December 11, 2025

Dear Worshippers,

If you tuned in this past Sunday, December 7, expecting to worship with us via live stream, you noticed right away that nothing was happening—and we sincerely apologize. Our internet provider experienced an outage, and our AV team quickly adapted. Rather than attempt an unsuccessful stream, the service was recorded and posted on YouTube the following day.

We did our best to communicate the situation in real time, and I want to share a few ways you can stay informed should anything like this happen again.

Shortly after 11:00 a.m., updates were shared through social media stories and a Facebook post explaining the issue and our plan to record the service. If you use social media, we encourage you to follow the church accounts for timely updates (@spresroanoke).

We also posted notices on the live stream page of the church website and in the YouTube video description (example shown below). As a reminder, we typically begin streaming about eight minutes before the hour. If it’s 11:00 a.m. or later and the stream hasn’t started, please try refreshing the page to check for any updates.

As the coordinator of the AV team here at Second, I am both grateful for and proud of the work they do to support meaningful worship each week. We know how important our digital services are to our online community. Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your commitment to worship. All of this is done to the glory of God and in service to this community of Christ followers.

With gratitude for our worshipping community,

Andrea Boone
Media & Communications Specialist

Inclement Weather Policy

In the event of inclement weather, cancellation of worship services or events will be communicated through the following channels:

1. The homepage of our website
2. Our official church social media accounts
3. The list of local closings on WDBJ-7 and WSLS-10

We encourage all members to monitor these sources for updates to ensure safety during adverse weather conditions.

December 14, 2025: Third Sunday of Advent

• 8:45am Worship Service, Sanctuary
• 9:45am 4th & 5th Grades go to Woodland Hills for Caroling
• 9:45am Handbell Choir Rehearsal
• 9:45am Sunday School
• 11:00am Worship Service, Sanctuary/Live Stream
• 5:00pm G.F. Handel's, MESSIAH, Sanctuary, Free Admission
• 5:00pm Youth Group Christmas Party, Fellowship Hall
• 5:30pm Welcome Families to the Alexa House

See the full calendar HERE.

*The worship service live stream from Sunday, December 7 is posted and available for viewing. Although we were unable to stream live due to an internet outage, we recorded the service and invite you to join us in worship and lighting the Candle of Peace—any day this week!*

www.spres.org/worship/livestream/

Moments from the Christmas Dinner & Pageant

The recording of the 2025 Children's Christmas Pageant can be accessed HERE by direct link only (it is not available to the wider public). Enjoy!

Once Upon an Advent | Advent Sermon Series

November 30–December 28

This Advent season at Second Presbyterian, we’ll enter the story of Christmas through the wonder of stories themselves. Each week, we’ll listen for how God’s promises of hope, peace, joy, love, and light come to life in both Scripture and story, reminding us that the good news often begins with something small and unexpected. We’ll hear of hope that grows where others see only endings, peace that comes through gentleness and self-giving, joy that blossoms in compassion, and love that transforms even the hardest of hearts. On Christmas Eve, we’ll celebrate the light that shines in the darkness, and the week that follows will invite us to recognize Christ’s presence in everyday moments and simple acts of kindness.

Come and join us for Once Upon an Advent, a season to wonder, to wait, and to rediscover how God’s story is still being written in and among us.

Advent 3 – Joy (Dec. 14)

• Book: Great Joy, by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline
• Scripture: Isaiah 35:1–10; Luke 2:8–20

Advent 4 – Love (Dec. 21)

• Book: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, by Susan Wojciechowski, illus. by P.J. Lynch
• Scripture: 1 John 4:7–12

Christmas Eve – Light (Dec. 24)

• Book: Silent Night, by Lara Hawthorne
• Scripture: Luke 2:1–20; John 1

First Sunday of Christmas – Jesus in Our Midst (Dec. 28)

• Book: Shoemaker Martin, by Leo Tolstoy, illus. by Bernadette Watts
• Scripture: Matthew 25

Christmas Eve Worship Service Times

Wednesday, December 24 | Sanctuary

• 12:00 p.m. Noon Service with Communion, Sanctuary/Live Stream
• 5:00 p.m. Family Service with a Baptism, Sanctuary
• 10:00 p.m. Candlelight Service, Sanctuary

George Frideric Handel: MESSIAH

Sunday, December 14 | 5:00 p.m. | Sanctuary

FREE ADMISSION

The Longest Night Service

Sunday, December 21 | 6:00 p.m. | Sanctuary

For those who have experienced loss, the holidays can be a particularly painful time, stirring up grief in acute ways. Many churches have adopted the practice of hosting a Longest Night service on or around the winter solstice, honoring those grappling with loss and grief.

On Sunday, December 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, we will hold a Longest Night service of prayer, song, and meditation. Our hope is that this worship service will create a safe and sacred space for those who are struggling to feel the joy and light of this Advent and Christmas season due to loss of any kind.

We do not intend for this service to be a service of healing, for what we lose cannot always be replaced. Instead, we hope this service will acknowledge the hole that grief leaves in one’s heart while simultaneously remembering that we worship a God who is with us, even in the darkest of times.

Remember Your Commitment

Knitted Hats for School Children Due ASAP

Thank you to all who have been knitting this season! Your beautiful hats and scarves will help keep the children of Highland Park Elementary warm this winter, and we’re grateful for every stitch offered in love. Whether you’ve been knitting from home or gathering with the Knitting Group on Thursday mornings at 9:30 in the Hospitality Room, your work is a true blessing. We kindly ask that all finished items be turned in to the Hospitality Room closet by early December. This program was lovingly started by Margaret Foss, and we’re grateful for all who continue her legacy. Contact Emily Mallory with any questions (540-344-1780).

Volunteers Needed for Our Family Promise Hosting Week

Thanks to all who have committed to help during Second's final host week of 2025 (December 21st–24th)! The final remaining slot which needs to be filled is the evening (7-9PM) on Tuesday, December 23. Please email Lucinda Hancock to sign up. 

A Solution for Unused Christmas Cards

Have extra Christmas cards? We invite you to share them as a simple but meaningful gift of grace. Please place any unused Christmas cards in the Jail Ministry box in the Coat Closet.

Throughout December—and through the end of this year—our Jail Ministry will continue gathering cards to pass along to local jail chaplains. These cards become small messengers of hope for men and women who are separated from their families during this holiday season. Any cards collected after this year’s delivery will be saved and shared for Christmas next year, ensuring the blessing continues forward. The Service and Outreach Committee will also provide stamps so each card can carry its prayer of love and connection home.

Thank you for helping us shine Christ’s light into places where it is needed most. Your generosity brings comfort, dignity, and the promise of hope to hearts longing for it. For more information, please contact Anna McLean (540-776-0359).

Advent Devotionals Available

The Presbyterian Outlook's 2025 Advent devotional, "Draw Near," is available for pickup at the welcome table in Kirk Hall for all who want one. The devotional includes artwork by two children of our church, Eleanor Link and Corinne Wilson. More copies will be printed as needed.  

Preschool Enrollment

Preschool enrollment is just around the corner! Applications windows for the 2026-2027 school year are:

• Jan 5 – Jan 16: Preschool families register currently enrolled children and apply for siblings, where space allows. 
• Jan 20 – Jan 23: Church members apply, where space allows. 
• Jan 26: New families apply, where space allows. 

Information on applying to the preschool can be found on the website at sprespreschool.com under the Program --> Enrollment menu. Those interested may reach out to Alice Light at 540-342-6405 ext. 1 and alight@spres.org. 

Realm Connect

For more information on Realm Connect, check out the Realm page of the church website. Contact Meredith Koliba with any questions.

Susan Carter 

Hayden Hollingsworth

CW Houghton 

Sympathy is extended to Paul and Bobbie Black and family on the death of Paul's father, Paul Garry Black, on Monday, December 8.

Our sympathies extend to the family and loved ones of Daisy "Dee" Williams Moore, who died on Thursday, December 11.

Congratulations to Robyn and David Johnsen on the birth of their grandson, Heston William Johnsen, born on Tuesday, December 9 to parents Whitt and Kali Johnsen. 

A memorial service in celebration of the life and Christian witness of John Finley Nelson will be held on Monday, December 15 at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary and via live stream. A reception will follow in Kirk Hall.

The Outreach Offering for December will benefit Bradley Free Clinic. For more than 50 years, the clinic has been a vital healthcare lifeline in the Roanoke Valley, providing medical, dental, behavioral health, substance use, and pharmacy services to low-income and uninsured neighbors. Serving nearly 4,000 patients last year alone, it remains a cornerstone of the community’s safety net and often the only accessible healthcare home for those with nowhere else to turn. This month’s offering will help the clinic expand its women’s health program by strengthening the integration of medical, mental health, and substance use services for pre- and post-natal mothers—an increasingly urgent need. Support for the Bradley Free Clinic sustains essential, life-changing care and ensures hope and healing remain available to the community’s most vulnerable. 



Monthly Food Collection for PCC: The food items for the month of December are crackers, Vienna sausages, condiments, syrup, and jelly. A donation bin is in the coat closet (please check the expiration date before donating).

LOA Needs Volunteers to Deliver Angel Tree Gifts to Seniors Next Week

Our friends at Local Office on Aging (LOA) are in need of additional delivery volunteers next week, any day Monday through Friday (Dec. 15–19). If you are able to assist, please contact Michele Daley at mdaley@loaa.org. LOA extends their heartfelt gratitude for all the support and kindness shown in bringing cheer to seniors in our community this holiday season!

Second Presbyterian Church

214 Mountain Avenue SW

Roanoke, VA 24016

Office Hours:

Mon.–Thurs.: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM–1:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: 8:30 AM–12:30 PM