Standish Congregational Church
WHO WE ARE
Standish Congregational Church
David Heath
Pastor
David Heath has served as our Pastor since November of 2022. Dave has been a long-time member of the church, served several terms on our Board of Deacons, and has a background that includes a Bachelor's degree in Religion along with Seminary coursework in theology and Biblical languages. Dave is working through the Member In Discernment process, working toward full ordination.
Kathryn Marles
Minister of Music
We also made pysanki Ukrainian Easter eggs.
Sunday School Peace Garden
On Easter Sunday we planted our garden for 2022. We decided to make it a Peace Garden as a visible reminder of our wish for peace in the world. The flag of Ukraine is the centerpiece and blue and yellow flowers surround it. We also placed three mini versions of our big Peace Pole, “May peace prevail on earth,” among the flowers. We are thinking about painting some rocks in yellow and blue and adding them to our garden.
Volunteers
Our church thrives when individuals and groups from within the congregation and community volunteer their time to move projects forward. At Standish Congregational Church these projects range from preparing and serving monthly meals to planting a peace pole (as in photograph). The gentlemen in the picture, members of our Board of Trustees, did the actual planting of the Peace Pole in October 2016, after it had been purchased on the initiative of volunteers in our Christian Education program.
Growing in the Spirit, we follow Jesus: loving, tending and feeding all God's people and Creation
A Brief History
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey--you are welcome to join us in worship, spiritual growth, community service, and joyful fellowship!
Located near the crossroads of Routes 25 and 35 in historic Standish Village, our church also stands at the crossroads between the past and the future. Our worship history reaches back over 185 years, and we embrace the rich Congregationalist heritage of New England along with the other three traditions that formed our denomination, the United Church of Christ (Evangelical, Reformed, and Christian Connection). We became affiliated with the UCC in 1961.
The past met the future for us when in the spring of 2004 our historic church building (dedicated in February 1834) was destroyed by fire.
The congregation continued to meet in settings that included The Old Red Church (our "mother church") and the Schoolhouse Arts Center in Sebago Lake Village. Our state-of-the art rebuilt-and-expanded church building was dedicated in February 2006.
Our Sunday morning service offers praise to God through the ministries of word and music and also fosters a strong sense of fellowship among those attending. We often have intergenerational services that involve participants of all ages.
As a congregation we are committed to involvement in the world, and we carry out this commitment in light of a visioning statement adopted in October 2014:
"Growing in the Spirit, we follow Jesus:
loving, tending and feeding all God's people and Creation."
We offer meals free and open to the public once a month on the last Monday (unless that is a holiday). On Fifth Mondays the meal is offered in conjunction with Food & Fellowship, Inc.; the other meals are spaghetti suppers sponsored and served by members of our Missions Board. And we help to support the Standish Food Pantry, a food pantry located at the Standish Town Hall.
Through "visioning" in October 2014, we became aware of our need to grow in the areas of ecology and social justice, as well as to continue our longterm commitments to religious education and to missions. In the last three years we have sponsored several Electronics Recycling Events in Standish, we have become an Open and Affirming congregation, and we have reached out to immigrants and refugees in our area. Many sermons, book discussions, and Bible Study sessions have focused on topics related to ecology and social justice (incluing the important matter of racial justice), and we continue to learn and grow.
Our building facilitates not only our worship services and church meetings, but also serves as a community meeting place for Weight Watchers, Alcoholics Anonymous, Scout troops, and the Lakes Region Mini-Quilters. Our fellowship hall is available to rent for events such as birthday parties and bridal showers.
Our congregation enjoys fellowship around periodic potluck meals and also through holding fundraising events such as the Village Square Fair that includes our famous Fritters, the Standish Spectacular, concerts, art shows, and more!
Come and see what we are all about!
All Are Welcome!
OUR BELIEFS
Our Statement of Faith
According to our church by laws, approved December 9, 2001, we have assented to the following statements of faith, both of which are testimonies to faith rather than creeds. The first paragraph is the Church Covenant of the Standish Congregational Church; the remainder is our denominational statement of faith, to which all churches in The United Church of Christ (UCC) subscribe.
We covenant with God, and with one another, to walk together as followers of Jesus Christ, trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide us as we devote ourselves to the study, the practice and the spread of Christianity. We endeavor to be loyal to this fellowship and to help and pray for one another in the Christian live. According to our abilities and opportunities, we give support for the work, attend the meetings of this church and share in the common worship of God. We pray for understanding of what God wants this church to be.
We subscribe to the UCC Statement of Faith, contained herein:
We believe in You, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to Your deeds we testify.
You call the worlds into being, create persons in Your own image, and set before each one the ways of live and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by Your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the Man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, You have come to us and shared our common lot conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to Yourself.
You bestow upon us Your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the Church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races.
You call us into Your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be Your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at His table, to join Him in His passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust You forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, Your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in Your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto You.
Amen.
OUR OPEN & AFFIRMING COVANENT
“In Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one.” (Galatians 3:28)
We, the Standish Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, declare that we are Open and Affirming. With the grace of God we welcome everyone; including persons of every age, race, gender, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical and/or mental capacity, family structure and economic status. We encourage all to participate fully in the life of the church in various ways including but not limited to
- Joining our congregation as a member
- Serving in leadership roles
- Teaching our youth*Sacred union of any couples
- Equal consideration for employment
We welcome all on an amazing journey of faith, following the example of Jesus, to end oppression and discrimination, reconciling ourselves through even greater understanding and mutual respect. We covenant together to practice a faith that encourages diversity and in so doing brings all of us closer together – one church in the name of God.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
Come as you are
We want you to come just as you are. When you walk through our doors you may see people in suits or dresses, but you will also see people in jeans and t-shirts. We want to make sure when you visit you are comfortable and that is all that matters to us. After you come through our doors, we want to make sure you feel accepted and welcomed. We love to hear from our new visitors. Please let us know what we need to do to make you feel more at home in our church.