December 1 - Saturday -   

                       Hanging of the Greens - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

                       Gingerbread House Workshop - The Community Life Committee (CLC) invites you to build

                       the Holiday spirit. Join the fun at the 6th Annual Gingerbread House Workshop Saturday,

                       December 1st from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Fletcher Hall 35 houses will be available for purchase.

                       Cost per house is $30.00 (covers cost of house). Icing and candy decorations will be

                       provided. Christmas cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Please call the church office to

                       sign up. Pre registration is required.

December 2 -  The Three Centuries Gallery Presents - “LIGHT SHOW” Beginning December 2, 2007 through January 2008.  Light – we need it to see and know the world, but what are we seeing really? Are we seeing objects, people, places, or the light itself? Reflect on that for a minute - spiritually, artistically, metaphorically, or even scientifically - and then tell us what you think. But don’t use words to answer. Pick up a camera, or a brush or pencil and use the language of light to communicate. And then please submit your creation for the LIGHT SHOW on November 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Or if you have prior photographs or artwork that you think make sense for this show you are welcome to submit them too). All work must be framed and ready to hang.

December 4 - Tuesday - Take a Ride with The Rev. - NYC at the Holidays - Church and city tour - Call the church office to sign up.

December 7 - Friday - Widow/Widowers Group - An “inquiry” meeting for the start of a widows/widowers group will be held at Second Church on Friday, December 7, 2007 at 6:45 p.m. A brief meeting with hors d’oeuvres will be followed by the showing of Deck the Halls, at 7:30 p.m. All interested people are welcome to attend all or part of the evening gathering. Call the church office for further information or registration.

7:30 p.m. - CHRISTMAS MOVIE: Watch Deck the Halls, a 2006 comedy starring Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick, on a theater-size screen. In this PG-rated movie, families in a small New England town seek the true meaning of Christmas after DeVito’s character decorates his house with so many lights that they are visible from space. Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes. The church is licensed to show movies on our two theater-size screens. For reservations and information, call the church office.

December 9 - Advent Music Sunday

                        6:00 p.m. - Special Christmas Taize Service

December 11 - Tuesday - 11:00 a.m. - Women's Fellowship Christmas Program and Luncheon – We are delighted to present our Associate Minister, Chris Tate and our Youth Music Educator, Lisbeth Lloyd in a special program featuring their marvelous voices raised in song and celebration of the joyous music of the Christmas season. The cost is $5.00 per person. Please call the church office - 869.9311

December 15 - Saturday - 10:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. - Intergenerational Christmas Caroling at Local Nursing Homes

December 16 - Sunday - 10:15 a.m. - Children's Christmas Pageant - (Rescheduled to December 23

                                                               due to inclimate weather)

                                         12:00 noon – Pizza Lunch at church – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Family Christmas

                                                                Caroling Sing at The Mews and members’ homes.

December 21 - Friday - 7:00 p.m. - Beginning of Winter on Labyrinth - Christmas Caroling and Festival of Light

December 23 - Sunday - 10:20 a.m. Children's Christmas Pageant & Worship Service

December 24 - Monday - Christmas Eve

                          4:15 p.m. Prelude by our Children's & Youth Choir.

                          4:30 p.m. Lessons and Carols Service Youth Choir and life size puppet nativity

                          7:30 p.m. Prelude - A choral and orchestral prelude

                          8:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols, Candlelighting - Led by our Chancel Choir under the

                                          direction of Alexander Constantine.  There will be a brief Christmas homily.

                        11:15 p.m. A quiet candlelight service with Lessons and Carols and communion

January 8 - Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. - Women's Fellowship Program and Luncheon - Crafts with Ellen – The holidays are over; your decorations put away, and the house is looking rather dull—but help is on the way! Ellen Hayden will assist us in creating a lovely seasonal craft to put that special touch back into your home. No experience or skills necessary; just a desire to have fun. The cost is $5.00 per person. Please call the church office - 869.9311

January 12 - Saturday 7:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - University Soup Kitchen - NYC- CANCELLED

January 13 - Second Sunday at Second - 6:00 p.m. Percussion Choir

An interactive “Second Sunday” worship service in the Waterman Chapel will combine prayers, meditation and drumming. Those attending the free, family-oriented service will join church youths in playing drums from around the world.

January 26 - 7:30 p.m. - Saturday - An Evening of Jazz with the Eric Mintel Quartet - Eric Mintel and his Jazz Quartet have been a true blessing to Second Church. We all enjoyed blending the preached word with jazz and the music of the Chancel Choir. Eric mentioned to Bob that he would love to do a concert for our community. In addition, since Eric knows Dave Brubeck, he would love to focus on a “Brubeck Tribute.” Second Church would like to invite you to a most wonderful evening of quality jazz. The “Brubeck Tribute” Concert will take place on Saturday evening, January 26, at 7:30 p.m. It will be a free will donation concert (suggested donation $10). While all are welcome, calling the church office and letting us know you will be coming would help on the purchasing of food for the reception, which will follow the concert. Please join us!

January 27 - 10:30 a.m. Sunday - Jazz Worship Service with Eric Mintel Quartet, Mr. Naylor and the Chancel Choir

April 6- Sunday - The Three Centuries Gallery Art Show will open - The Show title is “God is in the Details.” 

April 6 - 9:15 a.m. —Temur Zamani will be speaking in Fletcher Hall. Temur, a native of Afghanistan who will share his experiences of growing up in Afghanistan during the war years in the 80's, his journey out of Afghanistan to eventually find his way to the United States and his insights about what is happening in Afghanistan today. Temur currently has a gallery of native Afghan artifacts and crafts in Sterling, Virginia, and will be bringing some of these items to sell in support of Children's Chance. Children's Chance is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide donated medical care to indigent and needy children both in the U.S. and from abroad. Dorita Urrata, a member of our congregation has been an active part of Children's Chance's mission and a tireless advocate for children in need of medical assistance. Child care will be provided, please call the church office to sign up.

April 8 – Tuesday – 9:30 a.m. Women's Fellowship - A Castle on the Hudson – Visit “Lyndhurst” in historic Tarrytown, NY.  Tour this Gothic Revival mansion overlooking the Hudson. It was owned by railroad magnate Jay Gould and designed by renowned architect A.J. Davis in 1838.  You will enjoy the lavishly decorated rooms, stained glass artwork, and beautiful grounds with conservatory and rose garden.  Following our tour, we will enjoy a gourmet boxed lunch in the Lyndhurst Café, prepared by Fabulous Foods of Tarrytown, NY. Please call the church office for reservations for our April 8 Program/Trip to Lyndhurst.   The cost of the tour and gourmet boxed lunch is $15.00 per person and checks should be made out to Second Congregational Church, Women's Fellowship and please note in the memo area - For the April 8 Lyndhurst Program; your check is your reservation.  Please plan to be at the church in Fletcher Hall by 9:30 a.m.; the Church Van will be used for transportation, with additional vehicles available if necessary.

April 13 - Sunday - 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Book Discussion
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations...One School at a Time written by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This exciting and inspiring book is the story of Mortenson, after he failed to climb K2. Ill and weak after the failed attempt, Mortenson was sheltered and nursed in a remote Pakistani village; he promised to return and build them a school. Keeping that promise led to his heading a charitable institute that provides impoverished children in Pakistan and Afghanistan with an education.
Refreshments will be served. Hosted by the Community Life Committee.  Call the church office to sign up.

April 13  - Sunday- 6:00 p.m. Second Sunday at Second Church - Mr. Tate and Mr. Naylor will lead a percussion worship experience using our “Robert Fried Memorial” drum collection. Come and participate in this very moving worship experience.

April 18 - Friday - 7:00 p.m. Widow/Widowers Group - The topic of this meeting will be "Art & the Spirit." Please call the church office to sign up.

April 19 - Saturday - The Women's Fellowship invites you to join us for the Second Annual Women's Retreat. The theme for this year's retreat is "Spring Revival" as we take a new approach to the tradition of a religious revival meeting. The day will include discussion, prayer, sharing, and singing, and we will leave feeling spiritually refreshed and revitalized. This year we are having a one-day retreat on Saturday, April 19, held at Vikingsborg Conference Center at the Convent of St. Birgitta at 4 Runkenhage Road in Darien, CT. The convent is located on a beautiful estate on Long Island Sound. The day will start with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m., followed by the first half of our program, then a full served lunch, after which we will continue with the second half of the program, and ending around 6:00 p.m. with a service in St. Birgitta's beautiful Chapel. The cost for the program and food is $35 per person and checks should be sent to the Church Office made out to Second Congregational Church Women's Fellowship with a note in the memo area that it is for the Women's Retreat. Space is limited so we are restricting the program to 15 people, first come/first served.

The facilitator for our retreat is Rev. Lynne Kramer. As an ordained U.C.C. minister, Lynne has served as associate minister of Round Hill Community Church and Second Congregational. Before graduation of Yale Divinity School in 1993, she worked in the media industry and held marketing positions at Lifetime Cable television Network and WNET/Thirteen, as well as editorial positions at The Chicago Sun Times and Doubleday book publisher. She has lived in Greenwich and been a member of Second Congregational Church for 20 years. Many of you know Lynne and know how fortunate we are to have her leading our group. This will be a wonderful opportunity for each of us to enjoy a time away from our daily activities, a time for personal renewal and camaraderie. We hope you will join us.

April 20 - Sunday - 9:15 a.m. Dr. Robert E. Michler of Riverside, Connecticut, an internationally-recognized cardiothoracic surgeon and researcher, will discuss “Trends in Medicine and Difficult Decisions” at a breakfast meeting Sunday, April 20, in Fletcher Hall. Dr. Michler, a church member, will speak on current medical trends and related ethical questions for medical professionals. A light breakfast will be served.

It was announced the first week in April that Dr. Michler has been named chairman of the Department of Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, as well as surgeon-in-chief at Montefiore. He also will continue to chair the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Einstein and Montefiore. The Harvard University and Dartmouth Medical School graduate’s previous positions include director of cardiac transplantation at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

A medical innovator pivotally involved in National Institutes of Health research projects, Dr. Michler first used minimally invasive and robotic surgery on heart patients, and he pioneered the safe use of human muscle cell injections to treat congestive heart failure. His current research focuses on surgical treatment of heart failure and use of stem cells for heart-muscle regeneration.

Dr. Michler is founder and chairman of Greenwich-based Heart Care International, a nonprofit organization supported by Second Congregational Church that provides diagnostic heart care and surgery for children in developing countries. Childcare will be available during the program; if you wish to utilize this service you must pre-register by emailing Karen Izzi at Karen@2cc.org or call the church office for reservations and further information. 

April 22 - Tuesday - Ride with the Rev. Day - "Hidden Arts Exhibit" - Call the church office to sign up, limited seating in the van.

May 3 - AmeriCares Workday - Repairing a Home - Locally! AmeriCares Home Front will celebrate its’ 20th year repairing approximately 105 homes and community centers in our area. On Saturday, May 3, our church will again field a team of volunteers to repair a home in the Pemberwick section of town. We ask you to volunteer and join with us that day and perhaps Friday, May 2. You must be at least 15 years of age. You need no skills other than a willingness to help another. All repairs, materials and labor are provided free to the homeowner. We expect to complete approximately $60,000 worth of repairs at no charge. Come join us! (M/F/EO)

May 4 - Evensong Service in the Chapel at 6:00 p.m. The Youth Choir will lead their last Evensong of the Church year. Come and experience the beauty of this reflective service. Andrew Gordon will be our guest organist and the choir will be singing music by Tallis, Rutter, and Ahlen.

May 7- Wednesday - 7:30 p.m. - Candlelight Service of Remembrance in Waterman Chapel

Mother’s and Father’s Day can be a very difficult time of year for those of us who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, baby or child. You are invited to attend an interfaith remembrance service to honor our children, whose precious lives have ended far too soon. We will always be their loving parents, and though we cannot hold them in our arms, we will forever hold them in our hearts.

The service will include a time for sharing. In the past, parents have shared stories of their lost children, played a song with special meaning, read a story they had hoped to read to their baby, or read poems they had found or written. Participation is warmly welcomed, though not required. Please feel free to invite family and friends who have shared your loss, or anyone you know who has experienced a loss of a pregnancy, baby or child. All are welcome. Immediately following the service, refreshments will be served.

Sponsored by Multiple Angels, a parent’s support group for loss in multiple birth. For more information, to be added to our mailing list, or to no longer receive information on future services, contact Leah Rumbough at gofishh@optonline.net or Michele Sommer at misommer@deloitte.com.

May 11- Sunday - Wee Sing Family Hour — 9:30 a.m. in Room 206 — We will gather together in the newly renovated Children's Education Wing for a Mother's Day Celebratory Wee Sing time. We will also be singing about Heroes of the Bible. Since Moms and Dads are heroes too, the subject for the Sunday School is perfectly timed! If you have a child from five months to five years of age, please come join the fun of playing drums, maracas, egg shakers, sticks, and many other instruments. You will learn lots of new and old Christian based songs, plus sing many family favorites. Feel free to bring a friend.

Open House to Present Refurbished Education Wing — We invite you for an open house to view the creative renovation of our education wing immediately after the 10:30 a.m. worship service. The “new” wing will be rededicated during the worship service. New paint, flooring and furnishings, as well as biblical-themed murals, are designed to make the wing more conducive to the church’s growing education programs, including church school, youth activities and a planned preschool. Among enhancements completed or in progress: a youth room with reflective space, a climbing wall and computer games; a rubber-floored music and play room for infants and toddlers; and a natural outdoor classroom.

Second Sunday at Second Church Worship – 6:00 p.m. Quiet Meditative Service on the Labyrinth – “If These Stones Could Talk.”

May 13 – Tuesday – 11:30 a.m. Women's Fellowship End of the Year Luncheon - We will once again enjoy a delicious end of the year luncheon at Innis Arden Golf Club. This year, we will feature a special program.
                                            Our Guest Entertainer will be Jeffrey Hoffman

Jeffrey Hoffman is a composer & conductor currently living and working in and around metropolitan New York City. He is also organist and choirmaster of St. Alban's Episcopal Church on Staten Island. Jeffrey’s current large-scale composition project is a Broadway opera, Robin Hood-The Musical, which he is working on with Laurie Lefkowitz (lyricist) since early 2000. Jeffrey is also sketching a cantata based on the early
English narrative poem The Dream of the Rood. His film scores have been heard at film festivals and on television around the world. Notably among them are scores for two films by John Scott Matthews: Boot Camp and Back Story. The latter won for him the Reel Award for Best Score in the Bi-coastal 1999 Polo Ralph Lauren Film Festival.

In order to secure your reservation, mail or drop off a check for $25.00 to the church office before Friday, May 9. Please make the check payable to Women's Fellowship. To make a reservation, a check for $25.00 should be made out to Women's Fellowship and mailed or brought to the church office.  Deadline for making reservations is Friday, May 9.  Don't forget to wear your hats.

May 17 - Saturday - 7:00 p.m. Widow/Widower Group - The recently-formed Second Congregational Church fellowship and support group for widows and widowers will meet for dinner at Centro, at 328 Pemberwick Road. Widows and widowers from the community are invited. Those attending will pay for their menu selections. Reservations requested; 869-9311, ext. 120; gloria@2cc.org.

May 18 - Sunday, 9:15 a.m.  Dr. Larry Leverett, executive director of the Panasonic Foundation and former superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools, will speak on “Racism in America as Seen in Education.” The event, in Fletcher Hall, is free and will include a light breakfast. “I am glad that Dr. Larry Leverett, a good friend and a leader in the fields of race and education research, will be sharing his views in this time when issues of race are being raised on the national political scene,” said the Rev. Robert H. Naylor, senior minister of Second Church. “Larry is a man of great integrity and insight who is committed to social justice and understands the issues of race in this country.” Dr. Leverett’s background in education includes urban and suburban experiences as a superintendent, principal, classroom teacher, school board member, and assistant state commissioner of education. The National Association of School Psychologists recognized his work in promoting social and emotional intelligence with its 2003 Outstanding Advocate Award.

Since 2006, Dr. Leverett has been executive director of the Secaucus, NJ-based Panasonic Foundation, recognized as a leader in education reform. Through the Panasonic Partnership Program, the foundation establishes long-term partnerships with public school districts and their communities to break the links between race, poverty and educational outcomes by improving the academic and social success of all students. The foundation currently is partnering with school districts in eight U.S. cities, including Stamford, CT.

Previously, Dr.Leverett was schools superintendent in Greenwich, from 2003 to 2006, and in Plainfield and Englewood, NJ. He also was assistant commissioner and director of urban education in the New Jersey Department of Education, where he was responsible for implementing the Quality Education Act of 1991.
Larry has served on advisory committees for The George Lucas Educational Foundation, Harvard University's Urban Superintendents Program, and the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. A New Jersey native and current resident of Upper Montclair, NJ, he graduated from Virginia State College and received M.A. and Ed. D. degrees from Columbia University Teachers’ College. For reservations call 869-9311.

Youth Choir Recognition Sunday at the 10:30 Service - Come early at 10:15 a.m. for the Choral and Bell Prelude. This is a very special service to recognize and honor the youth of our Church. The Intergenerational Bell Choir, all Youth Choirs and Choir parents will sing a wonderful variety of music from sacred, spirituals, pop, and barbershop.

June 1 - Sunday - 9:00 a.m. Confirmation Sunday Breakfast

                             10:30 a.m. Confirmation Sunday Worship

June 7 - Saturday - 7:00 p.m. - A Remembrance of D-Day on the Labyrinth.  The time together will include recognition of veterans, singing songs from the WWII era, the placing of a stone from Normandy in the Labyrinth, words from the French Community, brief readings of letters to family and friends from WWII soldiers.  Light refreshments will be served.

TENT WEEKEND ON THE MEAD LAWN:

June 13 - Friday -   6:30 p.m.   Doors open

                                 7:00 p.m.   Steeplechase Band.

                                 7:45 p.m.   Funniest Joke Contest

                                 8:00 p.m.   Al Lubel

Al Lubel will be this year’s “Big Tent” Comedian. Al grew up in Queens, currently lives in New York and performs his hilarious stand up comedy routine all over the world. Al has been a guest on the David Letterman Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as MTV and the Improv. Al’s humor is good, clean and suitable for all ages. Al is a lawyer by training and a comedian by desire. After graduating from law school, Al moved to Los Angeles, passed the bar exam on his first try – and immediately began the practice of... stand-up comedy! Al is funny…..….Do you think you’re funny? You will have a chance to prove it “under the tent” at the 2CC Funniest Joke Contest. Tell your funniest and cleanest joke. The audience (and Al) will vote on the winner. (Al will be a super delegate in the voting). The winner will receive a “Second Congregational Certificate of Award for the Funniest Joke” plus the book Squeaky Clean Comedy: 1,512 Dirt-Free Jokes from the Best Comedians by Judy Brown. As an added perk you’ll receive the admiration of the entire congregation for your joke telling.

Steeplechase will be the warm-up entertainment. Bring a picnic supper if you like. Free ice cream
will be available. Admission is FREE but a love donation of $5.00 is appreciated. Please sign up in Fletcher Hall or call the church office at 869.9311.

  Al’s notable credits include --
• David Letterman
• Johnny Carson
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (more than 7 times)
• $100,000 Grand Prize Winner - Star Search
• NBC Legal Analyst (Character Comedian)
• Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist
• Win Ben Stein's Money - Comedy Central
• A Stand-up Life - Showtime PBS/BBC
• Evening at the Improv - A&E
• Stand-up Comedy - MTV

Here’s a lawyer joke to get us started: What do you call 50 lawyers at the bottom of the harbor?
(A good start.)

June 14 - Saturday - 8:15 p.m. Special Outdoor Movie Night

June 15 - Sunday -  10:30 a.m. Tent Worship Followed by our Annual Church Picnic

                                 (Please note there is one service today.)

You are invited to attend Second Congregational Church’s Annual Tent Service and Picnic sponsored by the Deacons. Bring family and friends for worship, fun, fellowship and activities for all ages. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the picnic will immediately follow. The Deacons will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, beverages and dessert. In case of rain, the picnic will take place under the tent or in Fletcher Hall. Families with last names beginning with A-L are asked to bring salads and families with last names beginning with M-Z are asked to bring vegetable dishes. We look forward to seeing you at this annual outdoor service and picnic.

June 20 - Friday - TBA - Service on the Labyrinth - Focusing on nature and the arrival of summer.