Worship This Week
10 a.m. November 30th, 2025
The Season of Advent: Approaching Joy!
Led by Rev. Lori
Music: Rev. Niki
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.
Sunday, Nov. 30th @ 10:00 AM - Worship (Click Here to Live Stream)
Wednesday, Dec. 3rd @ 10:00 AM - BOT Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, Dec. 3rd @ 5:00 PM - Harbour Singers
Thursday, Dec. 4th @ 6:00 PM - SBGM Dine Out
Friday, Dec 5th @ 12:00 PM - Brown Bag Lunch
Office Hours
Administrator
Brian Dustin
Mon/Wed/Fri 8-10 AM
Caring Needs
Message from Rev. Lori
Hello Good People!
Today is black Friday. I recognize that is a commercial title and not one of any particular significance. It is occurring however, the Friday before the start of advent. Advent being a time of joy for Christians. A season of anticipation of a large and wonderful event to take place. Advent has a wreath with 4 candles to be lit each Sunday leading to Christmas Eve and then a Christ candle on Christmas Eve. The theme of each candle is actually not consistent across Christian denominations in the order they are lit. Sometimes they are not even the same candles. Generally they are peace, joy, hope, and love. On Christmas Eve the Christ candle is lit to mark the coming of Christ. As Unitarian Universalists it is our practice to adapt traditions to reflect our principles and values. The Worship Ministry has done that for the advent season this year. We will be lighting a candle each week. Our candles are: Joy, Hope, Faith/Comunity, Peace and Love on Christmas Eve. Different folks from our community will light the candle each week with a reflection on the significance of the candle.
This week we light the candle of joy. Our service this week is about approaching joy. Approaching joy is the soft glow on the horizon, the knowing that even in difficult times, possibilities are unfolding.
It is the hope that stirs when we remember we are held in community, the warmth that rises when kindness passes between us, the courage to trust that light returns. It is a dark time of year. With darker days yet to come as we head towards the solstice. We begin our season advent with lighting a candle of joy. Joy as a spiritual practice, is something we gird ourselves with as we approach the darker days. Joy is a choice even when happiness is not. It isn’t fake to find the spark that brings your light alive and choose to cultivate that spark.
In the Buddhist tradition, joy is not a fleeting emotion that arrives only when life behaves itself. It is a quality of being that arises when we meet the world with clarity and compassion. The Buddha taught that joy comes not from clinging to what we love or avoiding what we fear, but from seeing things as they truly are. I invite you to consider what you cling to that interferes with your joy. What do you cling to that is unhelpful? In the midst of this crazy season, I invite us to choose joy this season. If you feel so inclined on Sunday, please let us know by lighting your own candle, how you will choose joy in this season of approach.
Rev Lori Whittemore
(she, her, hers)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco Biddeford
Postponing New Member Sunday Recognition
Recognition of new members is postponed to the spring. We want to offer 2-3 more opportunities for conversation for people considering joining us officially. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to Edite Kroll at edite.kroll@gmail.com, or Rev Lori at revlori@uuchurchsacobiddeford.org. We would love to share more about our beloved community and welcome you. You also can sign the book at any time to make it official!
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: 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!
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!
