FALMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

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1 FALMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING CONGREGATION FALMOUTH, MAINE Mission Statement Falmouth Congregational Church United Church of Christ, is a Christian community of faith which: Serves God with love and worship Serves our church family with loving mutual support and provides opportunities for spiritual growth Serves all of God s creation with compassion, generosity, justice and stewardship Welcome Statement As a community of the people of God, we minister to all of God s creation affirming that we are made one in Christ. The love of Christ for each person knows no bounds. As an open and affirming congregation we welcome all people regardless of race, age, marital standing, gender, economic status, sexual orientation, and differing physical, mental and emotional abilities into the full life and ministry of this community of faith.

2 Our History and Facility We are proud of our rich Congregational heritage. In 1754, the first generation of our church family organized themselves as the Third Parish Church of Falmouth. The brick building in which we worship today was built in The parishioners helped burn the bricks on the banks of the nearby Presumpscot River. The present parsonage, located next to the church, was purchased in Our Community The Parish House includes one of the largest rooms in the community for activities such as receptions, suppers, and meetings. Office space and classrooms were added to the Parish House in In 2004, an expansion was completed to connect the brick church to Beinema Hall. Our new spaces are fully handicap accessible and include Fellowship Hall, a parlor, and expanded office and choir spaces. The sanctuary and chancel were also renovated to accommodate increased seating and the installation of a new pipe organ. Like our church buildings, our grounds are a blend of old and new with hardy mature New England oaks as a backdrop for lovely new gardens and flowering trees. A path leads between the parsonage and the church buildings, a playground is situated near the classrooms, and a new parking lot offers ample, well-lit parking. We enjoy the benefit of living in a small town of 12,000 residents with access to the amenities of the largest city in Maine. Located on the coast just north of Portland, Falmouth is suburban and rural in character, yet 10 minutes from the art, cultural and foodie scene available in Portland. Falmouth s attractions include a harbor, town boat landing and hiking trails along the ocean on Macworth Island, indoor and outdoor ice-skating facilities, a cinema, shopping, many parks and recreational areas, medical centers, and a public library. Falmouth schools are one of the best public schools in the state and serve approximately 2,000 students. Neighboring Portland is a jewel of a city with a population of 66,000, and provides a variety of cultural offerings in the arts, professional sports, higher education, shopping, a rich diversity of restaurants, and nationally ranked medical care. Our beautiful state is well known for its picturesque coastline, sandy beaches, lakes, rivers, and mountains that entice outdoor enthusiasts for water sports, biking, hiking, camping, and skiing.

3 Church Life Falmouth Congregational Church UCC connects with the wider community in many ways. We sponsor a Boy Scout troop, Cub Scout pack and encourage many groups to use our facilities including summer camps, an after school program, music groups and aerobics classes. We host an annual community supper attended by 500+ residents that raises funds for the Food Pantry. We also host an annual Easter Egg hunt, Holly Days Fair and Christmas caroling among the local assisted living facilities. Music is an integral part of our service. We are fortunate to have both a Casavant Freres pipe organ as well as a grand piano, and our organist/ choir director is a magnificent accompanist. We also have many talented musicians both young and older who sing and/or perform on string and wind instruments. During our Christmas and Easter services we especially have the opportunity to hear some of this additional musical talent, as well as during the summer months when our choir is on hiatus. We provide musical events for the community including a monthly Coffee House for local musicians and we provide a venue for national and international musical groups. Our Missions We care for our sisters and brothers whose lives we seek to touch in the wider community. Our church members help with the Food Pantry and donate to local shelters. We now serve as a host church for Family Promise providing shelter and meals for homeless families. Our Mission family has accomplished meaningful mission activities in under-served areas of Maine. Every year, we provide gifts at Christmas to families served by the Food Pantry with an Angel tree, and collect school, hygiene and clean up kits for Church World Services. Each year our church is among the strongest supporters of OCWM in Maine.

4 Pastoral Needs of the Congregation It is our hope that we can find a strong leader who is devout, inspiring, and creative with the ability to relate to all age groups and to create worship experiences and pastoral care that is uplifting, thought provoking, and inspiring. Our new minister should have the ability to relate to young and old alike and be able to interact with confidence and joy. We would like our minister to be comfortable with change and with new and occasionally different approaches to our worship experiences. This would include meditation, music, and role-playing as was practiced by the disciples. Hopefully, our minister will be able to preach a biblical message relating to our modern day lives and concerns and challenge us to grow in our faith and to become better Disciples of Christ. Contact Information Maine Conference United Church of Christ 1 Weston Court, Suite 104 Augusta, Maine (in-state, toll-free) Internet Resources Falmouth Congregational Church Town of Falmouth, Maine

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