MESSAGE FROM LAURA Director of Christian Education

The news is filled to overflowing with news of politics, the election, the role faith plays for the candidates, and the influence that faith-based believers as a demographic voting block might play in November.  There are some who believe that politics should not be discussed in church- that the whole notion of church and state separation is there for a reason, and that people’s personal, deeply-held beliefs are intrinsically private, and should not be discussed publicly.  While respecting the notion of people’s privacy, I believe church is one of the best settings to have these types of open and respectfully-disagreeing discussions.  Where better than church to talk about deeply-held convictions and how to live out what we understand to be God’s intentions for the world, and our collective responsibilities to act upon those ideas?  The UCC has a rich history of involvement and activism. 

With the idea that Jesus calls his disciples to be salt and light, we will be offering a forum on October 5^th following worship to discuss faith and politics.  We will be using as a backdrop the interviews done by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church with both candidates on August 16^th.  We will focus our attention on questions regarding faith and implications of candidates’ positions on issues important to peoples of faith.  The complete transcripts of the interviews are available at

http://rickwarrennews.com/transcript/.  Printed copies will also be available during coffee hour for several weeks prior to our discussion on October 5^th.  It is our hope that you will read, carefully consider what was said, and come to help make our discussion lively, enriching and informative.  We hope to see you there!

We have also selected our next book for our book discussion, which will be held on November 2^nd.  The book is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.  Randy was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and told he had limited time left to live.  He attempts, facing his own mortality, to answer the questions we all will face- what matters most?  What wisdom do we want to impart?  How will we spend our remaining time to make it meaningful and memorable? I believe these questions have transformative potential for us all as people of faith, and will therefore make for an inspirational reflective study.

As I write this, the youth groups and the Sunday school are off to strong starts for the year.  We continue to ask your prayers of encouragement and support as we cherish and guide our young people in their journeys of faith.

Blessings to you and your families~

Laura

Junior High Youth Group:

 We as a Christian faith community, by God’s grace, strive to provide our members with Christian roots and an experience of faith formation and transformation, through which we will know who we are and what we believe.

 We believe that each young person is special and deserves individual consideration and recognition. Our youth program offers middle school students the opportunity to meet twice monthly for times of fellowship, shared service and reflection.  We cherish our youth, and dedicate these times to provide multiple opportunities for education, spiritual formation, and Christian growth. We seek to grow in mutual respect and communion with God and with each other. Second Church is an Open and Affirming church, believing that ALL people are children of God. We recognize, celebrate and give thanks for the rich diversity and boundless gifts of all God's children. 

If you have any questions or would like more information regarding our Youth program, please contact our CE Director, Laura Cassidy-Moffatt

(laura.j.cassidy@gmail.com  617 244 2690/ 508 641 1681)

 Junior High Fall schedule, Sundays 12-2 pm: 

  Oct 19^th- Newton Crop Walk- we’re staffing the water stop!

 October 26^th  Cosmic Bowling

 Nov 9^th- Common Cathedral, Boston Common

 Nov 23^rd- cooking & serving lunch for parents and congregation members

Dec 14^th- Christmas Party with Yankee Swap followed by a talent show at a nearby nursing/long-term care facility

 (winter/spring schedule will be published mid-November)