After about a year of contemplating, planning, discerning, and praying, the Board of Directors of the Maine Conference United Church of Christ approved a project to renovate the Farm House at Pilgrim Lodge for the Conference Office! For those who are not familiar with the Farm House, it is the first building on the right when you turn onto Pilgrim Lodge Lane on your way to the camp. It has long been the first building to greet campers and visitors who begin their journey down the long dirt road. Over the years, it has been used for various purposes from housing for staff to serving as the winter office for Pilgrim Lodge and even a satellite Conference Office when the Pennell Center in Yarmouth was still the primary site of the Maine Conference UCC.
In recent years, however, the building has only been utilized for winter storage of supplies from camp. It has been waiting for new purpose—and becoming the primary site of the Maine Conference UCC is a perfect way to unite the operations of the Conference with Pilgrim Lodge. We are very excited that our Conference will be in one place, with the Conference office, Pilgrim Lodge, and the Maine School of Ministry in one area of operation, showing the unity and covenant of our ministries and mission. Folks can witness all of our operations in proximity and covenant with one another.
Conference Minister Marisa has said ”I remember sitting early last spring 2024 with Liz Charles to talk about my ‘dream’ of the conference operations being in one place. When the Rockcraft woodlot sold early in 2024 and the Board of Directors was open to considering moving the office to the Farmhouse, I was heartened in faith and gratitude. This coming together physically of all of our conference operations is a beautiful way to remind us that we are One as the Maine Conference, despite our cultural and geographical vastness. I pray that we will celebrate together that we are indeed ‘one, as Jesus and God are one.’” Pilgrim Lodge Director Liz has said: “I am so excited that the Conference office will be co-located with Pilgrim Lodge. Seeing the building in use will be a welcome sight to for our campers to see the energy and vitality of our conference. At the same time, it will provide us with wonderful opportunities to work
more closely and efficiently as a conference staff while welcoming visitors who want to see all of our operations and ministries at one time. Sharing space together on the same property is a huge opportunity to demonstrate the work of the conference with all who come to participate in camp, Maine School of Ministry programs, or the work of the Conference itself.”
A portion of the existing building will be removed for renovation. This work will begin during the summer of 2025 with an anticipated completion of summer 2026. A Capital Campaign will commence in 2025.
Gratitude to the many folks who were instrumental in this planning and decision process:
The Farm House Exploratory Committee: John Steelhammer (Pilgrim Lodge Maintenance and Facility Manager), Stef Michaud (Chair of the Maine Conference Board of Directors) Hariph Smith, Oscar Wallace, Sue Burgess, Andrew Hunter (Pilgrim Lodge Leadership Team), Conference Minister Marisa Laviola and Pilgrim Lodge Director, Liz Charles McGough
Special thanks to Elena Barrantes, member of the Pilgrim Lodge Leadership Team and architect, who donated her time
and talent to drawing up architectural plans and consulting on the project.
