The Lord sees everything, but that doesn't mean everybody sees the Lord. Barters Island Baptist Church Pastor Rich Azud discovered this after he assumed the fellowship in 2012. Azud began knocking on doors discussing his ministry, but soon learned many locals didn’t know there was a Baptist church on Barters Island. So he decided to promote the church by holding a second sermon at 6 p.m. some spring and summer weekends on the Boothbay Common. 

On May 30, Azud held the first “Church on the Common” of the year with a dozen parishioners braving a cool and windy evening. “You never know who or how many people will show up,” Azud said. “People will drive by,  see a church service, and stop. They will either join us on the gazebo or listen in the car.”

One family is a regular in both the morning and evening services. Bryant and Candace Lewis of Whitefield and their five children attended both services. Bryant Lewis works at the Department of Marine Resources in Boothbay Harbor. He has attended the church for years and enjoys the second evening service. “It’s great to be out here sitting under the gazebo, and hearing the word of God,” he said. “Our church is tucked in there on the island, and this is a great place to let the community get to know us better.”

The next “Church on the Common” is June 10-12. Azud planned on holding a weekend event with the Mark Thren Family, a Canadian singing ministry, but the coronavirus won’t allow the family to travel to Maine until later in the month. “We’re still having the meetings (on Boothbay Common), but I’m asking some other singing preachers to participate,” Azud said.  

The church is at 475 Barters Island Road. On Sundays, a Sunday school for all ages is held at 10 a.m. followed by Sunday morning service at 11 a.m. On Wednesdays, the church holds a Bible study and prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m.