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College Ministries

All College-age young adults (18-22 years-old) are invited to stay connected to the church, community, and Christ through the College-age Cohort.

Summer – In the summer, or all year if living locally, college-age folks are encouraged to participate in the life of Second Church and specifically join in at young adult gatherings.

Next Steps – A Reconciliation Journey – This experience happens every other year. It involves a semester of learning about narrative work, reconciliation, and conflict focused on Israel and Palestine. The experience culminates with a ten day trip to Israel and Palestine after Christmas.

Staying In Touch – Twice a year, a team of wonderful volunteers from the church put together care packages for our college students and graduate students. Please fill out this form to ensure we have the most up to date information. 

Deepen your engagement this spring with College-age Cohorts; Tuesdays throughout Lent.

Deepen your engagement this spring with College-age Cohorts; Tuesdays throughout Lent.

Spring College Care Packages

Stay connected in the spring and fall

Spring College Care Packages

Stay connected in the spring and fall

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    Rev. Gracie Payne
    Director of Young Adult Engagement
    (317) 253-6461

    Director of Young Adult Engagement

    (317) 253-6461  | GPayne@SecondChurch.org

    As the Director of Young Adult Engagement, Gracie ministers with those in the transitional seasons of college, early adulthood, and parenthood. She is particularly attentive to those who have not yet found belonging or welcome within the church. Gracie is passionate about encouraging disciples of Jesus as they live out the mission of God for the good of our city and the flourishing of our world.

    Gracie’s childhood was largely shaped by her passion for ballet which now informs her understanding of the Christian faith as lived out through our bodies in the dance of community. She believes – as followers of a God who took on flesh, moved into the neighborhood, and spread out those arms on the cross to embrace the world – it is our joy and our responsibility to show up for one another, form deep relationships, and join Jesus Christ in healing the world.

    Gracie is a graduate of Indiana University (B.A. Communications, English) and Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Gracie served as a Lake Fellow in Parish Ministry at Second, as the Director of Youth Ministries for a congregation in Carlisle, PA and the Student Pastor for a congregation in Dayton, NJ. She also apprenticed with 1001 New Worshiping Communities, interned at the Office of the General Assembly, completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Gracie is married to Christian Payne; the couple met while working in Pennsylvania and married in 2017.

    Gracie loves returning to the ballet studio, gardening, reading novels and poetry, writing as a spiritual practice, and going on walks with her husband, Christian, and dog, Xylo.

    Book recommendations: The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde), Strangers and Pilgrims Once More (Addison Hodges Hart), Being Human (Rowan Williams), Let the Bones Dance (Marcia W. Mount Shoop)