Minister & Staff
Rev. Marty Pelham
I am often in my office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 to 5. If you use the link below, it will take you to a calendar where you can find available 30-minute appointments. If you want to meet for more than 30 minutes, just book two consecutive appointments.
If you have any difficulty with Calendly, you can call the church office and Heidi can help you schedule an appointment.
I am happy to schedule meetings outside of those office hours as well. Just call the church office or send me an e-mail at minister@uurockland.org.
https://calendly.com/meetings-with-rev-marty/talking-with-marty
Carney D. McRae
Religious Exploration Director
Carney serves both this congregation and the Midcoast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Damariscotta. She has worked with children and adults all her life in informal education, including 4-H Youth Development, running a small private school, and teaching environmental education. She has taught children mindfulness and spiritual practices both in public schools and in Unitarian Universalist settings. She loves to go for walks in the woods, garden and sing. She volunteers for the Friends of Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Claire Helene Bevan
Music Director
Claire Helene Bevan is humbled and thrilled to have joined the family of First Universalist as Music Director. As an active church musician since 2016, Claire Helene loves ministering to hearts and minds through music in a wide diversity of styles, and also loves to incorporate the richness of musical talents from within our community into our worship services. She has enjoyed collaborating with a wide variety of singer soloists at First Church of Christ, Scientist in Camden where she was a regular church pianist.
She moved back to mid-coast Maine in 2016 and opened The Piano Room in Camden where she teaches private piano lessons. She has enjoyed singing as an alto with The Down East Singers while also serving as event and grant manager on their board. For over 15 years, she has been a passionate regular music contributor to a spiritual group she belongs to in New York City.
Claire Helene (whose name is pronounced “Clarolyn”) holds a BM Piano Performance with pedagogy emphasis from the University of Southern Maine, and has been a piano instructor for 13 years. She also holds a BA in English and Environmental Science from University of Chichester, Chichester, United Kingdom. A job as a news reporter originally brought her to Maine. A native of Belgium, she has a wide appreciation of music from different cultures and traditions.
Heidi Straghan
Church Administrator
OFFICE HOURS :
In-Person Office Hours Monday-Thursday 8:00-1:30. *
*Please note my availability on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month is remote as I volunteer at the food pantry Thanks!
Over the years Heidi has worn many hats including- Veterinary Office Manager, Executive Assistant, Database Manager, Home Schooling Mom, Sunday School Teacher, Business Owner, Education Technician, and Realtor. Addressing food insecurity is important to her, therefore she volunteers at the Waldoboro Food Pantry in her hometown. She is fortunate to serve the congregation here at the First Universalist Church in Rockland and encourages you to stop by and tell her a little bit about yourself- she loves people's stories!