Conway Village
Congregational Church
January 2025
Click the newsletter link below to view or download the full version of the newsletter
We have news!
The Dinner Bell plans to re-open on January 6th.
Hours will be 4-5pm and will be take out meals only. Thanks in advance to Barbara Hoyt and her crew! Barbara Hoyt and Charlyne Gray accept a generous donation from Jay Poulin of HEB Engineers.
The Food Pantry plans to re-open on Tuesday, January 21st.
The Outreach Committee and Pantry Volunteers met recently to work out all that needs to be done now and what is needed to keep the pantry running smoothly after it re-opens. Paul and Sylvia Weld have been running the pantry for over twenty years!!! They are stepping down as Coordinators at the end of 2024. The system they have put in place will help make the transition easier. We are fortunate to have well seasoned volunteers who are returning to help. We will need help with inventory control and purchasing. There is always room for more help, so if you or anyone you know would like to help in the pantry, please let Melody know.
Thank you Paul and Sylvia for all the years you have put your heart and soul into our Food Pantry! Together, they have acquired many donations of various kinds from Mt. Washington Valley companies & organizations, benefitting a multitude of community members. You have truly touched many lives during your mission at the pantry. Bless you both!
Time flies, how many times do we say this…
Reflecting on 2024, I am amazed by everything our church has accomplished. So much work: organization, physical labor, logistics paperwork, planning, coordinating, fundraising, meetings, etc.
What a blessing when The Majestic Theater offered to become our temporary worship space and the dedication of our tech team Steve and Nancy for continued zoom services. A mere thank you to everyone who has
worked so hard to get us back home doesn’t feel like enough.
Our plan was to first get the Food Pantry and Dinner Bell func- tioning to provide these crucial services to our community. These will be able to resume in January 2025.
This is a perfect example of Proverbs 16:9 “A man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
Drawing much needed strength from one another, let us continue to push the boundaries of what we thought possible. This new year brings the opportunity to continue lifting each other up and sharing in the joy of being “Home” in the Brown Church.
Happy New Year!
Beth Campbell
Your Deacons, Louise, Judy, Beth, Jill and Charles
What’s In Your Cup?
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
“Because someone bumped into me!!!”
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea. Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out. Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It’s easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves… “what’s in my cup?” When life gets tough, what spills over? Joy, gratitude, peace and humility? Anger, bitterness, victim mentality and quitting tendencies? Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.
This year let’s work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, resilience, positivity; and kindness, gentleness and love for others.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ We have heat!
December 18th marked one year since the church flooded. A year ago, we had no idea what it would take to re-open! We have had great support from the community and many local contractors. A special thanks goes to Shawn and Kate at Bergeron Technical Services. They have worked with us since day one.
The next step is to work on the Sanctuary. A heating and AC system is being designed. Once installed, the carpet will be replaced and the floor refinished. At the same time, Bergeron Technical Services is looking at the cracks in the walls. There is structural work needed in the Sanctuary and really can’t be ignored. We will have more information in the future.
If you get a chance to drive by the church at night, please do so. A couple of weeks ago, trees with lights were set up and it looks very festive. Trees were donated by Westons Farm and church members.
The Annual Meeting is on January 26th after the church service. Please plan to attend. It is open to everyone (only members can vote). Everyone’s input is important. If anyone would like to serve on a board or committee, please let us know.
We will be presenting the proposed 2025 budget. Pledges help us put the budget together. Our Financial Secretary reports that 18 out of a planned 30 pledges have been received to date.
With us back in the church and necessary repairs to the church getting done, we have a lot to look forward to at the Brown Church.
Anne Getchell
Trustee Board ~ Anne Getchell, John Edgerton, Duddie Andrews, Nancy Irving, Nancy Divine, Tom Workman, ex officio member, Treasurer
January 2024 Worship Lectionary
Sunday, January 5th ~ Epiphany Sunday ~ Communion
Scriptures: Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12
Sermon: “Warned in a Dream?”
Sunday, January 12th – Christ’s Baptism
Scriptures: Psalm 29, Isaiah 43:1-7, Luke 3:5-7, 21-22
Sermon: “You are my Beloved One”
Sunday, January 19th
Scriptures: Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
Sermon: “Called to a New Role”
Sunday, January 26th
Scriptures: Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
Sermon: “What does ‘Scripture is Fulfilled’ mean?”