North Windham Union Church and Raymond Village Community Church have started the process of uniting and will be doing it under the leadership of a veteran pastor in the Lakes Region of Maine.
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| Rev. Brian Donovan will serve as the pastor of North Windham Union Church and Raymond Village Community Church which are uniting. COURTESY PHOTO |
“The North Windham Union Church and the Raymond Village Community Church have decided to take a Faithful Journey together towards uniting as one Church,” Donovan said. “It is actually one of the core expressions of our denomination to both unite and be uniting, welcoming all people no matter who they are or where they are on their journey throughout life.”
He said that as his one-year designated term as pastor at Raymond Village Community Church was coming to an end, he began looking to find a settled position in the area.
“What I found is what most people probably know that the churches are getting smaller and smaller for so many reasons,” Donovan said. “Still, I found North Windham Union Church who was looking for a pastor and we discovered a new way forward together with Raymond Village Community Church since both of these wonderful communities could not support the full-time pastor they wanted, and I feel God is calling me to be.”
Serving as a shared pastor for smaller churches is not a new concept for Donovan.
“When I returned to Maine last year from serving a church in Salem, New Hampshire, I found two communities looking for a one-year designated term pastor,” he said. “The First Congregational Church of Gray was looking to finalize their Open and Affirming declaration and Raymond Village Community Church was looking to unite with another community, which we found in North Windham Union Church. It was wonderful to complete both of these designated terms successfully.”
According to Donovan, the Faithful Journey of uniting North Windham Union Church and Raymond Village Community Church together will now be his whole focus.
“I am no longer serving the people of the First Congregational Church of Gray, right now,” he said. “However, yes for Raymond as we are all together in this beautiful ministry being created.”
Raymond Village Community Church and North Windham Union Church worship under the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ which has 143 congregations across the state.
Donovan has more than a decade of church and pastoral leadership experience and obtained a master’s degree in divinity from Boston University’s School of Theology. Prior to serving at Raymond Village Community Church, Donovan led churches in Waban, Massachusetts; Boothbay Harbor, and Salem, New Hampshire. He also is the chaplain at the Greg Wing of St. Andrew’s Village Nursing Home in Boothbay Harbor.
Before being called to the ministry, Donovan worked as a ceramic tile installer and a contracting company owner and operator. In 2011, he made the decision to become a pastor and study at Boston University.
“I was called to be a pastor at 13. But I did not listen until many years later because I was brought up Roman Catholic, a wonderful religion and one I honor still,” he said. “Yet, that faith was not mine for a number of reasons. So, I started a spiritual journey. I walked with many different faiths and religions throughout the years, Christian and non- Christian at times. I knew I was searching for a place where everyone is welcome. I finally found it at the United Church of Christ in Boothbay Harbor.”
He says that at the United Church of Christ in Boothbay Harbor he saw their Open and Affirming statement and nearly wept as he knew that was the type of denomination that God wished him to lead.
“It’s a church where it doesn't matter who you are or love or look like or any other human identity, you are truly welcome and loved,” Donovan said. “So, in my early 40s I started pastoring to communities and went off to seminary. I started at Andover Newton Theological and graduated from Boston University School of Divinity. After the seminary, which is intense if anyone is wondering, I passed all the steps to become ordained.”
Since stepping into his new role as permanent pastor of the unified churches, Donovan says he’s excited for the opportunity.
“I love the people. The people in these communities are kind, compassionate, compromising souls,” he said. “I have served many communities, and I can say that these souls are amazingly thoughtful of one another. Are there still bumps, yes, every faith community has them. But these souls are truly living into our faith to be one people, united and welcoming to all. I am reminded of this truth daily.”
The pastor said the toughest or most challenging aspect about his job is not working 70 hours a week.
“I know that sounds funny, but it is hard to break away and be careful of your time when there are so many wonderful people to talk to and wonderful things to engage with,” Donovan said. “I think the next hardest part is finding ways to faithfully engage everyone in the community. We want to be that calming place of God’s Love where everyone is welcome; but showing people throughout Windham and Raymond is the tough part before they come in and experience what God’s love can really look like through us.”
He says the united churches can expect love, care, and a warm welcome from him as pastor.
“I like to believe I am someone who will always listen and be here for anyone,” Donovan said. “I also try to bring the Bible to life in ways that are relatable to our world today. Help us find the way forward as a community caring for the world while being aware of the imbalance our world has always had. I hope people see me as just another person in our community who loves them.” <
“When I returned to Maine last year from serving a church in Salem, New Hampshire, I found two communities looking for a one-year designated term pastor,” he said. “The First Congregational Church of Gray was looking to finalize their Open and Affirming declaration and Raymond Village Community Church was looking to unite with another community, which we found in North Windham Union Church. It was wonderful to complete both of these designated terms successfully.”
According to Donovan, the Faithful Journey of uniting North Windham Union Church and Raymond Village Community Church together will now be his whole focus.
“I am no longer serving the people of the First Congregational Church of Gray, right now,” he said. “However, yes for Raymond as we are all together in this beautiful ministry being created.”
Raymond Village Community Church and North Windham Union Church worship under the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ which has 143 congregations across the state.
Donovan has more than a decade of church and pastoral leadership experience and obtained a master’s degree in divinity from Boston University’s School of Theology. Prior to serving at Raymond Village Community Church, Donovan led churches in Waban, Massachusetts; Boothbay Harbor, and Salem, New Hampshire. He also is the chaplain at the Greg Wing of St. Andrew’s Village Nursing Home in Boothbay Harbor.
Before being called to the ministry, Donovan worked as a ceramic tile installer and a contracting company owner and operator. In 2011, he made the decision to become a pastor and study at Boston University.
“I was called to be a pastor at 13. But I did not listen until many years later because I was brought up Roman Catholic, a wonderful religion and one I honor still,” he said. “Yet, that faith was not mine for a number of reasons. So, I started a spiritual journey. I walked with many different faiths and religions throughout the years, Christian and non- Christian at times. I knew I was searching for a place where everyone is welcome. I finally found it at the United Church of Christ in Boothbay Harbor.”
He says that at the United Church of Christ in Boothbay Harbor he saw their Open and Affirming statement and nearly wept as he knew that was the type of denomination that God wished him to lead.
“It’s a church where it doesn't matter who you are or love or look like or any other human identity, you are truly welcome and loved,” Donovan said. “So, in my early 40s I started pastoring to communities and went off to seminary. I started at Andover Newton Theological and graduated from Boston University School of Divinity. After the seminary, which is intense if anyone is wondering, I passed all the steps to become ordained.”
Since stepping into his new role as permanent pastor of the unified churches, Donovan says he’s excited for the opportunity.
“I love the people. The people in these communities are kind, compassionate, compromising souls,” he said. “I have served many communities, and I can say that these souls are amazingly thoughtful of one another. Are there still bumps, yes, every faith community has them. But these souls are truly living into our faith to be one people, united and welcoming to all. I am reminded of this truth daily.”
The pastor said the toughest or most challenging aspect about his job is not working 70 hours a week.
“I know that sounds funny, but it is hard to break away and be careful of your time when there are so many wonderful people to talk to and wonderful things to engage with,” Donovan said. “I think the next hardest part is finding ways to faithfully engage everyone in the community. We want to be that calming place of God’s Love where everyone is welcome; but showing people throughout Windham and Raymond is the tough part before they come in and experience what God’s love can really look like through us.”
He says the united churches can expect love, care, and a warm welcome from him as pastor.
“I like to believe I am someone who will always listen and be here for anyone,” Donovan said. “I also try to bring the Bible to life in ways that are relatable to our world today. Help us find the way forward as a community caring for the world while being aware of the imbalance our world has always had. I hope people see me as just another person in our community who loves them.” <
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