CASTINE – The Trinitarian Congregational Parish of Castine is thriving, in part, because its pastor has ignored the advice of his seminary professors.

“Creativity will kill you, they told me,” said the Rev. Bill Friederich.

But tapping into the artistic community in the area is bringing new members into the congregation and earning the church a reputation as a cultural center in its 175th year, he said.

“We looked at our strength as a congregation and saw that we are blessed with artists, musicians, writers and theater people in the community as well as the church,” said Friederich, 53. “We also thought there was a void here in terms of the kinds of arts opportunities available, especially for children in the summer.”

This year, Trinitarian Congregational decided not to hold a traditional vacation Bible school.

Instead, the church is focusing on teaching tolerance through art.

A camp for kids called “Pieces of a Puzzle: A Journey Towards Discovery of Acceptance and Diversity” will be offered this Monday through Friday. Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary folk-music fame wrote the program.

Camp co-director Chris Harman of Penobscot said she feels the church can help children learn about spirituality and connect it with larger issues, such as peace.

“Where else but in a church community are kids going to meet an 87-year-old woman golfer?” said camp co-director Lisa Burton of Castine. “The people they meet here really expands their world.”

The children’s program will include the Maine premiere of an award-winning animated video created by Gregory Katsoulis, whose family summers in Castine.

The arts also are helping the congregation raise money for its $180,000 capital campaign.

“We have been extremely busy maintaining and repairing our 175-year-old historic church,” said Alex Kuli, chairman of the church’s trustees.

In the past year, a new floor and carpeting have been installed in the sanctuary. The walls have been painted, and a special platform has been built for a very special piano: a refurbished American Steinway. Built in 1891, it spent 70 years in an area home. Because it has 85 keys, instead of the standard 88, it was a rare find, according to Kuli, 59, of Castine.

Earlier this year, Grammy-winning pianist Alan Feinberg played the piano in the church’s summer concert series. The piano made it possible to attract a musician of Feinberg’s quality, Kuli said.

Blue Hill jazz pianist Paul Sullivan is scheduled to perform at the church at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8. Gerald Wheeler will present an organ recital at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22.

The church’s nontraditional ministry includes an art gallery, a shawl ministry and a rose garden used for contemplation, prayer and weddings.

Worshippers encounter original art even in their service bulletins.

Photographer Rosemary Wyman of Castine said she makes pictures throughout the year, then chooses the ones she thinks best fit the liturgy. For the church’s Easter bulletin, Wyman photographed a young lamb. The children were delighted when, at the end of the service, it was led into the church to meet them, Friederich said.

Wyman’s photographs also were used to illustrate a cookbook released this summer as part of the capital campaign. “Coffee Hour on the Coast of Maine,” edited by Jean Miller, includes recipes from the Sunday brunches and dinners the congregation has become famous for throughout the area. Based on his experience in Castine, Friederich has a message for his former professors: “Welcome to the world of creativity!”

Pieces of a Puzzle Camp, for ages 5-12, will run 8:30 a.m.-noon Monday through Friday, Aug. 2-6, at Trinitarian Parish Church on Main Street in Castine. Fee is $25 per child.

Melding spirituality with art

The Rev. Elaine Hewes, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bangor, says she has found that a summer arts camp is an excellent way for a congregation to interact with its community.

More than half of the 50 children who attended an arts camp sponsored by the Essex Street church in June did not attend the congregation, Hewes said.

“For a long time, I’ve felt that the expression of faith and art go together really well,” she said. “Art allows God to enter us not just through the brain, but through the heart as well. Secondly, we know that kids love art. We want them to love church. This way, they can do both together.”

Redeemer Lutheran also is planning a dance with a steel-drum band in September.

Meanwhile, Trinity Episcopal Church in Castine has arranged a panel discussion titled “Art and Spirit: An Exploration of Spirituality and the Creative Process.” Area artists will consider the connections between their creative processes and spirituality.

The discussion will be at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 142 Perkins St., Castine.

Panelists will be novelist Deborah Joy Corey (“The Skating Pond”); writer and filmmaker Peter Davis (“Hearts and Minds”); painter Joshua Adam; and composer and jazz pianist Paul Sullivan. Moderator will be Paul Gray, professor emeritus at the University of Texas. Gray’s area of expertise is the role of spirituality in performance arts.