Welcome to the North Windham Union Church, United Church of Christ
No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.
Reverend Debra Girard
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Christ is the head of our church. The United Church of Christ is our wider denomination. All Churches under the United Church of Christ umbrella are autonomous. We believe in the Holy Trinity, God the Creator, Jesus the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who calls the world into being, creates persons in God's image and sets before each one the ways of life. To share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory. We are an Open and Affirming congregation as we seek God's direction through the Holy Spirit to walk in the ways of Jesus, to treat others with respect, and with the fullness of God's grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace. Our belief is that God bestows upon us the Holy Spirit creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races. We are an active church in the community and are proud of our regular mission/outreach projects. NWUC has a vibrant choir and our Music with a Mission concert series has raised thousands of dollars for those in need.
From Pastor Debbie: November 24th's sermon included a story about the blessing of music Daniel Strange has recorded for us to use during Advent. I will keep you updated! Here is his official announcement.......
Today I received the official word that “Joy to the World” has been finalized for digital distribution!! As promised, the story behind the track. A few months ago, the Minister of our home church in Maine (North Windham Union Church, UCC), Reverend Debra Girard (also known as Pastor Debbie ) reached out and asked me if I’d be willing to record myself playing “Joy to the World” for a video she was putting together that would be played during Advent. I said, without hesitation, that I would be honored to do so. Fast forward 3 months, at about 10:00pm on November 1st I opened my laptop, clicked on my go-to DAW (Logic Pro X), turned on my piano recording microphones, set some levels, made some adjustments . . . and then I was off! I recorded for the next 3 hours. I would stop to work out some arrangement tweaks but, as anyone who knows me in a recording situation, I kept on plugging away as I don’t like a lot of down time in the studio. In the last hour, it started to click and by 1:00am (a little after I think) I had laid down material that I was very happy with. The next morning, I realized, after a few plays of what I had done the night before that this might become something much more than I had anticipated. I called Pastor Debbie that Monday night (just a few days later) and told her “You know? I’m thinking because this turned out so well I’d like to go ahead and release the recording as a single.” The rest is, soon-to-be, history!
What started as a simple request has blossomed into something truly special. It’s another reminder to me that home (in Maine) will always be present with my family. The North Windham Union Church has always meant so much to us. I served as the minister of music there many years ago, Ashley and I were married there (many years ago 😉, we’ve performed in that space countless times and now our children are making memories there during our Summer’s in Maine. I can’t think of a more appropriate community to be sharing this release with in such a personal way. I’m always amazed at how God arranges these moments in our lives, it’s overwhelming and awesome!!
Today I received the official word that “Joy to the World” has been finalized for digital distribution!! As promised, the story behind the track. A few months ago, the Minister of our home church in Maine (North Windham Union Church, UCC), Reverend Debra Girard (also known as Pastor Debbie ) reached out and asked me if I’d be willing to record myself playing “Joy to the World” for a video she was putting together that would be played during Advent. I said, without hesitation, that I would be honored to do so. Fast forward 3 months, at about 10:00pm on November 1st I opened my laptop, clicked on my go-to DAW (Logic Pro X), turned on my piano recording microphones, set some levels, made some adjustments . . . and then I was off! I recorded for the next 3 hours. I would stop to work out some arrangement tweaks but, as anyone who knows me in a recording situation, I kept on plugging away as I don’t like a lot of down time in the studio. In the last hour, it started to click and by 1:00am (a little after I think) I had laid down material that I was very happy with. The next morning, I realized, after a few plays of what I had done the night before that this might become something much more than I had anticipated. I called Pastor Debbie that Monday night (just a few days later) and told her “You know? I’m thinking because this turned out so well I’d like to go ahead and release the recording as a single.” The rest is, soon-to-be, history!
What started as a simple request has blossomed into something truly special. It’s another reminder to me that home (in Maine) will always be present with my family. The North Windham Union Church has always meant so much to us. I served as the minister of music there many years ago, Ashley and I were married there (many years ago 😉, we’ve performed in that space countless times and now our children are making memories there during our Summer’s in Maine. I can’t think of a more appropriate community to be sharing this release with in such a personal way. I’m always amazed at how God arranges these moments in our lives, it’s overwhelming and awesome!!
“Joy to the World” by Daniel Strange is live! Spotify and Apple Music links below . . .
https://open.spotify.com/track/6XDhlVWKu3s8ijzjqikkkK…
https://music.apple.com/…/album/joy-to-the-world/1488852889
https://open.spotify.com/track/6XDhlVWKu3s8ijzjqikkkK…
https://music.apple.com/…/album/joy-to-the-world/1488852889
In the event that the worship service is cancelled due to weather we will post this information on our website, facebook page and WCSH6 TV. |
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Photos by Bruce Small
