Ministers & Staff

Rev. Alison J. Buttrick Patton

Senior Pastor
Alison (she/her) joined FCCUCC as our Senior Pastor in September of 2023. Ordained in 2000, she has served urban and suburban communities in graduate academic, church and conference settings, from Chicago to Connecticut to Maine. She cares deeply about the flourishing of God’s creation and the pursuit of racial and environmental justice. She is skilled in worship design, retreat leadership, group facilitation and community building. A Bates College alumna, Alison's family includes her husband Craig Patton (also a Bates grad!), and young adult sons Tobey and Rowan. Walking in autumn leaves, farmers' markets, coastal hikes, nature photography and local ice cream all feed her spirit!

Rev. Stephen Savage

Associate Pastor
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.

Lynn Sprinkle

Business Manager
Lynn Sprinkle joined FCCUCC as Business Manager in November 2024. Originally from North Carolina, Lynn moved to Portland with her husband Randy to fulfill a longtime dream of living in Maine. She brings over 25 years of experience as a Church Administrator and a deep passion for service. Lynn feels called to use her skills in accounting and faith to support the congregation, inspired by her guiding principle to “do all the good I can.” When not in the office, Lynn enjoys time with her two daughters, Destinee and Promise, and her two grandchildren, Liam and Parker. You can spot her as “the one with purple in her hair.”

Terry Foster

Co-Director of Music
Terry has been a church musician since the age of 16 and after seminary became an ordained minister.  H plays the piano and organ for services, accompanies the Meetinghouse Choir, and directs the Bell Choir. He is responsible for hiring guest musicians.

Deirdre McClure

Deirdre McClure (M.M., D.M.A., conducting, Peabody Conservatory of Music)
McClure 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 lifle-long Unitarian-Universalist, she is very happy to be working with the community at First Congregational Church.

Sharon Potter

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

Tom Conlon

Building Manager
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.

Bethany Porter

Community Engagement Manager
Bethany manages our internal and public-facing communications, social media and website content - helping us to stay in touch with each other and with our wider community!