THE FIRST CHURCH IN JAFFREY WOMAN’S SOCIETY

As stated in its constitution, the purpose of the First Church in Jaffrey’s Woman’s Society is “to augment the social and spiritual life of its members, and to support their needs and the needs of the community at large. Also, the Society has an obligation to maintain the traditions of its more than one hundred years of continuous existence.”

Article four of the constitution states that “The membership of the Society shall include all women interested in carrying on the work of the Society.” The policy is that all women of the congregation of the First Church in Jaffrey (FCiJ) are considered to be members of and are invited to participate in the activities of The Woman’s Society (WS). There are five elected officers of the WS, and they are known as The Steering Committee. They, plus the minister of FCinJ, guide the activities of the WS and establish its budget for the year. This committee is primarily responsible for maintaining and supplying the Parish Hall and its kitchen, hosting church receptions and managing the Christmas Mini Fair, and the women of FCiJ perform major tasks for the First Church’s annual August Fair. The WS has traditionally held an annual meeting at the time of the annual Christmas luncheon.

The Woman’s Society receives its money primarily from the August FCinJ Fair, from contributions from people for whom the church holds receptions, and from the sale of Fair Trade Coffee and chocolate.

Its major financial responsibilities are to distribute the Fair money to local town, regional and state charities (with emphasis on local town)and to the FCinJ operating budget. A representative of the WS steering Committee meets with the church’s Joint Benevolence Committee to coordinate these outreach distributions. A significant portion of the benevolence money, $2000 for the past few years, is for scholarships for graduating Conant High School seniors. The WS tries to keep the ratio of benevolences to FCinJ support annually at 53% for benevolences and 47% for the church. The money the Society receives from reception donations and Fair Trade coffee purchases is approximately off set by the costs of these two items. The WS traditionally contributes a sum of money to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, with the understanding that this is money to be used for pastoral care issues within the parish.

In addition to seeing to it that these financial responsibilities are carried out, the WS has customarily also provided for the weekly needs of the church’s whole congregation, by supplying items for the weekly coffee hour after church services, and for programmatic hospitality occasions. Specifically, the WS promotes, puts on, and pays for several events throughout the year, such as: the June picnic, usually held at the beginning of June; the Christmas luncheon, usually held in early December; receptions for special occasions, including funerals and memorial services, and special celebrations; the Christmas Mini Fair; and other programs as needed, desired and appropriate. On various of these occasions, members of the community are invited to join FCiJ women as we extend friendship to fellow Fair workers, neighbors, friends, and newcomers to the area.

Other church occasions such as the fall Harvest Pot Luck Supper, the Mothers’ Day blueberry pancake breakfast, and weekly Sunday coffee hour refreshments, are typically hosted by other committees in the church, although the supplies, except for extra decorations and decorative supplies, are usually subsidized by the WS for these events.

The WS has several specific programs: the Prayer Shawl ministry – women of the church knit shawls for ill or grieving people in the congregation and the general community; the Christmas Mini Fair which raises money for an additional benevolence gift; and the sale of Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate at very reasonable prices.

Susan T, Campbell,
Chair, Woman’s Society Steering Committee