Conway Village
Congregational Church
August 2025
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Council Meeting Highlights: July 9, 2025
Financial Update:
The council reviewed a cash report showing a total deposit of $6,405.94 over the past four weeks. After deducting restricted donations, the current bank balance stands at $8,631.22.
Upcoming Office Coverage:
Melody Bergman will be on vacation from August 5th to 25th. Important dates include an Accounts Payable check run on July 29th and September newsletter submissions due by August 22nd. Office coverage on Mondays and Tuesdays will be managed by various staff members.
Other Updates:
John Hughes will be on vacation from July 24th to August 12th, with scheduled pulpit coverage and pastoral care arrangements in place.
Preparations for the Annual Fryeburg Fair Apple Crisp Booth:
The council discussed plans for this year’s Apple Crisp sale, aiming for 400 pans, with 150 ready for the opening weekend. Beth Campbell will procure 450 to 500 half pans and necessary ingredients. Melody and Nancy I. are pricing paper goods and non-food supplies.
Facilities and Projects:
Concerns were raised about space management during the Fryeburg Fair, with a focus on optimizing Fellowship Hall for worship and crisp preparation.
Future Projects:
Long-term projects discussed included fundraising initiatives for building repairs, including a planned capital campaign to cover the cost of building siding as required by our insurance carrier.
Community Outreach:
Charlene Gray shared updates from the Material Girls quilting group, exploring opportunities to donate quilts to local facilities and other possibly homebound individuals.
Upcoming Events:
Mark your calendars for upcoming fundraisers, including Tuckermans Brewery Trivia Night on September 11th, the Fryeburg Fair from September 28th to October 5th, American Legion Fish Fry October 17th and Holiday Fair December 6th.
For more detailed information, please contact the church office.
Deacon’s Message
Music speaks to me, I hear God in the music and learn His will for me.
As a child who grew up in the 60’s I saw a lot of people forgoing the rules and laws, wanting freedom. While I was often the one who did follow the rules, I still bristle when I am told I HAVE to do something a certain way.
There is a song that quotes parts of Psalm 119, and while I love the melody of the song, and therefore often find it singing in my head, I sort of resented the actual words. The song quotes verse 105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
This past week I thought of these words in a new light. The Gibson Center had the parking lot resur- faced, but for what ever reason, the lines were not painted. What a week we had trying to park safely in the unlined parking lot. Each new driver followed the cars before. If the first person parked too far in one direction, we were all crowded against the Thrift Shop, with hardly room to pull out. The paint lines are like the rules that we live by, they guide us, and keep us friendly, safe, and protected. With- out the guidelines, we lost parking places, cars got trapped, and we were lucky not to have any fender benders. 
The rules that we are asked to follow are there to guide us to be the people God created us to be. Micah 6:8 …what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. That is true freedom, knowing where and how to live.
The Deacons
Judy, Beth, Charles, Boz, and Jill
Help Us Keep the Tradition Going — Apple Crisp Volunteers Needed!
Every year it feels like the back-to-school ads come earlier and summer slips by faster. As a member of Conway Village Church, the arrival of fall always makes me think of the Fryeburg Fair Apple Crisp Fundraiser.
This event is by far our largest annual fundraiser, contributing roughly 20% of our church’s annual budget. These funds are vital in supporting the building that houses our ministry and community outreach — including the Food Pantry, Dinner Bell, recovery meetings, the Masons, Scout leadership meetings, Bible studies, worship services, and a wide variety of church and community events.
Unfortunately, we’re missing a few of our regular Apple Crisp volunteers, and we are looking for new folks to help carry on this important tradition. If you have never helped before, we warmly welcome you to jump in this year!
We will begin apple prep at the church starting Tuesday, September 24 through Wednesday, October 1. Volunteers are needed mornings (8:30 AM–Noon) and early evenings (4:30–7:00 PM). We use a mechanical peeler/corer, but we need helping hands to tidy up the apples, remove leftover peels, and slice them for baking.
You do not have to commit to a full shift—even just an hour or two makes a real difference. Come when you can; every bit helps!
We also need help staffing the fair booth. With an extra day added this year, we now have nine days of sales to cover, Saturday, September 27th to Sunday, October 5th, with two shifts per day (11:00 AM–4:00 PM and 4:00–9:00 PM), needing 3–4 people per shift. Carl Vitters will handle early morning booth setup and crisp delivery each day.
We provide parking passes and fair admission for booth volunteers, so you’ll have a chance to enjoy the fair before or after your shift.
To help us plan, we are hoping to fill the schedule earlier than usual this year. You can sign up online at https://volunteersignup.org/4AJHR, in person at church before or after Sunday services, or by contacting the church office during the week.
Thank you for supporting this beloved tradition and helping our church continue to serve the community we love.
Outreach – Food Pantry
Our Pantry Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon has been rescheduled to September 9th in order to accommodate the majority of our volunteer’s schedules. If you have volunteered in any way for our food pantry, please join us so we can celebrate our accomplishments together!!
Thank you for all you do!
We welcome donations for our pantry. Food donations can be dropped off when the church is open on Sunday mornings or during regular office hours. Please do not leave food outside. If you wish to schedule drop-offs, please call 603-447-3851. Checks can be mailed to PO Box 333, Conway, NH 03818. Thank you for supporting our mission!
Food Pantry Coordinators: Melody Bergman & Anne Getchell
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
Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting Recap
Held Sunday, July 13th
Our semi-annual meeting offered an important opportunity to reflect on our finances, building repairs progress, and upcoming opportunities as we continue to recover and grow as a church community.
Financial Overview
Year-to-date income is $7,591 below what was budgeted. While pledges and offerings have exceeded expectations—thanks to your generosity—fundraising income is down $4,525, primarily because we did not hold our usual Spring Event, due to yard sale storage constraints.
On the expense side, we are over budget by $1,215. Winter storms caused plowing costs to spike, while payroll is under budget due to timing (one less payroll year to date) and the absence of a paid musician. All told, our expenses exceed income by $51,260, and we are $7,602 behind our projected deficit budget.
We have had to draw from the Dahl investment account to keep up with operating expenses.
Building and Flood Recovery Update
We still have a significant list of building projects, totaling $318,418 in quotes. These include:
- Exterior siding: $212,000
- Sanctuary asbestos removal: $47,000
- Fellowship Hall HVAC: $33,500
- Sanctuary, Narthex & Hallway Carpet replacement: $11,118
- Sanctuary floor refinishing: $8,000
- Parsonage driveway: $6,800
Available funding includes:
- Building Fund: $82,047
- Capital Campaign: $8,914
- Easter Offering (designated for FH AC): $6,278
- FEMA reimbursement (expected): $202,443
This totals $299,682, leaving us $18,736 short for currently quoted projects. Additional unquoted work, including replacing sanctuary walls, upgrading insulation and electrical systems, and rebuilding the altar area—will further increase overall costs.
Fryeburg Fair – Help Needed!
This year’s Fryeburg Fair (Sept. 27–Oct. 5) marks the 175th anniversary and includes two full weekends—nine days total! We need to fill 319 volunteer shifts for peeling, prep, baking, and working the booth. Many hands make light work—please consider signing up and/or encouraging friends to help. Sign up at: https://volunteersignup.org/4AJHR
Additional Upcoming Fundraisers
- Sept. 11: Trivia Night at Tuckermans Brewery
- Oct. 17: Fish Fry at American Legion Post 46
- Dec. 6: Christmas Fair – Planning starts now!
A Question for Discernment: Revo Casino Charitable Donations
A potential source of funding was brought forward for thoughtful consideration: Revo Casino, under New Hampshire law, is required to donate 35% of its proceeds to local nonprofit organizations. These funds are distributed without obligation or involvement from recipients.
Accepting such a donation could provide meaningful support for our capital campaign and our mission — helping us move forward with long-needed building repairs—and sustain vital ministries like the Food Pantry and Dinner Bell.
However, this opportunity raises a spiritual and ethical question for us as a faith community:
Are we comfortable receiving funds that originate from gambling activity?
This is not a decision to be made lightly. We are seeking input from our church family and the broader community. Please take time to reflect and share your thoughts. Send your comments to: cvcctrustees@gmail.com
Together, we seek to move forward with prayerful discernment, guided by faith, mission, and integrity.
A few comments shared so far:
- “I don’t think the church should accept funds or be associated in any way with gambling.”
• “My education was funded by ‘sin taxes’—alcohol and lottery revenues. NH has long used these revenue sources for public good.”
• “We may need to raise an additional $250,000 or more for the sanctuary, and we haven’t yet addressed the original goals of our capital campaign, which was set to begin just before Covid-19. If we decline this assistance, are we jeopardizing the future of our church and its missions for the sake of principle?”
• “It’s not a good look for the church in the community to accept money from gambling.” - What some see as questionable can become a blessing—using these funds to support our ministries is a way to turn something worldly into something good.”
We encourage everyone to share their thoughts — the more voices, the better. Let’s walk through this decision together, with open hearts, mutual respect, and honest dialogue.
Respectfully submitted by
Nancy Irving
July 18, 2025
A “God-Incident ” on the trail 
This Sunday, we were blessed to welcome a special visitor — a through-hiker on the Appalachian Trail who joined us for worship and shared a powerful story of faith and divine protection.
Trail name Scar, a retired Navy veteran from Chesapeake, VA, was making her way up Mount Washington when she suffered a painful fall. Her hiking pole struck her eye, and with no one else in sight, she began to worry. Then, suddenly, she heard a woman’ s voice: “ Are you alright?”
Startled, Scar asked, “ Where did you come from— did you just appear out of the clouds?” The woman stayed with her, and moments later, a man appeared — he happened to be a trained wilderness first responder.
As the three walked together toward a trailhead, another woman arrived — she worked for an ophthalmologist in the valley. Though the office was closed, she called the doctor, who kindly opened the clinic and personally examined her eye.
Scar shared this powerful message during joys & concerns, calling it a clear God-incident . While some might see these events as mere coincidence, she is certain that God placed each of those people in her path. Her message to us: when you feel God nudging you to go somewhere unexpected, don’t ignore it— trust that God may be planning to use you to help someone in need.
Scar found our church through a quick Google search — the only one near the hostel where she’ s currently staying.
Let’ s keep her in our prayers as she heals and continues her journey north.
Zeffy: A New, Fee-Free Way to Give Online
We’re transitioning from PayPal to Zeffy for online donations. Zeffy is tailored for nonprofits and charges no transaction or credit card processing fees, ensuring that 100% of your donation directly supports our church and missions.
Donation Options:
- Conway Village Church Fund: Supports daily operations, including worship resources, staff salaries, utilities, and community activities.
- Renew the Brown Church Campaign: Helps with flood recovery, siding replacement, sanctuary renovations and general building repairs and improvements.
Benefits of Zeffy:
- Choose preset amounts or enter your preferred donation.
- Opt for monthly recurring donations to sustain our ministries.
- Receive an email donation acknowledgment for tax purposes.
Zeffy may suggest leaving a tip to support their operations; this is optional.
Thank you for your continued generosity and support. Switching to Zeffy ensures your full contribution directly impacts our church and its missions.
Link to donate: https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/donate-to-the-conway-village-church
Link to Building fund: https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/renew-the-brown-church-campaign
