On a tree-lined stretch of Main Street in Yarmouth, Maine, a white New England church building has long gathered a congregation that calls itself both rooted and open. First Parish Congregational Church, part of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ and the national United Church of Christ, sits at 116 Main Street on Wabanaki land, welcoming neighbors, newcomers, and longtime members under one roof and into a livestream that reaches well beyond the town.
An Open and Affirming Way of Being
The congregation's stated identity is unmistakable: "First Parish is an Open and Affirming congregation and celebrates members of the LGBTQIA+ community as beloved children in God's diverse creation." The parish has adopted a formal Open and Affirming statement, anchored in Galatians 3:28 - "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." The covenant pledges welcome to people of any race, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital status, family structure, gender identity and expression, and national or religious background, and opens baptism, communion, confirmation, and marriage to all.
The Way of Jesus: Love
First Parish describes itself as a community that "blurs the lines between sacred and secular," offers many ways to explore spirituality, and meets people where they are. Its central conviction is simple and plainly stated: "Love is at the core of who we are, what we believe, and how we act." In a culture the congregation describes as divided, members follow Jesus in the way of love, working toward social justice, normalizing conversations about mental health, and cultivating genuine connection in a digital age.
Sunday Worship at 10:00 AM
Worship takes place every Sunday at 10:00 AM, both in person at the Main Street building and online. The parish deliberately blends beloved Christian traditions with contemporary interpretation, and services are livestreamed on YouTube, with recordings archived for those who want to revisit past services. The Open and Affirming welcome is lived out in worship as well: "This is a place for the believer, the skeptic, and everyone in between," the congregation says, and "Here you're welcomed, just as you are."
A Covenant for Faith and Justice
The church's mission statement outlines the shape of that welcome. Members are called into a personal and community ministry that "promotes faith in and response to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit." They enter a covenant to worship and study as disciples committed to justice, stewardship, fellowship, ecumenism, and celebration for every age and every soul. The mission charges members to receive the gifts of forebears as challenges to "love tenderly, participate in social needs, heal brokenness, and seek shalom at home and for God's children everywhere."
Music Ministry
Music plays a central role in worship and is shaped by Music Director Amanda Gale, with Evan Cuddy serving as Associate Music Director. Together they lead the congregation in song each Sunday, supporting the blend of traditional and contemporary that defines the parish's approach.
Giving, Connection, and a Visit
Members and friends sustain the congregation through annual pledges and ongoing gifts. Giving is available online through the church's Realm portal, by mail to 116 Main Street, Yarmouth, ME 04096, or by texting "yarmouth" to (202) 858-1233. Visitors who want to connect can reach Pastor Diann by email, and the church maintains a prayer-request inbox as well. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 1 PM and Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM, and a weekly newsletter keeps the wider community informed about happenings and upcoming events.
Roots in Yarmouth, Reach Beyond
From its Main Street location, First Parish Congregational Church carries forward a Congregational heritage within the United Church of Christ while pursuing a ministry that is deliberately outward-facing. The combination of an Open and Affirming identity, a blended Sunday liturgy, livestreamed worship, and a focus on love and justice has shaped a parish that aims to be both a steady neighbor in Yarmouth and a community of faith with something to say to a wider world.