About the Mission

We are committed to our work for the long haul, and island and coastal residents know they can rely on us. The trust that has grown between the Mission and the people of Downeast Maine is our greatest asset.

We believe in the capacity of individuals and communities to determine their own futures. ​​While much of our course has never altered, we are also committed to listening and responding to the changing needs of those we serve. We listen, we respond, and we are here. We honor diversity and recognize that the individuals and communities we work with are affected by larger societal, environmental, and economic forces. To foster a more equitable and inclusive approach, we employ systems-thinking and multi-generational strategies and embrace the complexity of the people and communities we serve.

Two Congregational ministers founded the Maine Seacoast Mission, but receiving the Mission’s services has never depended on religious beliefs or church membership. We honor a spiritual center that values wholeness and respects people, community and diversity.

Where We Serve

The Maine Seacoast Mission works among the islands along the eastern coast and coastal communities of Downeast Maine. The Sunbeam is a mainstay on the islands of Matinicus, Monhegan, Isle au Haut, Frenchboro, Swan’s Island, Great Cranberry, and Islesford, and offers some services for Vinalhaven, North Haven, Islesboro, and the Casco Bay islands.

Our Washington County Downeast campus is in Cherryfield, while our administrative headquarters—and the Sunbeam’s homeport—are in Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island.