Holidays at First U
Celebrate the Holiday Season at First Universalist
Blue Holidays
Sunday, December 14 at 4 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 Cummins Room or via YouTube Live.
Christmas Pageant
Saturday, December 20 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.
The pageant is designed for all ages, especially families with young children. The pageant will be presented in-person only.
Winter Solstice Ritual
Sunday, December 21 at 7 p.m.
Come together for music and song, poetry, candle lighting and contemplation. In this hour-long program, we’ll celebrate the gifts of the season and embrace the lessons that the dark has to teach us. Members of the Women’s Ritual Group and the Worship Associates team have come together with support from the ministers and the Visual Arts Team to plan a rich and meaningful ritual and evening. Join us in the social hall after the ritual for a joyous celebration of light.
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
Wednesday, 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.
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.