The Messenger: November 2025
November’s Theme: Nurturing Gratitude
Worship Services Sundays at 10 a.m. EST:
November 2nd: Meditations on Gratitude with Rev. Lori & Matt Brown
November 9th: Transitions: From Thorns to Thanks with Rev. Myra Robinson
November 16th: Making Gratitude a Habit with Rev. Niki
November 23rd: This Is My Song: an Anthem Of Dreams For My Country with Rev. Lori & Anne Wilkinson
November 30th: New Member Sunday, Gratitude For New Beginnings with Rev. Lori
If you can’t join us in person, please tune in via our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@uucsb
Happy Samhain My Spiritual Companions!
It is our month of gratitude and we have so much to be grateful for as a community! So many have come together to complete work projects for the church and it is shining and gleaming! We are indeed a beacon in the community in more ways than one. Our efforts for collecting items for folks who need it and being safe welcoming space for community are taking off. Our Religious Exploration program is growing and about to take off with new leadership who has expressed desire to be in community again as a person who grew up in the UU tradition. Our professional filming is creating a growing external ministry that serves more than those who land in the pews and our social media and outreach ministry continues to blossom in beautiful ways. In short, in this thin veil of the year, in this harvest season, we must pause and sink into our gratitude for the spiritual grounding that has brought forth fruit!
We prepare for the darkness that is approaching. I dont believe it is to be feared or dreaded. I encourage us to look it as a time of incubation and hibernation. To integrate the bounty with reflection on what we will do with the gifts and wounds of the year before. How will we be changed? How have we been prepared to live out our principles and values in deeper more profound ways. How have we been prepared to be the community that the world needs right now? That we need right now? These are the questions I am carrying with me into the dark season.
This completely coincides with the work we are doing in the Futures group. Before we brainstorm ways ahead, this first part of our work together is to take stock in who we are, what our values are and what our assets are. As we look inward, not only do we foster gratitude for the hundreds of years of people moved by the spirit to build and steward this community, we also grow awareness and longing to share it in meaningful and appropriate ways. So for the next several weeks we will have some newsprint up near the parlor to gather ideas for what our assets are. Please make notes and share your thoughts on this! Help us grow our gratitude in this thin veil time but looking inward, then lifting up.
I invite you to do this for yourself as a spiritual grounding for the month. Take some time for deep reflection. On all things; both the blessings and the challenges. Feel the feels, as they say in modern day lingo. Then ask what those blessings and challenges and feelings have to teach you or what they are preparing you for. We can choose to be victims of circumstance or scholars of life’s lessons and experiences. It’s a gift or its a chain. It also doesnt have to be one or the other or stay one or the other. Sometimes the gift is the experience of navigating the challenge. Sometimes the gift is the growth or refinement, even if it is by fire or bad rather than nurture.
I want to sprinkle some spiritual wisdom into this moment. I have been reflecting on the Tao this fall season. What I am hearing from others in this community, which inspires me, is spiritual practice of not hating and getting dragged into the dismay. It is hard for me to stay away from news and social media and therefore to not get dragged into these things. My return to study of the Tao and of reflection in this season of the veil is focused on also entering into this spiritual practice in an active way. Succumbing to hate and despair right now is a tactic and goal of those who would dismantle the ideals we have shaped our country and lives around, as imperfect as the reality of society might feel. Rivers shape stone through persistence not impact, says the Tao. Not dramatic shows of power, but consistent application of softness and redirection. Skillful leaders and successful resistors subdue the enemy not by fighting but by not engaging or being patient and steadfast. Not by wasting energy or being caught up in the destructive practice and attitude that is trying to bring you to its level. Let’s not look away, I suppose. Remaining hopeful and peaceful in our approach to moving through the rest of 2025. Avoiding despair and helping other avoid it, is a spiritual mandate. Finding the our strategic softness in the midst of the chaos and treachery is a way to grow gratitude. So I invite you to go forth this month in strategic softness. Commit to not despair in your personal circumstance or in reflection on the world. Be of good cheer and help others along that same path. Come to community for strength and kinship and holly day fairs and coffee houses and worship and coffee. Always for coffee!
Peace and Blessings
“Gratitude is the music of the heart when its chords are swept by the breeze of kindness.”
– Author Unknown
This month’s theme is ‘Nurturing Gratitude’. Music always makes me feel grateful. When I am in a service in our sanctuary, I love closing my eyes so I can listen (not just hear) Paul play the organ. Leading our Choir always gives me a sense of gratitude and accomplishment as they share music from their hearts to the hearts of the congregation. There is joy in blending harmonies in choir or while singing hymns. The gifts of our many Special Musicians often transport me to a more peaceful place, whether it is guitar, piano, singing bowls, Native American flute, cello or vocals. How blessed we are to have these musical moments woven through our services.
Rehearsals: Pick Up Choir typically rehearses on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month followed by singing in church on that day. Upcoming Dates are slightly different: November 2 (1st Sunday), November 23, December 14, December 24 (Wednesday, Christmas Eve); Another rehearsal will be scheduled for those singing Christmas Eve – date/time TBD.
Time: 8:45 – 9:45 We meet in the Parish Hall to start and we begin on time. Helpers arriving at 8:30 are appreciated.
Participation: ‘Pick up Choir’ means that you do not need to commit to every Sunday that we sing but if I can know in advance that you’ll be there it helps me plan for appropriate music.
Special Music: Do you like to sing solo or play an instrument? Special music is always a welcome addition to a service.
All are welcome who love to sing or who want to be involved with our Music Ministry.
Special Music for November
11/2 and 11/23: The UUCSB Pick Up Choir – Our choir, directed by Ellie Rolnick, will offer special music and often supports the congregational singing. Make a joyful noise with us!
11/9: Rev. Myra Robinson - Rev. Myra, long time member of UUCSB is a writer, artist, songwriter and musician. She says ‘I experience creativity as a deep spiritual practice that opens a path to (and from) Source. I strive to promote peace within all beings, and the world, through awareness of our inter-connectedness on a quantum, vibration level; so, I employ a vibrational modality in the form of ‘sound-baths’ with Crystal Singing Bowls and other instruments for health & healing. With my ministry of music, mindfulness, & motivation, it is my calling as well as my joy to offer special music to our congregation.” Myra will be incorporating her ‘Special Music’ talents during the service she is leading on that date.
11/16 Ellie Rolnick Ellie has served as choir director at UUCSB since 2008. She has been a chiropractor for over 45 years and is retiring in place seeing patients only 2 days a week. Part of her time away from practice is being spent honing her music writing skills and bringing more of her original songs to life. Ellie and her husband Ben Caron live in Biddeford with their yellow lab Poco, while their 2 grown sons and young grandsons live nearby. Ellie’s personal mission statement is to “bring love, light and healing to the world through chiropractic and music.”
11/30 Rev. Niki Norman - I can't remember a time that I wasn't interested in music! My mother says that I was singing before I could talk. Born in Austin, TX, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. I attended Mt Hood Community college, majoring in music. These days I play the piano and African drums and I'm the percussionist with Renaissance Voices in Portland. I'm a gradute of ChIME and I'm part of the clergy team here at the UUCSB.”
November Outreach
Share the Plate: November
Help folks who are strugging with the suspension of their SNAP benefits during this government shutdown. Melissa Caminiti is spearheading this project by finding organizations primed to fill the gap for folks in need.
Winter is Coming!: 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.
Aging to Saging
We started our A2S program bringing together 7 folks to begin our yearlong journey into the spiritual exploration of growing wise! It was a wonderful start to the program with great engagement, participation, and deep exploration. The group has decided that after the November meeting on November 12, that we will “close” the group in order to promote the development of group cohesion and trust. If you were thinking about participating, now is the time. There is no penalty for having to miss for any reason, but commitment to the group should happen on November 12th. Please RSVP to Rev Lori, who will provide you with materials and information.
Hope to see you there!
Welcome to Our New RE Coordinator
Though they have a lifelong love of spirituality and religion, Ben Veres is new to the Saco Biddeford Unitarian Universalist Church as of November 2025. They attended the youth programs at Sanford Unitarian Universalist Church and Portsmouth UU Church as a child and they are thrilled to start as the new Religious Education Coordinator at Saco Biddeford UU Church! Ben is a 2022 graduate from the University of Maine at Farmington and obtained a degree in Psychology with a minor in Special Education.
They have lots of experience working professionally with children in various roles since 2018. They live in Biddeford with their fiancé Leo, and their two cats Adonis and Hennessy.
Ways to Support Our Vibrant UUCSB Community
Lost!
Our wonderful, faithful plow guy is moving away! We need to replace this person before our winter sets in – and it will come! The snow remover must have a snow blower in order to do our walkway. Please send any names you have to annesarahd43@gmail.com.
Thank you!
Coffee Hour Help!
1. Set-up: make coffee, arrange tables, put out creamers, etc
2. Provide simple snacks
3. Clean up: dishes, sweep, put tables away
4. Schedule volunteers
Can you do any of these tasks at any time?
Many Hands: Some things that need doing:
Hang drapes in Parish Hall
See if the Green Room TV can project from a computer
Bake for Coffeehouse
Review By-laws and church Policies
Declutter the upstairs “Teen Room”
Represent UUCSB at MUUSAN
Research reusable food packaging options
Help folks use Google Docs
Help with Children’s Worship
Please complete this interest survey so we can match your talents with our needs
Holly-day Fair Volunteers Needed:
Not only can you shop for the season, but YOU could be one of the lucky volunteers at our annual Holly-day Fair fundraising event! We specifically need someone(s) to help with sales and are looking for items to feature for our Raffled Prizes. Would you like to be at the "Old Country Store” table? Sell some Jewelry, Plants, or Books? Help in "Granny's Attic” / to take money for the beauties that are sure to sell? I believe we need a couple more homemade soups, too. Thanks, Myra and Kathryn
DONT GET CAUGHT BY THE SCAMMERS!
BEWARE OF TEXTS AND EMAILS FROM REV LORI ASKING FOR FAVORS OR FOR YOU TO PURCHASE ANYTHING ON HER BEHALF. SCAMMERS HAVE BEEN CREATING FALSE BUT BELIEVABLE EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR HER AND HAVE BEEN TEXTING AND REACHING OUT ASKING FOR FOLKS TO BUY APPLE CARDS AND FORWARD THE NUMBERS OF THE PURCHASES. ONCE THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS NO GETTING THE MONEY BACK!!! SHE WILL NEVER REACH OUT IN THAT CAPACITY TO ASK FOR MONEY OR FAVORS OF A FINANCIAL NATURE. AND IF YOU RESPOND THEY MAY TRY TO INVOLVE YOU IN FUTURE OUTREACH SCAMS UNRELATED TO THE CHURCH.
IF YOU RECEIVE A REQUEST OF THIS NATURE, DONT GET CAUGHT. PLEASE REACH OUT TO REV LORI THROUGH THE PRESCRIBED CHANNELS TO REPORT IT. REPORT IT THROUGH EMAIL AND PHONE PROVIDER AS A SCAM. NEVER SEND MONEY OR VALUABLES IN RESPONSE TO AN EMAIL OR TEXT WITHOUT VERIFYING WITH THE PERSON WHO ASKS!!!!!
Wanted: Welcoming Congregation Coordinator
No experience necessary. Training and support provided.
Requirements: Passion for justice for all.
Duties:
Learn about the Welcoming Congregations Five Practices of Welcome Renewal Program
Communicate with congregation about required practices
Complete a tracking form
Celebrate.
Repeat annually.
To apply: Contact Rev. Lori
Your Jewelry Needed for the Holly Day Fair
We will be having our traditional jewelry sale at the fair and are collecting used jewelry to sell. Pat Snyder is the contact for this and please reach out to her at c.islandgal@gmail.com to coordinate a donation or to volunteer to take a shift for the sale!
November Calendar Highlights
Other Upcoming Dates To Take Notice Of
Upcoming Game Night!
Join us for another fun and family-friendly evening of pizza and games. Saturday November 8 at 5:30 in the parish hall. Bring the whole family! RSVP to Brian at UUCSB1827@gmail.com so we know how much pizza 🍕 to order. Hope to see you there! 😀
Ministry of Faith in Action (MoFA)
MoFA is the social justice team at UUCSB.
As UU’s we are really all on the social justice team. We have causes we support as individuals or families. MoFA attempts to gather us all together to use our collective strength and vision for meaningful action.
In person (UUCommunity Church in Augusta) + Zoom
Featured speaker, Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida
Firmly rooted in the call to work towards the creation of a community of fierce hope and radical love, Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida (she/her) served as the settled minister in Auburn, Maine for more than 20 yrs before moving into a justice-based community ministry in 2023. She now develops and organizes Multifaith Justice Maine under the auspices of the Maine People’s Alliance. Jodi also serves on the board of the Maine Council of Churches and its public policy committee, works with the harm reduction community, and is a tri-chair of the Maine Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. (from UUA.org/people)
MUUSAN Fall Network Meeting
Coming soon to a Parish Hall near you: The Last Class
Robert Reich teaches his final “Wealth and Poverty” class to 1,000 students at UC Berkeley, ending a 40-year career that reached 40,000 students.
One thousand fill the biggest lecture hall on the UC Berkeley campus, the last class to receive Reich’s wisdom and exhortations not to accept that the world has to stay the way it is. His belief in the next generation’s ability to take on the fight is inspiring!
We don’t have a date for this showing yet. We’ll keep you posted!
See movie trailer here.
New Member Sunday
Our next New Member Sunday is planned for November 30th. Becoming a member is a simple and profound thing. The specifics are signing our membership book, presenting yourself to the church in service with some info about yourself, getting to know our UU principles, pledging support for our community by participating in the life and work of the church, right relationships, bringing your full self and pledge. I guess that was a bit of a list. Ultimately we extend our welcome to you to be in authentic relationship. Get to know us. Help us out. Feel our support and joy and help us shoulder our challenges. Anyone interested should join us November 9 at 9:00 for more details and to ask any questions you may have. If you haven’t heard from anyone about joining and are interested, please reach out to Rev. Lori at revlori.uucsb@gmail.com. Dont be surprised if she or other folks on the membership committee reach out to you first. We would love to welcome you to our community!
Caring Connection Message
What an incredibly beautiful October we’ve had! For me personally it was a very busy and festive one with immediate family and also family from out of state to celebrate one of those ‘milestone’ birthdays! A very fortunate person I am.
At our recent meeting we discussed developing online programs to assist with setting up meal trains when needed. We also will be requesting members, either online or hard copy, to complete forms indicating areas in which you are able to volunteer. We don’t want people to feel left out when technology is not friendly to them. We also want to update our ability to serve.
I would like to let you know of our committee members what is and will be happening to 4 out of 5 of us. On 10/30th Pat Snyder will have a knee replacement; on 10/31st Rosemary will have thoracic surgery to alleviate breathing problems; Paula has been suffering symptoms of long covid and I will be having a knee replacement on 11/11. That leaves Anna holding down the fort ~ that’s probably an old saying! Lori is aware of this and will be helping Anna with various needs. Paula also will continue to participate in sending notes to our community.
Looking forward to a busy November! And a Happy Thanksgiving to All.
Marilyn, Pat, Anna, Rosemary and Paula
Where are we going and how do we get there?
It is such an exciting time to be together! Newcomers and seasoned UUCSBers joined throughout October to clean the church, to provide coffee, to deliver a beautiful open-mic experience at the School Street Coffeehouse, to fill the Little Free Pantry, to lead worship services, to welcome guests, and protest abuses of our government. I’m so proud of us!
Like our congregation, your Board of Trustees is made up of a mix of new and seasoned church members. We continue to take a deep look at the workings of the church asking: where are we going and how do we get there?
We’re taking a new look at our old mission statement, considering the capacity and needs of our congregation and of our community.
We’re responding to input and questions from newcomers about how things work in this church and how we can build in ways for more clarity and collaboration.
We’re meeting with committees and ministry leaders to learn from each other about what has been done in the past and how we might make adjustments to meet our changing needs.
We’re looking for ways to support and include families and singles, young and old, seekers and sages, abled and disabled, fearful and fearless.
We welcome your questions and answers! Contact any Board member. BoT Meetings are the 1st Wednesday of each month in the Green Room. You are welcome!
Love, Randa Thomas
President, Board of Trustees
From the Treasurer
If you have questions about the budgeting process, contact Jean H. or Wendy.
Hello to the Wonderful People of UUCSB!
I’m Rev. Morgan Rowe, your Web Chaplain. You might be wondering how a chaplain became a web designer! My path wound through years in professional theater, art, and writing — and eventually into life coaching and interfaith chaplaincy (I graduated from the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine alongside Rev. Lori and Rev. Niki). Along the way, I discovered that designing websites can be deeply creative and soulful work, especially when it helps artists, writers, and spiritual communities create online spaces that feel genuine and alive.
Over the past year, I’ve had the joy of working with Rev. Lori, Randa T., and Brian D. to build UUCSB’s new website. Through that process, I’ve gotten a glimpse of your vibrant, loving community — and I only wish I lived closer so I could join you for the School Street Coffee House, Holly Days Fair, and Sunday services!
It’s been my intention to create a website that reflects the vibrancy and values of love, compassion, and community that guide your congregation. My design approach leans on color, large readable fonts, and compelling imagery to make the site warm, welcoming, and easy to explore — a cozy space where you can rest, reflect, and catch up on Rev. Lori’s messages in the Beyond Sunday Blog or explore all the ways your community is working together to make UUSCB and the world around you a better place. I also want the site to be deeply useful, with the Friday Flyers, monthly Messenger, interactive calendar, and easy ways to connect with committees, staff, and one another.
Starting in December, I’ll be sharing a short note in The Messenger each month highlighting helpful features and updates. If there’s something you’d like me to cover—or if you have an update or correction—please reach out through the contact form on this page or in the congregant portal.
As we enter this month of gratitude, I want to thank Rev. Lori and Randa for their trust and collaboration, and all of you for the warmth and generosity that shine through your community.
With appreciation,
Rev. Morgan Rowe
Web Chaplain
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
Help UUCBS by returning your bottles and cans through the CLYNK service at Hannaford.
Green bags may be picked up at the welcome table when you come to church on Sundays. Please remember that Market Basket labeled bottles and cans are not accepted by CLYNK.
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.
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
(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.