One of seventeen original windows restored through a generous grant.
Donations
Tax-Exempt Status
United Christian Church is a member of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ, and is exempt from federal and state income tax as a not-for-profit religious organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code pursuant to a group tax exemption ruling issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
Unspecified donations will support the activities and work of the church, keep the old buildings insured and in good repair, support the staff, and provide heat in the winter. Donations can be made specifically to one of our ministries or for another purpose, such as upkeep of the 1821 church building, Lincolnville's original meeting house. Any donation may be in honor or in memory of a loved one. Please provide clear instructions if you have a specific purpose for your donation, and also put a note in the notes field of your check.
Contribution of Cash or Checks
Contributions of cash or checks are deductible as charitable contributions under the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The Church will provide statements of actual contributions for the year for use by individuals in documenting charitable contributions on their individual income tax returns. Cash gifts are included in statements to the extent the Church is able to identify the donor. Deduction is usually limited to the year of the actual gift. Please provide clear instructions if you have a purpose for the donation, and also put a note in the notes field of your check.
Where to Send Donations
All donations should be addressed to the Church in care of the Treasurer.
Send donations to:
United Christian Church, c/o Treasurer
P.O. Box 288
Lincolnville Center, Maine 04850
Good Neighbor Fund & Pastor's Discretionary Fund
The Good Neighbor Fund is funded entirely by donations from church members and the wider community. The money is used to help individuals and families in the community who need help, working together with the Town Office when appropriate. This need may be for food, rent, heating, or other circumstances. All funds are expended for this stated purpose and are replenished through individual donations, special collections, and occasional appeals. Anonymity of both recipients and donors is respected. As of 2014, we have given out more than $30,000 to help members of the community.
To give, please specify “Good Neighbor Fund” in the memo line of your check. Thank you!
The Pastor’s Discretionary Fund is supported by donations from church members and friends. It is to be used at the pastor’s discretion, especially at short notice, to assist individuals and families in the church and wider community. The fund may not be used for the pastor’s benefit. All funds received are expended for this stated purpose and the fund may not be used for the pastor’s benefit. We respect the anonymity of both recipients and donors.
To donate, please specify “Pastor’s Discretionary Fund” in the memo line of your check.
Special Mission Offerings
We participate in several Mission Offerings of the denomination (see below). We also collect offerings for Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland, Maine on Mother's Day and LifeFlight of Maine on Father's Day. When national and global disasters occur, we invite giving to Disaster Ministries of the UCC. Inspired by Rev. Mair Honan who was ordained at UCC LIncolnville, we give to Grace Street Ministry in Portland, ME, a ministry she founded in 2006.
One Great Hour of Sharing channels resources for international programs in health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response, administered by Wider Church Ministries, Global Sharing of Resources.This offering is received on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.
Strengthen the Church re-imagines and builds the future of the UCC. Shared at the conference and national levels, Strengthen the Church largely supports youth ministries and full-time leaders for new churches in parts of the country where the United Church of Christ does not have a strong presence. Its also provides support for existing church’s new initiatives.
This offering is received on Pentecost Sunday.
Neighbors in Need Supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, including the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy, and direct service projects supported by Justice and Local Church Ministries.
This offering is received on the First Sunday of October as part of World Communion Sunday.
The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund is a Special Mission Offering that congregations have been supporting for over 100 years. The offering is administered through the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance, the charitable arm of the Pension Boards. Funds provide direct financial support to those who serve the church and are facing financial difficulties. Active and retired clergy, lay employees, and their surviving spouses may be eligible for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and/or Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks.
This offering is received on the Sunday before Christmas.