Our Faith At First church
faith statement
We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, goodness and love, and in Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord and Savior, who for us and our salvation lived and died and rose again and liveth forevermore, and in the Holy Spirit, who taketh of the things of Christ and revealeth them to us, renewing, comforting, and inspiring the souls of men.
We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord, made known or to be made known to us......
Believe and Connect
It is a "prosperous" time to engage with First Congregational Church. We are called to renew our Statement of Faith and Vision our future. It is showing up as "faith on steroids" as our congregation engages in rich, fulsome, and reflective conversations. We would welcome new voices to join us.
Come Join the Future of First Church
Our Past informs our future
As we go through our Visioning Process we are well aware that our past informs us. We are seeking a new minister and we need to know what characteristics are most important to him or her. What do we stand for? What are we good at? What makes us, "an us"? We are joyful and optimistic in these explorations. And we need all hands on deck.
We have rich history and important Rituals
Please read about the history of our Hook Organ, a centerpiece of our music with a soul of its own. And communion brings each of us closer to each other and our God. As we cherish and amplify these tangibles we also invite new ways to think about how they inform our spiritual journeys. We welcome your thoughts about all of this.
Making New History
As a "small but mighty" church, we have many challenges as well as many ways to think about our future. And one thing we've always known. It is never about the money. It is always about the people behind the uncertainty who build the prayers, the prayer chains, the purpose, and the possibilities. It is going to be a good ride forward.
Faith that is personal
Carol Cook: Church Moderator
Tina civetta: director of outreach
Tina civetta: director of outreach
Carol Cook is the Moderator of First Congregational Church and according to our by-laws, responsible for advocating a sense of direction for the congregation. In this role, she is leading the efforts in our Visioning Process. This year she began her work by gathering input from the congregation, forming committees and establishing the framework for the process itself.
She has been essential in driving the search for the church's new half-time settled pastor. She can be reached at CCookFamily4@gmail.com
Tina civetta: director of outreach
Tina civetta: director of outreach
Tina civetta: director of outreach
Tina D'Agostino-Civetta is Director of Outreach. In this interfaith role she visits members of the First Church Family and those in the community, in hospice, and other settings who are in need of pastoral comfort. Earlier this year she led a church group in a rich six-week discussion and exploration of The Book of Forgiving, by Desmond and Mpho Tuto. She graduated in 2024 from the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME). Tina is a principal contact for our Pastor search. She can be reached at: TheCivettas@gmail.com
faith at work, at play, on display
Exploring Faith and Spirituality
First Church in Motion
First Church of Kennebunkport established an Executive Committee at the end of 2019 to facilitate long-range planning and create a 5-year plan. Both were viewed essential to the future of our faith, fiscal health, and vibrancy in the community. Its original members included the Minister, Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Treasurer, Clerk and a representative from the Board of Trustees and Deacons, and a member-at-large.
The first in-person meeting in January 2020 was promising.
Then, in what seemed a figurative and literal heartbeat, current events forced the pivot to all things COVID.
In our case this meant coping with how the pandemic would affect our members and the community and coordinating the scheduled retirement of our current pastor.
enduring faith in hard times
The Test of Covid
The Test of Covid
The Test of Covid
Moving at warp speed, we provided live and recorded worship on-line.
We set up a dynamic and active phone tree to ensure weekly contact and connections to members and community friends suddenly housebound, isolated, and in need of supportive conversation.
We established a collaborative of visiting ministers to inspire us with messages of
Moving at warp speed, we provided live and recorded worship on-line.
We set up a dynamic and active phone tree to ensure weekly contact and connections to members and community friends suddenly housebound, isolated, and in need of supportive conversation.
We established a collaborative of visiting ministers to inspire us with messages of hope during unsettling times.
As pandemic restrictions permitted, we moved worship services outside and into our back courtyard; encouraging us to gather safely in song and prayer.
Lessons Learned
The Test of Covid
The Test of Covid
When Rev. Fred Gagnon became Interim Minister in February 2022, more streamlined forms of leadership were adapted into our bylaws.
During COVID we had learned how to operate when “less is more”. We worked together as a church family despite having fewer resources to work with.
Members stepped up and in and cheer was found in the smalles
When Rev. Fred Gagnon became Interim Minister in February 2022, more streamlined forms of leadership were adapted into our bylaws.
During COVID we had learned how to operate when “less is more”. We worked together as a church family despite having fewer resources to work with.
Members stepped up and in and cheer was found in the smallest of gestures, voice mails left for neighbors, and shared YouTube Videos of Sunday sermons.
A New Way
The Test of Covid
A New Way
We recognized that moving forward, filling various board positions that First Church held dear for decades would be hard. Potential candidates to serve roles (Deacons, Trustees) were exhausted by the pandemic. We had to think differently.
Faith & Religion Hub
Faith at work today
Today our Executive Committee includes Pastor (Rev. Fred Gagnon) Moderator (chair—Carol Cook), Assistant Moderator (Laura Burne), Treasurer (Kricket Hooper), Clerk (Cindi Menard), and three designated, elected members (Merilyn Stocklen, Lynette Tozier, Larry Vennell) to represent the congregation.
Like its original mandate, The Executive Committee is responsible for developing a 5-year plan and overseeing immediate and long-term concerns of the church. Ad-hoc committees are formed to deal with specific issues; giving us opportunities to move with intention and resiliency.
Current Building Committee and Pulpit Committee are examples. Our History Committee is hard at work planning our 300th Anniversary celebration in 2030.
Faith: resilient & intentional.
