ADDRESS: 410 Northeast Road, Sebago Lake Village, Standish

DENOMINATION/AFFILIATION: National Association of Congregational Christian Churches; Congregational Christian Council of Maine

Additional Photos

Sebago Lake Congregational Church has several ministries, including involvement with Catherine’s Cupboard, a food cupboard at Standish Town Hall. Courtesy Bloom Photo Works

HISTORY: The church dates back to 1884, first organized as the Sebago Lake Orthodox Congregational Society, with the church building constructed on land donated by John Moulton. It was officially recognized and granted a charter by the State of Maine on March 30, 1887.

Together, on May 10, 1911, the Sebago Lake and Standish churches hired Miss Margaret Koch as minister. Later, the Rev. Hilda Ives became pastor until the formation of the Sebago Lake Regional Parish made up of the Sebago Lake and Standish churches along with East Baldwin, Limington and the Richville Chapel. As churches grew, the need for the regional parish diminished and was later dissolved in the late 1970s.

Sebago Lake Church voted to join the United Church of Christ in 1961; in the early 2000s, Sebago Lake Congregational Church left the UCC and subsequently joined the NACCC, where our ties remain strong to this day.

The final payment on the church building’s mortgage was made on Sept. 19, 1972. Then, about 6:15 p.m. on Jan. 13, 1990, a group of men replacing pews in the sanctuary smelled smoke coming from the basement. The men barely escaped the ensuing blaze, which engulfed and destroyed the church building. It was ultimately determined that the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction.

The morning after the fire, worship services were held at the regular time in the Schoolhouse Arts Center auditorium, generously offered by the center to the church for its worship services for as long as needed. Services continued to be held there until the new (and present) church building was completed.

Some of the articles salvaged from the fire were a large pulpit Bible, brass offering plates, some candleholders, a lighted cross, Christian and U.S. flags and some kitchen silverware and dishes. Most of these items are still in use today.

The first worship service in the new building was held on Sunday, Sept. 2, 1990, led by the Rev. George Frobig. On Sept. 16, the new church building was dedicated, followed by an open house that afternoon. In September of 1991, Pastor Konni Wells was called to become the church’s first full-time pastor.

The current pastor is the Rev. Arthur W. Rudman, who came to us in October 2008 with his wife, Nancy. They reside in the church parsonage at 4 Maple Ridge Drive, Standish, just behind the church. The parsonage was built soon after the new church building was dedicated.

MINISTRIES: The Sebago Lake Congregational Church (SLCC) is a small, growing congregation. It is Christ-centered and vitally interested in missions. Members have reached out to our local community in many ways and are very much involved with Catherine’s Cupboard, a food cupboard at the Standish Town Hall. The congregation has sponsored and sent youth to our CCC/ME Summer Youth Camp in Brooksville.

SLCC has an active pastor-led Bible study at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the parsonage and a lay person-led Bible study at 9 a.m. Sundays at the church. The church began a new choir program more than a year ago and introduced some modern praise music into our worship service.

WORSHIP SERVICES: 10 a.m. every Sunday, with all Christian Education activities taking place at the same time. Communion is celebrated during worship on the first Sunday of every month.

SLCC is ecumenical in outlook and at special times during the year has hosted joint services with our sister churches in East Baldwin and West Gorham and has shared in other services with other churches. A sunrise service takes place at the Sebago Lake boat landing every Easter at 6:30 a.m. We welcome with gladness any and all who wish to come, worship and grow with us in Christ.

CONTACT: The Rev. Arthur W. Rudman, 642-4911, P.O. Box 194, Sebago Lake, ME 04075.

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