Holidays at First U
A Celebration And A Call
Celebrate the Holiday Season at First Universalist: There Is Another Way
In a time of deep uncertainty and division, as our country faces pivotal choices about its future, we gather to reaffirm a different vision of community and hope. The holidays offer not just respite but a chance to root ourselves in what we hold most sacred: the belief that justice, love, and shared humanity can guide us through even the darkest nights. At First Universalist, we do not turn away from the world’s troubles; instead, we create spaces to hold them together and imagine something better.
Our holiday services this year are both a celebration and a call. They invite us to pause, to reflect, and to find strength in one another as we prepare to meet the challenges ahead. In these gatherings, we embody the truth that even now, there is another way.
Winter Solstice Ritual
Friday, December 20 at 7 p.m.
In a time that races toward the light without pausing to honor the wisdom of the dark, the Winter Solstice calls us to linger, to sit with the questions that only the night can hold, and to trust the turning of the earth beneath us. This ceremony, created together as a community, weaves music, silence, and firelight. In the hush of the night, we share stories, light candles, and draw warmth from one another as we welcome the sun’s slow return.
All are welcome, but this contemplative ritual is best suited for youth ages 12 and older. Join us in the sanctuary or via YouTube Live.
Christmas Pageant
Saturday, December 21 at 4 p.m.
The Christmas Pageant at First Universalist is not a performance to watch but a story to enter—a tale that invites us to see ourselves as seekers, wanderers, and wonderers. Led by our children and youth, this beloved tradition tells the nativity as we know it to be: a celebration of hope, hospitality, and the transformative power of love. Come for carols that lift the room, costumes that sparkle with joy, and the beauty of youth rising into leadership (stardom?). After the performance, join us in the Social Hall for hot cocoa and cookies—a chance to savor the season’s simple joys in community.
Click here to sing along during the Pageant.
The pageant is designed for all ages, especially families with young children. The pageant will be presented in-person only.
Blue Holidays
Sunday, December 22 at 7 p.m.
The world often tells us that the holidays must be merry, bright, and perfect. Here, we hold space for the fuller truth: that joy and sorrow often walk hand in hand. Blue Holidays offers a tender gathering for those carrying grief, longing, or quiet reflection during the season. Together, we create a sanctuary where all emotions are welcome. Through poetry, shared song, and a candle-lighting ritual, we invite the gentle warmth of community to meet us where we are.
All are welcome, but this contemplative ritual is best suited for youth ages 12 and older. Join us in the sanctuary or via YouTube Live.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Tuesday, December 24 at 7 p.m.
On Christmas Eve, we gather to hear an ancient story and to look toward the possibilities it still holds for us. The nativity, with its quiet courage and radical hospitality, reminds us of the power of love born anew in the world. In the glow of candlelight, we listen to scripture and poetry, sing carols that echo through generations, and hold moments of stillness that feel like a gift in themselves. This service is not a performance but a quiet act of hope, a reminder that even in the chaos of the world, there is another way.
Click here to join in song during the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.
All are welcome, but this candlelight ritual is best suited for youth ages 12 and older. Join us in the sanctuary or via YouTube Live.
Additional Information
- Childcare: Please note that childcare will not be available during these holiday services.
- Single-Service Sundays: On December 1 and December 29, we will hold a single Sunday service at 10 a.m.
The Call of the Season
This winter, as the winds of political uncertainty sweep through the heartland, we stand firm in our shared values. In a world that often seems fractured and hurried, we create spaces to slow down, to listen deeply, and to recommit ourselves to the work of love and justice. Our gatherings remind us that the power to transform lives and communities begins with how we show up—for each other, for the world, and for the future we’re building.
At First Universalist, we do not shy away from the complexities of this moment. Instead, we step into it with courage, grounded in the belief that meaningful change is possible. As we light candles, sing songs, and sit together in the glow of community, we remember that no matter how dark or daunting the road ahead, there is another way.