First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia

07/10/2026

On August 7-9, join us for a weekend of events focusing on mass incarceration and the transformative power of theatre, film and higher education in carceral settings.

📺Screening of Sing Sing
Friday, August 7, 6:30pm at the Philadelphia Film Center (1412 Chestnut St.)
In partnership with the Philadelphia Film Center, explore and unpack SING SING by Greg Kwedar followed by a talkback with Valerie Flower, a playwriting instructor for the Easter University’s Prison Education Program (PEP) at SCI Chester and member of First Unitarian.

❤️Staged reading of Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline
Saturday, August 8, 7pm in Griffin Hall (First Unitarian Church)
With profound compassion and lyricism, Pipeline brings an urgent conversation powerfully to the fore. Morisseau pens a deeply moving story of a mother’s fight to give her son a future - without turning her back on the community that made him who he is.

🎭New Works by SCI Chester Student Playwrights
Sunday, August 9, 1:30pm in the Parish Room (First Unitarian Church)
Dramatic reading and talkback featuring excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, Blood Brothers, a poignant ten-minute play by Kenneth Pigford, and America’s Baby, a compelling monologue written by Jy’Aire Smith-Pennick while incarcerated.

07/10/2026

You are invited to declare independence from billionaires and the system they represent. This system is rigged to benefit them while harming the rest of us, especially from historically marginalized communities. We are excited to join many local organizations and we hope to see you there!

07/10/2026

Billionaires have strategically targeted resources due to the people and profited off the pain of everyday Philadelphians. Micah 6:8 moves us to act justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with our God, as a people of faith we will do just that. Learn more about how everyday Philadelphians are coming together to address the city's growing affordability crisis. Visit www.powerinterfaith.org

07/10/2026

“These are our people, whether the government thinks they are or not,” said Destiny, an FUCP member and vigil organizer, at the June 3 vigil that their congregation hosted. “And it’s really wholesome, in such a time of political division, to see so many disparate faiths coming together in support of one really strong rallying cry.”

For months, an interfaith group has prayed outside of Philadelphia’s ICE field office every Wednesday afternoon. They are approaching their 40-week goal.

06/26/2026

Summer Worship services, led by a wonderful combination of congregants and ministers, will begin this Sunday, June 28 in the Parish Room. One room schoolhouse style childcare will be offered every week, beginning at 10am.

Our Wednesday Mindfulness offerings will be on pause through the summer. This includes Vespers & Community Dinner, yoga, meditation, and Interplay. Writer’s Salon, Art for Resistance, and BIPOC Potluck will also take a summer pause. Stay tuned for the wonderful programs that are scheduled for this summer.

06/17/2026

If you’ve attended UU & You and Seekers and feel ready to join as an official member of our congregation, sign up for our New Member Ceremony on Sunday! There will be a reception at 10am, where we will all share a bit about ourselves and learn more about membership and how to get involved. There will also be a small ceremony to recognize and welcome new members during service. This will be our last New Member Ceremony until the fall.

Photo from our April New Member Ceremony, where we welcomed three new members. Say hi to these folks when you see them around the church!

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/S8UesNP7YBHRt3t7A

06/04/2026

There’s still time left to bid in our annual fundraising auction, and we’ve added a few new items! Be Rev. Abbey’s guest to the Pinhead Gunpowder show in the church basement on October 16! Tickets sold out within minutes for this chance to see one of Billie Joe Armstrong’s (of Green Day) bands play here at the church. Or win tickets to the Phillies vs. Dodgers game! Check out the full auction and bid at the link in our bio.