Outreach
Volunteer Opportunities
Cook for the homeless
On the 4th Friday of each month, help with shopping or cooking. Spots are limited, so you must sign up in advance. Call the church office.
Historic cemetery cleanup
On Newton Serves Day, rake and prune the West Parish Burial Ground on the corner of Cherry and River Streets, the cemetery where many of the original members of Second Church were buried in the 18th and 19th centuries. Bring your own rakes and/or pruners, please. Call the church office for more info.
Giving Opportunies
Diaper drive
Bring disposable diapers to distribute to local family shelters and food pantries. Drop them off in the entry to the sanctuary before any church service.
The Mitten Tree
Annual Christmas season program: Buy new books and toys for families served by Family Access, which provides early literacy services to children 0-6 years old in Newton and Waltham, including teaching parents how to engage children with books as well as Learn and Play groups, parent education programs, and resources and referrals.
Financial Support
Each year, Second Church supports many nonprofit organizations. In 2021, the total amount given was over $75,000! In 2022, it was over $80,000!
When church members pledge support to the church, they can specify how much they want to be part of the Benevolence budget. This money cannot be used to support the church itself. The Board of Mission and Advocacy decides which organizations to support.
Fuller Scholarships
In addition, the church sponsors four annual scholarships for outstanding seniors from Newton North and Newton South High Schools, funded by a donation from the Fuller family.