ePulse Second Presbyterian Church

Sunday Morning Flowers

Flowers displayed in the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings are there to honor or memorialize persons dear to you or to the 2PC congregation. After services, they are given to 2PC shut-ins or people on our prayer list. If you would like to have flowers displayed on a Sunday morning, you may do so by filling out the flower cards at the Welcome Center or by emailing Kim at kim.pare@secondpres.info. The suggested donation is $40 per bouquet.

Books for South Africa

2PC members, Dorothy Kennett and Nancy Gordon, will be traveling to South Africa on March 2 in order to expand the Traveling Library program. Funds are needed to cover postage charges for mailing books and to purchase new and used books. If you are interested in supporting this program, checks can be sent directly to Dorothy Kennett at 2002 E. Washington, Bloomington, IL 61701 or sent to 2PC with Books for South Africa in the memo line. Please contact Dorothy with questions at 662.1571.

All-Church Lenten Study Sign Up (2/1 and 2/8)

Get involved in 2PC’s all-church study about spiritual practices using John Ortberg’s book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People. Sign ups are available near the Welcome Center this Sunday and next Sunday. All are welcome to participate whether or not you are currently in a group or class. See the Pastor’s Page for more details.

First Sunday Dinner of 2009 (2/1)

Sunday Dinner will be served in Fellowship Hall from 11am-1:15 this after services. Tickets are on sale at the Welcome Center for $7. All 2PC members, friends and community partners are welcome.

Merge Super Bowl Party (2/1)

Join merge 20s/30s for a Super Bowl party at the home of Nikk and Miranda Frank (2946 Buffalo Lane, Bloomington.) Be there between 4:30-5pm for a chance to win prizes by guessing the right score of the game. Contact andrea.kladder@secondpres.info for more information and directions.

February’s BIG Event: Super Bowl Party (2/1)

A Super Bowl party for 2PC high school students is Sunday, February 1 at 5pm. The party is at the home of the Secord family (5 London Court, Bloomington) and students are encouraged to bring friends. Contact Josh with questions at josherickson@secondpres.info.

Sign-Up for Alpha (Now)

Alpha, a ten-week practical introduction to the Christian faith, begins Sunday, February 8. There will be a “Come and See” Dinner at 5pm in F100B. Come see what Alpha is all about, and if you like what you see, you’re welcome to continue with the course. If you would like to attend, RSVP to David Kaeb at 963.4234 or dlandkrr@frontiernet.net.

Red Cross Blood Drive (2/11)

The Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Wednesday, February 11 in F100A from 2-7pm. Sign-ups are available near the Welcome Center between Sunday morning services. Please contact Sandy Savage at 828.1749 with any questions.

JOY Fellowship Program (2/13)

Rev. Dean Kladder will speak at the Just Older Youth (JOY) Fellowship program on Friday, February 13 on the topic, “The Meaning of Membership.” We will meet at 10:30am in room F100A. Dean has served a number of roles since joining the 2PC pastoral staff in 2007, but his major duty has been the recruitment of new church members. If you are interested in attending the Friday Prayer Lunch immediately following this program, please RSVP to Kim at 828.6297.

The Souper Bowl of Caring

On Sunday, February 1, across the nation, people are pitching in for the Souper Bowl of Caring.

Now, you might be wondering, “What is the Souper Bowl of Caring?” We’re glad you asked. The Souper Bowl of Caring is an initiative started by several NFL teams and community organizations that help those in need get the food they need.

On a day that most people are celebrating the Super Bowl, a day usually filled with excess consumption, the junior high and high school students of 2PC are leading our church in a sharing of blessings with those who are in need.

And we need your help! After Sunday services, there will be an opportunity to donate to this worthy cause. The 2PC students will be holding soup pots for cash donations that will be given to the Jesus Coffee House. A $1 donation is suggested. Also, canned goods are being collected in the south entry across from the Welcome Center. These will be donated to the Midwest Food Bank.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and your willingness to share your blessings with others.

Dr. Charles B. Hardwick
Pastor/Head of Staff

All-Church Lenten Study on Spiritual Practices—Sign Up Today!

One of the great privileges of being in church leadership is seeing how God works as an entire congregation takes a spiritual leap of faith. Such an opportunity is coming to 2PC during Lent-we are offering an all-church study of spiritual practices, or disciplines, to help draw closer to Christ and each other.

By now you probably know that the theme of 2009 is Blessed to Be a Blessing, and one of the ways that God blesses us is through spiritual practices like prayer, stewardship, scripture, celebration, confession, solitude, worship and self-examination. As we take part in these disciplines, we experience God more powerfully, and through that experience we are blessed. Part of this blessing is the transfor mation that can take place in our lives as God uses these practices to teach us to live as Jesus would.

During Lent, the sermon series “Practicing Faithfulness” will cover multiple spiritual practices. Every Sunday in Lent, March 1-April 5, during the 10am adult education hour, all adult members and friends of 2PCare invited to attend the all-church Lenten study using John Ortberg’s The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People. This will be a lively time of sharing and discussion, and I personally want to encourage you to use the weeks before Easter to grow in your knowledge of Jesus and your understanding of the spiritual practices. Sign-ups begin today and will continue next Sunday in the south entryway near the Welcome Center. Many small groups and Sunday school classes will participate, and everyone is welcome whether or not you are currently in a group or class.

Lent is the season of the Christian calendar that especially lends itself to taking time to show Christ what His sacrifice on our behalf means to us. As Christians make their faith more of a priority, God often shows himself to them in unexpectedly powerful ways. Those who participated in the 2008 Lenten Bible studies can testify to how God used those sessions to draw people into a deeper relationship.

Please plan to be a part of this all-church study. You will be blessed, and God will use the blessing you receive to bless others.

Serving Him together at 2PC,

Dr. Charles B. Hardwick