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.)
Thank you for your continuing support of this important community ministry!
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:
Giving Thanks for God's Pantry
November is “Giving Thanks for God’s Pantry” month. As we head into the holiday season, we give thanks for the neighbors we serve, the volunteers who make this ministry possible, and everyone who helps keep the pantry stocked.
This month, we invite you to support this ministry through donations of financial gifts and food/personal care items. Financial donations give us the most buying power (using our sales tax exemption).
But if you enjoy shopping for bargains, we welcome item donations. Here’s what’s most needed:
- 15 oz shampoo
- 11-16 oz body wash
- 3-5 oz bar soap
- 2.4-2.6 oz deodorant
- 4 oz toothpaste
- Individually wrapped toothbrushes
Thank you for being part of this ministry and helping us care for our neighbors!
UPDATE: We've not only received item donations at the church, but a friend from SSU dropped off donations from a drive she coordinated AND we received our FIRST Amazon delivery of donations!
Scioto County Hearts and Minds Initiative
Pastor Allison and Second Pres are part of the Hearts & Minds initiative to gather congregations who want to talk about and support the members and friends of their congregations.
They are sponsoring a "Grieving Around the Holidays" conversation on Mon, Nov 16 at 6:00 pm (Portsmouth First Church of the Nazarene, 456 Brown St. , Portsmouth, OH 45662).
About the event:
Everyone knows that the holidays are a time of celebrating family, our blessings, the birth of the Christ Child, and honoring traditions. But the holidays can also be a dreaded time when you have experienced the loss of someone close to you, or any other major loss. In this presentation, "Grief During the Holidays", we will explore how grief affects our outlook and ways to effectively cope with our loss while still finding some joy in the special days.
It will last approximately an hour and a half and there will be a time for questions at the end. If you find yourself in this bittersweet situation, please join us! We are here for you!
About the presenter:
Elaine Conrad is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with 36 years of experience. Her areas of practice have been in Prenatal, Hospice, School, Child Welfare, and Community Mental Health. Her specialty areas have been in Grief, Anxiety/Depression, PTSD, and work with Veterans. She has facilitated Grief Support Groups, offering acceptance and hope to those wading through their Grief journey. She is also a Christian who brings faith into her counseling when working with her clients who request it.
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PipeScreams Organ Spooktacular
Thanks to all those who attended, participated in, and donated to our Halloween Organ Spooktacular!
We had more people than programs (200) and donations have topped $2000, which will be split between the Organ Preservation Fund and the Choral Scholars Fund.
Thanks especially to: Aaron Shows, "The Hollywood Organist"; Dr. Jerry Martin, surgeon by day/organist by night; Patrick Torsell (Scioto Catholic Parish); Justin Wiget playing the human-organ duet composed by Dr. Michael Barnhart; Dr. Stanley Workman, Jr. and the Second Pres Choral Scholars as well as the Portsmouth Youth Ballet, directed by Summer Logan.
Miss the concert? Watch it HERE.
Game Night
Our next game night is Fri, Nov 13 at 6 pm.
Bring a snack and a game to share. Or, if it’s been a long week, just bring yourself – you’re enough!
P.S. Pastor Allison is bringing "The Bible is Funny" volume TWO - even more verses taken out of context + ridiculous prompts!
"Bach in the City"
Matt Bickett, Organist, will present a recital at Second Pres on Tuesday, November 24, at 7:00 pm.
“Bach in the City” will feature a monument of the Western classical tradition, known as "The Great Eighteen," by one of its most revered composers, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
"The Great Eighteen" is a set of chorale preludes compiled by Bach in his final decade (1740–1750). The works form an encyclopedic collection of large-scale chorale preludes, in a variety of styles harking back to the previous century, that Bach gradually perfected during his career.
A Portsmouth native, Matt Bickett serves as Director of Music at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and is a prize-winning performer and committed researcher. Welcome home, Matt!
Shawnee State Fall Choir Concert
We’re hosting the SSU choir concert on Tues, Dec 1.
The choir will perform Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio and carols of John Rutter accompanied by a string orchestra of tri-state musicians and Dr. Jerry Martin on the organ.
Under the direction of Dr. Stan Workman, Pastor Allison, our Choral Scholars, and other members of the Chancel Choir will be part of the concert. And they would LOVE to see your faces in the pews!
The concert begins at 7:00 pm.
Early Bird NYE Game Night
Want to ring in the New Year but don't want to stay out late?
Join us for our early NYE Game Night starting at 6:00 pm - you can be in bed at 9:00 pm or off to your next party!
BONUS: We're playing FAMILY FEUD, and we need your survey results - take the survey HERE.
Feed the Choir
In high school, they "feed the team."
At Second Pres, we want to "feed the choir!"
We hope to feed the choir before rehearsal on Wednesdays once a month - if you want to be a part of that or sponsor a meal, talk to Suzie Hunter.
Active Parenting Classes
The Garden Advocacy Center (Chillicothe, OH) is a non-profit organization offering Active Parenting classes at Second Pres on Wednesdays from 5:30 - 7:30 pm in the Parlor.
The Active Parenting Program is designed to give families the tools, support, and confidence to raise responsible, respectful, and resilient children.
It teaches how to build strong relationships, set clear limits, manage challenging behaviors, and make family life overall more enjoyable.
The class is designed for parents/caregivers of 5-12-year-olds, but the material is certainly appropriate for parents/caregivers of children under 5 who want to be prepared and for those looking for help parenting teenagers.
Session 1: The Active Parent - what does it mean?
Session 2: Cooperation and Communication
Session 3: Responsibility and Discipline
Session 4: Building Courage and Self-Esteem
Session 5: Understanding and Redirecting Misbehavior
Session 6: Active Parenting for School Success
You can attend one class that catches your interest or all 6 to earn a certificate of completion.
Faith-Based Suicide Prevention
This summer, Second Pres hosted a Soul Shop train-the-trainer event.
Participants from around southern Ohio (including Pastor Allison) learned how to teach suicide prevention training for the faith community from Soul Shop trainers. (We now have 3 in Scioto County.)
How can the church address a widespread sense of hopelessness? Suicide isn’t just a result of mental illness or depression; it often arises from profound desperation and loss of social connection
In a world where relationships are fractured and hope is fading, the church has a unique opportunity to step in, offering healing, connection, and renewal.We can make a difference.
Learn more about Soul Shop here:
https://www.soulshopmovement.org/
And if you'd like to particiate in a 90-minute training for communities or the very thorough 8-hour training, please contact Pastor Allison: secondpres@yahoo.com or 740-353-4159.
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!
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
There are no words to describe the experience of our most recent Lessons & Carols service in December 2025. 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.
SAVE THE DATE: Mon, Dec 21, 2026 at 7:30 pm.
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