Candidate Weekend

On a weekend in May, the sun came out with Rev. Sandy Daly. Called to be our Settled Pastor, Rev. Daly joined us for a community welcome potluck dinner on Saturday evening.

Young and old joined together to meet Sandy

and on the following Sunday gave her candidate sermon. Following the worship service the congregation held a special meeting, where it was voted unanimously to welcome Sandy as our settled pastor! Welcome, Sandy!

HOME PAGE - WHAT'S COMING UP

Decemberfest

Decemberfest (sponsored by the Newfane Business Association) began in the afternoon in Union Hall where about 100 children talked with Santa Claus. Outside at 5pm, over 100 people lighted candles and sang seasonal songs.

The highlight was the count down to the lighting of the tree and the luminaries on the Common.

Then into the church for a soup and bread supper, with lots of cookies and goodies to finish up the meal.


The evening ended with a program in the church that included Christmas carols, seasonal music, and the now traditional reading of "The Night Before Christmas" by Chris Petrak. Included in the program was the Newfane Community Bell Choir (sponsored by the church) and the Dover Youth Ringers.


Decemberfest is a Vermont way to begin the Holiday Season - gathering all ages of the community together for simple activities.

Advent Wreath Making

The Sunday before Advent, several families stayed after the coffee hour to make Advent Wreaths - a first step in preparing for the holidays - a fun time for all ages.

Sacrament of Baptism

On November 9 & 16, the church celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism.

Ellen Roffman, David Hull, and Apple Gifford were received as new members on the 9th. Dave and Apple presented their daughter, Lucy, for baptism.


Also on the 9th, Riley was baptized. He was presented by his grandparents and guardians, Rick & Laura Taylor. His father, Justin, also participated.


On the 16th, Maria & Wayne Manning presented their daughter, Elia, for the sacrament.


Participating in the Sacrament was Elia's great uncle, the Rev. Steve Fuller, Associate Rector at Immanuel Episcopal Church in Bellows Falls.

Community Halloween Party

Some of our parents organized a community Halloweeen Party on Halloween night, starting with games, cookie decorating, and costume parade, then a pot luck, followed by trick or treating in the village. A fun evening!!

Why the Party is Successful - and Fun

The Party on the Common

A few reasons
Why
it is so successful

and so much fun.

Over 225 Volunteers

... from the Church
Community
Neighboring Towns
and at least 5 States in the Northeast

... and ranging in age from 8 years to 98 years

Heritage Festival - Our Party on the Common

A perfect fall weekend brought thousands of people to Newfane Common for the 38th Annual Heritage Festival. Here are just a sampling of photo from the two day event which benefits the church, and enables the church to contribute significantly to community needs and maintain its presence in the heart of the community.

Apple Pies Signal Approach of Heritage Festival

Wednesday Apple Pie Making in Newfane is the signal that Heritage Festival is approaching. 15-20 people have been gathering on Wednesday mornings in the church to make 50-60 pies each week.

There are the peelers ...

... and the slicers ...

... the crust makers and the rollers ...

... the assemblers and bakers ...

... all done with loving hands.

Service by the River

Filmmaker Joe DeFelice filmed the Service by the River, Smith Brook, July 20, 2008, when the church celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism.

Earlier in the service, new members were welcomed: Kimberly & Ted, Caryl & Joe, Jo-Ellen & Jay, Maria. Baptized were Kimberly, Hattie (daughter of Kimberly & Ted), River (son of Caryl & Joe), Jessica (daughter of Jo-Ellen & Jay), and Carter (son of Jo-Ellen & Jay).



Photographer Dan Marx provided these pictures from the Service which was held on the lawn and along/in the river behind Ginny Grabowski's home.

Brookline Service

Services on Sunday, July 27, were held in the Brookline Church. The church was built in 1836 and retains most of its original character. Typical of New England churches, large windows bathe the interior with light, although the trees which have grown up around the church reduce the light somewhat.

Music comes from an old Estey pump organ. Don Maher came out of retirement for this Sunday to work the pedals.

For many years, the lay reader for the Brookline service has been Vera Harrington, and she filled that role again this year. Vera moved to Brookline with her parents in 1929 and joined the church. She was seventeen years old. She is seated in the front row, waiting for the service to bein.

Baptism in the River

The weather was uncertain early on Sunday, July 20, but rain only threatened. Families, friends, and church members gathered on the lawn behind Ginny Grabowski's home for worship, including welcoming seven new members into the fellowship of the church, and baptizing one adult and four children in the shallow waters of Bruce Brook. Ginny had a wonderful "coffee" hour afterwards, and the Deacons provided a cake.

There will be additional pictures from the service posted soon. Here are just a few from the fellowship celebration after the service.



River DeFelice and Hattie Colligan were two of the children baptized. They are holding vases of garden flowers given to their parents in honor of joining the church and celebrating their children's baptism.


The kids always enjoy the refreshments, especially when there is cake. Many are friends in school, and enjoy seeing one another outside of school.

Additional Photos - Newfane Hill Service

Dan Marx took these photos from the Newfane Hill Service.

Newfane Hill Service

The church's annual service on Newfane Hill was held on Sunday, June 29 - commemorating the date when the church was first gathered on June 30, 1774. The service was held near the monument of the first Windham County Courthouse and the old "whipping post," and just a short distance from the site of the first Meetinghouse. This area near the top of Newfane Hill is the site of the original Newfane settlement and town center. The County seat and most of the village was moved to Park Flats in the early 1830s, now the village of Newfane.


After the service, we were invited to the home of Bucky and Carleen Pelsue at the top of Newfane Hill for our iced tea hour and a period of good conversation and distant, though hazy, vistas.