Worship This Week
10 a.m. December 21st, 2025 & 4 p.m. Christmas Eve
Dec. 21st: Blue Christmas
Led by Rev. Niki with Sarah W.
Music by Beau N. - “Through music I was able to find the space and freedom to recognize my own emotions and meet them honestly. In worship, I am moved by the space we enter together through many singing voices. It’s my privilege to be part of that space. In my free time I explore voice, piano, accordion and strings”
For our Sunday security, we lock the doors at 10:05. Ushers will monitor the doors until 10:15.
Christmas Eve: An Intergenerational Service
Led by Rev. Lori with Elisha Cicio
Music by The Pick-Up Choir
Church Activities This Week
Unless indicated otherwise, these activities welcome all members and friends.
Full calendar below with links to these & other upcoming events.
Sunday, Dec. 21st @ 9:00 AM - Pick-Up Choir Rehearsal
Sunday, Dec. 21st @ 10:00 AM - Worship (Click Here to Live Stream)
Sunday, Dec. 21st @ 11:15 AM - Pick-Up Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday, Dec. 24th @ 8:45 AM - Pick-Up Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday, Dec. 24th @ 4:00 PM - Christmas Eve Intergenerational Service
Friday, Dec. 26th - Deadline for The Messenger: NEW ADDRESS: UUCSB.webchaplain@gmail.com
Office Hours
Administrator
Brian Dustin
Mon/Wed/Fri 8-10 AM
Caring Needs
Message from Rev. Lori
Hello Good People,
We approach the shortest day of the year this weekend as Winter Solstice happens on the 21st. Rev. Niki shares a blue Christmas service on Sunday. A reminder and recognition that this season is complicated for many people and there is always room for the fullness of who we are and what we feel and experience. And there is always room to bring that to community for the giving and receiving of support. It is all complicated and complex. Paradox has become my word lately. That is the word that comes to mind when I think of all the fun Christmas traditions matched beside the fact that an unhoused woman sleeps on our front door step resisting all offers of resource and help. How can we celebrate in the midst of suffering? Yet I say, how can we not celebrate when we are charged to keep hope alive and be a beacon of love in an otherwise dark world; both literally and figuratively?
This week’s advent candle is the peace candle. Drawing on the peace of the dark winter stillness and the peace that is promised by the coming sun/son and the peace that comes from the faith in the oil that burned for 8 nights, we join together spiritually to focus our eyes on the peace that comes even when there is darkness. Not all peace comes in sunlight and joy and mirth. Peace comes in the darkness of solstice. When the world grows quiet and the light pauses, we remember that nothing needs to be forced. Even the sun knows when to wait. Even hope begins in stillness.
I invite you to be still. Pause today and this weekend. Make space for returning light and inspiration. Make space for all the feelings the holiday brings up for you. And make space for what is coming up for those around you as well. Check in on each other through these next two weeks! Pass the peace and greet your neighbors outside of the sanctuary through the holiday season. In a world that feels heavy, Christmas Eve invites us to rest in the light we share. Join us on Christmas Eve at 4:00pm for a candlelit service of music, story, and peace. You are welcome—just as you are.
Peace and Blessings
Rev Lori Whittemore
(she, her, hers)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco Biddeford
Exciting News for January! 🎉
Starting in January, The Messenger and the Friday Flyer are going online!
After a wonderful run as our Messenger Master, Matt H. is passing the torch to our Web Chaplain, Morgan R., who will now publish The Messenger monthly on our website—with an interactive email version coming soon.
At the same time, Brian D. is handing off creation of the Friday Flyer so he can focus on other important work. During this transition, Brian will send out a simple email each week with a link to the website.
What does this mean for submissions?
Please send anything you’d like included in The Messenger by end of day December 26 to Morgan’s new email:
uucsb.webchaplain@gmail.com.Starting January 1, send all Friday Flyer submissions to the same address!
Thanks so much for your support as we step into this new chapter!
Just in time for the holidays!
School Street Coffeehouse Membership Mugs Are In!
Our brand-new membership mugs are now available - perfect as a gift or to treat yourself.
$25 each.
Grab one at Coffee Hour every Sunday!
Thank you for supporting the Coffeehouse and helping keep music, community, and UU values flowing.
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.
Ongoing activities
Share the Plate: December
We will share the plate in December with Hope Squad. Their mission is to see those that are invisible; to hear those that have no voice, and to reinforce the infinite value and worth of each person we meet by providing a loving, compassionate and consistent presence, needed resources and hope to those living in the shelters and on the streets of Maine through our mobile peer outreach. We made over 400 sandwiches for their outreach in November while we shared the plate with the saco food pantry that was hard at work to support people iduring the SNAP crisis and the holiday. We are sharing the December plate with the HOPE Squad.
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
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!
