The congregation of the First Congregational Church of Kennebunkport is very happy to announce the arrival of their settled minister, Rev. Charlotte E. Y. Bell, MDIV, MSW, LSW. Rev. Bell began her new position on Tue., October 2nd with office hours at the church and will have conducted her first service at the church at 9:30am on Sun., October 7th. The church’s Search Committee introduced her to church members who received her and her husband Ken warmly in a meet and greet held last month in the church’s Ober Hall.
Reverend Bell is a 2014 graduate of Andover Newton Theological School, receiving a Master of Divinity and Certificate in Spiritual & Pastoral Care. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire and a BS in Human Services from Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts. Rev. Bell was ordained by the Hillsborough Association of the New Hampshire Conference, UCC at her home church in Amherst, NH in November 2017.
Since graduating from seminary, Rev. Bell has served several churches in New England in CT & NH where she served in various positions as either Pastor, Bridge Pastor, or Faith Formation Leader. During seminary she completed a year of Clinical Pastoral Education at a continuing care community in NH and completed a year as pastoral intern at The First Church, UCC in Nashua, NH.
Rev. Bell served as Chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, NH. Her social work roles included serving as the Perinatal Bereavement Coordinator and in the Outpatient Oncology Unit. Prior to receiving her MSW Rev. Bell worked as a Clinical Social Worker focusing on Gerontology. She is trained and certified to support Alzheimer’s patients, families and caregivers.
Rev. Bell is married to Ken Bell and they have four adult married children and are blessed with eleven grandchildren. They also share their home with two senior fur kitties.
urch of Kennebunkport’s members will again be participating in the area’s annual Christmas Prelude celebration on Sat., December 2nd. The church’s very popular “Lobster Roll & Chowder Luncheon” will be served in the church’s Ober Hall & will run until 1:30p.m. or once sold out. At 9:00a.m. until 1:30p.m., (or once sold out), items, including the church’s cookbook, will be for sale including the popular “Cookie Walk”, “Crafts”, “Vintage”, and “Holiday Greens” tables in the church sanctuary. There will also be one special “Maine Theme” raffle basket.