The Online Church service is posted below. This is a communion service, so please prepare bread- or bagels or muffins- and juice or wine so that you are ready to take part in communion.
Click here to listen to the sermon as a podcast. Click here to view all Second Presbyterian Church videos.
Have questions? You are encouraged to ask questions for a mid-week sermon discussion post. Yes, we really want you to ask questions!
SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, August 2, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ –
This week we turn to the Letter to the Hebrews which is written to a particular congregation because they saw a threat. Not from Roman occupiers or invading hordes, but the people to whom this was written were in the most extreme danger – the danger of giving up. The danger of apostasy, abandoning or even recanting their faith in Jesus the Christ. They were tired, weary. Their lives were hard. Don’t forget, it wasn’t easy being a Christian.
Sometimes we think life is hard, and sometimes it is, but when they professed Jesus as Lord they were shunned. They lost family ties, community identification, protection, property, opportunities for business and for marriage. Some were wondering, 'is this worth it?' And so, in Hebrews, they are given encouragement.
Remember God wants the best for us, but also the best from us. This week we engage the text, pertaining to the problems of everyday Christian life and living.
The one who wrote to the struggling congregation writes to us today, in our day-to-day, as well. Let us stand, shoulders back, chin up and face this time before us with confidence. Be encouraged in the one who conditions us through love and offers us life and strengthens us in communion at the table he has prepared.
Interested in becoming a member of Second Presbyterian? Email Cress for more information.
Volunteer opportunities can be found here →
The City has reached out asking for volunteer drivers to help care for our neighbors without housing right now. A volunteer driver is needed for each day of the week for both available options. Please consider volunteering. Contact Christopher Jardin at jardinc@charleston-sc.gov or 843.607.8570 for more information.
For the last three months, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided the opportunity for us to look more deeply at the future of international medical missions. And as Yogi would say – that future looks much different today than it ever has before.
Medical Missions Live continues its all-star lineup in July with more highly respected missions leaders that you won’t want to miss.
Life is different and can often be described as “upside-down.” My heart goes out to everyone because I know that few have ever experienced shortages, confinement, and a feeling of not being in control. After having spent decades in some of the most impoverished countries where everything is in short supply – especially medicines and good health – I know that life is challenging. We can, however, come through this; hopefully, stronger in faith and more aware of our global neighbors.
I stay in touch with my South Sudanese worshipping community, friends, colleagues and neighbors. They have had much concern for all of us here and are following the news very closely. More importantly, they are praying for everyone. Let us continue to pray for each other and those beyond our borders.
Special Offering this Sunday for Hands of Christ
Thank you for your continued support of our effort as a Church to support the incredible Hands of Christ ministry in the Charleston community. This year may be even more important than ever. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are modifying our distribution to safeguard both our members and the children we serve.
Find out more about how children will be served and how you can volunteer this year.
You can still donate to the Special Offering for Hands of Christ online by designating 'Hands of Christ'.
MUSC's Psychiatry Unit has reached out offering ways to help pregnant women and new moms right here in Charleston. They are collecting donations for the women in our community to help with mental health care, child care and provide support for young child education.
Find out specific ways to help here. →
One80 Place is in need of volunteers! If you are healthy and able, please sign up and help serve those who need us most right now!
Sign up here: one80place.volunteerhub.com/
Or donate to meet their "need of the week".
Wish list: one80place.org/wish-list/
Find it on Amazon: bit.ly/Wish-List-One80
Find it at Walmart: bit.ly/2NSDx7O
Get to know our new members!
CHURCH-WIDE TAG SALE
We have decided to delay our tag sale (yard, garage sale), till the end of September or October because of the virus. I now go around my house picking up nicknacks, and saying "bye- bye" I am decluttering. I look in closets and drawers and say to my clothes, "I haven't worn you in a year, so I guess I don't need you "bye-bye". Now I have a few piles and bags for the tag sale. So go around your house, garage, basement, and attic before time goes by and it's too late. I will need volunteers at the beginning of September to help me organize and price things. I will also need volunteers to spread the word, make posters/flyers to post at the college, stores, and churches and to put an ad in the paper. Please call and let me know if you can help out.
Thanks so much,
Dawn McCready
293-921-7819
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is in contact with partners in Guatemala and El Salvador offering assistance after Tropical Storm Amanda. Please join us in praying for the affected communities.
To support PDA’s response, designate gifts to DR000139. bit.ly/DR000139
SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH WHILE YOU PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING! Many of us are ordering online right now and you can support Second Pres any time you shop on Amazon! Choose to support “Second Presbyterian Church” at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will automatically donate to Second Presbyterian with each purchase you make. Remember to check out and place your final order via smile.amazon.com (and not the app) each time you shop to activate the donations.
The bell tower was struck by lightning the afternoon of Sunday, April 19, 2020. The Steeple Fund campaign for the current renovation continues and, considering the damage from the fire, the need to raise money is now even greater.
Help us bring the Second Church tower back to its former glory, so it can continue to be a beacon for Charleston. Donate today to the Steeple Fund.
Bell tower progress updates (and lots of photos) can be found here.
Please text the number 81010 with the message '@2pcchurch' to sign up for church text messages so that you are made aware of pertinent announcements and church-related news. If you didn't receive a text this week regarding the fire, then you aren't yet signed up! Please take a moment to sign up right now so that you're connected in the future. Please contact Jordyn if you need help signing up.