HARPSWELL

Some people just don’t like the idea of going to church, or, for that matter, organized religion.

Given that, and given that Faith United Methodist Church on Orr’s Island needs to save money, the church has embarked on an 11-week “spiritual odyssey.” From Epiphany until Holy Week, worshippers will forego use of the church building and instead assemble in a member’s home for the 9 a.m. Sunday services.

Karen Pierce, spiritual leader at Faith United Methodist Church, is putting out the welcome mat for anyone who would like to be part of this unique offering.

“We’re hoping to get people who don’t go to church,” said Pierce, a classical musician on the music faculty at Bowdoin College, who was attracted to the island Methodist church to become musical director. “It’s not stuffystodgy, and people might like it. We have a sense of humor. We’re about God’s love and compassion.”

The first at-home service will be held on Jan. 6, at the home of Bob and Sandi Webber. The Webbers rent the church parsonage, located across Route 124 from the church.

“The intimacy and hospitality of the home setting will offer a new perspective on what is sometimes called ‘radical welcome,’ and will foster deepened spiritual exploration while examining our mission, vision and place in the community and world,” Pierce said. “Rather than being seated in a pew listening to the service going on around you, we will invite you to be in the middle of it, helping it unfold.”

That kind of welcome, Pierce said, is a “radical notion.”

“The welcome that doesn’t notice if you have holes in your T-shirt or mismatched socks. Welcome to my home, dear friend in Christ. Have coffee in a chipped coffee cup and share store-bought cookies. Sit in my chair with the ripped pillow, and look at the beauty of the day through my windows that need washing.”

Music will continue to play a large role in the Sunday morning worship, and communion will be celebrated the first Sunday of each month. Coffee and conversation will follow the services.

Pierce is beginning the process of becoming a licensed — rather than an ordained — pastor. She does much of her study online, and will do a residency next summer in Washington, D.C. She expects to have her license in June.

Faith United’s last pastor, Ray St. Pierre, left in April for a church in North Pownal.

Pierce, who grew up Baptist, had been music director for three years at St. John’s Catholic Church in Brunswick, while attending Elijah Kellogg Congregational Church in Harpswell. Then came the calling to Faith United, and she accepted it a year ago. She played piano.

“Being a classical musician, I’ve always been a church musician, so I’ve always been involved in a church — like forever,” she said. “I can’t imagine not.

“Music is my ministry and I can do the work anywhere, it doesn’t matter. People will be touched by music, and that’s my calling.”

Now that Pierce is in the pulpit, of course, she’s not playing piano or singing. That’s where Wendy Love, a Catholic, stepped in. Pierce got to know Love, an anesthesiologist, when the two played music at St. John’s.

Pierce approached the concept of the home worships in September, and the church council favored it.

“It’s hard to keep a building going and heat it in the middle of the winter when you’ve got 12 to 17 people coming every week,” she said. “And we need time in the wilderness.”

Faith United will return to church services during Holy Week. Palm Sunday on March 24.

“I suspect that we all will have changed in 11 weeks,” she said, “and when we experience that on Palm Sunday, I think we’ll be changed people. I think it will be a different Holy Week.”

Pierce invites everyone to call her at 725-0417 for more information.

lgrard@timesrecord.com