The Parishes of Promise program has agreed to help the church for the next five years.
By Mary A. Standard
Special to the Sun Journal

WEST PARIS – Out of the Finnish settlement in West Paris the Finnish Congregational Church with 104 charter members was organized in 1907.

The congregation grew and prospered for many years, but as old members passed away and the next generation moved to other areas or lost their Finnish identity, the church grew smaller and smaller.

The Rev. Felix Mayblom was the minister for 40 years. Soon after his death the church began calling English speaking pastors in an attempt to reach the entire community.

In 1980 the church name was changed to Mission Congregational Church of West Paris and shortly thereafter joined the United Church of Christ.

The Maine Conference of United Church of Christ became involved in helping the church survive. In order to extend the assistance program the church applied to the Parishes of Promise for a sliding scale grant.

On Nov. 6, Denise Goodman and the Parishes of Promise Committee traveled from the coast of Maine to meet with church officials six times. The committee interviewed people in the community and helped the members focus on their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The Parishes of Promise program has agreed to help the church for the next five years.

The church has developed a mission statement and has begun to implement changes aimed to direct people to the church, provide programs for after-school activities, hold adult education classes and sponsor special events.

The Rev. Linda Kimball will be encouraging the congregation to make it truly a Parish of Promise over the next five years.

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