Ministers
John B. McCall
Elsa A. Peters
Nancy A. Foran

Related Links

United Church
of Christ

'God is still speaking!'

Open and Affirming UCC Churches

Maine Conference UCC

The Center for
Progressive Christianity

The City of
South Portland

Town of
Cape Elizabeth

Maine Council
of Churches

50th Aniversary

Resource Center

Are you interested in learning more about our church?

What does it mean to be part of the United Church of Christ?

How do we seek to be one of Jesus' disciples in the world today?

Or are you looking for resources for spiritual connections?

The Resource Center is a varied list of information that may be on interest to you. It addresses "Frequently Asked Questions" in a couple of different categories and provides web-based addresses so you find more information and resources for your journey.

OUR CHURCH FAMILY AT FCC UCC

Can you tell me a little more about the history of FCC UCC?

Sure. Click here for a bit about our founding.

What is an Open and Affirming church?

Open and Affirming (ONA) refers to churches in the United Church of Christ that have declared themselves open to, and affirming of, all who seek the transforming love of God, regardless of who they are or where they are on life's journey. ONA specifically means that sexual orientation is no barrier to full fellowship in the church. Click here for our Open and Affirming statement, with background. Click here for UCC resources.

What inspired FCC UCC to become an ONA church?

As with all of our important decisions, we prayed and discerned together about where God was leading us. By Congregational vote in 2000, we made this important decision to become a welcoming community. Learn more about that decision here.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

What are the historical foundations of the UCC?

The United Church of Christ came together in 1957 with the union of four historic strands -- Congregational, Christian, Reform and Evangelical -- that sought to become more "united and uniting." Our history has been varied and exciting. Take a tour through our history on this If you are curious to learn even more about our denominational history, you can learn about the Hidden Histories of UCC.

What does the United Church of Christ believe?

In the UCC, we celebrate the Bible as the authoritative witness of the Word of God and believe that Jesus is the Head of our church body. We celebrate the traditions of the past and look forward as we believe that God is Still Speaking. Because of this diversity in old and new, the UCC receives the historic creeds and confessions of our ancestors as testimonies, but not tests of the faith. You can learn even more about our theological thinking, here at the Theology Page.

Ok, I kinda understand what the UCC believes. But, what matters to the UCC?

Great question. There are many things that matter to us and we encourage you to explore these thoughts and ideas on the Congregational Vitality What Matters page. In the United Church of Christ, there are six things that really matter to us.

*We Are People of God's Extravagant Welcome

*We Belong to Christ

*We Are People of Covenant, a United and Uniting Church

*We Are One at Baptism and the Table

*We Thank God by Working for a Just and Loving World

*We Listen for the Stillspeaking God

We are proud of this identity and hope that you will join us on the journey by exploring what matters to you.

What about i.UCC?

i.UCC is a virutal Christian Community for members of the United Church of Christ and for seekers considering membership in our church. On i.UCC, members and seekers connect with the help of online experiences that strengthen relationship and build community. At i.UCC, you will find:

*real-time daily prayer in the Prayer Chapel

*Weekly seeks -- a Bible Reading and Spiritual Message by e-mail

*A multi-media introduction to UCC history and values

*Music videos for reflection and prayer

*Interactive blogs by UCC pastors across the country

*Forums for Bible Study, spiritual formation and friendly conversation among seekers

BEING A DISCIPLE IN TODAY'S WORLD

I want to begin to study the Bible. But, I don't know where to start. What can I do?

In our faith community at FCC UCC, we seek to offer opportunities to explore these questions with other seekers. Sign up for an adult study opportunity to begin this quest.

There are several internet resources that will help guide you through the beginnings of Biblical Study. i.UCC offers some meditations to begin your study. On iUCC, you will also find forums for Bible Study. If you are interested in following the Revised Common Lectionary (the readings that we follow from Sunday to Sunday in worship), you can read some background thinking at Samuel which offers other worship resources from the United Church of Christ. Or check out And Sarah Laughed.

I find it hard to chisel out time for daily prayers. What can I do?

If you are always on the go, in the car, or in a rush, there's help... a terrific web-based resource you can download to your iPod or MP3 player. Check out Pray as you go.

How can I be a person of faith that expressing my faith in action?

This is a great question! Through the Justice and Witness Ministries of the UCC, there is an Action Center that invites members and friends to put their faith into action. Another resource that supports Christians seekin to use their faith in action is Sojourners. If you are interested in more resources, look for the Social Witness Ministries in our church.

FINDING SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS IN A BUSY WORLD

What options are there for Christian retreats in New England?

As a Christian community, we recognize the improtance of retreats. We take intentional time together at the Women's and Men's Retreats once a year. Please join us.

If you’re interested in a place to get away by yourself for a spiritual retreat, there’s Living Water Spiritual Retreat Center in Winslow, Maine, offering personal retreats at very reasonable prices. For the ladies, there is also the possibility of retreating to Greenfire.

What Christian camps are in Maine for my children?

"Vacationland" doesn't have a shortage of summer camps for children! Top of the list is our UCC summer camp Pilgrim Lodge in West Gardiner, Maine. Our congregation offers campership support to reduce the cost for members of our congregation. The United Way offers quite an extensive Camp Directory.

If you have a resource you'd like to share with others, contact Elsa Peters