The Messenger: July 2026
This month’s edition is short and sweet! Read Rev. Lori’s Message, find out about the new UUCSB App which is in the works, and look ahead to this month’s activities and Sunday Service Gatherings.
Summer Worship Services Begin on June 28th when we gather from 9:00 - 9:30 a.m EST. in the Parish Hall. These short community gatherings may be led by congregation members and some may be open allowing for spirit to fill the space to suit those in attendance
July Sundays
July 5th: Currently Open
July 12th: Currently Open
July 19th: Kindness Stones led by Cricket Conant & RE Kids
July 26th: Spiritual Arts led by Rev. Niki
If you are interested in taking the lead on an open Sunday, please reach out to Brian D. in the UUCSB office.
Please Be Aware:
The UUCSB Office will be closed from July 18th to the 26th while our hardworking administrator, Brian D. takes a well earned vacation!
Lessons from the Rain
Reports have reached me that there has been a reasonable amount of rain happening in Maine. Ironic that I have come to the rain forest in rainy season and it is quite dry. Rain has a way of changing our plans. It can slow us down. It might send us indoors. It interrupts picnics, delays ballgames, and dampens carefully laid schedules. We often speak of rainy days as inconveniences, wishing instead for clear skies and endless sunshine.
But nature tells a different story. Without the rain, forests wither. Gardens cannot bloom. Rivers run shallow. The very beauty we celebrate in summer depends on the storms we sometimes wish away.
Our spiritual lives are the same. None of us welcomes seasons of uncertainty, grief, disappointment, or change. Yet these are often the moments that deepen our compassion, strengthen our resilience, and remind us of what truly matters. Grief, loss, addiction, illness all have ways of refining our souls if we let them.
The rain, metaphorically and otherwise, also teaches patience. We cannot hurry a storm to pass any more than we can rush healing or growth. Instead, we learn to trust that every season has its purpose. Eventually, the clouds part. The air feels cleaner. The colors seem brighter. We notice things we might have overlooked before. As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm life in all its fullness—not only the bright days, but the cloudy ones as well. We know that joy and sorrow, celebration and struggle, are woven together in the great web of existence. Each has something to teach us. That is what is meant when the welcomes to church include statements, like “bring your whole selves.” We want you in the fullness of yourself so that we are given the opportunity permission to be our whole selves. And to also give the gift of sharing our compassion as a gift to each other. Receiving compassion is as important as giving it often.
So the next time the rain begins to fall, perhaps we can receive it as more than weather. Perhaps it is an invitation to pause, to breathe, and to remember that growth often happens quietly, beneath the surface, where no one can yet see it. May we learn to welcome every season with open hearts, trusting that even the rain carries blessings. May your summer be filled with dazzling days, and just enough rain to refine your senses!
See you soon!
With Peace and Many Blessings.
Rev. Lori
(She/Her/Hers)
Let’s Keep In Touch!
Just because many of us are taking time to recharge away from our usual routines doesn’t mean we can’t stay in touch. To that end, we are working to keep the online directory up to date and accessible to all UUCSB congregation members. At the top of each month, the latest directory will be uploaded to the Congregant Portal found at the bottom of this website. If you need the password, ask Brian D. in the office. If you find anything amiss with your personal information, Brian’s your go to for getting those changes made as well!
Calling All App Officionados
Exciting news! UUCSB is getting its very own app through ChMeetings!
We've spent the past year getting to know the platform, and now we're ready for the next step—the app! Before we launch it to everyone, we're looking for a few volunteers to test it out, explore its features, and then help others get started this fall.
The app will make it easy to stay connected, access the church directory, send messages, and eventually even make donations or buy Coffeehouse tickets.
Want to be one of our first app explorers? Let us know, and we'll get you signed up!
July @ UUCSB
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
July 14th: Kit Making for the Unhoused from 6:30 - 8 PM
July 28th.
Scroll through to see other upcoming UUCSB meetings and events. Click on an event to learn more about it. For the calendar view, click here.
Summer Outreach
Share the Plate: Summer 2026
Each month, UUCSB chooses an organization to split weekly donations made by congregants during the course of Sunday services. As many of you attend virtually, we are providing an online venue for these donations.
Over the summer, we ask for donations to be split between UUCSB's general fund and Equality Community Center. From their website:
The Equality Community Center is a collaborative workplace for LGBTQ+ and allied social justice seeking non-profit organizations.
We strive to provide a safer and more inclusive gathering space with social and educational programming for all, while supporting the most marginalized in our communities.
SURJ Biddeford Saco Social Justice Demonstration
Join others in ongoing demonstrations supporting social justice! Every Friday 4-5:30pm at Mechanics Park at corner of Main and Water St. in Biddeford while construction is happening near the Saco Transportation Center.
Other Ways to Support UUCSB’s Bottom Line
By Mail: Send donations and pledge payments to: UU Church of Saco & Biddeford, 60 School Street, Saco, ME 04072
Two Ways to Donate to the General Operating Fund Without Spending an Extra Dime!
Are You Thinking About Becoming a Member of UUCSB?
To learn more about our congregation:
Please speak to any member or someone from the Membership Welcoming Committee. Plan to attend a Sharing Your Spiritual Journey orientation.
To learn more about our faith and practice:
Various aspects of Unitarian Universalism are explained in brochures kept in a rack as you enter the sanctuary. You are welcome to take these home. You can also talk with members of our congregation.
Our Church:
We are a voluntary association of those committed to this special religious community. We share common values, but we do not require or expect conformity to any specific religious beliefs. We welcome each person’s spiritual exploration and expression.
Our Church Administrator is Brian Dustin
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
8 to 10 am
Brian will be on vacation July 18th to the 26th!
(207) 282-0062 or (207) 632-4512
Congregants of UUCSB can find forms to add, change, or recommend items on the website in the Congregant Portal found in the footer of our website. Stop by and see Brian if you need the password.