That's Who I Am

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, September 27, 2026

Dear Friends in Christ,

I love it (I think) when we get to engage one of the most familiar texts in scripture. Jonah inspires conversation, wonder, skepticism – the opportunity to move beyond fisherman’s tales, beyond what one can land in the boat, to how one can land in petulance or grace.

Which ‘bait’ will we take? Many lures before us, but only one that promises great power (the love of Jesus) and eternal life. Whoa!

See you Sunday –

Best love,  

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

Sunday Bulletin - September 27

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

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

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - 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

Are you looking for a church home where you can make a difference for the God we serve? Where you belong and where you will be known, nurtured, challenged?  We welcome you and invite you to spend some time with us.

Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here.

Watch Second Presbyterian videos on YouTube, like Second on Facebook, and stay connected by signing up for our emails which offer a snapshot of upcoming church and missions events and announcements.

Sunday Bulletin - September 20

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

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

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - 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

Are you looking for a church home where you can make a difference for the God we serve? Where you belong and where you will be known, nurtured, challenged?  We welcome you and invite you to spend some time with us.

Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here.

Watch Second Presbyterian videos on YouTube, like Second on Facebook, and stay connected by signing up for our emails which offer a snapshot of upcoming church and missions events and announcements.

Something to Hope For

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, September 20, 2026

With everything that is going on around us, it's easy to shut down. It's easy to stop believing in the people around us and to even stop believing in ourselves.

Let's get together on Sunday and find a path towards the hope we can all have.

- Ken Carrington

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This is the end of a 3-part sermon series focused on the grand essentials of happiness: Something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for.

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

Homecoming Sunday Bulletin - September 13

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

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

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - 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

Are you looking for a church home where you can make a difference for the God we serve? Where you belong and where you will be known, nurtured, challenged?  We welcome you and invite you to spend some time with us.

Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here.

Watch Second Presbyterian videos on YouTube, like Second on Facebook, and stay connected by signing up for our emails which offer a snapshot of upcoming church and missions events and announcements.

Homecoming Sunday: Someone to Love

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, September 13, 2026

Dear Friends in Christ –

Everyone Needs Someone to Love (and a place to belong!)

Alexander Chalmers, along with G.K. Chesterton and others, credited with articulating a phrase that has been the inspiration for sermons, sermon series, graduation cards and graduation addresses. He is said to have written "The three grand essentials of happiness are: Something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for."

Whatever the catalyst was for this statement, the world can be grateful. But more to the point, the church can be grateful. With this phrase, yearnings are expressed that are common to most people, but, yes, essential to us who would follow Jesus.  

There are a plethora of books and articles that speak to the importance of purposeful work, community and affection, and this Sunday we are engaging one of Jesus’ best known and often preached parables that speaks to yearnings, but more importantly to non-transactional love, forgiveness and costly, sweet reconciliation.

Homecoming Sunday – invite your homies, check on those you haven’t seen for a while, recruit the ones you want to know better and who you want to know you better as a follower of Jesus – our and the world’s – only hope! Come worship and share a meal.

In anticipation –

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

Sunday Bulletin - September 6

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

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

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - 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

Are you looking for a church home where you can make a difference for the God we serve? Where you belong and where you will be known, nurtured, challenged?  We welcome you and invite you to spend some time with us.

Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here.

Watch Second Presbyterian videos on YouTube, like Second on Facebook, and stay connected by signing up for our emails which offer a snapshot of upcoming church and missions events and announcements.

Something to Do!

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, September 6, 2026

Dear Friends in Christ –

The British theologian G. K. Chesterton writes about the joy of God's unending act of creation in his great book Orthodoxy. He muses that God says to the rising sun every morning, "do it again!" And so when our work may involve seemingly endless routine, we need to find the joy that lurks beneath even the most menial tasks.

He suggested, “if an ode can be written for a Grecian urn, then perhaps every widget is a wonder. Just because miracles happen every day doesn't mean they are no longer miracles.” And “angels are able to fly because they take themselves lightly." :)

He is also one of a couple of authors to whom the title of this series is ascribed...

“Grand Essentials of Happiness – Everyone Needs Something to Do, Something to Hope For, Someone to Love."

Monday is Labor Day... this Sunday, let’s look at what we get to do!

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

Sunday Bulletin - August 30

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

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

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - 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

Are you looking for a church home where you can make a difference for the God we serve? Where you belong and where you will be known, nurtured, challenged?  We welcome you and invite you to spend some time with us.

Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here.

Watch Second Presbyterian videos on YouTube, like Second on Facebook, and stay connected by signing up for our emails which offer a snapshot of upcoming church and missions events and announcements.

A Blueprint for Expansion

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, August 30, 2026

Dear Friends in Christ –

There is a theme offered the last couple of weeks here at Second Church – one of inclusion, but more than just allowing and accepting those who may have been thought unwelcome or unworthy elsewhere, we’ve looked at expanding the table – providing a place for everyone and pulling up more chairs! .

How is that possible? Well the Apostle Paul doesn’t leave the people to whom he writes without direction. Our lection begins – “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. …Be tenderly affectionate one to another.”

How’s that for a start? Nonambiguous. Then Paul continues with clear, succinct exhortation. If there is confusion, it is ours.

How wonderful! Can anyone measure up? (shhh - We’ll talk about Dolly.)

In anticipation,

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

Sunday Bulletin - August 23

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

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

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - 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

Are you looking for a church home where you can make a difference for the God we serve? Where you belong and where you will be known, nurtured, challenged?  We welcome you and invite you to spend some time with us.

Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here.

Watch Second Presbyterian videos on YouTube, like Second on Facebook, and stay connected by signing up for our emails which offer a snapshot of upcoming church and missions events and announcements.

Adding More Chairs

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, August 23, 2026

In our house when I was growing up, my parents had an old dining room table they purchased when married that still functioned as our formal table for the holidays. When I was very young, I remember being astonished that the table seemed to “magically” grow at Thanksgiving and Christmas. How did that little table with four people around it expand to seat eight or ten? As you know, it was not magic, but leaves that can be inserted into the middle to make room for more people.
 
Last week we heard an encouraging word from Cress about the need according to God’s grace to keep expanding the “Welcome Table.” There should always be room for family and guests alike. However, most churches with declining membership, and apathy among those who do attend, find little problem with space limitations as rows of pews remain vacant on Sundays. But having chairs ready to welcome and meet the needs of God’s beloved is another story entirely!
 
You see, chairs require people - people with needs, people maybe not familiar with our church lexicon and traditions, but people who are indeed gifted by God’s spirit, people ready to serve, people who are seen as family not simply guests intruding on the dinner.
 
This Sunday we will be in conversation about not only expanding the table, but adding “working” chairs as well. Hope you will come and take your seat ready to eat.
 
See you Sunday,
Steven

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Rev. Steven Baines is a Charleston native who currently serves as our church administer after 25 years in our nation’s capital. He served as executive minister at National City Christian Church, the “national cathedral” of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He has also held senior leadership positions at national civil rights organizations including Americans United for Separation of Church and State and People for the American Way.

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

Sunday Bulletin - August 16

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

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

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - 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

Are you looking for a church home where you can make a difference for the God we serve? Where you belong and where you will be known, nurtured, challenged?  We welcome you and invite you to spend some time with us.

Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here.

Watch Second Presbyterian videos on YouTube, like Second on Facebook, and stay connected by signing up for our emails which offer a snapshot of upcoming church and missions events and announcements.

Expanding the Table

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

Find upcoming events and announcements here.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, August 16, 2026

Dear Friends in Christ –

In our text this Sunday Jesus has left the familiar environs in which much of his story has taken place and travels to the region of Tyre and Sidon, lands that were populated mainly by non-Israelites.

The road is dusty, they’re tired, they stop for lunch. They had no longer sat down when a foreign woman spies them and runs up to Jesus shouting ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David – my daughter is tormented by a demon.’

Jesus ignores her! The disciples gather, ‘Send her away. She keeps shouting after us!’

This develops into an unsettling episode that touches on the Jewish laws of exclusion and what appears to be a narrow understanding by our Lord of the scope of his mission.

The woman won’t be denied. She kneels. She cajoles. She endures insult to access the only power that could save her daughter.

We gather in worship to access the only power that will save us and God’s world created good gone awry. Come as we position ourselves for grace.

In great anticipation –

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

Sunday Bulletin - August 9

THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE - ALL ARE WELCOME

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

LET US KNOW YOU WORSHIPED WITH US TODAY - 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

Are you looking for a church home where you can make a difference for the God we serve? Where you belong and where you will be known, nurtured, challenged?  We welcome you and invite you to spend some time with us.

Interested in joining Second? Find more about becoming a member here. Have a prayer request? Please let us know here.

Watch Second Presbyterian videos on YouTube, like Second on Facebook, and stay connected by signing up for our emails which offer a snapshot of upcoming church and missions events and announcements.