Worship This Week
10 a.m. December 7th, 2025
Advent of Hope
Led by Rev. Lori with Kelsey
Music by Anne Wilkinson
Anne’s primary instrument is Cello. She has been a member of our congregation since 1990. As a teacher she developed and headed up the strings program in Saco schools and Thornton Academy. She has directed summer youth string programs as well as honors programs. Now retired, she enjoys improving her abilities and playing in small ensembles whenever she can. She is an ephemeral ‘Church Lady’ and can be found helping in RE, the church fair and as a Special Musician, among other things. She lives in Saco with her husband Charles. She has 3 daughters and several grandchildren.
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, Dec. 7th @ 10:00 AM - Worship (Click Here to Live Stream)
Monday, Dec. 8th @ 8:00 PM - The Gathering: Fortifying Ourselves For The Long Road Ahead, Monthly zoom event from Side with Love
Monday, Dec. 8th @ 8:30 - Screening of The Last Class documentary
Wednesday, Dec. 10th @ 9:30 AM - From Aging to Saging (This group is now full)
Wednesday, Dec. 10th @ 6:30 PM - Wellness Wednesday
Thursday, Dec. 11th @ 7:00 PM - SBGM Online
Friday, Dec 12th @ 9:00 AM - Worship Ministry Meeting
Office Hours
Administrator
Brian Dustin
Mon/Wed/Fri 8-10 AM
Caring Needs
Message from Rev. Lori
Good Morning, Good People!
Sending you warm and cozy vibes today as we put on our long johns and wool socks! Happy Friday my friends! This week we light the candle of HOPE. Normally the HOPE candle is the first one that is lit during advent. We are UUs and we do it our way I am told. And it fits as the theme of the month is hope so it feels right to light this candle to begin our Sunday’s together in December. This is surely the month to hope for many things. Food and shelter for our friends who are struggling, peace and comfort for those who have experienced loss recently, peace and comfort for those who struggle during the holiday season, peace and comfort for those living under the many threats of the day. Those are the tough areas that benefit from hope. Of course there is hope for the many transformations that we know are possible. Stronger communities that will rise to the occasion of caring for people and being safe harbors. We see this happening right here in our church and in our community.
Hope connects us to one another. It reminds us that we do not walk alone, and that shared burdens become lighter when held in community. Choosing hope is choosing relationship—trusting that others will show up, that love will meet us again, and that the future is shaped not only by outcomes but by the spirit with which we meet the journey. In choosing hope, we commit ourselves to tending sparks of possibility wherever they appear, and in doing so, we become part of the light we long to see.
Let’s choose hope today and all days. Let’s bring hope into the weekend through Sunday. And let’s seek hope with our friends and family and community. I am never one to gloss over pain and loss and hard times. But I am one who KNOWs that there is always a path through and a road on the other side. Choose hope now especially if it feels remote. I heard it said by a women from Bratislava in the former Soviet Union that the only thing that kept people going through some excruciating years was hope. And in her thick, deep voiced accent she said, “Hope is the last thing to die.”
We are reminded this week that we are the ones who spark new hope, who keep the hope, who nurture the hope. Lets do so together!
Rev Lori Whittemore
(she, her, hers)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco Biddeford
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
Pick one up at our next event:
December 14 • 6:30pm
Open Mic • Christmas SingAlong
Wear your best or worst holiday attire!
Or 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!
