In a time of deep struggle nationally, we gather to reaffirm a different vision of community and hope. This December you can join us in so many ways—from gathering at the Whipple building to demand immigration justice to a chance to hear our own Minister Emeritus Rev. Kate Tucker, from the Blue Holidays to the Pageant.

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.

First Universalist leads the prayer vigil at the Whipple Federal Building

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7:30-8:30 am

Bishop Henry Whipple Building

1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111

Please park at the Metro Transit Park and Ride lots at 5801 Minnehaha Avenue or 6100 Minnehaha Avenue so that parking spots in front of the Whipple Building remain open for people with immigration appointments.

On the second Tuesday of every month, Minnesota Interfaith Coalition on Immigration (ICOM) hosts a prayer vigil at the Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling, the regional ICE headquarters for a five-state area and the site of both immigrant detention facilities and an immigration court. Since our vigils are held on stolen land we have a Land Acknowledgement.

People of any faith and no particular faith are invited to join in an hour of prayer and song, hosted by a rotating cast of faith communities and social justice groups. Guest speakers provide attendees with concrete opportunities to show solidarity with detainees and to oppose inhumane detention practices.

After each vigil, ICOM invites attendees to join in observing immigration court proceedings — a powerful opportunity to witness how the deportation system works. ICOM’s courtwatch is unique in that it can also lead directly to helping detainees and their families. If you’d like to help organize an upcoming vigil or want to lend your voice, music, or other skills, don’t hesitate to reach out! Available on ZOOM too. Join their mailing list for more information.

Rev. Kate Tucker to Preach

Sunday, December 14 

9 and 11 a.m. worship services

Service topic to come

The Rev. Kate Tucker is a minister emeritus at First Universalist.

Holidays at First U

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 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.

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.

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.
• Single-Service Sundays: On December 1 and December 29, we will hold a single Sunday service at 10 a.m.