Happy New Year!

We hope you find 2025 to be filled with meaning, joy and connection. Here are a few upcoming opportunities for all of these at church (and scroll way down for the full month’s calendar):

• Tues 12/31 New Year’s Eve Celebrations:
  • Chili Dinner Fundraiser! To benefit our high school youth trip to Baltimore. Bring the whole family (and friends too!) to have dinner together at South Church.. SO MANY different chili varieties to choose from! (suggested donation $10/person. To-go chili is available!)
  • New Year’s Eve Fireworks: 7:30 PM
    Head outside and look up! Fireworks, Courtesy of the City of Portsmouth, will fill the sky just a block from South Church!
  • The Last Blast Benefit concert – 
    Then, head back to South Church to dance and groove to some great music as we say goodby to 2024 and welcome a new year! Proceeds to benefit the Continuum Arts Collective AND South Church! Music will be provided by The Reconstructed and Natalia Rothwell, KIDS ARE FREE (up to age 18) $25 in advance for adult or $30 at the door.  Get your tickets HERE 
• Sunday 1/5 New Year Worship and Ritual of Leaving as Kirsten begins her sabbatical.
• Friday 1/17 Sparks & Flames Ice Skating for kids in grades 5 through 8. RSVP by 5pm Tues 1/14 for details and to get tickets before they’re gone: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org (Bad weather backup plan will be movie night!)
• Saturday 1/18
  • Seacoast People’s March Rally 1:00- 3:00pm@South Church
  • Families Tuugether free babysitting night! Parents gather for a time of connection before heading out for a couple of hours, while we play with your kids! For families with kids ages 3 months and older. RSVP by 4pm Thurs 1/16
• Monday 1/20 8:30am-noon Annual NAACP MLK Jr Breakfast, Music, and Program (Free) Located at South Church

Do you have any thoughts or questions about how to engage your children (or yourself) in this community? There are so many ways to be involved at church, and no one thing is the right fit for everyone. Reach out to us if you’d like to talk about options–this kind of matchmaking is one of our favorite things to do! 

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January Church Theme is “Story”

• Spiritual Decathlon: This is a monthly spiritual practice that began in September. It is meant for all ages, and involves choosing one action per week (from a list or make up your own) that somehow connects to your spirituality and maybe even connects to the monthly theme. Get a gold star for each week you participate! More info here, and following are some family- or kid-friendly options for this month:
  • Make an evening of storytelling with your family, or, better yet, invite friends! Ask each person to share a story from their life. Maybe even add a prompt, like:
    • What is the story of a moment that ended up significantly influencing who you are today?
    • What is the story of a time when you did something that scared you, and how did that affect you?
    • What is the story of your earliest memory?
  • Volunteer to tell or help tell, the Time For All Ages one Sunday in worship! This can be as a family, as a parent-child pair, or as an individual. We will offer all the support you need. Contact Jen DB or Reverend Ellen for more info.
• Books/stories relevant to this month: Read or watch videos of these stories…
  • “The Tale of the Sankofa Bird,” By April Rosario, read here
  • “The Day You Begin,” by Jacqueline Woodson, book or watch here
• January Shared Plate Organization: Lovering Health Center “It Is Our Passion To Honor, Respect, And Advocate…for the right of everyone to maintain freedom and choices regarding their own sexual and reproductive health. https://joangloveringhealthcenter.org

Chalice Lighting For Meal Times:

“Inscribing our pages with hope…“

Rev. Dr. David Breeden

We tender this flame, opening the book, turning to a page yet to be written. Opening a story yet to be told.

May we fill this fresh page wisely.
May we write a new story into being.
May we together inscribe the page with hope.

Click Linked Items for additional Details

Click here for 2024-2025 RE Program Information

• Tuesday, December 31st:
  • Chili Sale Fundraiser, 5-7pm in the Social Hall
  • Fireworks 7:30
  • Last Blast Concert in the Sanctuary, 8:30pm
• Sunday, January 5th: (Kirsten’s last day before sabbatical)
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Offered by Kirsten and Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • Elementary OWL meets 10-11:30a in Carson Parlor
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade will not meet today–come to worship for 2 special rituals!
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4-5:30, Milk Classroom
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:15a at 73 Court St, no Mentors
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Sunday, January 12th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • Elementary OWL meets 10-11:30a in Carson Parlor
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4-5:30, Milk Classroom
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:15a at 73 Court St, with Mentors
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Friday, January 17th:
  • Sparks & Flames Ice Skating, 7-9p. For all 5th-8th graders. Parents, please RSVP by 5pm Tues 1/14 for details and ticket info!
• Saturday, January 18th:
  • Families Tuugether, free babysitting night for families! 5-8pm, must RSVP: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org
• Sunday, January 19th:
  • Multigenerational Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a, but babies and toddlers are encouraged to stay for worship today!
  • No RE classes today–kids come to worship
  • No Senior Youth, OWL, or Coming of Age today
• Monday, January 20th:
  • NAACP MLK Breakfast and program at South Church, 8:30am-noon
• Sunday, January 26th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • Elementary OWL meets 10-11:30a in Carson Parlor
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:15a at 73 Court St, with Mentors
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4-5:30, Milk Classroom
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
  • Annual Congregational Meeting, 11:30am. If you will need child care, then email JenDB by 1/23: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org
• Saturday, February 1st:
  • Senior Youth Group overnight and worship prep
• Sunday, February 2nd:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Offered by High School Youth Group
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • Elementary OWL meets 10-11:30a in Carson Parlor
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:15a at 73 Court St, with Mentors
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4-5:30, Milk Classroom
  • No Youth Group meeting this afternoon
• Sunday, February 9th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • Elementary OWL meets 10-11:30a in Carson Parlor. Parents join 11-11:30 for reflection, closing, and celebration!
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:15a at 73 Court St, with Mentors
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4-5:30, Milk Classroom
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St