishing of something that’s required after which you slide, you cruise.

Scholars, theologians and preachers don’t know what to make of Wednesday of Jesus’ final week. Scripture doesn’t tell us how Jesus and his friends spend the day. Some suggest it was a ‘personal’ day spent with friends. Others find it hard to believe Jesus would just ‘take a day’ given the time frame of passion week. I won’t speculate.   

This Sunday we engage the lectionary. We’ll touch on both Testaments that direct our attention where in our redemption will be found. 

Eyes up! 

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Interested in becoming a member of Second Presbyterian? Email Cress for more information.

Listen to sermon podcasts here. Click here to view all Second Presbyterian Church videos. Find upcoming events and announcements here.

Thursday Bible Study Group

The Thursday evening mixed adult Bible study group will meet beginning March 11th at 7:30 p.m. to start a new nine-week study.

Sign up to receive the Zoom link and join the weekly small group email. Contact Sarah Mitchell for more information.

Sign up here:

Into the Light, Finding Hope Through Prayers of Lament presents a Biblically based approach to facing troubling times, which meets the moment as we face a year of collective grief. You can get a copy of the PW Horizons Bible Study Into the Light if you'd like, but it is not required.

This study is for anyone hoping to deepen his/her/their relationship to God through Bible study, community, and prayer. The group will be led by members on a rotating basis and is open to the community.

“In this nine-lesson study, Lynn Miller revives lament as a proper theological response to the difficult situations of our world. One of the foundational points of the study is that, in scripture, lament usually leads to hope. After crying out to God, the one who laments remembers God. And while that doesn’t fix things in the moment—the injustice, the loss still exists—the lamenter is strengthened to face the world and to hope. And for us as Christians, hope is not just an emotional response or an attitude of pie in the sky. Hope implies movement: both God’s inherent movement toward justice and our movement toward God. Recovering lament may be one of the church’s most timely gifts to the world.”

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Previous study:

Theocademy study Expanding the Narrative: Women & the Reformation

At-Home Easter Egg Hunt

This year, Easter egg hunt bags will be put together for preschool and elementary aged children for an at-home egg hunt March 27. We are in need of candy (peanut-free) & small prize donations, which can be dropped off in the education building by March 21. Please contact Jordyn if you are able to help stuff eggs or deliver bags the week of March 22.

Lenten Devotional: Being Human

Being Human

During the season of Lent, we practice intentionality. We intentionally give up things or put on a new practice in order to draw closer to Christ. I believe as we deliberately make space and time to become silent and draw closer to God, we are ultimately drawing closer to our own humanity. We learn more and more to rely on the One who created us and sustains us. 

The things we choose to give up or the practices we choose to put on are intended to keep pointing us back to God. Every time we desire that thing we gave up, we are faced with our humanity and the temptations that come with being human and we are met with our need for God’s grace, patience, and love, which God continues to freely give. Or perhaps we put on new practices and as we do them we draw closer to God and we sense more and more God’s presence of love in this big world and with each one of us. 

In this season of Lent, I hope and pray that as you are reminded of your full humanity you will feel God’s presence of love encompassing you, embracing you, loving you and sustaining you throughout this journey.

—Margaret Fleming

About the author

Margaret Fleming has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church since 2017. A native of Mt. Pleasant, she found herself back home after graduating from Columbia Theological Seminary in May 2020. She resides in Mt. Pleasant with her husband Will, a fourth-year medical student at MUSC. She is a candidate for ordination in the PCUSA and is currently serving as a Chaplain Resident at Roper Hospital.

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“Meeting people at their point of need and inviting all into a dynamic relationship with Christ.”

Bulletin- March 7

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

 “Meeting people at their point of need, Inviting all into a dynamic relationship with Christ”

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - Please fill out a contact card to assist with COVID-19 contact tracing and to let us know you worshiped with us in person today even if you are a member. If you’re a visitor, online or in person, and would like more information please feel free to fill out a card or email Pastor Cress.

INFORMATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Second Presbyterian is a church community where you will be known and nurtured. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here. Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here.

And get connected! Join a small group here. While we may be practicing social distancing these days, there are still ways to be involved and to offer your time, talents, and resources in service to others. Please reach out to our Director of Community and Communications Jordyn Pritchard to get connected.

Jesus' Final Week: Tuesday

Online Church is posted on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Watch here.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, March 7, 2021

Dear Friends in Christ —

Do you know the name Harold Camping? He founded Family Radio Network; he predicted Jesus would return on May 21, 2011 signaling the end of the world. Evidently Jesus didn’t get the memo.

And civilzation didn’t crumble at Y2K.

And the ancient Mayans miscalculated as well.

What is it about the apocalypse that conjures such speculation? Perhaps if we look at another meaning – an uncovering, a disclosure, a revealing of great knowledge – it may be easier to understand the fascination. I doubt many of us are yearning for the end of it, or this, or that or all of it! We aren’t those who ponder a rapture – ascending through the clouds, bumping into Jesus on his way, the final reckoning in his pocket.

In our text this week, Jesus covers ground and he doesn’t have much time. Time is accelerating so he gathers his chosen to Olivet. There, he reveals trials to come. He is clear in what must happen, but when it comes to his return, he just says, “Be ready.” So we’ll do our part in grateful obedience and in inexplicable joy – yes, joy, even in the scrum of these days.

We sing. We pray. We proclaim. We share Christ’s table. You’re expected and will be celebrated. 

In anticipation – 

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Interested in becoming a member of Second Presbyterian? Email Cress for more information.

Listen to sermon podcasts here. Click here to view all Second Presbyterian Church videos. Find upcoming events and announcements here.

Thursday Bible Study Group

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Sign up here to join the group email.

The Thursday evening mixed adult Bible study group will meet again on Thursday, March 11th at 7:30 p.m. to begin a new nine-week study.

Into the Light, Finding Hope Through Prayers of Lament presents a Biblically based approach to facing troubling times.

Please sign up for emails or contact Sarah Mitchell for more information.

“In this nine-lesson study, Lynn Miller revives lament as a proper theological response to the difficult situations of our world. One of the foundational points of the study is that, in scripture, lament usually leads to hope. After crying out to God, the one who laments remembers God. And while that doesn’t fix things in the moment—the injustice, the loss still exists—the lamenter is strengthened to face the world and to hope. And for us as Christians, hope is not just an emotional response or an attitude of pie in the sky. Hope implies movement: both God’s inherent movement toward justice and our movement toward God. Recovering lament may be one of the church’s most timely gifts to the world.”

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/s/81439601260?pwd=S2krUGlaV1lTZlptc2YxTjkzaGFpUT09

Meeting ID: 814 3960 1260

Passcode: 181914

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Previous study:

Theocademy study Expanding the Narrative: Women & the Reformation

Volunteer Opportunities - March 2021

CLICK ON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION

Lenten Devotional: Treasured Things

Treasured Things

One of my favorite lines in scripture appears twice in the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. The first time it appears, is after the shepherds have come to visit the baby Messiah, Mary and Joseph and tell of the wonderful things they had heard of the child. After this, the text reads “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19) The next time Scripture states of Mary treasuring things in her heart is after she could not find the young boy Jesus, when he was in the temple (Luke 2:46-51). I can only imagine Mary’s absolute terror at not knowing where her beloved son is. The text tells us that after they discover him and reveal how worried they were, Jesus “was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.” 

I love that this line is used not once, but twice in the same chapter and it points to the utter love, hope, and concern Mary has for Jesus. I look at Mary and see a human many of us can relate to—proud and relieved, treasuring big and seemingly small things in our hearts and carrying them with us as sustenance for the journey of life.  I wonder if these are moments that helped sustain Mary when she eventually stood as a grief-stricken mother at the foot of the cross, heartbroken, scared, and hurting for her beloved son. 

I believe we are invited to pay attention to the big, in your face holy moments, and to the seemingly small but ever so sacred moments that this life has to offer. We should savor them and treasure them in our hearts, so that we remember Love is everlasting and God is ever present. Let us take some time this week to open ourselves up to the sacred happening all around us and treasure it in our hearts.

—Margaret Fleming

About the author

Margaret Fleming has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church since 2017. A native of Mt. Pleasant, she found herself back home after graduating from Columbia Theological Seminary in May 2020. She resides in Mt. Pleasant with her husband Will, a fourth-year medical student at MUSC. She is a candidate for ordination in the PCUSA and is currently serving as a Chaplain Resident at Roper Hospital.

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“Meeting people at their point of need and inviting all into a dynamic relationship with Christ.”