The Holy Spirit continues to move among us, guiding our individual faith journeys and binding us together as a church community. We may be at different stages and ages along the way, but we share a goal of becoming closer to God and living in communion with God’s people.

At times when we are not able to meet face-to-face, we come together in new ways -- with Zoom gatherings, Facebook Live events, and carefully orchestrated events.

Children & Family Ministries
Children’s Sunday school continues each week. Online resources allow readers and non-readers to engage with Bible stories through video storytelling, crafts, games, and other activities. On Sunday mornings, you can join the Children & Family Ministries team for Prayer Circle at 9:10 a.m. Rather than joining hands on the second floor, we join Zoom from home and continue this tradition of starting our Sabbath with prayer. Children’s choirs continued to meet via Zoom to sing and praise God together.

Beginning in March, Kat and Ann launched weekly online devotions each Wednesday evening on Facebook Live. These Faith Family Devotions continue to be treasured breaks during each busy week. Wednesday Night Kids Club shifted online to Zoom for the spring, and this fall new, innovative children’s engagement is coming to a screen near you.

June brought VBS like we’d never experienced before! Virtual VBS was a week of engagement, learning, faith, and FUN for more than 130 children within and beyond Indianapolis ... even beyond Indiana! Each day started with a fun Zoom broadcast with Ann VanMeter, Interim Facilitator of Children and Family Ministries, and Brianna Holt, Director of Children’s Music, from within the church building. Deb Leithauser presented fabulous Bibleland Adventure stories via video, and Karen Archbold created inspired music videos for each day. Other online Virtual VBS fun included videos with Second families presenting games, crafts, and other activities. 

Later in the summer, Compassion Camp offered another series of videos with lessons and activities encouraging children to “Be Loved. Be Kind. Be You.” Like the Virtual VBS videos, these online resources remained available on our website all summer.

In August, our new first graders received their new Spark Bibles – a tradition known and loved by the families of Second. This presentation parade and ice cream celebration brought together Second’s young families to enjoy fellowship and the excitement of burgeoning faith, all with careful planning and guidelines. 

After an abrupt end to the 2019-2020 school year, Children’s Circle Preschool has quietly reopened this fall under the careful guidance of Director Cara Paul. New procedures, such as curbside drop-off and pick-up, ensure minimal traffic inside the church building. All rooms and surfaces are routinely cleaned. Preschool staff follow up-to-date health guidelines, allowing for a safe and nurturing environment for the young learners. CCP parents, most of whom are not Second members, appreciate the regular schedule, which allows them to work while their little ones are well cared for.

We are blessed with wonderful and wonderfully creative staff and volunteers to guide our young believers as they move forward in faith. 

Youth
Middle and high school students stayed in touch with weekly Zoom calls and social media updates. Tyler Wolfcale and Tom Markey orchestrated online discussions, allowing the students to guide conversation topics and responding to the issues they identified. Even screen fatigue from online school didn’t keep these kids from church on Sundays and Wednesdays!

Our high school seniors continued weekly Footsteps of Faith sessions, studying the writings of Paul with Lake Fellows Jasiel Hernandez and Kelley Jepsen. Their travel was postponed until the summer of 2021 when they will walk in the Footsteps of those who have gone before us. Be sure to watch the video that captures the testimony and strength of these incredible high school graduates at SecondChurch.org/Youth.

In late August, 49 students joined our family of faith in an outdoor Confirmation ceremony. During the event, each student was recognized with a Bible verse chosen just for them, as families watched from a safe distance in the north parking lot. In an updated version of the traditional laying on of hands, elders surrounded the parking lot with outstretched hands. The moving ceremony marks an important passage for these Confirmands and the beginning of a new journey. 

Adult 
Adult spiritual formation moved online this year, with classes and Bible studies meeting over Zoom. Dr. John Franke presented new education offerings, created with online delivery in mind. Sent into the Word, transitioned from a Wednesday evening class to an online exploration. On Sunday mornings, Blessed Messiness, Koinonia, and Upper Room continue to gather online via Zoom. Theology, Thoughts & Coffee welcomed all into weekly Zoom classes on Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. as the group explored White Fragility, Trouble I’ve Seen, White Too Long, and other topical texts. 

During Lent, members of Second’s Spiritual Formation team began recording Lectio Divina videos. These ten-minute videos guide viewers through the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina, which involves hearing the same Scripture passage four times, each time with a different intention. The team has recorded more than 150 videos, one for each weekday since mid-March. The videos have logged more than 2,000 views so far as seekers continue to find solace and inspiration in the ancient practice of Lectio Divina.

In the spring, Lake Fellow Kelley Jepsen worked with Rev. Brian Shivers and Dr. John Franke to produce Presbyterian 101, a series of videos presenting the tenets of our faith. The series is available at SecondChurch.org/Adults and outlines the history, polity, worship tradition, and mission emphasis of our church.

As the country became increasingly aware of racial issues, Second launched a new section of our website, SecondChurch.org/Justice, with recommended resources inviting people to pray, read, learn, study, and act. Several small groups incorporated these suggestions into their virtual studies.

This summer we revisited Childhood Bibles Stories then jumped into the story of Jonah. Children’s Sunday school lessons and youth discussions echoed the stories from Sunday’s worship, and adult study questions guided further exploration of these thought-provoking themes.

The spiritual formation team continues to provide innovative resources and classes to guide us along the way as we journey – individually and communally – toward a closer relationship with God. With each new opportunity, we once again find ways to begin, again.