Upcoming Events & Invitations

Our annual in-person yard sale is on Saturday, May 24th, from 8 am to 12 noon at the “Chalmers Barn,” located at 426 Highland Road in Bridgton. The sale will be held rain or shine.

Known for its large size and quality of items for sale, the event will feature many high-end items such as dining sets, couches, chairs, bed frames, and more, which were donated from an exclusive estate!

Proceeds of the yard sale support our church’s operational and outreach programs such as Jeanette’s Closet and our Missions teams!

If you have any items you would like to donate, please contact Kevin Murphy.

Our Diving Deep Grant Orientation Weekend is coming up soon, and we are excited to announce the schedule of events for the weekend! You are invited to attend any and all of these events, and you’re more than welcome to invite a friend or two! I am delighted that we have the opportunity to host professor and theologian Rev. Dr. Dave Csinos, who will offer us a keynote address, a church-wide workshop, and interest group sessions on Saturday, and guest preach in worship on Sunday.

If you’re interested in exploring innovative ideas for intergenerational worship or Christian education, you’re especially invited to participate in our interest groups on Saturday afternoon to discuss your ideas, learn about Dave’s research, and help us imagine new avenues for intergenerational ministry at our church. If you’re feeling particularly musical or enjoy hearing live music, stay after snack and chat on Sunday to get your groove on with our youth choir director, Cassie!

Did you know Maine has a foster care crisis? We currently have 2,339 foster children in Maine and not enough families to welcome them, which means children in crisis are sometimes spending weeks in hotels with case workers while they wait for a place in a home. We currently have 272 foster children in Cumberland County and 140 in Oxford County. Each of these is a beloved child of God who deserves a safe and loving home.

The organization A Family For Me is coming to our church to host a foster care information session on Sunday, June 8th at 12:30 pm in our church. This is a gathering for folks who are considering becoming foster families, for anyone who wants to learn more, and for those of us who can’t be foster parents right now but who would be enthusiastic supporters of people in our church family doing this work. If, like me, you’re not able to foster right now but you might be open to offering meals, rides, free babysitting, or other tangible support to a family in our church if they choose to become foster parents, please come! I’m looking forward to seeing many of you there. For more information contact Pastor Emily or visit https://afamilyformemaine.org/.

Interested in joining First Church as a member? Below are our upcoming new member gathering sessions and corresponding joining dates!

• Sunday, June 22nd, 2 pm, new member gathering session
  • Joining date: Sunday, June 29th

We are happy to announce our toddler group continues to meet weekly!  Come and join in the fun with your little person!

Exciting program for little ones and their grown ups! You are welcome to join us and experience some music and creative play. Free and open to all – we’re looking forward to seeing you here! (Parking and entrance are both behind the church.)

Please contact our office for dates and times!

Jeanette’s Closet is a free clothing room, open to all. The Closet offers clothing for all ages, footwear, household linens, and bedding. Come check it out Tuesday from 9 to 11 am downstairs in our Fellowship Hall.

Photos of Jeanette’s Closet, taken March 2025

Prayer group meets at 1:30 via ZOOM, Tuesday afternoons. Contact the church office for the zoom link.

First Church Senior Choir meets weekly on Thursday evenings (7 to 9 pm) and Sunday mornings (9 to 10 am) for rehearsal. Are you interested in joining a robust and enthusiastic group of singers? Or looking for more information about the senior choir? Email our senior choir director Debbie at dowen@bridgtonucc.org.

We have two offerings open to all:

• Wednesdays at 10 am: Calling all who are curious about scripture, hungry for community, and/or eager for a deeper connection to our sacred texts. Hosted by Rev. Emily in the church parlor. We will study the text(s) that will be read in the following Sunday’s service. No commitment is required and no attendance will be taken – come every week, or once in a while, or just drop in to connect with some good people, drink deeply of our sacred stories, and learn a thing or two. All ages, beliefs, and familiarity with the Bible are welcome. Please join us!
• Fridays at 2 pm, led by Debbie Owen: Joy, unity, and perseverance in faith. Do these sound like themes you’d like to explore with a small group of fellow spiritual travelers? Please consider joining us as we explore Paul’s very short letter to the Philippians. Paul wrote it while in prison, yet he encourages his readers to find joy in all circumstances and live in harmony, reflecting Christ’s humility. Discover how the message of Philippians can transform your perspective, inspire resilience, and deepen your relationship with God. This will be a truly uplifting time in your week! Fridays at 2 pm on the following dates: May 9 and 16, June 6 and 13. This class will be on hiatus through July and August.