Worship This Week
10 a.m. November 16th, 2025
Making Gratitude a Habit
Led by Rev. Niki with Sam Rogers
Music: Ellie R.
For our Sunday security, we lock the doors at 10:05. Ushers will monitor the doors until 10:15.
Church Activities This Week
Unless indicated otherwise, these activities welcome all members and friends.
Full calendar below with links to these & other upcoming events.
Saturday, Nov. 15th @ 10:30 - Fall MUUSAN Networking Event (carpool to Augusta or attend online)
Sunday, Nov. 16th @ 10:00 AM - Worship (Click Here to Live Stream)
Sunday, Nov. 16th @ 6:30 PM - School Street Coffee House: Singer Songwriter in the Round with Doug Komar, Thomas Charles Clukey, and Jason Roman
Wednesday, Nov. 19th @ 7:00 PM - Carbon Neutral by 2050 - Green Sanctuary 2030 Virtual Community Meeting
Thursday, Nov. 20th @ 5:15 PM - SBGM-NOA
Friday, Nov. 21st @ 8:00 AM - Set-Up for the Holly Day Fair
Office Hours
Administrator
Brian Dustin
Mon/Wed/Fri 8-10 AM
Caring Needs
We are currently working on identifying how folks can support Caring Committee efforts. Let Marilyn know if you are able to help with making a meal or offering rides. Besides the form linked here, there is a form available in sanctuary to let her know. You can return it in the offering plate. Or sign up in the Parish Hall or let her know. We have 3 members of the church right now who could use meal support so this is an important need.
Message from Rev. Lori
Hello Good People,
Gratitude is the theme of the month and sometimes I think it is hard to connect to gratitude these days. Gratitude in difficult times is not about denying pain, or suffering, or loss—it’s about widening our view to include the light that still flickers amid the shadows. When life feels heavy, gratitude becomes a quiet act of resistance, a way of saying that love and goodness still matter. Even the smallest kindness, the steady breath, the hand that helps us up—these become anchors. In hard times, gratitude reminds us that we are not alone, and that healing often begins with noticing what remains.
In spite of, or perhaps because of the challenges we are facing right now, I have witnessed and experienced so much gratitude this past week. Gratitude from those experiencing challenges this week who are being supported by family and community. Gratitude for that care and support that is freely and lovingly given. Gratitude from those of us that are being given the opportunity to serve right now. The Hope Squad was overwhelmed with our snack offerings for the ambulance. There is a heartbreaking need. There is a heart warming response. I am grateful to be with you all in the “in between” of it. We aren’t looking away and we aren’t crumbling. We are standing shoulder to shoulder and incarnating our principles in community. It is a hard and beautiful opportunity at the same time.
Gratitude for the in-between spaces invites us to honor the pauses—the moments of not yet and no longer. These are thresholds where growth quietly happens, where we rest between what has ended and what is beginning. It can be tempting to rush past uncertainty, angst, pain, anger, fear or other uncomfortable feelings but gratitude teaches us to linger, to trust that these liminal spaces are sacred too. Even the tough spaces. In the in-between, gratitude becomes a gentle companion, reminding us that even here—especially here—life is unfolding with purpose. In this liminal time of year, this time of the thin veil, may we find our rest and our inspiration in the gift and love of and for community and continue to pay it forward so beautifully.
I invite you to pause for a moment and take 3 deep breaths. I invite you to consider what the concept of in between space means to you right now. What have you come through that you can let go of? Are you ready to let go? Or what else do you have to learn before you do? This could be uncomfortable. Please feel that. Be grateful for the discomfort because it means something important is occurring. You may be in between but you are not alone!
Peace and Blessings
Rev Lori Whittemore
(she, her, hers)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco Biddeford
Maine Needs Winter Gear – A Collection Drive
We need warm coats, warm hats, waterproof boots & Gloves, snow pants, warm socks for adults and kids. Gently used or new welcome. A drop box will be available at the church.
SCAMS!
Most of you have been contacted by “ME” by phone or email asking for your to buy
gift cards. THIS IS A SCAM! I would never send you a text asking for money. The
scammers often create a believable gmail account using my name so it really seems
real. When you receive this kind of text from me, and I believe they will continue to do
this, please check with me by my official email to see if I sent
it.
revlori@uuchurchsacobiddeford.org.
Once you buy gift cards and send the scammers those numbers, there is no way to
get your money back. Dont get hooked. If you get a text, email me or reach out to
someone else in church or call the church office. We would never ask you to comment
resources in this way! I will continue to share this message in all of our media to remind
you!
Make it stand out
Jewelry needed for sale at the Fair. Please contact Odette D. or Pat S. if you can contribute. Thanks!.
Ongoing activities
Share the Plate: November
When we picked the share the plate for this month, we had no idea of what was to come. Given the suspension of SNAP, we are in the process of creating a community wide response. The first thing we did was swap out the share the plate, so we can split our plate with an organization supporting feeding programs. Many have approached me to ask what we can do or offer assistance. Melissa Caminiti has stepped forward to gather information about what things are being done community wide, and helping us identify an unmet need that we can fill. We will post more in the coming week when we have more to share. We will rise to the occasion!
SNAP, support includes:
Collection of snacks for HOPE Squad (please see bulletin board for specifics)
Other collection for food pantry
Sandwiches on the 19th
School Street Coffeehouse Fundraiser
School Street Coffeehouse is pleased to offer special edition stickers, donated by Thomas Clukey, as part of a $1 fundraiser.
Stickers will be available at Coffeehouse events, open mikes, and during Social Hour on Sundays. For those of you at a distance, stickers can be obtained by mail with a $1 donation and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Every sticker purchased will support and give visability to the Coffeehouse, helping sustain this brand new tradition at UUCSB.
Hannaford Gift Cards
Would you like to donate to the church in a way that doesn’t cost you anything? If you buy your weekly groceries with a Hannaford gift card purchased from UUCSB, the church gets 5%. Our church depends on this fundraiser to contribute to its operating budget. Cards are available in $100 or $50 denominations. Gift cards are for sale in the Parish Hall every Sunday after the worship service. If you are worshiping virtually, just call or email Jane P. and make arrangements to pick them up at another time. Thank you for participating in this fundraiser in support of our church.
Save the Date! Upcoming Events
November Highlights:
These UUCSB meetings, community events, and important deadlines are just around the corner.
Learn more by clicking on a square or check out our full calendar over here!
