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 7 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

Fall 2008 Adult Education Schedule:
Sunday After Worship: Beginning September 14th through October 26th, we will explore the opening stories of the first book of the Biblical story, our story. We will meet in the Clayton Room

Other class schedules will be posted soon.

Adventure in Reading is a program of the Vermont Conference of the UCC. Reading from four different groups of books during the year, the readers meet four times a year to discuss their reading. Reading Group meets the following date after church at 11:30 am in the Clayton Room:

The new reading list is in...The lists for group 1 and 2 are posted below. Group dates are also posted below. You can also pick up the hard copy of the reading list in the church library.
Group I .... December 7
Group II .... February 1
Group III ... March 29
Group IV ... May 31

Group I
Armastrong, Karen, Muhammad
Borg, Marcus, Reading the Bible Again for the First Time
Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Taylor, Failing America’s Faithful (New)
Lamott, Anne, Grace (Eventually): Through Faith (New)
Rice, Anne, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt (New)
Robinson, Gene, In the Eye of the Storm (New)

Group 2
Gilbert, Elizabeth, Eat, Pray, Love (New)
Kingsolver, Barbara, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (New)
Treat, Casey, How to Be Your Best when You Feel Your Worst (New)
Weidensoul, Scott, Of a Feather: A Brief History of Birding in America (New)
Weisman, Alan, The World without Us (New)

See the Church Library Listings Tab for books our library contains.
If you have any questions, contact Marge LaRowe. Happy Reading! Marge LaRowe

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.