The Tennessee Baseball Vols Champions! It feels great to write that Almost as great as watching those young men over the last several weeks. Almost as great as that parade on Gay Street and the ceremony at Market Square. What a fantastic moment this is for our university, this town, the fans, and those young men
Tony Vitello deserves a ton of credit, of course. He is a true Tennessee hero at this point Sure, there are some in the national media who are taking shots at him So what? Let them It’s just jealousy that we have him and they don’t.
Johnny marching home in 1977 and won 3 SEC Championships in the next 13 years. Then he lost 3 games following heart surgery in 1992 and was marched right out. Philip Fulmer won the SEC in 1997 and a National Championship in 1998. Ten years later they lost to Florida, Auburn, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina and Phillip was shown the door.
In college sports, and especially at UT, there are no lifetime contracts for coaches. We are a what-haveyou-done-for-me-lately fanbase in a what-have-youdone-for-me-lately society.
Zander Sechrist, the starting pitcher for Game 3 of the CWS finals against Texas A&M, said this in his speech at Market Square: “Growing up in a single-mother household, (Coach Vitello) was just like a father figure to me ” Christian Moore, who led off Game 3 with a home run, said: “He really cares about his players When you have a role model like that, you’ll do anything for him.” The mother of pitcher Andrew Behnke said: “He connects with them in a way I don’t think many coaches would be able to do ”
Coach Vitello connects with the fans, as well. Following the Game 3 victory, he jumped into the stands to chest-bump and fist-bump the Vol faithful who made the trek to Omaha As he was riding in the celebratory parade, fans swarmed his convertible to fist-bump and high-five him. They handed him baseballs and programs and shirts to sign. And he high-fived and fist-bumped and signed his way all the way down Gay Street to Market Square
At the Market Square ceremony, Zander Sechrist told Danny White that he hoped a “lifetime contract” was coming for the coach. Yes, Tony Vitello is a beloved man in Knoxville right now, and he will continue to be beloved until he isn’t. You know I’m right. People are fickle; Tennessee fans are famously so
I was watching the fans swarm Coach Vitello’s car in the parade and thinking about how that must have been what Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem looked like. I was also thinking about how just 5 days later those same people were shouting, “Crucify him!” I certainly don’t think the good will for our baseball coach has that kind of shelf life. Based on the last 4 years, I think he will continue to be successful here for a long time to come. Maybe even win another championship. But there will come a time when he doesn’t win as much and, if he hasn’t been wooed away by another school before that happens, this National Championship won’t be able to save him.
Look, I don’t mean to be a downer. This is an exciting time to be a Volunteer! We should celebrate and enjoy this victory; revel in it, even. It’s just that as great as National Championships are, such joy is fleeting. There is only one joy that is lasting, permanent, worthy of our ultimate hope, and that’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace…
On the first Sunday of July we will conclude our first summer sermon series, Dinner with Jesus. We will look at the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to Cleopas and his traveling companion. It is not until they break bread at the table together that they recognize the stranger to whom they have been talking is Jesus. Then from July 14th through Labor Day will be our second summer sermon series, Obscure Characters of the Hebrew Bible. The name kind of says it all! We will be looking at stories in the Hebrew Scriptures featuring characters that you likely have never heard of. Should be fun!
July 7th
July 14th
July 21st
July 28th
Luke 24:13-35
Genesis 5:1-2, 18-24
Genesis 14:17-20
Numbers 22:1-6, 21-35
Dinner with Jesus: Cleopas’ House
Obscure Characters of the HB: Enoch
Obscure Characters of the HB: Melchizadek
Obscure Characters of the HB: Balaam’s Donkey
WELCOME BACK ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Sunday, August 11th, 5 - 7 p.m.
Rain or Shine
Join us for an ice cream social at 2PC as we head into Fall!
The church will provide ice cream, toppings and drinks, and all you need to bring is a picnic supper. A fun inflated "bounce house" will be available for kids, as well as a corn hole game!
Even if you have other dinner plans, feel free to stop by and enjoy some delicious ice cream. Visitors and guests are always welcome!
Zach Burch
Matt Milligan
Mark Smith
Cyrus Whitaker
Kristy Bleyl
Patsy Wright
Marion Frazer
Liz Peebles
Lily Wu
Ben Bowlen
Cathy Briscoe
Dick Smith
Joan Riedl
Nina Perez
Audrey Brown
Annie Liu
Rachel Penmore
Daniel Robertson
Helen Grant
IF WE INADVERTENTLY MISSED SOMEONE...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
PLEASE HELP US UPDATE OUR RECORDS SO WE'LL HAVE YOUR SPECIAL DAY ON FILE.
We will meet at the Buckingham Clubhouse on Wednesday, July 10th at 11:30 a.m.
The book for the month is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. Please bring your lunch and join us.
We welcome anyone who enjoys reading and is interested in a casual, friendly group for a fun discussion with various impressions of the books we read.
Mariann Thuesen will lead the discussion this month and we welcome her back after several months of mending from a fall!
The Presbyterian Women of Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville concluded its current study year with a picnic held at the Pavilion of the First United Methodist Church on Kingston Pike on June 11, 2024. Thanks to the generosity of First Church, Knox, the picnic attendees enjoyed the spacious Pavilion behind the church buildings with its full service of excellent parking, tables/chairs, restroom, electricity, and running water. The weather was sunny and beautiful with a fabulous vista of the river and a steady concert of singing and chattering birds.
The PW Leadership Team and volunteers provided the food Nancy Welch, Director of the Volunteer Assisted Transportation program for Knoxville-Knox County, provided the mission study report of the month.
Second Church’s Presbyterian Women’s group welcomes attendees regardless of gender, either members of the church or visitors. Although the daytime schedule for the PW monthly meetings prevents many from attending, the PW leadership hopes to reach a growing number of those who can manage a daytime schedule. Mark PW on your calendar for the second Tuesday of each coming month beginning in September, 2024.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S STUDY
FOR THE COMING MONTHS - SEPTEMBER 2024 - JUNE 2025
Looking ahead to PW’s coming study year—September 2024 through June 2025— the theme is “Let Justice Roll Down; God’s Call to Care for Neighbors and All Creation.” The study will use the Bible as a reference as PW considers many of the most pressing challenges of today’s society justice for the environment, climate change, economics and poverty, shortage of clean water and air, etc.
Plan to join with PW in their coming study year. If you are looking for a thought-provoking nonfiction book for summer reading, try A Place Called Home, a Memoir, by David Ambroz, published by Legacy, c. 2022, 368 pages. Ambroz describes his and his family’s experiences as homeless on the streets of New York City as he and his siblings and their mentally ill mother try to survive in poverty and in foster care
Baby Shower
Shower
The GO Team at 2nd Presbyterian extends the church's ministry locally and globally through financial donations and volunteer activities, relying on the congregation's generosity to fund their efforts and welcome suggestions for donations and volunteer opportunities
The GO Team's meeting time has been changed to 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month to accommodate working members The next meeting is on July 11 (rescheduled from July 4) New members are welcome to join
Disbursements:
Presbytery of East Tennessee - $1,100
Volunteer Ministry Center General Fund - $6,000 This represents a regular annual donation
Volunteer Ministry Center Endowment Matching Fund - $2,000. A foundation that has supported VMC for years is closing and has offered to match dollar-for-dollar donations to this special endowment fund up to $1,000,000. This could result in an endowment of $2,000,000. At last report, $370,000 has been donated. Missionaries Dan and Elizabeth Turk - $6,000 2nd Pres has provided support to Dan and Elizabeth for many years. The couple has been mission coworkers in Madagascar since 1997. The Turks serve with the PC(USA)’s partner church, FJKM, as it ministers to the population in the areas of health, environment, agriculture, and safe drinking water. Elizabeth’s focus with the FJKM is on community health and HIV/AIDS, especially in training, program design, and implementation. Dan works with the FJKM’s Fruits, Vegetables, and Environmental Education program
Volunteer activities for June:
May 31 – Volunteers provided and served breakfast in the Resource Center at Volunteer Ministry Center.
June 5 – Representatives from 2nd Pres attended the Community Schools Champions Breakfast sponsored by the United Way. In attendance were school coordinators, principals, selected partners, local elected officials, and others supporting community schools such as West View Elementary.
June 19 – Volunteers served at Love Kitchen portioning/packing about 600 meals for next-day delivery and 150 meals that the volunteers helped to serve on the same day.
Signup information will appear soon in the weekly newsletter and online.
West View Request for school supplies for the upcoming school year: Paper Towels, Tissues, Dixie Cups (8oz or 10oz.), Ziploc bags in multiple sizes including gallon, hand sanitizer in multiple sizes, and JUMBO Crayons (size not quantity) Bins are located in the Atrium.
GOing and Serving in 2024 – Watch for upcoming volunteer opportunities at VMC, KARM, Love Kitchen, West View, and others in upcoming weekly newsletters Coming up in July and August – KARM, West View, and VMC.
Received the Treasurer’s Report.
Received reports from the Preschool and Ministry Teams as information.
Elected Elder Betsy Foster to represent the Second Presbyterian Church at the August Presbytery Meeting at Camp John Knox.
Approved the recommendation of the Facilities Team to adopt and approve the proposal to completely refurbish the church roof and gutters as well as semiannual inspections and repairs as needed. The goal is to provide a water-tight building.
Pastor Sarah will be out of town on vacation July 7th – 13th.
10:30 a.m. Young Families Event (Gym)
Deadline for 2nd Edition Newsletter
Group (Youth Room) CHURCH CLOSED 4th of July 7:00 p.m. First Pres Whippany ( Gym, Youth Room and one classroom) 9:15 a.m. Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Class with Pastor Tim ( Mary Chambers Room) 10:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Childrens Church 9:15 a.m. Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Class with Pastor Tim ( Mary Chambers Room) 10:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Childrens Church 9:15 a.m. Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Class with Pastor Tim ( Mary Chambers Room) 10:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Childrens Church 5:30 p.m. GO Team meeting (Barbour Room) 10:00 a.m. Staff meeting (Barbour Room) 5:30 p.m. Preschool Staff Small Group (Youth Room) 6:00 p.m. Preschool Board meeting (Zoom)
3 1 11:15 a.m. PET retired ministries luncheon (Mary Chambers Room)
3 0 7:00 p.m. Ukirk Basketball (Gym)
2ND PRES KNOX
WELCOMING + FAITHFUL + HOPEFUL
CLERGYSTAFF
PastorTimReynolds
Pastor/HeadofStaff treynolds@2ndpresorg
PastorSarahMorgan
TransitionalAssociatePastorfor CongregationalLife&Mission smorgan@2ndpres.org
PROGRAMSTAFF
MatthewMimbs
DirectorofMusic&Arts mmimbs@2ndpres.org
HollyGrimm
Children&YouthMinistryCoordinator hgrimm@2ndpres.org
SUPPORTSTAFF
BonnieSmith
ChurchAdministrator bsmith@2ndpresorg
MartaP.Villalta Media&CommunicationsCoordinator mvillalta@2ndpresorg
JulieHill Receptionist 2ndpresJulie@gmail.com
PRESCHOOLSTAFF
LindaSueByrd Director lsbyrd@2ndpresorg
HollyGrimm AssistantDirector hgrimm@2ndpres.org
CONTACTUS:
SecondPresbyterianChurch
2829KingstonPike
Knoxville,TN37919
Ph 8655232189
Fax865.637.2617
www2ndpresorg
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.
ELDERS
CLASS OF 2025
Zachary Burch
Lisa Henley
Laura Turner
Terry Weaver
CLASS OF 2026
Leonard Bailey
Doug Barbour
Monica Casey
Clara Hardin
CLASS OF 2027
Betsy Foster
John Gill
William Owen
Cheryl Ragsdale
MINISTRY TEAMS & MODERATORS
WORSHIP
Betsy Foster
John Gill CONNECT
Terry Weaver
Cheryl Ragsdale GROW
Zach Burch
Monica Casey
Laura Turner GO Leonard Bailey
Clara Hardin
SUPPORT
Doug Barbour
William Owen
PRESCHOOL
Lisa Henley
