SECOND EDITION
ON SECOND Thought...
One concept that is important to understand when it comes to congregational health is that congregations are not just a collection of individuals; they are an emotional system made up of interrelated parts. We tend to think in a straight line when something happens in a congregation: Susie did this, then Johnny did that. When we understand the congregation as an emotional system, however, then we know that Susie and Johnny both had an influence on each other, and that each of their actions was influenced by other members of the congregation, along with their families of origin, backgrounds, what’s going on at work, and any other emotional systems they are a part of. In other words, nothing in a congregation happens in a vacuum.
Understanding this dynamic helps us to see that everything that happens in a congregation is interconnected and interwoven Interactions produce responses, which then produce more interactions, which produce more responses, and so on Everything is related to everything. This means no single issue in a congregation has just one cause or just one solution. This is incredibly helpful in working through issues without placing blame on or scapegoating individuals.
Within an emotional system like the congregation (or a family), there are always two life forces at work: togetherness and individuality The togetherness force is the pressure and desire to be like others, to agree on beliefs, principles, values, feelings, and actions If you’ve ever been shamed into doing something you didn’t want to do, then you’ve experienced the negative aspect of the togetherness force. This is the conscious or unwitting pressure from others in the system for us to conform to the will of the group.
The individuality force is our desire to define ourselves as a separate person from others Self-differentiation is the ability to claim our own goals and values in the midst of the togetherness force
Self-differentiation is not about disconnecting emotionally; it’s about learning to articulate what we believe or what we want to do without getting angry or defensive. It’s about learning to be responsible for our own emotions without making demands of or blaming others. It’s about learning to base our actions on wellthought-out principles, rather than just going along with the group
Every system has a natural force for togetherness It’s what we have in common that binds us together At the same time, we are called to honor who we are and who others are as individuals. The challenge is to find balance between the forces of togetherness and individuality while avoiding the tendency to swing in either extreme.
At one extreme is the desire to please and the need to conform, so that we never adequately express our own individuality At the other extreme is such a strong need to be to be an individual, that we write off what matters to others. Neither extreme is healthy. Living in the tension is hard, but it’s the best way for us to be in community with others.
We have worked hard over the last 10 years to make sure our congregational leaders understand these dynamics: that a congregation is an emotional system, that each person in the congregation both influences and is influenced by the system, and that we are called to honor each person as an individual with their own unique value, while at the same time emphasizing and making decisions based on the values we hold in common. When congregational leaders understand these things, they are better able to help congregations navigate the anxiety that arises from change or threat. Stay tuned for that discussion next month!
Grace and peace
Table of Contents Table of Contents
Upcoming Sermon Texts and Topics
We are currently following the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) on Sunday mornings.
March 1st
March 8th
March 15th
March 22nd
March 29th
Psalm 121
Exodus 17:1-7
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Matthew 21:1-11
Our Help is in the Lord
Is the Lord Among Us or Not?
The Anointing of David
The Valley of the Dry Bones
Jesus’ Entry into Jerusalem
Sun
Palm Sunday
Everyone is invited to take a palm branch on the way in to worship to wave during the first hymn. All children and their families are invited to gather in the Narthex prior to worship to receive palms and then parade through the sanctuary during the singing of the first hymn.
The March-April edition of The Upper Room is now available!
Copies are located in the vestibule and narthex in regular and large print.
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 8th. Remember to set your clocks AHEAD one hour before going to bed on Saturday, March 7th, or you’ll be an hour late for worship!
Give a lovely hydrangea or lily in memory or honor of a loved one for Easter Sunday, April 5. You may order and pay in person with a regular order form OR through Realm.
Thank you for helping us beautify our worship space for Easter Sunday!
Our NEXT Food & Friends is Sunday, March 8th, and all college students and young adults are invited for lunch and fellowship! If you are interested in hosting a future Food & Friends, let Pastor Tim know.
Next Meeting: March 10
Plan to attend Tuesday, March 10 for othe next Presbyterian Women’s meeting from 10:15:-11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall to sing with Pastor Tim and discuss with Helen Grant: Mark 12:41-44. PW continues the second half of this year discussing our joy even in the middle of challenging circumstances. Jesus uses the example of the poor widow who shared joyously what she had with the Temple rather than to praise the rich who gave much.
All are welcome to join in these coming months in song, worship. Bible study and, most importantly, join in fellowship together
Join us for Arts & Crafts! The Arts and Crafts group of PW now meets on the FOURTH WEDNESDAY (still at 10:00 a.m. in room 227 upstairs). Come and enjoy the fellowship! 7
Second Readers will meet March 18, at 11:30 a.m. (until around 1:00 p.m.) in the Buckingham Clubhouse. Our book for March will be The Lion Women of Tehran by Marian Kamali. Marianne Thuesen will lead our discussion and all are welcome to join us. Bring a sandwich and join in! This is a casual group using a general discussion format by all rather than one person presenting a Questions? call Margaret 865-363-3967.
SecondReaders
PleasejointheConnect afterworshiponSund March22,forpizzaand afternoonofBingo!The beprizesforyouthanda aswellasaspecialprize lastgame:a“blackoutro forthefirstpersont completelyfilltheirca Wehopetoseeyouth
Visit Our Prayer Stations During Lent
Our prayer stations are now ready for you throughout the season of Lent! Located in Room 50 (located on the opposite end of the hallway from the library). These prayer stations are interactive and offer a variety of methods for prayer as well as a range of things to lift up in prayer. We invite you to partake in the stations any time that the church is open. Come do them all at once or a couple at a time. You may absolutely come back and do them as many times as you like! We hope this will make for a meaningful Lenten practice for those who participate. The stations will be available NOW through Good Friday, April 3rd. See stations pictured below:
The Pre K class celebrated their 100 days of Pre K by dressing up in their best 100-Year-old attire. The day was full of fun and all things "100" !
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Doug
Michael
Jan Barber
Beth Robertson
Sydney
Pastor’s Bible Study
We are currently studying the Hebrew Bible books of Ezra & Nehemiah. These small but important books (which are a unified book in the Hebrew Scriptures) chronicle the time after the Babylonian exile when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem and what happened when the people rebuilt their lives and their city, restoring hope and purpose to their community.
Disbursements:
Presbytery of East Tennessee - $1,300. This is the Second Prebyterian Church.
East Knox Free Medical Clinic - $2,000. Since first opened in 2013, the East Knox Free Medical Clinic's mission has been to provide quality care in a safe environment. At the clinic, they provide their patients with comprehensive care. This is an all-volunteer clinic seeing patients with high blood pressure, high blood sugar, as well as other acute and chronic diseases. https://www.eastknoxfreemedicalclinic.com
ActivitiesforFebruary:
· February 18 – Volunteers (7) served lunch at KARM. This activity includes serving dinners on the cafeteria line, working in the dining room assisting disabled diners with their meals and cleaning all tables after each group is served. 237 meals were served.
· February 15 – 22 – Family Promise - Volunteers helped prepare the house at the Seventh Day Adventist Church to house several unhoused families during the week and prepared and served dinner on the February 18.
The GO Team is responsible for extending the ministry of 2nd Presbyterian beyond the church both locally and globally through financial donations and volunteer activities. The team relies on the generosity of the congregation to d their efforts and welcomes recommendations for donations and volunteer opportunities. The team welcomes new members who wish to serve. Next meeting is Thursday, March 5, at 1:00pm, in the Barbour room.
West View Supplies
Collection Box
As always, this box is located in the atrium, and 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.
THAT’SAWRAP!
A wonderful time was had at our annual Souper Bowl luncheon on February 8! Thanks to your incredible generosity at the luncheon, we raised approximately $1,500 for 2 Harvest Food Bank to help alleviate hunger in our community. Way to go, team! nd
MISSING ANYTHING? Our “lost & found” has gained quite a fewtreasures lately, and we want make sure they find their homes soon. Check out the coat rack area on the wayto kitchen next time you’re at church and see if any of these items belong to you!
The work on Church of the Savior’s building is nearing completion. They had hoped to be back in their building by Easter, but weather and material transportation delays have made that unlikely. As of now, it looks like they will continue to worship and share space here until the end of April. Submit your answer(s) via email to Kathryn, admin@2ndpres.org, to be featured in next
Whatdidtheoceansay whenspringarrived? Nothing.Itjustwaved.
Highlights from the Feb 2026 Stated Session Meeting
-Reviewed the treasurer’s report and ministry team reports.
-Received reports from Pastor Tim and Pastor Sarah on Celebrations, Concerns and Administrative Issues and Activities.
-Discussed Meeting with Westminster and next steps.
-Approved Special offerings from the Go team for 2026 with a slight change as noted in the Go team minutes for January
M a r c h 2 0 2 6
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
KathrynPaden ChurchAdministrator admin@2ndpresorg
PRESCHOOLSTAFF
LindaSueByrd
Director lsbyrd@2ndpresorg
HollyGrimm
AssistantDirector hgrimm@2ndpres.org
CONTACTUS:
SecondPresbyterianChurch
2829KingstonPike
Knoxville,TN37919
Ph.865.523.2189
Fax865.637.2617 www2ndpresorg
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