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Sermons of the Rev. Allison T. Bauer, Pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth, OH
Episodes
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
One of the ways we're trying to #stayconnected during this coronavirus pandemic is through worship.
This is the first episode of this week's "Poetry, Prayer & Piano" morning prayer series. It's also available on our YouTube Channel, but I'll let you in on a little secret: it's just this same audio + a pretty picture to look at! :-)
BUT we do have a playlist of other "Morning Prayer Services" if you'd like to listen to previous episodes.
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
This podcast is an audio recording (of a recording!) of our Sunday worship service at Second Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth, OH.
It's probably not the greatest quality, but we want to make worship available in as many avenues as possible, and that includes making it available to YOU, our podcast listeners! (Also, sorry about the trains in the background!)
The special music featured are 2 recordings from our 2019 Good Friday performance of the complete "Messiah" by G.F. Handel: "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" by soprano Carline Waugh and "Since By Man Came Death" sung by the combined choirs of SSU and the "Second Pres & Friends Choir."
The main Scripture reading is John 20:19-31, and the sermon is called, "Touch Has a Memory," taken from a line of poetry by John Keats.
Thanks to the generosity of Second Pres members, while we are not able to worship together, the weekly service will also be broadcasted on WIOI (106.7 FM 1010 AM) at 9:30 a.m. so if you're local, you can tune in to hear it "live."
And if you're curious, you can also check in on our YouTube Channel to see the visual pieces that accompany this audio.
Feel free to drop in on our website to stay up to do with everything that's going on at Second -- the building may be closed, but our mission and ministry continue!
Saturday Apr 11, 2020
Saturday Apr 11, 2020
Technical difficulties are preventing me from uploading the video of the Easter vigil service, so here's an audio recording instead.
Get the bulletin here so you can worship along with us!
Sunday Mar 15, 2020
Sunday Mar 15, 2020
Second Presbyterian Church + Portsmouth, OH
Sun, March 15, 2020
Rev. Allison T. Bauer, Pastor
Dr. Stan Workman, Director of Music
Download the complete bulletin here.
In this podcast ...
THE WORD PROCLAIMED
Prayer of Illumination
Old Testament reading Exodus 17:1-7
The Psalter Psalm 95
The Epistle reading Romans 5:1-11
The Anthem "Come to the Water" (John Foley/Lynda Hassleler)
Oh let all who thirst
Let them come to the water.
And let all who have nothing,
Let them come to the Lord.
Without money, without price,
Why should you pay the price,
Except for the Lord?
And let all who seek,
Let them come to the water.
And let all who have nothing,
Let them come to the Lord.
Without money, without strife,
Why should you spend your life,
Except for the Lord?
And let all who toil,
Let them come to the water.
And let all who are weary,
Let them come to the Lord.
All who labor without rest,
How can your soul find rest,
Except for the Lord?
And let all the poor,
Let them come to the water.
Bring the ones who are laden,
Bring them all to the Lord.
Bring the children without might.
Easy the load and light,
Come to the Lord.
The Gospel reading John 4:5-42
The Sermon "Unwanted Sabbath"
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Hymn: "Jesus, Lover of My Soul"
Affirmation of Faith - The Apostles' Creed
Prayers of the People & the Lord's Prayer
Stewardship Invitation
The Offertory
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
CARRYING FORTH THE WORD
Hymn: "Come, Thou Fount"
Benediction: "Pandemic" (a poem by Rev. Lynn Ungar)
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20
Benediction response "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again"
The Postlude
Friday Nov 15, 2019
Friday Nov 15, 2019
Second Presbyterian Church + Portsmouth, OH
All Saints' Sunday - remembering the saints of the church who have passed away
Unlike our usual sermon podcast, this episode presents the entire service of the day, including the sacrament of communion. The sermon is based on Ephesians 1:15-23 and is called, "Preaching Hope."
Thursday Nov 14, 2019
Thursday Nov 14, 2019
Second Presbyterian Church + Portsmouth, OH
In this week's PRAYER EXPERIMENT, we revisit last week's experiment! (We are trying to create new prayer habits, after all!)
Pastor Allison collected another round of quotes about prayer, and we read through them asking which quotes spoke to our hearts either because they described how we felt or what we aspired to.
Then we tried analyzing Psalm 25 using the ACTS model of prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication). The ACTS model is a helpful way of constructing a written prayer. It can be useful for verbal prayers too, but we're focusing on writing prayers for right now.
We explained to the person who was here this week but missed last week that our goal/homework, was to write a prayer using the words of Psalm 25 (or some other psalm) to be used as the "Prayers of the People" in worship.
We read the prayer we wrote together last week and agreed to each write our own before our next gathering.
Happy listening!
Download the guide to follow along with the conversation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MNqPl7taX1GbgQJnRkX8K9FGc-g4dUhB/view?usp=sharing
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
Weds, Oct 6
5:30pm
Second Presbyterian Church + Portsmouth, OH
In this installment of PRAYER EXPERIMENTS, we embrace the spirit of magazines and Facebook quizzes to discover our "prayer types!" using quotes from goodreads.com about prayer.
Then we talk about the ACTS model of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.
THEN we write a group ACTS prayer using the words of Psalm 19 as our inspiration.
Homework: write your own prayer to be used on Sunday as the "Prayers of the People!"
Link to guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oxeXHUd7c9nzSgud7rictqfV83AyhDO3/view?usp=sharing
Here's the text of the prayer we wrote together using Psalm 19 as a guide:
Dear Lord,
We see the heavens telling of your glory in the dewdrop on the pine needle, the sun breaking through the trees, and the waves crashing on the sand - powerful and gentle.
Use your glory to powerfully clear our hidden faults; keep our hearts gentle, resisting the temptation to transgress against you.
The Law of the Lord revives our souls. We are grateful for all the ways you enlighten our eyes, and our hearts rejoice in your glory.
In our times of prayer and prayer experiments, let the words of our mouths and the prayers that we feel (that have no words), be acceptable to you, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Second Presbyterian Church + Portsmouth, OH
"Where Your Treasure Is"
Included in this podcast:
Prayer for Illumination
Old Testament reading Joel 2:23-32
The Psalter - Psalm 65:1-13
Epistle reading 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
The Anthem "Fight the Good Fight" (John Gardner)
Gospel reading Luke 12:22-34
Sermon "Where Your Treasure Is"
Sermon excerpt:
Your heart follows your money.
Think about it. If you buy a new car, suddenly you love driving and look for every excuse to take someone somewhere. Buy a new house, and you want to have everyone over. Buy some new clothes or shoes, and you wear them the next day, even if they’re not the most weather-appropriate choices.
Your heart follows your money, specifically how you spend your money.
And “Jesus does not need your money. But he desperately wants your heart. Jesus knows that the key to having your heart is through your money.”ii
ii https://www.jordanrimmer.com/stewardship-what-is-the-big-deal-about-money/
Friday Oct 25, 2019
Friday Oct 25, 2019
Second Presbyterian Church + Portsmouth, OH
Prayer Experiment#2
(Wednesdays at 5:30pm - 801 Waller St, Portsmouth OH 45662)
Before we started recording, we reflected on last week's prayer experiments, sharing what was helpful and what wasn't. Some who struggle with staying focused or paying attention especially appreciated the physical cues of crossing their thumbs in a way that was not natural or praying with palms up helped to keep their mind focused. Others said even if they didn't actually pray more regularly, they THOUGHT about praying much more than usual. And we decided that's a great first step!
We also had a discussion about creating a designated prayer space in our homes - a "prayer chair" or space - where we would have all the tools we would need for structuring a prayer time.
Of course, prayer can happen at any time and any location, but if your goal is to be more regular or faithful in your prayer life, a structure can help you to be more disciplined. That's part of what we're focusing on in the beginning: creating a regular practice of prayer within the rhythm of our day.
Experiment #2 The Daily Examen
Download this handout to follow along with the experiments:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1StIqdywLC2m8y5ce_NNLD5zeJoe7lYEY/view?usp=sharing
One of the group members led the evening prayer using a service from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. As soon as I get that service, I will upload it so you can follow along with that at the end of the podcast.
Tuesday Oct 22, 2019
Tuesday Oct 22, 2019
Second Presbyterian Church + Portsmouth, OH
Since our organ was feeling under the weather, we worshiped in the chapel. And I must have been a little preoccupied because I forgot to turn off the recording, so this podcast includes most of the service, including the lovely acoustic piano service music provided by Dr. Stan Workman during the offering. Enjoy!
Included in this podcast:
Prayer for Illumination
The Epistle reading 2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5
The Psalter Psalm 121
The Gospel reading Luke 18:1-8
The Anthem "Come Thou Fount" (Craig Courtney)
The Old Testament reading Genesis 32:22-31
The Sermon "The Sun Always Rises"
Sermon excerpt:
Being a follower of Jesus Christ does not protect us from dark nights of the soul. Our faith in God does not protect us from having loved ones die suddenly or marriages ending badly or keep terrible accidents from happening. We will be tested, and we will struggle to meet the challenge of that test.
In fact, those who open their hearts to Jesus also open their hearts to the world and will inevitably have those hearts broken again and again. One of my favorite authors writes, “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”
Being a follower of Jesus Christ does not protect us from the terrible things that will happen … but our belief in the faithfulness of God even in the darkest times gives us one more reason to keep going, to keep believing, to keep fighting.