First Unitarian Church of Orlando

06/13/2026

A Free People and a Free Religion. Celebrating diversity and unity and the inherent worth and dignity of all at the Florida Communion Service.
Visit 1U online live or recorded. Attend our Service at 10:30 on Sunday mornings.

Rev. Margalie reminded us that It is fitting that we begin Pride Month with the Flower Communion ritual. Pride Month, too, is rooted in the belief that every person has inherent worth and dignity. …

06/13/2026

Sunday worship, June 14, 10:30am. "Flourishing Together: A Volunteer Appreciation & Inverse Water Communion Service." Worship led by Rev. Margalie Belizaire, Judith Stein-Farrall, and Aubrey Connelly-Candelario. Don't forget to bring a small water bottle. 💧💧💧

06/12/2026

As Central Florida approaches a decade since the Pulse tragedy, the City of Orlando invites the community to gather in a collective spirit of love and remembrance. On Friday, June 12, 2026, at 5:30pm, the city will host the annual Pulse Remembrance Ceremony at the First United Methodist Church in Downtown Orlando.

06/11/2026

Extreme Heat-You, Your Family and Your Neighborhood - Signs of Danger

Awareness to Advocacy Facilitator: C. Brown RN, Health Advocate Recognizing the Risks and Responding Before Crisis Strikes The Town Hall guest speaker in June, Mrs. Constance Brown, RN, reviewed w…

06/10/2026

The UUA General Assembly is meeting June 14-21, 2026. The June 21 Sunday Service can be viewed live and the Business Sessions scheduled June 14-16.

If you do not register for the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) 2026 General Assembly, you can still access specific major public events for free. According to the UUA’s Online Partic…

06/10/2026

We are all in this together. Unconditional love and social justice work.

Rev Margalie in this Worship Service addressed the role of unconditional love in social justice work, thanks to Tommy H. who had the winning bid at the annual auction and chose this as this topic. …

06/09/2026

🌈 Your WHOLE self is welcome here at 1U! ✨

Wishing everyone deep love, care, and connection as we begin Pride Month this year. As a q***r, Afro-Latina cis-woman, I know well how important the example of BIPOC leadership is and how much q***r leadership matters.

To all of my LGBTQIA+ fam within Unitarian Universalism and beyond, may we celebrate our many gifts and community and continue to care for and encourage one another in all the days ahead. We are sacred, whole, and holy – and we are here to stay, to lead, and thrive.

Happy Pride, fam.

06/09/2026

Preparation for Storms, Hurricanes and Flooding means Survival

Ann P. has over 30 years disaster safety experience. Preparation for storms and having a plan is essential. The following was published in the Orlando Sentinel recently. The Hurricane poster is an …

06/09/2026

Reminder: If you read our last newsletter, you learned about It is critical for Florida to expand Medicaid. In order to do so, nearly one million petitions must be submitted for the citizen-led amendment to qualify for the ballot in 2028.

If you haven't already requested a petition be sent to you, please do so now at this link, then ask your close friends to do the same: medicaidflorida.org/FRF
Yes, you signed it before. Those signatures have expired! The campaign is starting all over!!

https://1ublogorg.wordpress.com/2026/06/09/third-time-is-the-charm-medicaid-expansion/

Reduced federal funds, reduced state commitment and funding, growing population, older people and young families with no health insurance, less steady income and rising costs mean that it is critic…

06/09/2026

Sharing for Orlando Day Nursery and Childcare

A Reminder that early childhood education and play are so important. If you haven't given to the Orlando Nursery and Child Care Center yet, please take a moment to help give joy to children. These are difficult times for young families and organizations that serve them. Orlando Nursery and Childcare Care continues to offer excellence with increased costs. Please give generously so this organization can continue to contribute to our community. And, as Jared mentioned last Sunday, if you have extra essential everyday items that young families always need, he will be glad to transport them.

A Reminder that early childhood education and play are so important. If you haven’t given to the Orlando Nursery and Child Care Center yet, please take a moment to help give joy to children. …

06/07/2026

First Unitarian Church of Orlando's Sanctuary Live Stream

06/05/2026

Sunday Worship, June 7, at 10:30am “It’s Not All Just Beautifully Cut Flowers Here: A Flower Communion Worship Service.” Worship led by Rev. Margalie Belizaire, Judith Stein-Farrall, and Aubrey Connelly-Candelario.

06/04/2026

We are holding space for GRIEF this month in Roots and Wings. If you are carrying something heavy you'd like help carrying, please join us.

I always want to begin with deep reverence and gratitude for your willingness to walk this path with me in such a brave and beautiful way. How lucky are we to have the opportunity to grow together …

06/04/2026

This Pride Month, 1U and the Unitarian Universalist Association celebrate the joy, resilience, and beauty of LGBTQIA+ communities.

In "The Q***r Beatitudes," Tim Atkins (also known as Sister Sweet Suffering Tea of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence) offers this blessing:

"Blessed are we, the whole q***r family,
for love is our birthright, and joy is our inheritance."

May we continue building a world where every person can live, love, and flourish as their full self. 🌈

Read "The Q***r Beatitudes" at the link in the comments.

06/02/2026

2026 Pulse Remembrance Ceremony on June 12, 5:30 pm, in downtown Orlando, First United Methodist Church. Honor the 49 angels, the survivors and their families and friends.

2026 Pulse Remembrance Ceremony Pulse OrlandoDownload

06/02/2026

Remember PULSE and support our LGBTQ+ friends and families this Pride Month and all year. Center on the Love.

The Beginnings of Orlando Strong -An AI Summary— In the tragic hours of the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre, a devastating loss of 49 lives and 58 wounded gave way to an extraordinary outpouring of c…

06/02/2026

All Roads Lead to the South-Ninety groups, including Black Voters Matter, Faith Out Loud, Woke Vote participated in a Day of Action in protest to redistricting that is a major effort to block black voters and reduce the effectiveness of the black vote. "Democracy and Voting Rights are under threat"

From UU Magazine, written by Ethan Loewi, May 21, 2026 A national coalition of over ninety groups, including Black Voters Matter, Faith Out Loud, and Woke Vote gathered Saturday at “All Roads Lead …

06/02/2026

No one has the right to cast out any one from the human family. Unconditional love is the center of social justice for all. Rev. Belizaire in the pulpit.

Excerpts from this May 31 Unconditional Love and Social Justice Worship Service: Today we get to be curious about the role of unconditional love in social justice work, thanks to Tommy H. via the 2…

06/01/2026

today — again —
and every day
bless those coming out
and those staying in
bless the drag
bless the transitioning
bless the questioning
bless the kinfolk
bless our chosen families
and bless us...
we are literally love becoming
we were never meant to hide
we were always meant to blaze.
~ Kimi Floyd Reisch

05/29/2026

Worship this Sunday, May 31, at 10:30am "The Role of Unconditional Love in Social Justice." Worship led by Rev. Margalie Belizaire, Judith Stein-Farrall, and Aubrey Connelly-Candelario. In the Sanctuary and online

05/28/2026

Corey Hill, Organizer, spoke at 1U Townhall about 50501 - 50 states, 50 Protests, One Movement grassroots organization and its goals on a Sunday morning.

Cory Hill, Organizer, spoke at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando’s Townhall this month. He talked about Orlando 50501’s objectives and activities. First, he thanked 1U for the weekly use of the…

05/28/2026

Learn how to protect your friends and family members at the Beat the Heat Town Hall June 7, 12pm in Gore Hall at 1U.

Please join us at the next Town Hall in Gore Hall on Sunday, June 7 (noon to 1 pm). We will be exploring an important topic endangering all of us, but especially vulnerable populations, including …

05/27/2026

The First Unitarian Church of Orlando (1U) and the Unitarian Universalist Friendship Fellowship co-ordained Rev. Dr. Laura McGuire on May 22, 2026 in Orlando. Colleagues, family, and friends participated. Both congregations charge her to continue her work.

The First Unitarian Church of Orlando(1U) and the Unitarian Universalist Friendship Fellowship co-ordained the Rev. Dr. Laura McGuire on May 22, 2026 in the 1U sanctuary with their family, congrega…

05/27/2026

1U Volunteers at Give KIds the World in May 2026. Thank you everybody for all your smiles!

Linda A, a many-year volunteer at Give Kids the World, invited members and friends to serve dinner in May. On both Saturday evenings, the volunteers served dinner to the Make a Wish Families in Ca…