Conway Village
Congregational Church
December 2025
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It Keeps on Ticking
“no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen”
Matthew 24:36
In 1956, (and for the following twenty years), a newsman, John Cameron Swayze, was a spokesman for Timex Watches. He performed as a mock-newscaster, preforming scientific trials called “torture tests” for Timex with the catch line, “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” The Brown Church’s wall clock, an Ansonia Clock, could boast such durability.
In 1906, when The Society of the Second Congregational Church built their sanctuary on Main Street in Conway, New Hampshire. Our wall clock was made in
Brookline, N.Y. and was considered a “practical, functional, reliable timepiece”- – it has no chimes, no calendar – – it just gives accurate time. Through the past 120 years, it has “kept on ticking” through WWI, the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, WWII, the Holocaust, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Decolonization Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, 3-assassinations (a U.S. President, a non-violent minister, a candidate for the White House), a Space Race, the end of the Cold War, the 9/11 attacks, the election of the first African American President, a bomb going off at the Boston Marathon, Same-Sex Marriage being legalized, Facebook and Apple Watches taking over the world’s economy, and the December 2023 flooding of Mount Washington Valley.
In that time, five clock smiths have serviced our clock (they leave ‘their mark’ stamped on the brass mechanism). The clock still proudly shows its trademark “A” in a square, within a diamond (trademark of Ansonia Clocks) under the word “Regulator” frosted on its glass-faced cabinet. Its metal key gives it a 7-day wind, and our clock still has its original antique glass lens through which accurate time can be read, give-or-take a minute or two, every week. It is still housed within its original Victorian-Style wood case.
Through its time on the wall, no one can say how many baptisms, weddings, confirmations of faith, memorials, funerals, worship, Children’s Sundays, prayers, praises, affirmations and tears our clock has witnessed. Perhaps our Clock’s catchline is,
The Pendulum Sways,
Our Faith Continues,
The Clock Keeps Ticking.
For that, we thank God!
Rev John Hughes December 2025
As we enter the season of Advent, we should pause for a moment to reflect on the many things that we can be thankful for. The first thing that comes to mind is the tremendous support that the parsonage trustee appeal received. Not only did it raise enough to get the driveway repaired, it even brought in a fair amount of extra money that will be used for other parsonage repairs that are needed. Halloween town which is an event that Purity Spring Resort uses to raise funds for the Laura Foundation which supports autistic children, and is a mission project of our church where we send the fair booth down and sell apple crisp. Halloween town raised over $50k this year and as a bonus to the church, they gave back the nearly $800 of proceeds that the apple crisp sales made to help support the church as a thank you for the many years that the church has supported the Laura Foundation. The Fish Fry event even out-performed previous years. I believe it was stated that it was the largest turnout they have had.
The work on the church is continuing. We have received the estimate to get heat back into the sanctuary. It was approved and is being scheduled. The carpeting in the hallway and down the stairs has been installed. Due to cold temperatures and insufficient heat in the entryway, we will wait until spring to get the new entry floor installed. The new siding for the entire church building will be starting in the spring as well. The Mason’s will begin remodeling the Henderson room after Thanksgiving as their own meeting space. They are excited about having a space they can call their own, that won’t interfere with church activities.
The Food Pantry has provided much needed food that many more people signed up to get, due to the government shutdown and loss of SNAP benefits. The pantry also gave out 60 turkey dinners for Thanksgiving. Donations to the Food Pantry has also increased, as the community understands that there are many families that struggle each month just to put food on the table. A huge thank you goes out to all the Food Pantry volunteers that set up the Thanksgiving baskets and purchased and handed out all the weekly food.
And yes, it is now Advent. A time of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. A time to rejoice and praise. Even though things have moved slowly in the rebuilding project, they are constant steps forward, and every step forward should be celebrated. Each step forward brings us closer to completion.
The birth of Jesus ushered in a new understanding of God’s love and commitment to us. Each task we complete on the church’s long list brings us to a new understanding of what this church means, not only to ourselves but to the community that looks to us for support. We can stand tall and celebrate our victory over the events that tried to knock us down and out. Just as we should praise the birth of Jesus that gives us the victory over death.
“LET’S CELEBRATE!”
May everyone enjoy a warm and Merry Christmas, and let’s get excited about the New Year ahead.
Sincerely,
Carl F. Vitters – moderator
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 26, 2025, at approximately 11:00 am at 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. 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 Annual Meeting will be:
- To hear reports of the officers, board and standing committees for the preceding year.
- To approve a Budget for 2026.
- To elect officers, board and standing committee members for 2026.
- To conduct any other business that may come to the floor of the meeting.
Dated at: Conway, New Hampshire, on the 19th of November 2025
Carl Vitters
Moderator
How to Donate to the Conway Village Church
For those who have asked how to make a contribution, donations to the Conway Village Church may be made in the following ways:
- Checks payable to Conway Village Church can be sent to P.O. Box 333, Conway, NH 03818.
- Online: Credit card donations can be made securely through Zeffy.
Our PayPal account remains active; however, most credit card donations are now processed through Zeffy, which does not charge any fees to nonprofits — allowing the church to receive 100% of your donation. (PayPal deducts 2.9% in fees.)
In addition to credit cards, Zeffy also accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay.
We are blessed by the continued support of our valley community, which helps us sustain our programs, community outreach, and the ongoing repairs and maintenance of our historic building following the December 2023 flood.
Scan the QR code below to donate to the church using a credit card or phone pay app.
Joy Bells
2 Samuel 6:3b-5 Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart, with Ahio walking before it, while David and all the house of Israel danced before the LORD with all their might, with singing, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.
Bell Sunday, Joy Sunday, Gaudette Sunday, Liberty Bell, Jingle Bells, Dinner Bell, Joy Bells, Recess Bell, Church Bell, Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings… “Make a joyful noise before the lord, all ye lands!” (Psalm 100).
Do you know one of the benefits of including new people? New ideas. Boz’s former church had a tradition on the third Sunday of Advent of ringing bells during the singing of some hymns. The Deacons thought it sounded like a joyful idea and are incorporating the idea this year.
The third Sunday of Advent is often known to celebrate Joy. Don’t we all need some Joy? I recently attended a seminar for people who care for their loved ones. The idea that kept repeating again and again, is Look for the Joy, Focus on the Joy, Find Joy in every day.
This was something I learned years ago, when my Secret Prayer Partner (Marge Hall) gave me a Gratitude Journal. That year I was to find 5 things to be thankful for each day and record them in the journal. Halfway through the year my dear friend died suddenly. That Gratitude Journal is what kept me going. I had to look outside my grief to find 5 things every day for which I was Thankful. That looking for Joy is something that I still try to do, especially when the season is getting overwhelming, or circumstances don’t go the way I hoped.
So Come on and ring those Bells, Every body sing, Jesus we remember it’s your birthday! Bring your bell to church on the 14th, and ring in some JOY!
The Deacons: Judy Workman, Beth Campbell, Boz Boswell, Jill Reynolds
MWV Women’s Hockey League Supports Our Food Pantry
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the MWV Women’s Hockey League for their continued support of our church and the Conway Food Pantry. Each year, several league members generously volunteer at our Fryeburg Fair booth, and their commitment to our community continues throughout the year.
Over two recent Monday night games, league players held a food drive for our pantry, bringing in much-needed donations at a time of increasing demand. A special thank-you to league member Anne Getchell for coordinating the effort and delivering the donations to the church.
Looking ahead, the league’s sponsored Dave Dore Tournament—
featuring teams from across New England—will take place January 2–4. Proceeds from the tournament raffle will benefit our church.
We are grateful for this partnership and for the kindness shown both on and off the ice.
Rachel Sharpels Photo
December 2025 Worship Schedule
Sunday, December 7th – Communion, 2nd Sunday of Advent
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Isaiah 11:1-10
Matthew 3:1-12
Romans 15:6-13
Sermon: “Entering the Kingdom of God”
Sunday, December 14th – 3rd Sunday of Advent ~ Bell Ringing Sunday
Isaiah 35:1-10
Luke 1:46-55
Matthew 11:2-11
Sermon: “Anticipating the Future”
Sunday, December 21st – 4th Sunday of Advent
Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19
Isaiah 7:10-16
Matthew 1:18-25
Romans 1:1-7
Sermon: “Christmas Calls”
Wednesday, December 24th – Christmas Eve 6 PM
Psalm 96
Isaiah 9:2-7
Luke 2:1-14
Titus 2:11-14
Sermon: “Name Calling”
Sunday, December 28th
Psalm 148
Isaiah 63:7-9
Matthew 2:13-23
Hebrews 2:10-18
Sermon: “The Grinch who tried to steal Christ”
