Monday Memo - January 11, 2021
Hello Second friends and family,
I meet you this new week just as we have met so often over the last year: in prayer for God’s guidance, mercy, and hope. As I shared last week – as a pastor, as a person of faith, as a parent, as a human being – my prayer is to be renewed in our collective commitment to live the way of Christ together; to hear God’s higher wisdom and deeper shalom; to remember what we may have forgotten: that before and beyond anything else we belong to God. And that grace is the message of Christ-followers to the world.
I want you to know that thousands of you came together – all at the same time – for an hour of worship yesterday. You came from Indianapolis and all across the country. I want you to picture the pews at Second. I want you to imagine sitting shoulder-to-shoulder across every seat available – up in the chancel, seats set up in McFarland Hall, seats set up in the Narthex, extra seats added to every aisle. Can you see it? Between 11 and 12 noon on Sunday, we worshipped as one body of Christ, united in our shared identity as children of God. We came together trusting we do indeed belong to God, knowing we need God’s mercy, knowing that only grace can make us courageous disciples of Christ. Dispersed in body, we were a collective voice longing for God to intervene with compassion and grace in the chaos we create.
We’ve been reminded that this need, this longing, is not diminished by time or distance. We’ve been reminded of our faithful call to represent the gospel to the world: compassion, courage, Christ-like love, and the capacity to be changed. And as Rev. Lex Allum so powerfully prayed yesterday, grace is a gift of new birth – a means of change – from the God who never gives up on us. Beloved, live into that truth, that light.
This will be the work of a generation. May it begin, and may we commit ourselves anew to this charge.
With peace and grace,
Chris
WHAT IS GRACE?
Rest once more in Sunday’s Worship
SecondChurch.org/Live
Anchored in scripture from the Book of Ephesians, Rev. Chris Henry walked us through the power – and the meaning – of grace in worship yesterday. We invite you to watch the full worship service again, resting in the music of traditional Spirituals, words from Rev. Karen Lang’s Prayers of the People, and words from Rev. Lex Allum in her Call to Confession and Words of Assurance. You may also read the full text of Rev. Chris Henry’s sermon. May the grace of Jesus Christ meet you and lead you.
A COMMUNITY OF PRAYER
Holding Faith, Together
SecondChurch.org/Praying
As noted by Rev. Chris Henry in his Welcome to worship yesterday, we again turn to the power of prayer amidst the chaos of these days. Remembering the road we have journeyed before, listen again to the prayers and videos from our pastoral staff that offered guidance and assurance in November. Read words Rev. Chris Henry shared last week, offering a plea and a voice longing for God’s compassion and grace. And join us once more for Thursday Evening Prayers at 7:30 p.m. on Second’s Facebook page, January 14 and January 21 as we lift up our nation, our world, and one another. We will also post these Thursday Evening Prayers at SecondChurch.org/Praying.
SECOND STEPS CLASS
THIS SUNDAY, January 17
SecondChurch.org/SecondSteps
Walk with us! Journeying still, perpetually seeking … take the next step in your journey of faith and learn more about Second at this January new members class! Would you like to know more about classes, worship, mission, and other ministries at Second? Maybe you’ve been joining us on Sundays and want to meet our leadership and engage more deeply in 2021?! We welcome you to Second Steps and would love to get to know you and your family! Register at SecondChurch.org/SecondSteps today!
JOURNEYING TOGETHER, GROUNDED IN GRACE
Spiritual Formation 2021
SecondChurch.org/Adults
SecondChurch.org/Youth
SecondChurch.org/Children
Wherever you are on your journey of faith, our ministries are here to meet you. From online classes to mid-week studies, Sunday School Zooms, and more, spiritual formation at Second is here to grow with you. For children’s ministry please contact Ann Van Meter or Kat Green-Ross; for youth engagement please contact Tom Markey or Tyler Wolfcale; for adult Sunday School and online classes please contact Dr. John Franke.
Men@Second Revival is THIS SUNDAY at 9:30 a.m., moderated by Second's Bob Getts and featuring speaker Craig Demaree, Second Deacon, husband, and father. Craig will share his journey of faith (including stories as a college football official!) and the lessons we can apply to our Christian lives. For Zoom details, email Karen Reynard.
As offered today by Rev. Chris Henry at Indiana’s Gubernatorial Inauguration Ceremony at the Indiana State Museum, we share these words of prayer calling for a deeper commitment among us all to the work of building the future God intends.
#HoldingFaithTogether
#SecondPresIndy