Worship with Us
Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
at 18 Searsmont Rd, Lincolnville
Weekly worship is at the heart of our community. We worship at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the Sanctuary in the Meeting House. All are welcome. Worship includes music, readings, group singing, a message for children of all ages, silence, prayers, sharing of joys and concerns, and a sermon or reflection. The pastor curates and leads worship most Sundays and welcomes a diverse array of guest preachers to the Meeting House pulpit on a regular basis. Special services are offered during Lent, Advent, and on Christmas Eve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit any Sunday?
Yes, visitors are welcome any Sunday. If you are “church-shopping”, we encourage you to check us out a few times to see if UCC Lincolnville feels like a home for your spirit. Fill out a visitor card if you’d like to receive a nametag and/or join our email list.
What should I wear?
Come as you are! Most people dress casually and for comfort.
Do I have to put money in the mite boxes during the offering?
No, but if you feel moved to give, we graciously accept all gifts to support the ministry of the church (this includes building upkeep and staff). We are primarily funded by weekly offerings placed in the mite boxes each Sunday and special appeals. To learn more, check out the Donate page. If you are in need of financial help, please reach out to Pastor Elizabeth to connect you with local resources or our Good Neighbor Fund.
Are children welcome?
Yes! We also offer Children's Church.
What type of readings are shared?
Most Sundays, you’ll hear both an ancient and contemporary text. We include at least one of the readings from the lectionary (the three year cycle of readings from the Bible used by many Christian churches) and often pair the scripture reading(s) with a contemporary reading or poem.
Do I have to sing during the hymns?
No, but we encourage you to give it a try, all voices welcome! To learn more about our music ministry, visit our Music page. If you have musical talents you’d like to share, this is a great place to offer!
How do I learn more about what it means to become a member?
Reach out to Pastor Elizabeth or one of the Deacons to learn more.
Can I receive communion if I’m not a member?
Yes! All are welcome to receive communion (and all are also welcome to decline participation). Find out more by clicking here: Communion
Can I participate remotely?
Yes! We offer the service from the sanctuary live via Zoom (or you can join via phone). Please email ucclincolnville1821@gmail.com to receive the weekly e-bulletin and Zoom link. While we have limited tech capability at the church, you should be able to hear and see the service. The spoken audio will likely sound clearer than the music audio but it depends on the Sunday, and both your home internet connection and the wifi strength at the church. We suggest setting Zoom to speaker view so that you see the main box with several views of the sanctuary. *Please be sure you are muted unless sharing during joys & concerns.* We do not record regular Sunday services but will record memorial services for private family use if requested.
Music
Music is an important part of our worship - we are a congregation who loves to sing, play, and listen to music. We enjoy the old-time hymns as well as more contemporary songs, and we sing them all with great joy and strong conviction. We have been blessed with a number of organists and other musicians over the years, young and not so young. These currently include organist Jane Shroeder and pianist/sound engineer Peter Saladino. We welcome guests who would like to share their instrumental and vocal talent.
Music Director: Mary Schulien
For over three decades, Mary has watched the congregation grow and change. She works closely with Pastor Elizabeth and guest preachers to plan the integration of the music with the spiritual message for every service. Mary plays the flute and accompanies worship services, with the help of other musicians, primarily Peter Saladino and Jane Schroeder, on the keyboard and the organ, respectively. She directs the Wing and a Prayer choir. She also arranges for the concerts and special services open to the community that we hold throughout the year and has mentored many young musicians and student organists. Mary's energy and enthusiasm for the church in all its endeavours continue to be a great benefit and source of inspiration.
The church sponsors free services and concerts during the year for the community, including Christmas Eve, the occasional candlelight holiday concert of the Mount View Singers, and a Lenten Music and Reflection series.
We include guest musicians for our services whenever we can, especially during special services, such as during Lent and Advent. Visiting singers and musicians are welcome to join us!
If you would like to join us, contact Mary Schulien at 785-3521.
Organists and Church Musicians
Our regular organist is currently Jane Shroeder. Peter Saladino regularly adds his keyboard skills. Mary Schulien's philosophy is to support and nurture the talents of the young people in our community. She has invited many student musicians to play here over the years. We enjoy watching our young musicians grow in their music as they contribute to our services. Many of these return to be with us now and then. In 2006 we began an organ scholarship program with funds left over from the purchase of our Trillium Legacy organ, which has helped a number of talented students to achieve their potential.
Music Scholarships
The music department maintains a fund for scholarships for young piano students who would like to learn to play the organ, or for organ students who would like to increase their skills. Please contact Music Director Mary Schulien if you know a child or young adult who may be interested in this program.
Our Organs
Trillium Legacy organ
In 2008, we received our new Rodgers Masterpiece Trillium Customized 788. James May, organist at the time, supervised the customization of the organ to the needs of the church. Besides worship services, the organ is used for recitals and concerts for the community by our organists and guests. At right, Dorothy Koski, principal organist at the John St. Methodist Church, shows off the new instrument during its first concert, given by several organists. Through the music scholarship program, talented young organists are given opportunities to learn and play this beautiful instrument.
1821 Pump Organ
The pump organ happens to be almost exactly the same age as the church, but is not original to it. This old organ was built in 1822 by Small and Knight of Portland, one of the finest instrument makers north of Boston. We believe that this instrument is one of the few still in existence and still being played.The old organ was restored and donated to the church in 1995 by Theodore Dorr of Camden. It has a surprisingly mellow, enjoyable tone. From time to time, one of our more courageous organists will play it during services, to everyone's delight. Below, the brave organist is Ann McCullough.
Children’s Church
We welcome children and youth of all ages to our services. They are welcome to stay for the worship service, or to participate in our Children's Church which is held in the Parish Hall.
The children begin the worship service with the congregation, and gather near the pulpit for a children's message, a prayer and the lighting of a candle for peace before going into the adjoining Parish Hall. We offer a one room schoolhouse program for mixed ages using the Godly Play method of religious education most Sundays. The morning includes storytelling, music, crafts, and a light snack.
To learn more about Godly Play, visit this link:
Godly Play Making meaning through story, wonder, and play. Nurturing spiritual lives by honoring the centrality, competency, and capacity of children. Where childhood spirituality matters.
To learn more about our Safe Church Policy (adopted 2019), click here.
Baptism and Communion
Baptism and Communion are the two sacraments observed in the United Church of Christ and practiced here at the United Christian Church in Lincolnville. Sacraments are ritual actions in worship which, according to scriptures, were instituted by Jesus.
Baptism
The sacrament of baptism is an outward and visible sign of the grace of God. Through baptism a person is joined not only with this local church and denomination but also with the universal church. It is during this sacrament that a child is affirmed as being a loved one of God before the gathered community that parents hold dear. An invitation is given to commit to the care of the child growing in faith, in hope, in love. All gathered are also called to commit to the care of children.While baptism is often observed here when an infant or young child is brought forward by their parents, we also offer adult baptism for anyone who wishes to be baptized and wasn’t as a child. In 2022, a baptismal font was dedicated for usage in the Meeting House. The stand was designed by Jack Silverio and made by Ross Faneuf. The recycled glass basin was gifted by Rev. Barnum.
Communion
We offer communion the first Sunday of most months toward the conclusion of the worship service. We practice an open table of love, which means anyone who wishes to partake of the bread and cup are welcome to do so without obstacles, including children of any age. The bread is gluten-free and the drink is non-alcoholic grape juice. Communion is typically served from the altar table to the pews.
Celebrations of Life, Memorials & Weddings
Life cycle rituals can be meaningful reminders of the need to gather and the power of community to support individuals and families during seasons of both struggle and celebration, loss and love. The United Christian Church is honored to open our hearts and doors to those who are remembering a loved one after death or wishing to hold a wedding ceremony in our historic Meeting House. Our pastor, Rev. Elizabeth Barnum, is available to guide and support families and couples through the process of preparing for these significant life passages whether at the Meeting House or off-site.
Sanctuary
The church building was completed in 1821 as the town meeting house, and retains most of its charming original architectural features, including a rare second-floor pulpit. The church is blessed with a modern custom Trillium organ. For more information about the history and architecture of the building, visit Church History and Architecture.
The sanctuary has original boxed pews with doors. Rather than a single aisle down the center, there are two aisles with pews on each side and in the center. There is a small raised "stage" area at the front of the church with furniture that can be moved out to accommodate concerts. The church holds 200 people in the downstairs main sanctuary. We do not encourage seating in the upstairs balconies, because visibility is limited.
The sanctuary is suitable for weddings, memorials, celebrations of life, baptisms, concerts, and similar events. For more information about holding an event in the sanctuary and for the schedule of fees, please contact our minister directly at rev.elizabeth.barnum@gmail.com. Guest ministers may participate or preside only when the settled pastor extends the invitation. All organists need to be approved by the Music Director. No alcohol is allowed in the Sanctuary. The church property is designated “No Smoking.” If any of the fees are a hardship for you or your family, please discuss them with the minister and /or the funeral director. The church waives fees in extenuating circumstances and seeks to provide services to all in the community.
For Community Building rentals for receptions for either memorials or weddings, please contact cb.hall.rental@gmail.com.
For the suggested Schedule of Fees for memorials and weddings in the Sanctuary, click here