DECEMBER 2025
ON SECOND Thought...
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We are relatively certain that Jesus was not born on December 25 , but that’s the day we’ve been celebrating his birthday since 336 AD Interestingly, however, we don’t celebrate Jesus’ birthday like we do other birthdays Think about it for a second When it’s our birthday, what happens? We get presents When it’s Jesus’ birthday, what happens? We get presents. See where I’m going with this?
If Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, why are we the ones getting presents? And why are we giving presents to people whose birthday it isn’t? What are we teaching our kids and reinforcing with each other when we say with our words that Christmas is all about Jesus, but show with our actions that it’s all about us?
When we go to a friend’s birthday party we don’t expect anyone to give us a present, we expect to give a present to our friend Our enjoyment comes from watching that friend open the present and using it in their life. So why should Jesus’ birthday be any different? What if we started giving gifts to Jesus as we celebrate his birth? Here are a few suggestions:
Why not give a gift in someone’s name to a charity that would mean a lot to them. Then write a hand-written note (you remember those, don’t you?) letting them know about the gift, the work of the charity, and why you thought of them for that particular charity. Many charities actually provide a “Christmas Catalog” where you can purchase particular services or items as “gifts” for a loved one, then they send the honoree an acknowledgement of the gift, along with a description of what has been given in their name.
Or…you could go to the website www.TisBest.org. There you can make a donation and print out a gift card that you then give as a present to your friend or loved one. They are then able to take that gift card, log on to
the site, and choose which charity they would like the gift to go to They can give it all to one charity or split the amount among different charities You make the donation, the recipient gets to choose where it goes, and the charity receives the blessing It’s a win-win for everyone!
Or when someone asks you what you want for Christmas, give them an item off of one of your favorite charity’s lists! Tell them you would like to support a student at UKirk; or make a home warmer, safer and drier right here in Appalachia through the Appalachian Service Project; or provide a goat for a family in the Dominican Republic through The Heifer Project You could give them the name of a local charity you care about and tell them a donation to that charity would make you very happy Say something like, “Instead of going to the mall and buying me a shirt or a gadget or a knick-knack, make a gift to Volunteer Ministry Center or Compassion Coalition or Emerald Youth Foundation for whatever amount you would have spent on me. It’s closer, it will be a much better investment, AND it’s tax deductible!”
One suggestion: don’t quit gift-giving cold turkey After all, gift-giving is a nice tradition that allows us to show the people we love that we love them. Instead, take how much you plan to spend on Christmas gifts and then spend half of that on gifts for your friends and family. Then take the other half and give it to Jesus. By that I mean give it to the church or to the charity of your choice. Let Jesus open that gift and take pleasure in how he uses it.
Christmas – it’s not your birthday. It’s Jesus’ birthday. Let’s really put Christ back into Christmas and shower him with gifts in honor of his birth this Christmas season.
Grace and peace…
Worship
We will gather in the sanctuary at 5:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve for our Carol & Candle Lighting Service. This service is a tradition at Second going back many decades and has come to be a cherished opportunity for our church family to honor the birth of Christ together.
Upcoming Sermon Texts and Topics
We are currently following the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) on Sunday mornings. Our Advent readings will focus on the traditional Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
November 30th
December 7th
December 14th
December 21st
December 24th
December 28th
Isaiah 2:1-5
Isaiah 11:1-10
Matthew 11:2-11
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:1-14
Matthew 2:13-23
Being Hopefully Pessimistic
The Peaceful Kingdom
The Authentic Jesus
God with Us
Jesus’ Birth
Escape to Egypt
Don’t Mi Don’t Mi
And...
Caroling
Presbyterian Women’s December meeting will be Dec. 9 from 10:15 to 11:30 in the Fellowship Hall with Pastor Tim leading us in hymn singing and Helen Grant in Bible study.
Our Bible study continues with Part II of this year’s Bible study plans for 2025-2026. In the fall we discussed how’s humans could find resilience during difficult times. Now we begin Part II’s study focusing on finding joy in a chaotic world. The first lesson is based on the parable of the prodigal son as presented in Luke 15:11-32. This parable is probably one of the most well known of Jesus’ teachings, but is sometimes misunderstood. DECEMBER 14TH
PRESBYTERIANWOMENMEETDEC.9
Join us as we go Christmas Caroling to some of our homebound and shut-in members on Sunday, December 21st We will meet at 2:00 p.m. in the church parking lot and travel together. Everyone s invited and welcome to participate in this wonderful ministry of spreading Christmas cheer to those we don’t get to see on a regular basis!
FRIENDSGIVING
AMAZINGRECIPE ALERT!!!
IF
Doux
Lynda
Abraham
Connect Through Music
2nd Presbyterian is proud to host the Knoxville Chamber Chorale for their 2025 Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 pm. Admission is free to the public.
Led by Dr. John Orr, the Knoxville Chamber Chorale is the select vocal ensemble of the Knoxville Choral Society Comprised of auditioned singers, the Chorale performs advanced choral repertoire with a focus on musical precision, expressive artistry, and rich vocal blend.
Family Promise of Knoxville has helped hundreds of families with children experiencing homelessness since its beginning in July, 2005. Knoxville's Family Promise program is one of more than 200 affiliates nationwide, who have assisted hundreds of thousands of children and adults. Through the support of local churches, Family Promise offers a place of safety, shelter, and certainty by utilizing the space available at its members' churches to provide meals and overnight housing. During the day, adults receive case management services or work, if they are employed. Children and teens are in school, while day care is provided for young children.
neighbor at 3611 Kingston Pike, will provide breakfast, dinner, and overnight housing for four families the week of December 7- 14. Volunteers from 2nd Presbyterian have been able to assist with an evening meal one day during the week and with getting the house ready for guests on the Sunday the week begins and closing the house the following Sunday. Doug Barbour has been a consistent volunteer sleeping in the house one night, should any needs arise. Training is available for anyone who can spend an overnight.
Family Promise believes that every family's future begins with a home and nearly 90% of families in the program secure affordable housing within nine weeks. While in the program parents are equipped, encouraged, and empowered to pursue their dreams of home-ownership and independence. It is really a wonderful experience to sit with families while they dine, watch them interact with their kiddos, and share stories of their days. It's also rewarding to both ready the space and close it up - as both are done with prayer for each family.
Please note December 7 - 14 in your calendar and consider if you might help serve with members of the SDA Church. If you are interested, please contact Janis Smith via email or text: smithjb1@gmail.com / (615) 260-7784.
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS
Order your Christmas Poinsettias by December 10 . Please check our E-news to get a digital copy of the order form. Paper forms are also in the Narthex and in the church office. You can also pay in Realm at the QR code below OR by texting “2NDPRESKNOX Poinsetta” to 73256 th
CHRISTMAS
JOY
The Christmas Joy Offering w received on Sunday, December 21 Christmas Eve, December 24th.
The Christmas Joy Offering provide assistance to current and retired church workers and their families in their time of need, and develops our future leaders at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.
Disbursements:
Knox Pride Food Pantry - $1,000
PresbyteryofEastTennessee-$1,150.This willbethemonthlydisbursementforthe yearforatotalof$13,800.
Knoxville Warming Centers – up to $1,000 to support warming centers by renting one or two pods to be placed in the 2nd Pres parking lot for the winter to hold supplies for warming centers to access such as sleeping mats, cots, sleeping bags, etc
CubaAid-$500.PartneringwithSantaCruzdeJerusalemChurch inHavanna,GlennandBarbaraLampingwillbemakinga humanitariantriptoCubaandtakingitemsneededbybutnot availabletoCubansforthechurchtodistributedirectlytoCubans inneed,andthroughhealthclinicsororphanages.Includedwillbe itemssuchasover-the-counterpainkillerslikeibuprofenand Tylenol(adultandchildren),gastrointestinalanddiarrhea medications,antacidssuchasPepto-Bismol,Mylanta, antihistamines,mosquitorepellent,feminineproducts,soapbars, andseveralotheritems.
RetiredMissionaries - $1000EachyeartheGOTeam Dsends$500eachtotheMorgans(LesandCindy)andthe immocks(FrankandNancy). Thisisfundedbythe aRennoldsEndowmentforthatpurposewithSession pproval.
West View Supplies
Collection Box –
This box located in the atrium has a current list of supplies needed. Please check the current needs listed at the collection box as they will be updated from time to time.
UtopiaFoundation-$6,500.Tuition forMichaelMarks-Michaelisa youngboyfromtheSaintMarks Children’sHomeandOrphanagein Tanzania.
The GO Te g the ministry o church both locally and globally through financial donations and volunteer activities. They rely on the generosity of the congregation to fund their efforts and welcome recommendations for donations and volunteer opportunities
Volunteer activities in October/November:
October 31 – Three volunteers provided and served breakfast for 31 in the Resource Center at Volunteer Ministry Center
November 19 – Seven volunteers served lunch to several hundred folks at KARM.
GOing and Serving in 2025 – Watch for an upcoming volunteer opportunity during the week of December 10-17 as 2nd Pres and First Seventh Day Adventist prepare a home for and feed homeless families.
The team meets on the first Thursday of each month at 1pm in the Barbour Room. Next meeting: December 4th.
RECEIVED THE ANNUAL REPORT OF PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
REVIEWED THE PRELIMINARY 2026 OPERATING BUDGET
APPROVED A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CHRISTMAS EVE LOOSE PLATE OFFERING TO BE INCLUDED WITH THE CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING
APPROVED A RECOMMENDATION TO SEND $500 EACH TO MISSIONARIES LES AND CINDY MORGAN AND FRANK AND NANCY DIMMOCK
MOVED 12 MEMBERS TO THE INACTIVE ROLL
Holiday Office Hours
The church office will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 25 and Thursday, January 1 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. th st
2ND PRES KNOX
WELCOMING + FAITHFUL + HOPEFUL
CLERGYSTAFF
PastorTimReynolds
Pastor/HeadofStaff treynolds@2ndpresorg
PastorSarahMorgan
TransitionalAssociatePastorfor CongregationalLife&Mission smorgan@2ndpres.org
PROGRAMSTAFF
MatthewMimbs
DirectorofMusic&Arts mmimbs@2ndpresorg
HollyGrimm
Children&YouthMinistryCoordinator hgrimm@2ndpres.org
SarahWarner
Organist swarner@bellarmine.edu
SUPPORTSTAFF
TuesdayReynolds InterimChurchAdministrator jrosamond@2ndpresorg
PRESCHOOLSTAFF
LindaSueByrd
Director lsbyrd@2ndpresorg
HollyGrimm
AssistantDirector hgrimm@2ndpres.org
CONTACTUS:
SecondPresbyterianChurch
2829KingstonPike
Knoxville,TN37919
Ph.865.523.2189
Fax865.637.2617
www2ndpresorg
THE SECOND EDITION
Responding in gratitude to God's love and grace, we are a welcoming, faithful, and hopeful community, following Jesus and serving him in the world.
2ndpres org 2ndpresknox/ SecondPresbyterianChurchKnoxville/ follow us on social media
ELDERS
CLASS OF 2026
Leonard Bailey
Doug Barbour
Monica Casey
Clara Hardin
CLASS OF 2027
Betsy Foster
John Gill
William Owen
Cheryl Ragsdale
CLASS OF 2028
Geoffrey Kennedy
Kathy Duggan
Lauren Dodson
Cleston Jones
MINISTRY TEAMS & MODERATORS
WORSHIP
Betsy Foster
John Gill
CONNECT
Geoffrey Kennedy
Cheryl Ragsdale
GROW
Monica Casey
Kathy Duggan
GO
Leonard Bailey
Clara Hardin
Lauren Dodson
SUPPORT
Doug Barbour
William Owen
PRESCHOOL
Cleston Jones