Conway Village
Congregational Church
December 2023
The Good News!
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
TO: All Members and Friends of the Conway Village Congregational Church
The Annual Meeting of the Membership of the Conway Village Congregational Church will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at approximately 11:00 am in the Sanctuary of the Conway Village Congregational Church after worship. The meeting will be held in person and via Zoom platform. Voting will be done via roll call method. Please email cvccwebteam@gmail.com or call the office for the phone in information.
The purpose of this Annual Meeting will be:
1. To hear reports of the officers, board and standing committees for the preceding year.
2. To approve a Budget for 2024.
3. To discuss the Council plan.
4. To elect officers, board and standing committee members for 2024.
5. To conduct any other business that may come to the floor of the meeting.
Dated at: Conway, New Hampshire, on the 22nd of November 2023
Dawn Vitters, Clerk
‘Tis the season to express gratitude, echoing the sentiments of the classic song that deems this the most wonderful time of the year. Thanksgiving prompts us to acknowledge the bountiful blessings bestowed upon us by God. As we step into Advent, a period marked by preparation and anticipation of God’s ultimate gift — His Son, Jesus Christ — we embark on a reflection of the gifts our faith bestows: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, celebrated on each of the four Sundays of Advent.
In the Christian Church, Advent heralds the commencement of the New Year, starting on December 3rd. Just as we customarily reflect on the events of the past calendar year and set resolutions on January 1st, let us extend this contemplation to our contributions to The Brown Church over the past year. While the church may or may not fulfill our personal needs, it undoubtedly serves the broader community, offering a space for worship, solace, and sustenance for both body and spirit.
Looking ahead, let us consider how we can support the only remaining church in Conway Village during the upcoming year. Operating on a deficit budget, with a diminishing endowment fund, the church is challenged monthly to meet its operating costs, vulnerable to market fluctuations and unforeseen expenses. Can we contribute financially, or if we already do, can we elevate our annual giving? Alternatively, there are avenues to boost the church’s income without increasing personal financial commitments — actively participating in fundraising events is one such way.
Expanding our congregation is another avenue to extend our impact. Perhaps you know someone seeking a church community, but lacks transportation or is new to the area. Increasing our outreach can magnify our collective generosity. If financial constraints limit direct contributions, can we be more lavish with our time? The food pantry, for instance, often faces a shortage of volunteers. Unloading deliveries, stocking shelves, and preparing food for distribution are just a few ways our time can make a meaningful difference.
As we enter this season of reflection and giving, let us prayerfully contemplate how each of us, in our unique capacities, can contribute to the well-being and sustainability of The Brown Church in the year to come.
Submitted by Nancy Irving, (with an assist by AI – ChatGPT)
Outreach ~ Food Pantry
Shaw’s and Star Market gift cards will be donated to the Conway Village Congregational Church as part of this year’s Holiday Nourishing Neighbors program. The funds for these gift cards will be raised by our community at our local Shaw’s or Star Market this holiday season, from November 10th through December 31st, 2023. We should receive them in late January of 2024.
Thank you for all your efforts to make sure our neighbors have food on the table this holiday season. We are so excited to work with Shaw’s and Star Market! Be sure to visit our local Shaw’s and Star Market to support their efforts!
On November 15th, Conway Elementary brought over 505 lbs. of food to our Food Pantry this year. Conway Police Department will do their Cram a Cruiser this year at Market Basket, on December 9, from 10-2. Please support this wonderful Fundraiser they do. Just let them know you are from the “Brown Church”.
Thank you and God Bless
Paul & Sylvia Weld
CVCC Food Pantry Coordinators
Many hands helped fill the 88 turkey dinner bags f
illed for 44 families in 1 hour!
Each family receives 2 bags containing a complete Thanksgiving Dinner. Thank you to everyone for your help! Happy Thanksgiving
Are you available to help with the Food Pantry?
Paul and Sylvia Weld have been our Food Pantry Coordinators for fifteen years. They are looking to take a step back and cut back on their time committment to the pantry. We are looking for one or two new coordinators who would be able to take on half of the work load, starting in January. Training will be provided. Anyone interested please contact Paul or Sylvia at peweld@gmail.com
Thanks and God Bless
The Welds
Food Pantry Wish List
Ramen Noodles-Chicken &/or Beef
Rice-A-Roni-Chicken or Beef
Ketchup – 20 oz.
Mustard – 20 oz
Mayo – small jar
Stable Milk box – 20 oz.
Juice – Orange or Apple – 64 oz.
Small Soup – Chicken Noodle or Tomato
Jelly – Grape or Strawberry-16 oz.
Small canned Chicken or Tuna-5 oz.
Baked Beans – 15 oz.
Tomato Sauce – 15 oz.
Beef Stew – Canned – 15 oz.
Boxed Crackers – 1 lb.
Boxed Spaghetti – 1 lb.
Canned Veggies – Peas, Carrots-15 oz.
Instant Oatmeal – 1 lb.
Paper Towels
Toilet paper – individually wrapped
Shampoo – White Rain or Suave-24 oz.
Dawn Dish detergent – small size
Tide Laundry Detergent – small size
Large Laundry Detergent
Hand Soap – Dial 2 or 3 pk bars
Ode To Time
“Time waits for no man” so they all say,
We can’t take it with us or give it away.
We can’t buy or sell it or make it our own.
If we wish, it can keep us in our safe comfort zone.
Time seems to allow us to just stand around.
If we blink, we can lose it ne’er to be found.
But time, if well used, can help us through life,
it can ease all our worries, our stress and our strife.
There’s a time to live and a time to die,
there’s a time to be happy and a time to cry.
No one has more time than another
it’s equally doled to be used as we bother.
Time should be used to the greatest advantage,
it requires our hours and days to be managed.
We must be aware as time races by
we’re here for a short time – to live, love and die.
So let’s use our time here on God’s great earth,
to better this life for all of it’s worth.
So, in the end, our victory is won,
our time was used well, a good job was done.
The use of our time is a challenge indeed,
we can waste it away or use it to lead.
Mary Russo
From the Trustees
……And just like that, December is here.
This is a busy month with Stewardship, Advent and planning for the Annual Meeting on January 28th. We are working on the challenging task again this year of how to balance the budget.
In November, instead of the regular Council meeting, we had a Roundtable meeting that included Council members and non-Council members. Thanks to the twenty who gave their time and input.
The next two years are critical in that we cannot continue to take funds out of the endowment to pay the bills. The questions posed to the group were (and we pose to all of you now)
“What do you want this church to be personally? for the community?”
“What do you want from a Minister at Brown Church?”
We have not put together a full report of the information we collected, but there were some common themes.
- The Brown church is friendly and welcoming.
- We need more people involved in volunteering to support the church missions, community connections and fundraising events.
- We would like more live music at the church services.
- We want a minister who can provide full pastoral services to the church family and community, whether full or part time
- Sermons that relate to and teach the scripture and today’s life.
- Increase building use to support the community.
We invite you all to come to the December 2nd event, the Christmas Eve day and evening services at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. Mark your calendars for the Annual Meeting on January 28th after church.
Board of Trustees: Chair: Anne Getchell, Asst. Chair: Nancy Divine, John Edgerton, Duddie Andrews, Nancy Irving and Tom Workman, ex officio member, Treasurer
From the Deacons Bench
I don’t know about you but as daylight diminishes I tend to feel things more deeply.
As each day presents itself I try to remind myself that something as simple as a hello, a smile or a phone call, may be the best part of another person’s day.
I find the words from the following hymns help to lift me up:
“Christ Be Our Light” Longing for light, we wait in darkness Longing for truth, we turn to you. Shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness Christ, be our light.
and
“Lord, I lift Your Name On High” Lord I love to sing you praises, I’m so glad you’re in my life, I’m so glad you came to save us You came from heaven to earth to show us the way.
We sure have a busy month ahead:
Saturday, Dec. 2:
• Hometown Christmas Fair starting at 11am with a Hot Turkey Sandwich Lunch
• MWV Santa (Dan Levigne) will be joining us at 4:30 for Pictures & tree lighting
• Ending the night with Caroling and Hot Chocolate
• All day Craft and baked goods sales, and Pick a Prize
Sunday Services at 10 am
• Dec. 3 Paige will be teaching us the movements for the hymn “Lord, I lift Your Name On High”
• Dec. 3 First Sunday of Advent and Communion
• Dec. 10 Second Sunday of Advent
• Dec. 17 Third Sunday of Advent
• Dec. 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent
• Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Service at 6 pm Hope, Peace, Joy and Love
always,
Beth
NOTE:
Soon you may notice envelopes with a sticker that says “Diaconate Fund”.
Our expenses include many items: Fellowship supplies, Flowers, Candle oil, Communion supplies, Decorations, All Zoom related expenses, Thinking of You Cards, Sympathy Cards, Get Well Cards and Special music. We appreciate your support. (If you might be interested in becoming a Deacon, please contact one of the Deacons listed below.)
Diaconate: Judy Workman and Louise Saxby, Co-Chairs; Beth Campbell, Dawn Vitters, Nancy Divine
ADVENT Worship
Sunday, December 3, 2023 – 1st Advent
Psalm 122
Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9, Mark 13:24-37
Sermon: “Have We Withered Away?”
Sunday, December 10, 2023 – 2nd Advent
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-29
Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8
Sermon: “A Peaceful Message: a Thief and Destruction?”
Sunday, December 17, 2023 – 3rd Advent
Psalm 146:5-10
Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, John 1:6-8, 19-28
Sermon: “Do You Have a Voice?”
Sunday, December 24, 2023 – 4th Advent
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-29
Scripture: Luke 1:46-55, Luke 1:26-38
Sermon: “My Phone Takes Great Pictures!”
Christmas Eve, December 24th – Lessons + Carols 6:00p.m.
Psalm 96
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)
Meditation: “Mary Treasured Up and Pondered”
Sunday, December 31, 2023 – 1st Sunday after Christmas
Psalm 148
Scripture: Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3, Galatians 4:4-7 or
Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 2:15-21
Sermon: “TBA” – Charles Monaghan, preaching