churches

Congregational

EAST STONEHAM — The North Waterford and East Stoneham Congregational Churches will hold their joint services in the church on Route 5 in East Stoneham during the month of May. The service starts at 10 a.m. with Reverend Doretta Colburn presiding. All are welcome.

Universalist

WEST PARIS — May is named for Maia, the Greek goddess of spring and growth. The First Universalist Church offers diverse worship services, from encouraging spiritual growth to appreciating and protecting the earth. Services are presented with a combination of Worship Service Committee members and guest speakers. All are welcome to attend; services are 9 a.m. every Sunday until mid-June.

May 6 - “Hell and Universal Salvation” led by The Reverend Kate Braestrup, an ordained minister who graduated from the Bangor Theological Seminary in 2004. She is an author and mother of six children; she has served as chaplain to the Maine Warden Service since 2001. Reverend Braestrup performs weddings, and advises individuals and couples on "how to enter into, be content within, or extract themselves from the married state." It is out of these experiences, coupled with her own, that Braestrup has written “Marriage and Other Acts of Charity;” her best seller is “Here If You Need Me.” You can learn more about Reverend Braestrup and her other creative works by visiting http://www.katebraestrup.com/.

May 13 - Sixth Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all, led by the Worship Service committee. They will also their annual flower communion during the service. People are invited to bring a bouquet, a single flower, or a plant for the new garden. Following the service they will dedicate a Peace Pole led by The Reverend Richard Beal. The Peace Pole was donated by Mary Adams in memory of her husband, Reverend Herb Adams, and is decorated in several languages with the phrase: May Peace Prevail on Earth; the peace pole includes Finnish in recognition of the local Finnish community. Members of the Finnish Society and the Mission Congregational Church are invited to take part.

May 20 - The First Universalist Church will have a worship service exchange this day at the Mission Congregational Church, Church St., West Paris, led by Pastor Wally Farnum.

May 27 - “Grandparents” led by Cindy Reedy who is a third generation Unitarian Universalist and teacher. She encourages people attending to bring along their own grandparent stories.

For more information about the church and services, please call Marta Clements, 674-2143. You can also visit http://www.uua.org/ to learn more about Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.

NORWAY — The Norway Unitarian Universalist Church has services every Sunday at 11 a.m. Visitors are always welcome. Child care is provided.

May 6 - Reverend Kate Braestrup, Worship Leader Kate is a UU Minister, chaplain for the Maine Warden Service and celebrated author of the bestseller “Here if You Need Me.” Her most recent book is called “Beginner’s Grace.” “There is no false piety here, nor is there much heady analysis either. Instead, there is an exquisitely informative, seductive, largely autobiographical but no holds barred frank, presentation of one chaplain’s own engagement with prayer.”

Music will be provided by the choir, directed and accompanied by Heather Pierson. Coffee and refreshments will follow. Please join in.

Kate will also be speaking at the Norway Library on Saturday, May 5 at 7 p.m.