MAY 2nd Edition (WEB)

SECOND EDITION MAY 2026

SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2NDPRES.ORG

ON SECOND

Thought...

Last month we talked about what happens when anxiety is present in a congregation. I ended by saying that pastors and church leaders in healthy congregations learn to be aware of their own anxieties and then set them aside in order to use their higher order brain functions in addressing challenges. When we do this, we have greater awareness (of self, others, and the environment), make better choices, and are able to offer reasoned responses. In other words, we have a greater repertoire of responses available to us and are more resilient when facing crises or threats. This helps to lower anxiety in a congregation. But what raises anxiety in a congregation in the first place?

people. Rather than differences in points of view, it is the emotional reaction to those differences that produces the tension that causes people to feel threatened. The desire to escape that tension is what leads to increased anxiety in a congregation.

There are 12 common triggers that cause anxiety to increase in a congregation: money (especially the lack of it), worship style, issues involving sex/sexuality, a pastor’s leadership style, old ways vs. new ways of doing things, growth/survival matters, staff conflicts or resignations, internal vs. external focus, a major trauma (i.e. a congregational split, natural disaster, etc.), the death of a child in the congregation, building/property/space threats and matters, and the gap between the ideal and reality (usually idealizing/idolizing the past).

To relieve their anxiety, people will eventually focus it somewhere, usually the person (or persons) seen as most responsible or most vulnerable. This leads to conflict. Conflict is how congregations deal with anxiety, and we’ll be discussing that next month. For now, the important thing to remember is when it comes to anxiety, healthy congregations respond to it. They don’t react to it, they don’t ignore it, they don’t dismiss it, and they certainly don’t escalate it.

To be clear, these are simply “triggers” of anxiety. It’s crucial to understand this important difference. People will mistakenly assume that “issues” are the cause of anxiety and if these “issues” had never surfaced then there wouldn’t be a problem and people would get along better. But “issues” are not the problem; it’s the emotions surrounding them.

Certain “issues” tend to bring out strong emotions in people, and some people are more emotionally immature than others. They lack the self-awareness necessary to deal with their emotions in a healthy way and so they respond to these “triggers” from their lower brain. It is this immaturity, not the “issues” themselves, that creates squabbling and emotional stress between

This anxiety is contagious, by the way. Anxiety can provoke a mass reaction. Peer pressure, group think, and mob panic are examples of infectious anxiety.

Whole groups of people appear to be emotionally wired together; people overreact to one another and one person’s anxiety is enabled by a second person’s anxiety.

Healthy congregations learn to respond to anxiety in a healthy way – by recognizing it, acknowledging it, and then choosing to respond thoughtfully, reasonably, and rationally, rather than emotionally.

Healthy congregations allow for challenge and for different points of view. They are governed more by insight, reflectiveness, and objectivity than by instinctual survival reactions. They develop healthy behavioral patterns that enable the congregation to analyze what is happening, evaluate the situation calmly, develop different responses, and then decide what to do.

Grace and peace...

Table of Contents Worship Connect Grow Go Support

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Worship

Upcoming Sermon Texts and Topics We are currently following the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) on Sunday mornings.

May 3rd

John 14:1-14

The Way, the Truth, the Life

May 10th

1 Peter 3:13-22

Baptism

May 17th

Psalm 68: 1-10; 32-35 The Awesomeness of God

May 24th

Acts 2:1-21

The Holy Spirit

May 31st

Psalm 8

God’s Handiwork

Church of the Savior update

Last month we announced that Church of the Savior’s last Sunday in our Fellowship Hall would be April 12th. Their gas lines did not pass KUB inspection, however, so those are being re-done. They are now saying it will be mid-late May. Stay tuned to the Friday E-News and Sunday Worship Bulletin for updates!

The Church Office will be closed Monday, May 25th, in observance of Memorial Day. Regular business will resume on Tuesday, May 26th.

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Easter Sunday memories

SPC sure did use the sanctuary for the Easter egg hunt! A great time was had by all - can’t let rain stop the fun!

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Connect

Next Meeting: May 12 On Tuesday, May 12, the Presbyterian Women will gather for fellowship, song, and study in the Fellowship Hall from 10:15–11:30 a.m..

All are welcome!

Join us for Arts & Crafts!

The Arts and Crafts group of PW meets on the FOURTH WEDNESDAY at 10:00 a.m. in room 227 upstairs). Come and enjoy the fellowship!

For Second Readers this month, we will be meeting at the Buckingham Clubhouse on Wednesday, May 20, at 11:30 AM. Our book is Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand.

Bring your lunch and feel free to join us for about an hour and a half of casual discussion and fellowship.

Questions? Contact Margaret Sullivan at 865-363-3967.

No reservation required.

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Beginning in May, the Connect Team invites you to go to lunch with friends on the first Sunday of each month. These lunches are for anyone who would like to go out to eat with others following worship on the first Sunday of the month.

The group will meet at the baptismal font and disperse from there to a designated restaurant. A reservation is not required, but if you know you're going to attend, we'd love for you to let us know by calling the church office or emailing Pastor Sarah (smorgan@2ndpres.org) during the week prior. The first Long Table Lunch will be Sunday, May 3rd, and we hope you’ll participate!

We've been made aware that a number of folks in the congregation need rides to worship on Sunday mornings, and we want to help!

If you need a ride to worship, whether on an ongoing or temporary basis, please call the church office and let us know. Also, if you are willing to GIVE someone a ride to worship on Sunday morning, please call the church office or let Pastor Sarah know. Thank you so much!

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Our NEXT Food & Friends is Sunday, May 10th, and all college students and young adults are invited for lunch and fellowship at a local restaurant!

If you are interested in hosting a future Food & Friends, let Pastor Tim know.

SPC Preschool

Spring

Music

Program

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Thursday, April 23, 2026

So...

What is CCR&R?

You may see this from time to time in our church calendar or on signage, so let’s tell you about it!

The SPC Preschool hosts monthly trainings for preschool directors across all of East Tennessee.

Linda Sue and Holly, our preschool director and assistant director, coordinate with Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) to provide the space for a collaborative learning environment. Trainings have included new licensure rules clarification, health and safety in childcare and many other relevant topics.

We are thankful to have the space to provide these helpful trainings as we partner with directors across all of East Tennessee!

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A Spotlight on our Student Ministries...

Congratulations and best wishes to our SPC Graduates!

Henry Casey, West High School

enley, H e l a D of ersity v i n U The ssee, Tenne ille Knoxv

Congratulations to Henry Casey, graduating from West HS as cosalutatorian of his class. He is the son of Matt and Monica Casey.

Henry has been awarded one of 15 Haslam Leadership Scholars Program scholarships. This scholarship is part of the overall Chancellor's Honors Program. Additionally, Henry has been awarded a Tocqueville Scholarship. This Scholars Program prepares students to become “civic leaders in government, law, business, and public affairs through an in-depth curriculum.”

Dale Henley will graduate from UT in May with a degree in Finance and a concentration in Supply Chain, all while working two jobs throughout his four years in college. He recently completed an internship with 21st Mortgage Company and will begin a summer internship with Tennessee Valley Authority after graduation. He is Jessie Wilso n, seeking a full-time opportunity to begin in the fall and looks The U nivers ity of forward to continuing his support for all things UT and Vol sports.

Tenne ssee, You may catch him in the balcony many Sunday mornings working Knoxv ille behind the scenes as one of our audio-visual technicians, and we are so grateful for his talent!

Jessie Wilson, a native of Cookeville, is graduating with her MS in Industrial Engineering from UTK. Her thesis focused on applying AI and large language models to breast cancer data to support clinicians. She previously earned her BS in Industrial Engineering from UTK in December 2024.

Jessie has also been an active member of the church choir for the past two years.

After graduation, she will begin a position in Enterprise Risk Management at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

Congratulations, Jessie!

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Children’s Ministry

Things to know...

We use Celebrate Wonder curriculum, which provides lessons for birth-5th grade We have grown from 1 combined class of children to 4 Sunday School classrooms We are averaging 18-20 children per Sunday Our ministry has had consistent Volunteer Rotation for Sunday School classes for the last 3 years 2nd Pres families come together for various family activities and outings throughout the year such as: Family Olympics, Corn Maze, Tulip Festival, Picnics on the Playground, etc.

Do you have a heart for children and providing a safe, loving environment for them? If so, we’ve got a place for you! To find out more about the ways you can lead and love in our Children’s Ministry.

Contact Holly any time, hgrimm@2ndpres.org

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ur O t Mee try s i n i M s ’ n e !

Childr f f a St OLLY H

he d I am t n a , m r im Holly G st r y s i e m t h M in i u o Y My na f d n an a pa r t o n e e Childre b ve d tor. I ha a n i re at 2n d e r h o y Co r t n s ’s Mini 3, a n d i n 0 e 0 r 2 d l e i c in Ch stry hurch s C n a t h M in i i r u e o t Y y d b s ul o ad Pre tha n k f lessed t y b l s e a m w e x tr 20 19 , I ual . I am e e l t i t ’s spirit b d o l j i h y c m of to a ch art of e x a m ple p e a n a e b e to to b through nt and e h t m r i p b o l from d ev e al love d. n o i t i d d beyon n a uncon l o o h high sc

ALI

SON

d I’ve been n a t h ig r W I’m Alison children’s e th h it w g workin for just over s e r P d n o c Se n ministry at Presbyteria a t a d e k r o a a y ea r . I w ille for over v h s a N in h y churc oungster, m y a s a w I n e out decade. Wh ays drag me lw a to d a h . parents on Sundays y r e s r u n h the of the churc s been with y a lw a s a h My place little ones!

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BLYTHE My name is Blythe Lundberg and I’ve been working in children’s ministry at Second Pres since 2023. I work as a civil engineer during the week, so every Sunday I feel so lucky to reconnect with the playful part of my soul.

I love getting to know each child and watching them develop their knowledge of God and the world.

As the oldest of four children, it makes me feel right at home!

My na

LILY

m e is L il y R worki ey n o l n d s, a n d g and c h il d r v I’ve be o lu n te en’s m en e r i i n n g w it h is t r y s began i t n ce m he worki id d l e s ng for su m m c h t he SP C o o l an er. I’m d Presch away t hem o o a t l l c as t w hen ollege I’m go and I m recon ne, so nect w i ss b e in g it h t h e brings a b l m e to d u r in jo y t o g my b m y l if alway r e e s felt t aks ev er y ha t m t im e ! I to wat y ca lli h ave ch ove ng fro m God r h is c young hildre was e s t s ib n, and l in g in a s the my fam g iv e s me a c il y it ha n ce to b e the b i g s is t e r!

Lily Reynolds

Blythe Lundberg, Holly Grimm, and Alison Wright

5/1 Paul Sexauer 5/5 Kathy Duggan 5/5 Marty McLean 5/7 Gregg Pruitt 5/9 Sofia Hartman 5/11 Cleston Jones 5/13 Redmond Sweitzer 5/14 Frank McClelland

5/15 Tuesday Reynolds 5/20 Xavier Perez 5/22 Matt Mimbs 5/23 Holly Grimm 5/24 Neal Henley 5/25 Becky Smith 5/28 Margaret Sullivan 5/31 Leslie Matthews

See a name that we missed?

Let us know in the church office so we can update our records accordingly!

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Grow

SAVE THE DATE! Vacation Bible School June 22-24, 2026 We will be combining forces with our neighbors at First Presbyterian this summer for VBS, and we will have more information in the weeks ahead!

2nd Pres Fall Retreat: Are you in?

The Grow Team is in the early stages of planning a churchwide Fall Retreat the first one in over a decade! But, we need your assistance to make this event a success -- we are looking for volunteers to join a Planning Committee to help organize the details and discuss what we would like this event to look like for SPC. If you are interested in being part of this exciting opportunity, please contact Patricia Kennedy at patricia.w.kennedy@gmail.com

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GO Team Report – April 2026

GO

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 fund their efforts and welcomes recommendations for donations and volunteer opportunities. The team welcomes new members who wish to serve.

Next meeting is Thursday, May 7, at 1:00pm, in the Barbour room.

Disbursements:

·Presbytery of East Tennessee - $1,300. This is the monthly pledge of 2nd Pres. ·Compassion Coalition - $500. Annual dues ·The Antioch Partners - $7,000. Donation for the support of Dan and Elizabeth Turks and their work as missionaries in Madagascar. ·UKirk at UT - $6,000 annual donation ·UKirk at UT - $1,000 for two Wednesday night meals in the next academic year and one “home cooked” meal on May 11.

Activities in April:

Going and Serving in 2026

Watch for upcoming volunteer opportunities at KARM, West View Elementary, Compassion Coalition, Family Promise and others in upcoming weekly newsletters.

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April 13: Ten SPC members attended The Justice Knox Nehemiah Assembly at the Civic Auditorium. This year Justice Knox asked for commitments from city and county officials and candidates for Housing for homeless, Micro-Transit, and improvements in Eviction Court. More info: https://justiceknox.org/ April 15: Six volunteers served lunch at KARM 230+ were served.

If you’ve not had the chance to serve alongside our Go Team, consider coming along sometime! You are sure to be blessed (and probably have some fun, too, as pictured here)!

Serving lunch at Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM)

Dan and Elizabeth Turks, missionaries in Madagascar supported by the GO Team 16

M O FR

Happy MAil

:

UKirk is the PCUSA-affiliated campus ministry group at UTKnoxville, and we support them throughout the year both financially and spiritually. It’s always a blessing to receive this kind of correspondence from them.

We love our students! If you’re not familiar, here are some fun facts about UKirk: together every We have dinner t at 7pm as well Wednesday nigh days at 11:30. as lunch on Mon the table, We believe that at ngibly present God’s grace is ta at we are and reminds us th res in need of embodied creatu ity. love and commun

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We express God’s love by caring for people, doing right by people, and providing brave and safe spaces.

Worshiping together, we celebrate the sacred witness to God’s promises kept through Jesus.

Through hospitality, presence on campus, and offering safety, compassion, and encouragement, we provide space for difficult conversations and companionship.

We share communion every Wednesday night during worship at UKirk. Communion is open to anyone if they choose to partake.

We are a community in conversation and we all have something to learn from one another. So bring all of who you are into the conversation.

Bring your doubts, questions, uncertainty, concerns, celebrations and everything in between.

You are welcome here.

April 2026 Session Highlights

Support

Review of the treasurer’s report and ministry team reports Examination of Incoming Elders Pastors’ report on celebrations/concerns and update on activities and administrative issues New elder installation/ordination on Sunday, April 26th.

Next Session Meeting: Tuesday, May 19

Give Online

Visit us at www.2ndpres.org/give, text 2ndPresKnox to 73256 OR scan the QR code to the right.

MARCH BUDGET REPORT Preliminary

MAR

YTD 2026

BUDGET 2025

TOTAL GIFTS

$110,028.79

$341,019.10

$893,040.00

TOTAL EXPENSES

$76,843.70

$211,695.67

$994,188.00

EXCESS (SHORTAGE)

$33,185.09

$129,323.43

($101,148.00)

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May 2026

What is the #1 selling Easter candy?

a.) Jelly beans b.) Reese Cup eggs c.) Cadbury eggs d.) Peeps

Answer: b.) Reese cup eggs

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THE SECOND EDITION

2ND PRES KNOX

WELCOMING + FAITHFUL + HOPEFUL

SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2829 KINGSTON PIKE KNOXVILLE, TN 37919

CLERGY STAFF Pastor Tim Reynolds Pastor/Head of Staff treynolds@2ndpres.org Pastor Sarah Morgan Transitional Associate Pastor for Congregational Life & Mission smorgan@2ndpres.org PROGRAM STAFF Matthew Mimbs Director of Music & Arts mmimbs@2ndpres.org Holly Grimm Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator hgrimm@2ndpres.org Sarah Warner Organist swarner@bellarmine.edu SUPPORT STAFF Kathryn Paden Church Administrator admin@2ndpres.org

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.

follow us on social media 2ndpres.org

2ndpresknox/

SecondPresbyterianChurchKnoxville/

MINISTRY TEAMS & MODERATORS

PRESCHOOL STAFF Linda Sue Byrd Director lsbyrd@2ndpres.org Holly Grimm Assistant Director hgrimm@2ndpres.org --------------------------------------------------CONTACT US: Second Presbyterian Church 2829 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37919 Ph. 865.523.2189 Fax 865.637.2617 www.2ndpres.org

ELDERS

CLASS OF 2027 Betsy Foster John Gill William Owen Cheryl Ragsdale CLASS OF 2028 Geoffrey Kennedy Kathy Duggan Lauren Dodson Cleston Jones CLASS OF 2029 Andrew Butler Becca Kite Glenn Lamping Janis Smith

WORSHIP Betsy Foster John Gill Andrew Butler CONNECT Geoffrey Kennedy Becca Kite Cheryl Ragsdale GROW Kathy Duggan GO Lauren Dodson Glenn Lamping SUPPORT William Owen Janis Smith PRESCHOOL Cleston Jones