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:
In January 2026, God's Pantry served a total of 169 people from 89 Scioto County households. This includes 59 seniors, 86 adults, and 24 children.
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
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:
Holy Hygge
Holy Hygge sermon series in January 2026
As winter settles in after Christmas, the dark months can leave us tired and disconnected.
Our faith invites us to slow down and notice God in ordinary moments, and the Danish practice of hygge—creating warmth, comfort, and welcome—offers a helpful companion. Holy hygge names this as a spiritual practice, encouraging us to nurture our spiritual life, our mental health, and our relationships through simple, restful rhythms.
Starting Sun, Jan 18, our five-week worship series will explore holy hygge through the themes of Presence, Hospitality, Gratitude, Rest, and Comfort.
Winterreise - Winter Journey
Join Dr. Stanley Workman, Jr., tenor (and our Director of Music) and Edward Bak, pianist, for a performance of Schubert's monumental song cycle, Winterreise-Winter Journey, an epic tale of lost love and despair on (RESCHEDULED) Sat, Feb 7 at 2:00 pm at the VRCFA (Eloise Smith Covert Theater).
Rejected by his beloved, the protagonist sets out on a brutally icy and lonely journey, with only the snow, the bare trees and the occasional crow to keep him company.
The performance of the cycle will be sung in the original German, enhanced by projections of the English translation and artwork. And it is free and open to the public.
Emergency Warming Shelter NEEDS
The Ascend Counseling Center folks and friends continue to provide hospitality for those in need of safe and warm housing during this cold, snowy stretch.
They still need 2 COTS and 2 BLANKETS. This would cost about $155.
Pastor Allison is pitching in $20 to get started. Who else can help?
(Online giving here and PayPal here. Or drop something in the offering plate on Sunday.)
Holy Hygge Night #2
Fri, Feb 13 at 6:00 pm
You declared our first holy hygge night experiment a success, so we're doing it again!
Pastor Allison will bring a pot of oatmeal, you bring toppings to share and a book to read (silently) after we eat and pray.
P.S. If you don't like oatmeal, feel free to bring your own supper - no problem.
P.P.S. Please use the 8th Street entrance by the parlor. That's the closest and clearest entrance to where we're gathering in the building.
LENT 2026
What is Lent?
The season of Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and self-examination in preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of the Lord at Easter. It is a period of 40 days — like the flood of Genesis, Moses’ sojourn at Mount Sinai, Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb, Jonah’s call to Ninevah to repent, and Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness.
We will have 2 Ash Wednesday service options on Wed, Feb 18: Ashes and communion will be offered at each service
8:00 am in the sanctuary – we’ll be finished in time for you to get to work by 9:00 am
6:00 pm in the sanctuary – we’ll be finished in time for choir to begin at 7:00 pm
Lenten theme: “Candid Conversations with Jesus: Learning to Talk WITH People, Not AT Them” - This Lent, we will follow Jesus as he models honest, life-changing conversation. Each week, we’ll explore how he listens, questions, and speaks with care - and how we can do the same. Lent is a time to practice talking with each other, not at each other, letting Christ guide our words, our listening, and our hearts.
LENT 2026
Midweek Study
This Lenten focus on “Candid Conversations with Jesus” connects with the purpose of The Humanity Index by inviting us to examine how our words either honor or diminish the humanity of others.
We’ll learn about how to “score” conversations using The Humanity Index in Sunday School and as a small group on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 pm.
The study begins on Sun, Feb 18 and Weds, Feb 25.
Prayer & Communion Service at Hill View
Our next Hill View Prayer & Communion service will be held on Sat, Feb 21 at 3:00 pm in the Forest Room.
Since Ash Wednesday is February 18, this service will also include the imposition of ashes. We hope you will worship with us!
GAME NIGHT
Our February Game Night is scheduled for Fri, Feb 27 at 6:00 pm in the parlor.
Bring a game and a snack to share.
(Or if it’s been a hard week, just bring yourself – you’re enough!)
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!
Christmas Eve Worship
Thanks to all who joined us for Christmas Eve worship.
If you missed it or would like to watch it again, here are the links.
Livestream link here: https://youtube.com/live/yRMU4W7GLwk?feature=share
Large-print bulletin here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ug6tiEni4yQJqtOA3TjSPa3LpUtiZmhc/view?usp=sharing
Large-print sermon here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hTLJ_i5-gr3-loUyXI6Ct4MXtncWqNqM/view?usp=sharing
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
There are no words to describe the experience of this year's Lessons & Carols. And how grateful we are to all those who helped to make this a spiritually transformative experience.
So we won't even try.
Here's a LINK to the livestream if you want to watch it or watch it again.