Conway Village
Congregational Church
June 2022
The Good News!
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From our Pastor
Are You an Angel?
“… why do you stand there gazing into heaven?”
Acts 1:9
People are always being asked to take polls and give their opinions: “What is your ideal working environment, remote access or working in an office? What is your dream job? Are you hoping for a shorter work week?” Polls show that for many “The Great Resignation” (quitting jobs during the pandemic) has resulted in “The Great Regret” (wishing for steady employment). Dreams of heavenly ideals often seem no earthly good.
At the time of Jesus’ Ascension (his rise to heaven), the disciples were standing around “gazing into heaven” when an angel questioned, “Why are you gazing?”. The angel states two things:
Why are you waiting upon the Lord when the Lord is waiting for you to get to work?
Glorious experiences are no substitute for your concrete actions & worthwhile accomplishments.
Reality proves that no wishful thinking or wistful gazing ever makes something real. In our contentious society, people readily claim their problems and disappointments are due to someone else or circumstances beyond their control. Deflecting responsibility and blaming others is common. A poem reflects this temperament:
A Poem on Commitment
There is a story about 4 people named:
Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There is an important job to be done.
Everybody was asked to do it.
Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, But Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry because it was Everybody’s job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it.
Nobody realized Everybody wouldn’t do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody,
When Nobody did what Anybody
could have done.
The Angel asks the disciples, “What are you doing? … Right now!”, pushing them to make their faith a living reality. The Disciples became dynamic witnesses of true faith in a desperate world.
Do you know someone who could use such a push? Invite someone to become active in upcoming events and volunteering opportunities at the Conway Village Congregational Church as we reestablish our worship, choir, and outreach. Perhaps there is someone you know who wishes to move from contemplating their beliefs to living out a vital faith.
Perhaps You Could be an Angel!
Rev. John Hughes June 2022
From the Trustees
Hope everyone got through the early season heat that recently came to the area. On May 21st, we had our Spring Festival during one of these hot days. A big thank you goes out to all the volunteers! It was a highly successful event, bringing in $4,300! The plant sale, bake sale, crafts and yard sale kept busy all day. Thank you to Wally Campbell for providing a tasty pulled pork lunch.
The finances at the church have been very tight as a result of high fuel costs, utility, and plowing bills. While the event income will be a great help, it is very important to have regular pledges and plate income coming in. We thank all those who are able to help us.
The church had a clean-up day on May 4th, with many items ending up in the yard sale. Between this clean-up day and the yard sale, the church was able to clean out a number of areas. Take a walk around and see for yourself!!!
Chairs for the sanctuary will likely be delivered later this summer. We will need to find a place for the pews. Before we offer the pews to the public on the internet, we want the congregation to have the opportunity to purchase them. Some are in better condition than others. If anyone is
interested, let the trustees know.
The next fundraiser is set for July 4th, selling apple crisp in our booth at Schouler Park on the 4th.
Trustees:
Co-Chairs: Anne Getchell, Nancy Divine
Duddie Andrews, John Edgerton, Nancy Irving, Paul Weld, Tom Workman
Ex-officio member Carl Vitters – Church Treasurer
Spring Festival
The Spring Festival brought out the sun, bargain hunters, bubbles, and hungry souls to the Conway Village Church. What a wonderful event to raise much needed moneys for the Brown Church and much needed joy for everyone who participated! A huge thank you to all who volunteered their time and to all the wonderful people for supporting our missions!
Food Pantry Wish List
Diaconate Message
What is Pentecost & Why is it a Big Deal?
SPRING has sprung! Easter arrived with a sprinkling of snow on the ground and a glorious moon to greet the Risen Son for Sunrise Service. Spring flowers burst through the ground while warming days, rain showers, occasional HOT days helped blooming and greening trees bring summer-like weather to our beautiful valley. Isn’t our God so, so good!
In the month of June, Christians around the world celebrate Pentecost–the beginning of Christ’s church. The word Pentecost means 50. It happened 50 days after Easter, Christ’s resurrection. What does it mean to Christian believers?
Let’s look at Jesus’ words shortly before Christ’s Ascension in Acts 1:4-5
‘…as he was eating a meal with them, he told them, (the disciples and other believers) “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 ..when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 2:1-4a ‘On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit..’
Jesus promised us that after his resurrection and his return to God, his Father, that God would send the Holy Spirit to live inside his people – followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is many times referred to as a comforter, a guide, spirit of truth and presence of God. Isaiah listed 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit as wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear (a sense of awe and submission) of the Lord.
Symbols of the Holy Spirit are the Dove, Fire, Oil, Wind and Water. Pentecost is on June 5th and is a communion Sunday. It is customary to wear Red on Pentecost. The Lectionary has 23-25+ Sundays after Pentecost leading up to a Sunday before Advent begins. In other words the longest season of the lectionary calendar lasting from June 5 to November 13 this year!
This is possibly WAY more than you wanted to know about Pentecost, but I think a little history of the birth of Christ’s Church and Jesus wanting to send the Spirit of the Trinity to live in you and me after He returned to his Father is a pretty big deal. Live blessed each day as we remember the Love of the Father, Jesus the Savior’s unending Grace and the Holy Spirit’s never-ending presence in our lives. Let us share those blessings with everyone who comes into our daily lives!
Diaconate: Louise Saxby, Chair; Beth Campbell, Secretary; Dawn Vitters, Treasurer; Judy Workman, Mitzi Fitch, and Suzanne Rancourt
Free Bibles & Hymnals
We have boxes of Bibles and Hymnals which are no longer being used in the sanctuary for worship. If you would like any of these please contact the church to reserve yours. Those not taken by the community will be donated to an organization that distributes religious books to churches in underprivelidged countires and communities.
Contact the ch
urch office to arrange pick up.
Call 603-447-3 851
or email
Outreach ~ Food Pantry
As was mentioned in the May newsletter, the Outreach Committee is helping sponsor a luncheon for Habitat for Humanity. They are building a new home in Edelweiss in Madison, and our first month is June. There will be 25 volunteers building the home.
It had been decided we provide lunch for them. The menu will be as follows:
Tuna Fish, Chicken Salad and Ham Salad sandwhiches; side dishes will be coleslaw, potato salad and chips, dessert will be cookies.
We are asking the congregation to help. If you can, please donate any of the sandwich fixings, coleslaw, potato salad or chips (sm. bags) or some cookies. We have already received donations of a case of chips, and coleslaw. Thank you for these donations. We have enough volunteers in place to put the sandwiches together for the month of June.
We would like items to be dropped off on Monday June 13th. When you bring items to the church, please be sure they are labeled “Habitat for Humanity”. If sandwich fixings, coleslaw or potato salad, have someone at the church put in the refrigerator.
The Outreach Committee thanks all in advance for their help in this wonderful Mission that we are doing. The next dates will be July 14th and August 18th.
God Bless -The Outreach Committee
Chair: Sylvia Weld
Anne Getchell, Charlene Gray, Marilyn Hughes, Charles Monahan, Dawn Vitters,
Join us for Bible Studies.
Women’s Weekly Bible Study meets Thursdays at 9:30 am
Men’s Weekly Bible Study meets Fridays at 9:00 am
Both groups meet in the Church Conference Room located downstairs next to the church office.
Zoom access is available.
If you would like to more information on either group, please call the office at 603-447-3851 or email info@thebrownchurch.org
Mask Policy
The church leadership has changed the mask policy for the church. As of March 6th, masks are no longer required if you are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated, we ask that you still wear a mask and social distance yourself from others. If you wish to still wear a mask in church that is totally up to you and if you wish to be social distanced from others just let the usher of the day know. We will be happy to seat you in an area away from others.”
If you have any questions, please see a member of the Trustees or Diaconate.
Thank you, the Church Leadership
June Worship Schedule/Lectionary
Sunday, June 5th, 2022 PENTECOST Communion Sunday
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Acts 2:1-21
John 14:8-17, 25-27
Sermon: “Genuine, Transparent Love”
Sunday, June 12th, 2022
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15
Sermon: “Take What is Mine and Declare It”
Sunday, June 19th, 2022
Psalm 42
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 8:26-31
Sermon: “Living in the Tombs”
Sunday, June 26th , 2022
Psalm 72:11-20
2 Kings 2:6-14
Luke 9:51-62
Sermon: “The Problem with Children”
