We offer education for children up through Adults.   

Nursery care is provided throughout the service for children under 5 years of age.  

School for children is offered throughout the school year during most of the time for service.  There is a five session summer school term that is conducted throughout the time of service from mid-July to mid-Aug. 

The new church school year begins on Sunday, September 13 with Rally Sunday.  The children will begin their “Good News Hour,” an adventure in living in community, more than being in “school,” even “church school” directly after the pastor's "Time for Children." Opportunities for learning and deepening, for fellowship and service will unfold over these next days and weeks, all meant to help us grow in our relationship with God and each other.

Children's Service takes place one Saturday evening a month. This service is totally focused on our youngest members and lasts no more than 20 minutes. A potluck dessert social tops off this special night.

For middle and high school youth...Sunday morning exploration will be "Discovering the Bible Again" in the Clayton Room. What can this collection of stories, writtings, and history mean in the 21st Century? Who are these people and what do they have to do with us? Taught by Tom Steffen and Bruce Lee-Clark from 10 to 11:15 am each Sunday, except Communion Sunday. Sunday morning exploration will not be held on Communion Sundays so that families can experience this together for this age group.

Youth Fellowship meets every other Sunday evening for fun, fellowship, and service at 6pm under the leadership of David and Lori Nicol.

Adult Education at Second Congregational Church, an Introduction

Second Congregational is committed to assist its members grow in their faith and lives through opportunities at various commitment levels and at a variety of times throughout the week.

Classes meet each Sunday after following worship and some time for participation in the “Sunday Social.”

There will be one or two offerings each week, offering Bible study and/or exploration of a contemporary issue. Recent series in the latter group have explored issues in poverty, education, healing ministries, and violence. Please consult the series listing found below.

Additionally, two ongoing adult study groups continue to meet. On Wednesday mornings, in the Clayton Room, the Questers Group meets to view various video presentations and then participate in a discussion.

On Sunday evenings, from 7:00 pm - 8:45 pm a Bible Conversation group meets at 224 Washington Avenue and will continue reading the Gospel of Luke.

Disciple Bible Study is an intensive introduction to the whole Bible in one year. This group will finish its year in December 2008. If this opportunity interests you, speak to Don Miller.

Finally, a variety of short term morning, afternoon, or evening opportunities are scheduled throughout the year; especially during Lent and the summer months.

“Study as if you were to live forever. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. – Saint Isidore of Seville

2009 Adult Education Schedule:
Sunday After Worship (Two different sessions running):
1. The Abraham and Sarah Saga:
Beginning with the New Year, the Adult Bible Study will look at the Abraham and Sarah saga in a class led by David Durfee. Meeting in the Clayton Room at approximately 11:30 each Sunday, (with brief intermissions for the Budget Briefing and Annual Meeting) David will help us explore one of the most formative and imaginative stories of the Torah. Rabbi David Ackerman of the Jewish Theological Seminary describes the saga this way: “In Jewish culture, Avraham Avinu is the original ‘walking man.’ Two words bespeak this central motif of Abraham's life. Lekh l'kha, “Go forth,” (or as I prefer, “Go take a hike,”…) is of course the divine command that begins Abraham’s saga. The same phrase recurs in Parashat Va-yera as part of the demand that Abraham offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Between those two imperatives to go take a hike, Abraham spends a lot of time on the road. Momentously, he leaves his homeland and his father’s house in search of a new, and not precisely identified, land. He migrates to Egypt in response to a famine and returns only to take to the battlefield, just one of a series of adventures that keep him continually away from home. Abraham’s peripatetic nature gives rise to a great deal of commentary down through the centuries, some favorable, some not.” Come on Sunday and explore this important story of the journey of faith in the Clayton Room.

2. What is Marriage?
Adult Ed group to explore...
For several years, we have been considering what is involved in marriage, who can marry, who should be able to marry, what does the Bible say about marriage, is there a difference between civil and religious marriage, and other related questions. The Adult Education Committee will be presenting during the hour after worship four weeks in February where we will explore these related issues.
Marriage: Fundamental Gift and Right?

February 8th – What Does the Bible Say about Marriage?
February 15th – What are the roles of Church & State?
February 22nd – Should there be any limitations?
March 1st – God’s gift for all, a Human Right for all?

We hope that you will consider becoming involved in this discussion. We will meet in the Clayton Room.
In order to help prepare ourselves resources will be made available at church , but others can also be accessed on line. Look for the resources in the lobby in the next week but also check out the resources available below. (www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/marriage-equality.pdf) (www.leg.state.vt.us/WorkGroups/FamilyCommission/VCFRP_Report.pdf) (www.vtfreetomarry.org/index.html) (www.newsweek.com/id/172653)
(topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/marriage)
Other class schedules will be posted soon.

Adventure in Reading is a program sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship of the Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ. To be qualified as “Readers,” and to help the church qualify as a “Reading Church,” individuals are asked to read at least one book in each of four groups of titles. Titles in the groups can be found in the Adventures in Reading booklet. There are copies of the green covered booklet in the “Reading Group” mailbox in the lobby.

Some of the Group 1 and Group 2 books will be found in the Church Library.

For Group 1 the library has:
Karen Armstrong, The Bible: A Biography
Wayne Colman, So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore
Bart Ehrman, Jesus Interrupted
Catherine Ponder, Dynamic Laws of Prosperity

For Group 2:
Brian Fagan, The Great Warming
John Katz, Izzy and Lenore

Additional titles for these two groups and most of the titles for Groups 2 and 3 will be found in the Bennington Library. Those interested in sharing thoughts about the books they have read get together after worship four times, once each for books from the four groups. This year’s sessions have been scheduled for:

Session 1 – November 8 – Led by David Durfee
Session 2 – January 10 – Led by David Haley
Session 3 – March 14 – Led by Janice Lerrigo
Session 4 – May 16 – Led by Norma McShane

Q. What if I don't know much about the Bible or haven't been to church before?

A: All our adult education groups are folks seeking answers in community with each other. None of us have "the answers" but are questing with each other, in a sociable and enjoyable get-together, often led by someone who has theological education or who has agreed to do the initial background work to get the group going.