LIVERMORE FALLS – For the fourth time this summer the Eaton Memorial United Methodist Church building has been defaced by graffiti.

Volunteers stripping rotting plaster inside a church entrance Friday, said it is hard enough to maintain a building, never mind the extra work that is created when vandals strike.

On top of the graffiti, congregation member Pam Newton of Jay noticed a crack in the Plexiglas covering one of the stained-glass windows in the front of the church on Church and Knapp streets.

Livermore Falls police Lt. Thomas Gould said he and other officers have been keeping an eye on the church and have noticed the graffiti on the building and entered their own complaints on the vandalism. Residents have reported it, too.

When Newton found the cracked Plexiglas on Friday, Gould went to investigate.

“It didn’t appear to be a gunshot, most likely it was a large rock,” Gould said. “It looks like they were trying to break the stained-glass window but it didn’t make it through.”

Gould said, “I don’t believe it’s a hate crime. . . It’s vandalism.”

Newton picked up some trash off stairs to a back entrance to the church.

She pointed out graffiti such as “fag” and “gays R bad” on the brick of the building. One comment gave directions to go up the street.

“We don’t mind if they sit here but this is a church,” Newton said. “We would appreciate it if they would take their trash with them when they leave and don’t deface the building. This is the first summer I’ve seen writing on the building but the trash is an ongoing problem.”

Another volunteer, Sandy Botka of Litchfield, pushed down the dust mask she was wearing to speak.

“It’s aggravating because I mean it’s a church and you would think there would be a little more respect,” Botka said.

“It’s God’s house,” Newton added as she came down on the steps.

It’s a lack of respect, volunteer Bob Jones of Livermore Falls said.

“It’s a never-ending job trying to maintain a building, never mind the work caused by vandalism,” Jones said.