Serve
Community Support
For over 200 years, God’s love has called the people of First Church in Belfast to support neighbors in our local community, and to serve others in our region, state, nation and the world. God has called us to do the impossible, and we are willing to do impossible things with God’s help. We hold and respond in love to God’s “impossible” vision for the world: a world where people are housed, fed, clothed, cared for in times of need or illness, treated with kindness, justice and mercy, where love of creation guides our relationship with it, and where each person can develop and share their unique gifts and talents.
Responding to Local Needs
- Food Access. We support the efforts of GBAM (Greater Bay Area Ministerium Food Cupboard), a collective of Belfast area churches working together to feed our community, and Belfast Soup Kitchen, a community food cupboard and meal service center. We support with volunteer hours, donations and food drives throughout the year.
- Warmth. We support Waldo County Woodshed and Belfast Window Dressers with volunteering and donations to help keep our fellow Mainers warm in the winter.
- Youth can Grow. We partner with the Game Loft to provide safe spaces for youth to grow, learn and have fun!
- People are Housed. We partner with Habitat for Humanity of Waldo County and provide volunteer hours and public supper fundraisers to support their work to improve housing opportunities in Belfast. We are involved in helping to find support and solutions for the homeless in the Midcoast.
- Meals are Shared. Community meals – Breakfasts, Coffee Hour, Lunches and Suppers – are offered at least once per month. There are many opportunities each year to come together over a good meal while connecting with each other in community. These meals are open to the public and the wider community is welcome to share the table together.
Social Justice
- LGBTQ+ Justice – As an Open and Affirming congregation, we support all people living a sacred life, regardless of gender or sexual identity or orientation.
- Racial Justice – Martin Luther King Jr Remembrance March – We receive marchers each January into the sanctuary to commemorate the life and still speaking dream of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Economic Justice – We partner with Restorative Justice Project Maine to provide opportunities for people who have been incarcerated to connect with community and prepare to transition back into their communities. We support the efforts of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce and Our Town Belfast to support a thriving local small business community in our area.
- Welcoming Immigrants – We have partnered with Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services to support families relocating to Maine with clothing and other material needs.
- Mercy for Relief Efforts for War, Disaster – First Church often hosts meals or other special events to help organizations supporting those around the world who are surviving war or natural disasters. We hold special collections for this work through the wider UCC Church.
Youth and Families
- Serve While Learning – Religious Education curates opportunities to learn about and practice taking care of our earth and waters through curricula designed at the University of Maine.
- Relief Fundraisers – First Church often hosts meals, special collections or other special events to raise money for organizations supporting those who are surviving war or natural disasters.
- Pilgrim Lodge Fundraisers – Youth hold fundraisers throughout the year to support scholarships to send young members to summer camp at UCC’s Pilgrim Lodge in West Gardiner, Maine.
Spiritual Growth
There are many opportunities to share your time and talents to support the work that First Church does in and beyond Belfast. Contact our Office Administrator to be connected to the area that’s right for you.
- Deacons
- Music Ministry/Choir/Handbell
- Choir/Music Performance
- Readers
- Circle of Presence
- Facilities and Maintenance
- Trustees
- Stewardship
- Child Care
- Building and Honoring the Historic legacy of the First Church in Belfast in partnership with the Belfast Historical Society
- Interchurch/Interfaith opportunities. We collaborate regularly with local Episcopal, Methodist, Unitarian Universalist, and Baptist church events and offerings, and in interfaith exchanges so that we support each other in building the kin-dom of God.
SUPPORT OUR CHURCH
Your support makes a difference in our ability to render loving service toward humankind as we strive for righteousness, justice and peace.
Spiritual Care
We take care of each other in our First Church Family, and there can also be times when additional care is needed. In times of illness or hardship, anyone can request Spiritual Care from our Pastor or our Deacons for connection and support. Our Pastor can also support Baptisms, Marriages, Spiritual Counseling, Care of the Sick, Funerals and families grieving the death of a loved one.
If you need help connecting with organizations for financial, emotional or peer support, see our First Church Support and Resources document.
In Remembrance (Obituaries directory)
Stay Informed
Keep in touch with us about upcoming opportunities for worship, fellowship, meals, and events. Sign up for First Church weekly email communications here! You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of your emails.