Hands of Christ 2024

We are looking forward to serving once again as the downtown Charleston distribution center for Hands of Christ on Saturday, August 3, 2024. Please sign up to help as a volunteer!

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Clothing donations are now being collected in the education building

You can bring in donations or contribute to the special offering to benefit the Hands of Christ ministry online, by texting "2ndpc" to 73256, or through the church Venmo @chs2ndpc.

The mission of Hands of Christ is to bring PC(USA) congregations together to meet the basic needs of children by showing them Christ’s love, helping them start the school year with uniforms and basic school supplies. Started in 2002 by Zion-Olivet and Westminster Churches, the organization has supported over 63,000 children.

November is Thornwell Emphasis Month

In 1875, Presbyterian minister William Plumer Jacobs opened Thornwell Orphanage to ten children. Now, although children who need a loving home are still welcome there in Clinton, Thornwell is known throughout South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida as a source for training foster parents and working with and helping to heal families in need of support.

Family changes everything in a child’s life, and Thornwell addresses the welfare of children not as a singular event, but rather as a comprehensive, ongoing cycle of services and support designed to help children and families, no matter what stage of life they’re in.

Our offering for Thornwell will be given in the service on November 19, 2023, and your gifts are welcome online now and through the end of the month.

What Thornwell Does to Help Children and Families

Foster Care – We help place children who have no relatives to care for them with loving families who can provide the security and shelter of a stable home.

Residential Care – We provide a safe family-like home setting where children can recover from trauma and disruptions while their families cope with crisis. The new legal realities mean that big changes have come to Thornwell, but we remain committed to providing residential care for children and families in need.

Child Development Services – We provide nurturing care and educational support to children and families, including pregnant and teen moms, to support healthy futures for kids.

Academic Services – We provide essential education support that addresses distinct learning gaps and provides personalized learning for children and families in need.

Family Engagement – We offer several highly-personalized programs to teach parents important skills and coping tools that help them build a stable family and strengthen it over time through love and support.

Transitional Living Services – We help young people on the verge of adulthood adjust to an independent life outside the foster care system, with housing, life skills training, advanced education support, and workforce preparedness resources.

November is when we at Second Presbyterian remember Thornwell through a special offering. Please give to support this mission.

Hands of Christ 2023

We are looking forward to serving once again as the downtown Charleston distribution center for Hands of Christ on Saturday, August 12th. Please sign up to help as a volunteer!

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The mission of Hands of Christ is to bring PC(USA) congregations together to meet the basic needs of children by showing them Christ’s love, helping them start the school year with uniforms and basic school supplies. Started in 2002 by Zion-Olivet and Westminster Churches, the organization has supported over 60,000 children.

Clothing donations will be collected in the education building through August 10th

You can bring in donations or contribute to the special offering to benefit the Hands of Christ ministry online, by texting "2ndpc" to 73256, or through the church Venmo @chs2ndpc.

Missions

The purpose of the Second Presbyterian Missions Committee is to provide support beyond the walls of the Church, meeting local, national and global organizations at their point of need and inviting them into a dynamic relationship with Christ. Our goal is to reach people at all ages and stages in their journey with Christ, both in the Church and with the organizations we support.

Missions work is grounded in scripture. Matthew 25:35-36 recounts: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in; I needed clothes and you clothed me; I was sick and you looked after me; I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

We host an annual Tea Room in conjunction with Spoleto as a fundraising event to benefit our Missions program. These Tea Room weekends bring the congregation together in service and is well attended by people from all over the lowcountry and the state. 

Second Presbyterian Missions directly supports the following organizations and activities:

• Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy: providing chaplain care in local emergencies

• Hands of Christ: offering uniforms and school supplies to local elementary students

• Medical Benevolence Foundation: medical missions in Haiti, Congo, etc.

• Presbyterian Mission Agency (PCUSA) and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: trained volunteers work with locals around the country and world to meet needs

• Sea Island Hunger Awareness Foundation: offering food on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands

• The Shaw Center: after school events at this City of Charleston recreation center

• Star Gospel Mission: providing transitional housing to men in Charleston

• Tywanza Sanders Legacy Foundation: giving youth opportunities to pursue their education and entrepreneurial dreams.

• Water Mission: providing safe drinking water in many countries

• Water Wellness Mission: building new wells on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands

• We are especially pleased to support our missionaries, Sonia and Steve Dettweiler, who have been working in Nigeria for many years

Second Presbyterian is also a connected church, partnering with other churches in the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.) in world-wide mission. Of all the ways we come together, the Special Offerings represent the single, largest collective effort of Presbyterians to create positive impact and share God's grace and love. There are four denomination-wide special offerings. The One Great Hour of Sharing, given at Easter, goes to relieve hunger, disaster, and poverty.  The Pentecost offering supports young people by nurturing their faith, ideas, and unique gifts which they then share with the church and the world. 40% of the offering remained with our congregation to use for children and youth programs. The Peace and Global Witness offering supports ministries of reconciliation and peace. 25% was retained by the congregation to invest in the Tywanza Sanders Legacy Foundation. The Christmas Joy offering, celebrates the gift of church leaders, past, present, and future. Half of the offering goes to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, giving critical financial assistance for current and retired Presbyterian ministers, missionaries, and other church workers in their time of need. The other half goes to leadership development programs in Presbyterian-related schools and colleges.

Second partners with other Presbyterian churches in the state for two other special offerings. On Mothers' Day we remember Presbyterian Communities residents in need. More information at prescommunities.org. What used to be called Thornwell Home for Children, which took in orphans and other children whose families were unable to care for them, is now a major provider in state-wide service to families in crisis, offering counseling and parenting training, as well as their residential and foster programs.

In 2015, Second Presbyterian became the downtown distribution center for Hands of Christ, whose mission is to bring Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations together to meet the basic needs of children showing them Christ’s love. In 2019, we hosted our 5th Hands of Christ distribution and were delighted to serve the 60,000th Hands of Christ shopper in our Fellowship Hall! Please consider volunteering next time during this meaningful and rewarding activity.

Please join us as we extend God’s reach beyond the walls of Second Presbyterian. Thank you for your support!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CURRENT MISSIONS INITIATIVES

GIVE HERE TO SUPPORT MISSIONS

MBF at Second!

Second Presbyterian has been supporting the Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) for over 50 years. This organization began with missionary doctors in countries around the world and has transformed into work to strengthen the local leaders who oversee mission hospitals, clinics, and nursing schools in the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East.

THIS week, we will have the opportunity to learn more about this work from Dr. Douglas Lungu of Malawi, MBF’s medical director. He will make a presentation during the Sunday School hour, a minute for mission during the worship service, and a lunch conversation after church in the Fellowship Hall. He will also be available for conversation on Monday from 10-2pm in the conference room.

SUNDAY:

• 9:30 a.m. Sunday School Hour, Fellowship Hall

• 10:30 a.m. Worship Service, Minute for Mission, Sanctuary

• 11:45 a.m. Presentation with light lunch and celebratory cake, Fellowship Hall

• 3 - 5:00 p.m. Presentation with Dr. Lungu and MBF staff, Fellowship Hall

MONDAY:

• 10 a.m. - 12 noon Conversation with Dr. Lungu and MBF staff, Conference Room

Hands of Christ 2022

We are looking forward to serving once again as the downtown Charleston distribution center for Hands of Christ on August 5th and 6th. Please sign up to help as a volunteer on one of those days.

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The mission of Hands of Christ is to bring PC(USA) congregations together to meet the basic needs of children by showing them Christ’s love, helping them start the school year with uniforms and basic school supplies. Started in 2002 by Zion-Olivet and Westminster Churches, the organization has supported over 50,000 school children in Charleston, Berkley, Dorchester, Colleton, Williamsburg and Orangeburg counties and at Thornwell.

You can bring in supplies or contribute to the special offering to benefit the Hands of Christ ministry online, by texting "2ndpc" to 73256, or through the church Venmo @chs2ndpc.

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Pentecost Offering 2022

Pentecost Offering June 5 | Give online today

investing in our greatest resource

Help youth begin life with a solid foundation of faith.

Psalm 71 testifies that a foundation of faith established during childhood helps ensure lifelong faith and service. The patterns and lessons established during these formative years continue to bear fruit throughout a person's life. By receiving the Pentecost Offering, you are nurturing the faith of those who are the church to come —  children, youth, and young adults.

A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. This offering will be received on Pentecost Sunday, June 5.

Helping our neighbors in Ukraine

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is the refugee and disaster response program of the PC(USA). You can find out more information at pda.pcusa.org and respond to natural disasters and other crises with your prayers and by donating directly.

If you’d like to support Second Presbyterian’s missions you can do so here.

PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE RESPONSE IN UKRAINE

As the violence continues, the number of people being displaced internally and fleeing to neighboring countries increases by the day. The first priority at PDA is to provide funding to partners on the ground; sibling churches and ecumenical partners who are already providing assistance with basic items for survival. Funds are being used for emergency humanitarian aid such as food items, shelter, medicines, diapers, hygiene items, etc. Join us in praying for a peaceful solution and an end to the violence.

November is Thornwell Emphasis Month

Thornwell’s mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect, build and reunite families, and support healthy communities in the name of Jesus Christ. Founded in 1875 in Clinton, South Carolina, by a Presbyterian minister to care for orphans from the civil war, Thornwell still cares for abused, neglected, and abandoned children, while also providing innovative ministries to strengthen families throughout Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Timothy was just 13 when he arrived at Thornwell, but he had already experienced more heartbreak than many will in a lifetime. Timothy witnessed his own father’s death. Before that, Timothy was placed in foster care with his sister when their mother went to jail. They were reunited, but only briefly, when he was placed in foster care again. He often cried inconsolably for hours. He needed the extra support that Thornwell could provide. His trauma affected his whole person. He walked on tiptoes because no one had ever taught him any other way. He used foul language regularly because that’s all he heard at home.

At Thornwell, Timothy lived in a loving family setting where he heard and learned acceptable language. He got the physical therapy he needed for walking properly and the emotional therapy for learning to calm himself. He also learned of God’s love for him.

In our own faith walk, let us remember Timothy’s journey from unimaginable suffering to faith and love, and give generously to Thornwell. The special offering will be given on November 21st, the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Helping our neighbors in Haiti

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is the refugee and disaster response program of the PC(USA). You can find out more information at pda.pcusa.org and respond to the devastation of the recent earthquake in Haiti and other crises with your prayers and by donating directly.

If you’d like to support Second Presbyterian’s missions you can do so here.

From PDA:

The scale of the disaster facing Haiti after the Aug. 14 earthquake is becoming clearer. The quake and its aftershocks have left almost 1,300 people dead, thousands more injured and an unknown number of people are still missing. At least 13,000 homes were destroyed and roads, bridges and communication systems have been severely damaged. This catastrophe comes on top of Haiti’s ongoing struggles with endemic hunger and poverty, COVID-19 and continuing civil unrest, and as Tropical Storm Grace bears down on the region.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is providing emergency relief and short-term recovery in the impacted areas through our established local partners and in collaboration with ACT Alliance and its members. The PC(USA), through PDA and together with regional World Mission colleagues, will remain active throughout the entire recovery process, accompanying our partners in the area as they determine long-term program needs and providing financial support for rebuilding and resilience.

The needs for the response will be great. God’s people are once again called on to stand in the "GAP" — Give. Act. Pray.

Hands of Christ 2021 Update

Thank you for your support of Hands of Christ. The validated ministry of the Charleston Atlantic Presbytery has served over 60,000 children since 2003 with new school uniforms and school supplies at the start of the academic year. Second Presbyterian Church has been a part of the Hands of Christ team since 2016, serving as the downtown distribution site, where we’ve greeted hundreds of children and their families for two afternoons in early August. Due to the pandemic last year, the distribution became touchless, with schools submitting orders, which were in packed in bags by the Hands of Christ operations team then delivered by members of Second and First (Scots).

This year, as most children will not be vaccinated, we will again be using the same system; but we hope to expand our coverage to more schools. Hands of Christ could not exist without your help. Funding comes from donations, primarily from our member churches and individuals. Please join us in supporting this wonderful ministry through our special offering Sunday, July 25, 2021.

Stay tuned for more details later in the summer. We’ll need volunteers to pick up the bagged clothing and deliver it to schools in the downtown area. In addition, this fall Hands of Christ hopes to create a stronger partnership between our area churches and their schools in their communities. Last year, a great need for winter coats was identified. Other needs may include clothing for a school clothes closet, sweaters, shoes, belts, Bibles, grade-appropriate leisure reading books and hygiene supplies. Individual churches may hold drives for their local schools if they are able, and we may conduct Presbytery-wide collections for the items to supplement local efforts. 

Thank you in advance, and thank you for supporting the Hands of Christ offering on Sunday, July, 25, 2021.

Pentecost Offering

Pentecost Offering May 23 | Give online today

The Pentecost offering helps our youth begin life with a strong start—a solid foundation of faith formed in the first third of life, from childhood through young adulthood.

Each year on Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church. The Holy Spirit remains with us still, connecting us with the church of the past, continuing to inspire the church of today, and pointing us to the church of the future. Each year, this celebration is marked by receiving the Pentecost Offering which nurtures the faith of those who are the church to come — children, youth, and young adults. Psalm 71 testifies that a foundation of faith established during childhood helps ensure lifelong faith and service. The patterns and lessons established during these formative years continue to bear fruit throughout a person’s life. By giving to the Pentecost Offering, your congregation participates in helping our children, youth, and young adults grow up to proclaim with the Psalmist, “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.”

The Sandwich Stop

“The Sandwich Stop”

A Missions Fundraiser at Second Presbyterian Church

Friday, May 28th and Saturday, May 29th

11:00 a.m.  -  1:00 p.m.

Our beloved Tea Room will not be held this year due to safety guidelines recommended by the CDC for large gatherings.  Plans are that it will return in 2022!  “The Sandwich Stop” is a way that Second Church can continue the tradition of being a part of this exciting time of the year during Piccolo Spoleto.  “The Sandwich Stop” will offer freshly made lunches for purchase by vendors and customers in Wragg Square during the first weekend of the Spoleto Crafts Show.  We want folks to know that Second Presbyterian is here to serve.

Volunteers are needed for 2 hours each day to serve customers and other duties such as assembling lunches prior to the event.  We also need a lot of homemade nut-free cookies and bar-type desserts. Monetary donations are welcomed to help pay for items needed to make the lunches. “The Sandwich Stop” will be set up outside in the shade and safety precautions will be followed.  Proceeds of this event go to Missions of Second Church to help those less fortunate.  Please know that your help is needed and appreciated.

Email or send a text if you’d like to volunteer or need further information.

Debbie Smith, Dawn McCready, & Carol Howe

Make a monetary donation to help pay for items needed to make the lunches. Every cent goes toward Missions!

Souper Bowl of Caring

The annual Souper Bowl of Caring empowers youth and unites communities around the time of the Super Bowl to help those in need by teaming up with local partners.

Donations will be received in the designated soup pot in the narthex Sunday, February 7, 2021 and can be given online through the end of the month. 100% of donations we collect will go to Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation, fighting island hunger with healthy food and clean water one meal at a time. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with local organizations as they seek to do kingdom work in the world. Because of donations like yours, Souper Bowl of Caring is able to mobilize a movement to fight hunger and poverty locally.

Thornwell Offering

November is when we at Second Presbyterian remember and support Thornwell. In 1875, Presbyterian minister William Plumer Jacobs opened Thornwell orphanage to ten children. Now, although children who need a loving home are still welcome there in Clinton, Thornwell is known throughout South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida as a source for training foster parents and working with and helping to heal troubled families.

Our offering for Thornwell will be given in the service on November 22nd, and your gifts are welcome online now and through the end of the month.

Find out more about how Thornwell helps children and families here.