Ministers & Staff

Steve joined us in 2020 as our Associate Pastor for Faith Formation and Visitation. A graduate of Andover Newton Theological School in 2017, FCCUCC is his first call as an ordained UCC minister. Steve loves to inject humor, or outright silliness, throughout his life, and doesn't hesitate to include it in worship and weekly emails. He lives in Portland with his amazing wife, Jacqui, who is a piano teacher and church music director in Saco, Maine, as well as his 3 wonderful kids, and two pretty cool dogs.

Deirdre McClure (M.M., D.M.A., conducting, Peabody Conservatory of Music) considers herself lucky to have a life in music. She leads both the Penobscot Bay Orchestra in Camden, and the Sea Change Chorale in Portland, as well as teaching Music in Film and Animation and Music Appreciation at the University of New England. McClure started her career in the San Francisco Bay Area, working with orchestras and opera companies including the Oakland Opera Theater, performing productions Britten, Stravinsky, Ellington, Glass, and other modern composers. She has worked with the Oakland Community Orchestra, the Women’s Orchestra of San Francisco, the University of California Youth Music Program, as well as the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Contemporary Music Ensemble, and toured North America with the Club Foot Orchestra, performing modern music to silent film and animation. A life-long Unitarian-Universalist, she is very happy to be working with the community at First Congregational Church.

Josie is a musician from South Portland, Maine. She's been studying piano for 20 years and recently received her master’s degree in piano performance with Dr. Laura Kargul at the University of Southern Maine. Her goal is to make music accessible to everyone. She currently makes a living by teaching and performing here in southern Maine. She has performed in venues across New England as both a soloist and a chamber musician, working with organizations such as Opera Maine, the Choral Arts Society, Opera in the Pines, and the Monteux Music Festival.

After playing with the bell choir for several months, Sharon has officially stepped in to direct our handbell choir.

Before serving as business manager, Melissa pastored United Methodist congregations in Haverhill, MA and Chebeague Island, ME for fifteen years. Her work included both serving traditional churches and forming one of the first mainline missional churches in the country, with a focus on community outreach and cross-organizational collaboration. She's excited to support the work of FCC in this ministry of administration and to re-engage her right brain in church work (as she was a Math and Physics major in college). She currently lives on Chebeague Island with her husband, three kids, eight chickens, and one dog, and enjoys playing board games and table top role playing, knitting, and cooking for her family.

Hi, I'm Gracie (Tom's dog). Tom has managed the church for many years, keeping it safe, clean and running smoothly. When he is not at work, he likes to hike, mountain bike and spend time at the beach. One of his hobbies is photography (he takes a lot of pictures of me). I don't mind, since I get a lot of treats. Contact Tom at 799-3361 or by email.

With the help of a wonderful committee, Kathy oversees our Community Crisis Ministries.  She also faithfully leads the Seniors & SAM program in our church family. Contact Kathy at 799-3361 or by email.