Stewardship

Rev. Eliot Fay’s November message

As many of you know, among the many church events that this fall season ushers in, one of them is our annual invitation to stewardship. For a few weeks in October and November, through various means we will be asking you to consider how you might support the ministry of Nelson Church in this coming year. As has been true in years past, the focus of our appeals during this time will be on encouraging you to be generous as you prayerfully consider contributing your financial support in the year ahead. Although this is not a favorite request to make, it is an important one.

It is, after all, your many individual pledges together that help us to create and meet our yearly budget. It is your gifts that allow us to pay for the copier and to keep the heat on during the winter. It is your gifts that allow us to host the Monadnock Music summer concert and to continue organizing our yearly summer Ice Cream Socials. It is your gifts that make possible our annual Hanging of the Greens evening at Advent and our community Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols Service. It is your gifts that allow us to provide a place for the Scouts to meet and allow me to spend time with and officiate funeral services for those in our church and community who have lost someone they love. And so, in so far as you appreciate and benefit from these and many other ministries of Nelson Church, I encourage you to contribute your support so that they can continue!

But even as we take these next weeks to particularly focus on the importance of your financial contribution and commitment, we do not want to encourage the false perception that the stewardship we seek is simply the giving of money. If we are to remain a life-giving community of faith then the contribution of your time, ideas, and heart is every bit as important. Some of you have the resources to be able to give more financially; others are more able to contribute your time and abilities – all are important if we hope to continue to sustain and maybe even grow the vital ministry of our church in this community. Thank you all for the many ways you are generous with what God has given you, and blessings to each of you as we enter into the holiday season!

News

Help with heating costs available now

1-22-24 This year, our Christmas Eve offering was again designated to be used to help local individuals or families that need it with heating costs. If you or your family could use a little assistance with heat this winter (wood, electric, or fuel), please contact the church office at 603-847-3280. There is no "screening" process - we trust you. Also, if you know of anyone who might need help with heating costs, please encourage them to call us. Many thanks to those of you who contributed to this fund, and if you are interested in making a donation please visit nelsonchurch.org to donate online or send a check with "fuel assistance" in the memo line to the church at 830 Nelson Road, Nelson, NH 03457. 

Winter Bible Study on Wednesdays at 7 pm

1-14-24 We are currently meeting each Wednesday evening from 7-8 pm for our winter Bible Study. Most weeks the study is held over Zoom. On the last Wednesday of each month, we will hold the Bible study in-person in the church fellowship hall at 5:30 pm. Everyone is welcome and regular attendance isn't necessary so feel free to join whenever you are able to!

Nelson Church awards social justice grants

1-8-24 The Nelson Congregational Church is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Garrett-Larsen Social Justice awards. A total of $2,250 was awarded in December 2023, split between two local nonprofits.

$1,250 was given to the Fall Mountain Weekend Food Backpack Program, a community effort that provides free breakfasts, main meals, and snacks on weekends and school vacation weeks to many students in the towns served by the Fall Mountain Regional School District. As the grant application noted, “The teachers, nurses, and staff at Fall Mountain are trained to recognize student hunger when they see it. Hopefully this program … will reduce the number of students that we see coming to school hungry.”

$1,000 went to Feeding Tiny Tummies, a Keene-based, all-volunteer nonprofit that provides fresh produce, bread, milk, and nonperishables to schools, day cares, and individuals in the Monadnock region. Founded in 2017, the organization has grown to include a resource center for job seekers, seniors, and other groups.

The Social Justice Fund was created in 2019, with broad community support, to honor former pastor Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen at the conclusion of her ministry in Nelson. The grants are given with no restrictions.

Steering Committee, Garrett-Larsen Social Justice Fund: Steve Cady, Avery Hurley, Susan Peery, Betsy Street, Judy Waterston, Deanna Zilske, Rev. Eliot Fay

More information on our Social Justice Fund page.