A PC(USA) church serving Jesus Christ & our neighbors in Portsmouth, OH since 1875
WORSHIP
Worship with us on Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
- in the building,
- by listening to the service on WIOI (92.1FM 1010AM),
- or by watching the live stream on our YouTube channel (search for Second Presbyterian Church Portsmouth, OH).
The time we spend in worship feels utterly unlike any other time in our week - peaceful, calming, nonanxious. Our beautiful old sanctuary brings us deep peace; the traditional hymns, choir, and organ keep us connected to our roots; and thoughtful sermons provoke us to think about things like faith and life and service from a new perspective. We leave feeling like we've drawn closer to God.
Following worship, we enjoy a light coffee hour together in the parlor (10:30 a.m.-ish) and then a multigenerational discussion group Sunday School class where we talk about everything from the sermon to current events in the world to current events in our lives (11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.-ish). (Usually this is a sermon post-mortem.)
In addition, bulletins can be mailed or emailed to any who would like to have a copy in their hands. (We normally drop them off at the post office by noon on Thursday.) Please call (740-353-4159) or email (secondpres@yahoo.com) to be added to our list!
If you're looking for a place to worship, there's a place for you with us.
(Thanks to friend of Second Pres Jon Burton for the photo of the sanctuary.)
God's Pantry
God’s Pantry (our 40+ year-old choice-based food pantry) is open on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Wednesdays of each month from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (One visit per month.)
To visit the Pantry, you'll fill out a form and need to bring a valid ID (driver's license or state ID), proof of residency in Scioto County, and social security numbers for anyone in your household.
Please contact the church office at 740-353-4159 if you have questions, are interested in donating, or would like to know about volunteer opportunities.
Ours is a choice-based pantry where our neighbors can shop for items using points determined by household size. Emergency food is available through the church office on days when the Pantry is closed. (Emergency food counts as that month's visit.)
UPDATE FROM GOD’S PANTRY:
During November, we served a total of 374 people from 189 Scioto County households including 81 children, 198 adults, and 95 seniors. We also gave out 10 bags of emergency food.
During October, we served a total of 410 people from 227 Scioto County households including 78 children, 230 adults, and 102 seniors. We also gave out 15 bags of emergency food.
During September, we served a total of 266 people from 139 households including 42 children, 146 adults, and 78 senior citizens.
NOTE: If you would like to directly care for our most vulnerable neighbors who struggle to regularly put food on their tables, monetary donations are always welcome and give us the most flexibility to buy what we need at any moment.
Partners in the Pantry - Socks & Shoes
Pastor Thayer Wallace and our friends from Central Church Portsmouth are distributing (new) socks and (new and gently used) shoes to our neighbors in need when God's Pantry is open.
If you have questions, please call the Central Church office at 740-353-5846.
Social Media
LIKE & FOLLOW us to keep up with what God is doing at Second Pres!
Facebook: Second Presbyterian Church – Portsmouth, OH
Instagram: @secondpresportsmouthoh
YouTube: Second Presbyterian Church Portsmouth, OH
(livestreamed worship services and concerts)
Send us an email to be added to our weekly Constant Contact newsletter:
Caring for Vulnerable Neighbors
If you are concerned about supporting vulnerable, food-insecure neighbors, we welcome your monetary donations to God's Pantry - our choice-based Pantry (like shopping at Kroger) that's been serving Scioto County for 40+ years.
Monetary donations allow us the flexibility to buy what we need in the moment.
These are the items we are currently collecting:
soap or body wash (18-20 oz);
shampoo (18-20 oz);
deodorant (2.6 oz);
toothbrushes and toothpaste;
feminine hygiene products
Shawnee State University Fall Semester Choir Concert
Dr. Stanley Workman, Director of Music at Second Pres, is glad to present the Shawnee State University Fall Choir Concert (of which he is also the director!) on Monday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church.
(If you worship with us in person or by livestream, you'll see some familiar faces from the pulpit and the choir loft!)
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
Second Presbyterian Church invites you to our annual Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols on Tuesday, December 16, at 7:30 p.m., at 801 Waller St. in Portsmouth (across from PHS).
Rooted in a tradition begun in England more than a century ago and cherished here for over 30 years, this service weaves together congregational hymns, Scripture readings, and musical reflections that tell the unfolding story of God’s promise of peace through the birth of Christ.
This year’s service features a 30-voice community choir made up of singers from area churches and an orchestra of musicians from across the tri-state region as community pastors share in the Scripture readings included in this long-standing and meaningful tradition.
The service is free and open to the community; an offering will be received to support future special music offerings. Accessible parking and entrances are available in the back of the building (by the PHS track).
Gather with us in this moment in time, because we have heard a promise of peace in the Newborn King, and we have faith that its day will come.
Christmas Eve
Our Christmas Eve worship service is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Weds, Dec 24.
There will be traditional carols on the pipe organ, celebrating the sacrament of Communion, and lighting the "Christmas Eve" candles.
This also includes special music by harpist, Tehya Hazelbaker, and Brass Ensemble.
Early Bird NYE Celebration
Our Early Bird NYE Game Night tradition is back!
We're gathering at 6 pm on Weds, Dec 31 in the parlor as we have fun, ring in 2026, and still get to bed by 9:00 pm!
Bring a game and a snack to share. (Or just bring yourself – you’re enough!)
Tour of Historic Places
Main Street Portsmouth's "Tour of Historic Places" scheduled for Sun, Dec 7 has been cancelled.
Thanks to those who put in time and energy planning our stop on this tour.
Christmas Dinner
Sun, Dec 7 is our Christmas dinner!
We start with the Wassail bowl at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:00 p.m.
Here's the menu: pork roast, potato casserole, green beans, applesauce, and dessert with tea, water, and coffee to drink.
Spirituality and Mental Health
Second Pres is part of a group of churches gathering to explore how we can better support mental health.
The group will meet in January 2026 to discuss ways to encourage open conversations, mutual support, and connections to professional help. Plans include offering mental health first aid training, suicide prevention training, and resources on spiritual practices that promote well-being.
Talk to Pastor Allison to get involved!
Nurturing mental health in our local faith community
PipeScreams Spooktacular Organ Concert
Thanks to all those who participated in and donated toward our PipeScreams Organ Concert Spooktacular! (This is a fundraiser for our Organ Preservation Fund to keep Ma Kilgen singing.)
Thanks to Stan Workman for orchestrating another "Ex-Stan-a-ganza;" to Jerry Martin for his organ-playing, theremin magic, and tech production skills; to organists, Aaron Shows, Patrick Torsell, Stan Workman, Doug Leightenheimer, and Jerry Martin; to the Second Pres singing nuns: Mariah Ginn, Julie Hines, Kathryn Ogden, Aimee Sundeen, Lio McElroy, Val Webb, Tracey Henderson, and Pastor Allison; and Second Pres Choral Scholars, Kathryn Ogden, Lio McElroy, Jarod Emerson, and Josiah Burton.
Watch the remastered PipeScreams video here: https://youtu.be/LDnqD0vQNFg
Coffee & Conversation
The Coffee & Conversation group (folks from Second and other churches) meets at 10 a.m. on Mondays at Tim Hortons (1130 Chillicothe St) for coffee and conversation about life, faith, and current events.
There’s a chair for you around the table!
God's Pantry
Can you help our choice-based food pantry that’s been in operation for 40+ years?
Choose us as your Kroger Community Rewards organization, and when you shop with your rewards card, the people we serve benefit!
Our NPO (Non-Profit Organization) number is BB589 – “GOD’S PANTRY SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.”
And make sure you say, “Please round that up!” when you check out!