Raymond Village Community Church – a New Chapter
10/1/2025 News: For almost a year, we were trying an experiment with North Windham Union Church by worshipping together and working to determine whether we could unify the two churches. Sadly this journey has ended and Raymond Village Community Church is striking out on our own.
Our new chapter is a collaboration between Pastor Brian Donovan and the RVCC congregation to try “worship in a new way”. We will define what this means by working together. Worship includes prayer, a scripture reading and reflection. Worship may be pastor-led, lay-led or jointly led. Worship may be at a time other than Sunday morning and/or in a place other than the church building. Here is what we’ve done so far:
– October 5, 3-5pm in the RVCC vestry – worship, communion and a discussion of the future
– October 12, 3pm a different vesper service at a member’s home – song, scripture, reflection and prayer
– October 22 at 5pm – Watch “Hocus Pocus” & stay to chat “where God shows up in the Halloween Classic!”
– October 26 at 2pm – “Heritage meets Harvest” worship – combining worship and fellowship making apple crisp and cider (with antique cider mill)
– October 31, before 5pm – Halloween at Raymond Village Community Church
– November 6 at 2pm Understanding “Food Insecurity” Event
– November 9 at 9am – regular Sunday worship in the sanctuary with our new pianist Tessa Irons – We loved it and want more!
– November 16-22 – three different small group fellowships: Afternoon tea and conversation; Zoom discussion; Cribbage and conversation. Each provided an opportunity for people to get to know each other better in a small group
– November 23 – Pot Luck Community Worship at 4pm
– November 30 – RVCC collected items for the homeless and created blessing bags. We plan to go out on the streets to deliver these bags to several locations in December.
– Sunday December 7 at 2pm Peace in a non-traditional structured worship
– Sunday December 14 at 2pm Reflections on worship
– Thursday December 18 at 5:30 pm Joy of the Community Christmas Celebration
– Wednesday December 24 at 4pm Traditional Christmas Eve worship service
– Sunday December 28 11:30-1pm Book Club Event and 2pm Learning to Lead Christian worship education
– Sunday January 4, 2026 – worship at home by watching prior RVCC taped worship
Learning our Christian Story
Within the United Church of Christ (UCC), we encourage everyone to be curious. All are welcome as each one of us strives to have a relationship with God who is beyond our understanding. Some of us are believers, some of us are questioners, and some of us are seekers.
Our UCC faith statement does state that Jesus is the Head of the Church. We encourage book studies in a small group atmosphere to develop our own understanding and appreciate each other’s viewpoints via Zoom or in person. Discussions are lively and all are welcome to participate. If there is a book study you would like to suggest, let us know.