Conway Village
Congregational Church
June 2025
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A Celebration of Life was held for Mary (McLellan) Chesley on Saturday, April 26th, 2025. The family brought her “Certificate of Promotion” showing that Mary Elvira McLellan had successfully finished the Cradle Roll and progressed to the Primary Sunday School on June 13, 1937, listing her birth date as May 1, 1933. An arrangement of flowers on the altar sported a ball of pink yarn (with knitting needles) as a symbol of her being manager of the White Mountain Woolens Store in North Conway for 25 years, during which time she met Ron Howard the actor, a story she told many times. 
Neighbors, friends, and family members, as well as a worker from her assisted living facility, rose to reflect on Mary’s life and personality. A Eulogy was offered based on Mary’s favorite psalms and scripture, often used when she received communion in the final years of her life. A special address was offered to her great-granddaughter, Maren, who was in attendance. Mary’s passionate life and ferocious love of the Boston Red Sox were dully noted. It was a sharing of our sad- ness of farewell while joining ourselves in common pray- ers of devotion. We honored her life, gave thanks to those she loved and for those who loved her. It was an occasion of joy, peace, and gratitude for the Brown Church’s oldest and longest living member as we shared in the Good News of Jesus Christ.
“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, your
word has been fulfilled; my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people.” (Luke 2:29) was offered as the final commendation for Mary’s life of service, determination, and dedication.
Rev. John Hughes June 2025
The Power of Prayer
Why do people pray? People pray when they are happy, they pray when they are sad. They pray when they are in need or to give thanks when they receive good news or get something else they prayed for. They pray for themselves as well as for others. The most important thing to remember about God is that He hears and answers all your prayers. Be advised that God is not always on the same time table, as you may not get the answer you want, but, you do get the answer you need.
I leave you with these words of assurance ~
The same everlasting Father will watch over you today and every day. He will either guard you from hardship or give you the strength to bare it. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.
Boz (Charles) Boswell Deacon
Your Diaconate: Judy W., Beth C., Jill R., Louise S., Charles M. and Charles B.
It might seem early to be talking about the Fryeburg Fair, but preparations are already underway for this important annual event. The fair is our church’s biggest annual fundraising effort, and it takes a great deal of planning and behind-the-scenes work throughout the year to make it all come together.
This time of year, we’re busy inventorying supplies, making repairs or improvements to the booth-trailer, placing orders for ingredients, paper products, booth supplies, coordinating with the orchards, and planning the volunteer schedule. Between apple peeling, baking, and working in the booth, we need to fill 315 volunteer shifts — totaling about 1,276 hours. That’s a big lift, and in recent years it’s become more difficult to find enough volunteers to cover everything.
Some of our dedicated members end up working nearly every day during both the apple peeling and the fair, often covering double shifts to help keep things running smoothly. If you’ve volunteered before, thank you! If you’re planning to help again this year, we encourage you to invite a friend or two to join — every extra set of hands makes a big difference.
We typically peel 80 bushels of apples to make over 700 pans of apple crisp. Apple peeling will begin on Tuesday, September 23rd, with two shifts each day (morning: 8:30 AM–Noon and evening: 4:30–7:00 PM), continuing daily — except Sunday — through Thursday, October 2nd.
This year, the Fryeburg Fair opens a day earlier, beginning Saturday, September 27th, and running through Sunday, October 5th. The fair requires all booths to be open from 7 AM to 9 PM daily. Carl will once again faithfully handle the early morning restocking run and work the 7–11 AM shift solo. The remaining day is covered in two shifts: 11 AM–4 PM and 4 PM–9 PM (often wrapping closer to 9:30 PM with cleaning and closing).
Sign-up sheets — both online and in print— will be available soon. Please consider how you might be able to help. With everyone pitching in, we’re looking forward to another successful and fair season!
Nancy Irving – Trustee
Board of Trustees: Anne Getchell, – Chair, John Edgerton, Duddie Andrews, Nancy Irving, & Tom Workman – ex officio member, Treasurer
Outreach – Food Pantry
Anne & I would like to thank all of the volunteers who help in the pantry! There are many tasks necessary to keep the pantry operating smoothly. Mondays are the busiest, picking up food donations from Wal-Mart, Shaws & Lighthouse Credit Union, unloading the food, then sorting and putting it away. Mondays also include preparing the pantry for busy Tuesdays when clients pick up their food. There are also two separate monthly pick ups in the Tamworth area, one from USDA and one from NH Food Bank. Monthly inventories must be completed for reporting as well as to place orders. This is truly a TEAM effort!
On a daily basis, clients call in to schedule their appointments. Every week, we hear over and over from them how grateful they are, thanking us, and letting us know how much they appreciate every- thing we do for them. Many times we are told how much they have missed us. Our volunteer’s time and effort changes lives!
Thank you for helping us continue our mission!
Donations of all kinds may be made during worship service on Sundays or when the office is open. Call 603-447-3851 to make arrangements. Checks can be mailed to PO Box 333, Conway, NH 03818
Food Pantry Wish List:
Canned fruit
Assorted Canned pasta
Canned baked beans
Tuna Helper
Mayonnaise
Pancake mix
Ramen Noodles
Canned beef stew
Ketchup
Hamburger Helper
Pancake syrup
Canned tuna fish
Rice-a-Roni
Applesauce
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Tomato Sauce
Soup (packaged or canned)
Personal Care Items
(unopened only)
Toilet paper
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Paper towels
Dish detergent
Small laundry detergent
Bar soap
Deodorant
Notice of Special Meeting
Dated: May 22, 2025
TO: All Members and Friends of the Conway Village Congregational Church
Please be informed that a Special Meeting of the Membership and friends of the Conway Village Congregational Church will be held on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at approximately 11:15 am. The meeting will commence following the church service and will be held both in person and via Zoom.
While all are encouraged to attend and participate in the meeting, kindly note that voting privileges are reserved for members only. To join the meeting and cast your vote via Zoom, please utilize the regular weekly link provided for the church service.
The purpose of this Special Meeting will be:
- Review Year-to-Date financials and the 2025
- Flood Recovery and Building repair
- Fryeburg Fair
- To Conduct any other business that may come to the floor of the meeting
We look forward to your participation in this important gathering.
Dated at: Conway, New Hampshire, on the 22nd of May 2025
Melody Bergman, Administrative Assistant
Council Meeting Minutes
The Conway Village Church Council met on May 6, 2025, due to meeting scheduling issues this was a combined Trustees and Council Meeting.
Financial Report:
Duddie’s Financial Secretary report noted that our cash flow is currently good, however it includes $6,000 transferred from the investment account, because we were short funds to cover the payables last month. The Easter offering raised $6,278 which will be used toward the HVAC Splits for Fellowship Hall for Air conditioning and supplemental heat source.
The semi-final flood repairs report has been signed and submitted to FEMA. We hope to receive a check in the next couple of months for 75% of our expenditure to date.
Trustees – Building Issues:
The lack of heat in Fellowship Hall Sunday May 4th was due to a bad circulator pump. Gaynor replaced the part which was under warranty at no charge. There was however a charge from Eastern for the service call.
Interstate fire replaced the fire suppression system tank and all of the fire extinguishers.
Basement Ace replaced the dehumidifiers for the crawl space.
The new refrigerator and freezer are being delivered Friday, May 9th. DW Electric is coming Monday 5/12 to add electrical outlets and probably an additional breaker for the additional refrigeration units.
We received quotes for two options to resurface the kitchen cabinet doors. One is $4,700 the other $5,000. We are going to look into painting them ourselves, or possibly asking Kiwanis to do.
Melody will reach out to the same service as last year to arrange for the lawn mowing.
John Hughes mentioned that it was suggested that we add a heat exchanger for the kitchen.
Spring Clean-up Projects – we need volunteers to help with some of these tasks, if you can help please call or email the office:
- Gardens
- General Exterior Clean up
- Area behind the church where the plow pushed to – need to rake out sand
- Diaconate Room – Cleanup, paint (Judy)
- Sanctuary – piano removal
- Grooms Room – all cabinets cleaned out ready to be removed
- Dungeon – file cabinet removal, Electronics need wall mount rack – nothing on floor (Steve)
- Henderson Room – Anne
- FH – remove 2 extra table & chair racks – to another church? sell?
- Conference room –finish bookshelves (Paul Getchell), Paint
- John’s Office – Bookshelves (Paul G.)
Building Use:
Lifeline wants to use FH all day on September 18th or 23rd. Their preference is the 23rd, however that is the day we plan to have the apples delivered and start peeling for apple crisp production.
Diaconate/Worship:
Judy reported that Katherine Rhoda will be playing for the 7/20, 9/28 and 10/19 worship services.
Both Steve G. and Nancy I will be out of town for the June 8th worship service. There will be no zoom service, likely no videos, John and the Diaconate will work on alternatives for music. Please plan to attend worship in person if you are able.
The Union Congregational Church in York Beach Maine has been following our challenges since the flood and have been praying for us. They have inquired what other prayers they can offer for our church and our community. John and the Diaconate will communicate with them.
John and Music Committee will need to provide Melody with everything for the worship services for the entire month of August by mid-July so she can prepare bulletins before her vacation.
John mentioned Beer & Bible Study/Wine & the Word that are happening in places maybe we could do something at Tuckermans or elsewhere in the valley.
Fundraising:
Fundraising Suggestion: A parishioner suggested a Walk-a-thon, they said that it is very successful at another church. Walkers, hikers, bikers, ask folks to pledge money per mile walked, biked, hiked etc. We would need a lot of participation and for people to approach others to pledge to support their walks. Duddie will ask for more information from the person who suggested it.
John H recommended we ask the Legion to hold another Fish Fry benefit for us, John E will contact them.
Anne or Melody will contact Tuckermans about another benefit per draft and/or dine to donate
Boz asked about doing a booth or something at the July 4th festivities, we’ve done in the past, it has not been a good money maker. It is also hard to get church volunteers to work the booth as people typically have family plans for the 4th.
Boz will check over Memorial Day weekend with the ski club groups about donating portions of golf tournaments or other fundraising.
The Christmas Fair and Tree Lighting Event – Proposed Date December 6th We will ask the Masons if they will do a Breakfast that day, and if they will they provide a Santa and maybe Mrs Claus too?
Vacation Schedule:
John’s vacation is July 24th to August 12th, the three Sundays to cover are 7/27, 8/3 & 8/10, Carl said he can probably cover the first and maybe the 3rd Sunday July 27th and August 10th. The Diaconate will check with Curt and/or Charles for coverage of the middle Sunday.
Melody is taking an extra week this year for an Alaska trip, she will be on vacation August 5th through 25th we may be seeking office coverage for a couple of days each week to try to keep up with phone calls and emails.