|
Dear friends,
My first fall at Second (in 2011, believe it or not!) marked the beginning of a beloved tradition, our first annual Preschool Sunday. The idea wasn’t mine, but it was my great joy to help bring it to life alongside Dr. George Anderson and Molly Simpson, who was our Preschool Director at the time. The goal was simple and important: to help our church see the incredible impact our preschool has on children and their families here in Roanoke, and to give those families an opportunity to express their joy and gratitude for this ministry of early childhood education.
Since then, I’ve led more than 125 preschool chapels (and counting!), and I’ve also had the privilege of experiencing this ministry from a parent’s perspective. I can say with full confidence that this preschool makes a difference. Our daughter Eleanor discovered a love for learning within these walls. She learned to count, began the early steps of reading, made her first friends, explored the arts, and grew in both confidence and curiosity. The faith and educational foundation she received here has shaped her deeply, and she’s just one among many.
This Sunday, we will celebrate Preschool Sunday once again. We’ll welcome children and their families, many of whom may never have seen our church “in action” on a Sunday morning. Some of them have church homes elsewhere; others depend on our preschool as a primary place where their children hear the stories of the Christian faith. Whatever the case, they are part of our extended church family, because the program they love and trust is a ministry of this congregation.
So I ask you, as beloved members, please go out of your way to offer a warm and genuine welcome. These families may not know where to sit, where to find the nursery, or what to expect in our worship service. But they do know and love this church through our preschool. Let’s show them the same love in return.
Put on your best hospitality. Smile, greet, invite. Let’s be the church they already trust because of the seeds of grace planted in their little ones each day.
Grace and peace,
Elizabeth Link
P.S.
Please join us in the Fellowship Hall for a special Preschool Meet & Greet before Sunday School begins. It’s a wonderful chance to connect with visiting families, share a smile, and celebrate the good work God is doing through Second Pres. Preschool.
| | | | |
|
October 19, 2025: Preschool Sunday
- 8:30am - 12:30pm Preschool Book Fair, Fellowship Hall
- 8:45am Worship Service, Sanctuary
- 9:45am Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
- 9:45am Handbell Choir Rehearsal
- 9:45am Preschool to Host Meet/Greet, Fellowship Hall
- 9:45am Sunday School
- 11:00am Worship Service, Sanctuary/Live Stream
- 4:00pm Elder Training (Worship & Outreach), Session Room
- 5:00pm Kid's Fellowship, Fellowship Hall
- 5:00pm Youth Group
- 5:30pm Welcome Families to the Alexa House
See the full calendar HERE.
| | | | |
|
Preschool Book Fair This Weekend
A Preschool Book Fair will coincide with Preschool Sunday, October 19. A portion of the proceeds will come back to the preschool. Check it out this weekend (Oct. 17–19): Friday: 8:30-1:00 when the church office closes; Saturday: 10:00-2:00; Sunday: 8:30-12:30.
| | |
Sunday, Oct. 26 | 4-6 p.m. | Parking Lot
The 5th Annual 2PC Youth Trunk or Treat will be on October 26th in the Mountain Avenue Parking Lot from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. This event brings our neighbors, our preschool, our mission partners, and local schools together for a SPOOKtacular night of fun and fellowship! The youth create games for all the kids to play, while members of our church volunteer to decorate their trunks and pass out candy! The Second Pres Preschool even sponsors the Bounce House! Additionally, we will be collecting canned food donations at the event to begin our Middle School Hunger Busters Initiative to benefit the Presbyterian Community Center through November 16th!
🚘🍬🎃
Want to help with Trunk or Treat? We expect over 300 people to join us, and your participation is what makes this event the success it is! You can donate candy or sign up to decorate your car. Contact Ben Brannan with questions.
| | |
“Revelation and Reggae”
Fri-Sat, November 7-8 | Eagle Eyrie Conference Center
| |
Led once again by Rev. Chris Vogado, this year’s Men’s Retreat—November 7-8 at Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg—will explore the Book of Revelation through the lens of Reggae music, as we look into the powerful imagery of Babylon as a symbol of injustice and spiritual resistance. We will trace how, through both prophetic visions and protest rhythms, scripture and song call us to live with integrity, courage, and honesty in the face of broken systems in hope for a better future. Expect honest conversations, soul-stirring music, and fresh insights into Revelation’s message.
Cost: $75. Register by Friday, October 31.
| | Gals' Gathering Day Retreat | |
“Love’s Ancient Song: The Beauty and Wisdom of Song of Songs”
Saturday, Nov. 15 | 9AM–4PM | Fellowship Hall
| |
Join us for Gals’ Gathering, a day-long women’s retreat of spiritual reflection, connection, and fellowship, right here at the church on Saturday, Nov. 15. Guided by Dr. Sarah Wiles, pastor of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, we’ll explore the depth, poetry, and enduring power of love found in this unique book of the Bible.
Cost: $35 (includes lunch & craft). Register by Sunday, November 9.
Want to volunteer with Gals? Contact co-chairs: Chasity Fitzpatrick or Rhesa Bailey.
| | The Bible in Black & White | |
“Conversations that Change Us”
Wednesdays in October | 12:00 p.m. | Fellowship Hall
| | What happens to faith when it becomes more about talking about Jesus than talking to Jesus? Do we risk reducing a living relationship to abstract ideas—Jesus becoming a topic rather than a presence? Does prayer drift into ritual, and ministry into duty, when it’s no longer rooted in communion with Christ? | | | |
The Gospel of John resists such drift. It is a Gospel built on conversations—long, rich, and transformative ones. From Nicodemus under the cover of night to the Samaritan woman at the well, from a man born blind to Mary, Martha, and Pontius Pilate—Jesus doesn’t just talk at people, he speaks with them. And they are never the same.
This October, the Bible in Black & White community will listen in on these conversations—and join them. Our hope is to encounter Jesus as we encounter each other, with open minds, honest hearts, and a willingness to be changed.
Dates: October 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
Location: Second Presbyterian Church
Facilitators: Dr. Bill Lee, Dr. George C. Anderson, and ministers of other sponsoring churches.
| | |
Begins October 9
Thursdays | 10:30 a.m. | Session Room
| Jesus provided his disciples teachings for how to follow Torah, God’s word; he told them parables to help them discern questions of ethics and of human nature; he offered them beatitudes for comfort and encouragement. But sometimes Jesus spoke words that followers then and now have found difficult. He instructs disciples to hate members of their own families (Luke 14:26), to act as if they were slaves (Matthew 20:27), and to sell their belongings and give to the poor (Luke 18:22). He restricts his mission (Matthew 10:6); he speaks of damnation (Matthew 8:12); he calls Jews the devil’s children (John 8:44). | | Exploring The Difficult Words of Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine, we’ll learn how these teachings would have sounded to the people who first heard them, how they have been understood over time, and how we might interpret them in the context of the Gospel of love and reconciliation. Contact Meredith Koliba to register. | | | |
Men's Bible Study
Thursday Mornings | 7:15 a.m. | Reading Room/Zoom
| | |
The Men’s Bible Study meets weekly to read, pray, and be guided by the Holy Spirit as we faithfully interpret Scripture together for our day and time—right here in Roanoke. This fall, we'll continue our study of the Gospel of Luke, and we invite you to join us and experience the many ways you’ll be enriched! The study meets weekly on Thursdays at 7:15–8:15 a.m. in the Reading Room and by Zoom. Questions? Contact Dave Speno.
| | Volunteers Needed for Our Family Promise Hosting Week | | |
Second Presbyterian's next Family Promise hosting week at Alexa House is the week of Oct. 26–Nov. 2. Thank you to all who have signed up thus far!
We continue to team up with Beth Israel splitting the dates, and we still have some needs! Email Lucinda Hancock to sign up today!
| | |
-
Tuesday, Oct 28: Evening and overnight
-
Thursday, Oct 30: Evening
-
Friday, Oct 31: Evening and overnight
-
Saturday, Nov 1: Evening
Evening shift is 7PM–9PM, to provide fellowship with the families if they would like to chat, play games etc.
Overnight shift is 9PM–7AM, except on Saturday when the guests get to leave at 8AM.
If you are interested and/or have additional questions, please email Lucinda Hancock.
| |
Nancy Gray to be Honored at Friendship's Vision & Values Awards Brunch
Nancy Gray has been named as one of the 2025 Honorees of Friendship's Vision & Values Award, which recognizes individuals in the Roanoke Valley whose lives have made our community a better place. The Vision & Values Awards Brunch will be held on Thursday, October 23rd at 10am at Hotel Roanoke. For more information and to purchase tickets to the event, visit Friendship's website.
| | | | Commitment cards have been mailed and are available in the sanctuary and at the front office. You can communicate your financial commitment via mail, by phone or email to Church Administrator Nathan Anderson (540-343-3659), or online via your Realm account (Log in --> Giving --> + Pledge --> 2026 General Fund). | | | | |
|
Susan Carter
Hayden Hollingsworth
John Nelson
Our sympathies extend to Claudia and John Moore on the death of Claudia's mother, Claudia O'Bosky, on Monday, October 13. Our prayers are also with their daughters, Caroline and Elizabeth.
Sympathy is extended to Jim and Susan Bailey on the recent passing of Jim’s brother, Steve Bailey. Our prayers are also with their daughters Tyler, Carrie, and Lizzie.
Congratulations to Jen and Carter Brothers on the birth of their grandson, Grant Randolph Garst, born to parents Courtney Brothers and Phillip Garst on Tuesday, September 30.
Congratulations to Jim and Ruth Robertson on the birth of their grandson, Stephen James Greene, born on Friday, October 10 to parents Kate and Thomas Greene. Proud big sister is Auggie.
|
| | | |
|
The Outreach Offering for October will support The Lion’s Share. The Lion’s Share is a community food pantry and clothes closet located at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. They serve over 130 households each week, representing over 300 individuals. Our neighbors in need come from all walks of life—families with children, senior citizens, unhoused individuals, those who work full-time—and they come from all over the Roanoke Valley, including our Old Southwest neighborhood. The Lion’s Share has seen a 30% increase in the number of households seeking assistance in the last year and expects this trend to continue into the foreseeable future as food costs continue to rise and planned cuts to government food assistance begin to take effect. They are a volunteer-run organization with a budget of $40,000, consisting entirely of food purchases. All funds raised as part of Second Presbyterian’s Outreach Offering will be used to purchase food for those in need. To find out more about The Lion’s Share, including volunteer opportunities, visit their website. As of Thursday, October 16, $2,717 has been collected.
Monthly Food Collection for PCC: The food items for the month of October are holiday foods (stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, cranberry sauce). A donation bin is in the coat closet (please check the expiration date before donating).
|
| | | |
FROM OUR MISSION PARTNERS | | |
The Presbyterian Community Center is now in the process of moving to their newly constructed facility! Volunteers and groups are needed to help them move to their new building the week of October 27-31, and the week of November 3-7. Fifteen volunteers per day are needed and deeply appreciated.
If you or your group can spend a day helping sort, carry boxes, pull a hand cart, or organize, please reach out to Volunteer Coordinator April Lewis at alewis@pccse.org or 540.982.2911.
|
| | | |
|
Second Presbyterian Church
214 Mountain Avenue SW
Roanoke, VA 24016
Office Hours:
| | |
Mon.–Thurs.: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
| | |
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
| | | | |
