So many of us are so ready for celebration. As we approach the holidays, First Unitarian will offer an array of opportunities. Safety will continue to be critical, but, assuming that infection rates do not increase again, in-person worship will begin to feel more normal. All Services will continue to be livestreamed.

Beginning this Sunday, choirs will be back on the Chancel. The choirs continue to ease their way back into our building and in-person worship. Rev. Bill will be in the pulpit.

At least for a time, our weekly registration system for worship will continue, a good tool to guarantee there will be a seat for you. But we hope the system will not be a barrier to your joining us – there have been plenty of extra seats available since in-person worship resumed in our Sanctuary. If you miss the Friday morning registration deadline, don’t let that stop you from coming!  It is very likely there will be a seat for you. Just bring your vaccination card that Sunday morning, or email it ahead of time to office@firstunitarianportland.org if it will be your first time attending in-person services.

If you have been holding back so that others could attend in person, we’d love to see you in the sanctuary.

The special holiday services begin December 12 with our Music and Worship Service, when the choirs will sing the Poulenc Motets, in person in our Sanctuary.

On December 21, at 7 p.m. you can join us to celebrate the Solstice. Intern Minister Carter Smith will lead this service marking the longest night of the year and the turn toward longer light.

And on Christmas Eve, there will be a Family Service at 4 p.m. (livestream only) and one traditional candlelight service at 8 p.m. (in-person and livestream). 

Sundays throughout December will continue to include livestream-only Family Worship at 10 a.m.  In January we plan to welcome many of our young people who are vaccinated back to in-person church.  Family Worship will be offered both in-person and live-streamed. Look for more information about this important part of our re-opening and about Learning Community classes as the New Year draws closer.

We also hope to begin slowly welcoming other gatherings and meetings back to our buildings in the New Year.

With hopes that all of us find time to center-in and celebrate, together, in this season.