Our Pastor

Bridge Pastor Rev. Bruce Burnham 

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Bruce was born in The County in a by-gone age. At the age of 10 days he was removed from his birth state against his will. He grew up in exile in Niantic, CT, a middle child with an older brother and younger sister. After his ’70 high school graduation, he attended – on and off – the University of Connecticut until graduating in spring 1976. He meanwhile had, after being very involved in church activity for much of his life, figured out that the Holy One had been trying for a LONG time to get his attention to make clear he had a call to ministry. It finally sunk in. Bruce attended Andover Newton Theological School, engaging in many adventures during that 4 years including: a semester at United Theological College in Bangalura, India; two summers on staff at the UCC summer camp in CT(Silver Lake); student assistant minister at First Baptist Church, No Oxford, MA; student associate minister at Sayville Congregational UCC on Long Island
for an intern year; getting married in December 1979 to his spouse-in-perpetuity (more due to her forbearance than his) Pamela; and other adventures that shall remain unknown to the reader ;-}.

Bruce was ordained in 1980, after being called to serve St. Paul UCC in Taylor, Michigan as associate pastor. His exile from Maine finally ended when he was called to serve First Congregational UCC in North Berwick in 1983. He has since served churches in; North Saco, Portland, and Alfred. Along the way he
accumulated a D.Min. from Bangor Theological Seminary, was made a Planetary Chaplain by ChIME of Maine, and is certified in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. He has led numerous youth and adult missions trips for churches, the York and Katahdin Associations and Maine UCC all over the eastern USA, and to Florida,
New Orleans, Texas, Puerto Rico, and Honduras. He plays guitar(even in worship), sings, has been staff at Pilgrim Lodge many summers in the kitchen and as Nature Boy. Bruce finished his pastorate at Alfred Parish UCC in May
2015, spent that summer in the P.L. kitchen, and then moved to Old Town to help his mother be able to stay in her own home as long as she lived. He served a 4 month bridge interim at Seaside UCC, and then served 4 years as the 1/2 time designated term pastor/teacher with First Congregational UCC in East Millinocket. He completed 3 months as sabbatical interim pastor at Bar Harbor CC UCC at the end of October.
 

He shares with Pam the privilege of having raised 3 children, Ross, Rachel, and Robyn who are married to 3 excellent spouses - Jena, Patrick, Chris - and are proud of their 3 grandchildren aged 15, 8, & 5 years - Madison & Caleb, and Gavin.

Bruce calls himself “semi-retired”, and is looking forward to serving with the parishioners of Somerville UCC. While Bruce is ordained, and has a doctoral degree, he’s happier when parishioners use his first name rather than an
honorific (the Rev.) or title (Doctor/Rev. Dr.). So, please just call him Bruce.

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Please join us on Sundays at 10:30 AM 

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