firstuchicago.org

firstuchicago.org is the official website of First Unitarian Church of Chicago (often called "First U Chicago"). It functions as the congregation's online hub for worship information, community events, visitor guidance, and member involvement. The site is most useful if you are considering a visit, looking for a Sunday service, or trying to connect with a small group or affinity group.

What the Site Covers

The homepage presents the church as an active, all-ages community. Based on the site's own content, its main sections and offerings include:

• Upcoming Sunday services — current service information plus a service archive for past services
• Events calendar — a running list of services, small group meetings, and other gatherings
• Visitor's page — an invitation to get to know the church, with a visitor's form to fill out
• Small Group Ministry — ongoing small-group participation
• Affinity groups — ways to connect with others around shared identities or interests
• Community meals and game nights — with childcare available
• Monthly hikes — led by the Green Sanctuary Committee on the last Saturday of each month in Cook County
• OWL registration — a values-based sexuality education program for young people
• Giving and campaigns — including a 2026–2027 campaign described as sustaining the church's growth and impact

Who It's For

The site addresses three overlapping audiences:

1. First-time visitors — the visitor's page and "First Time Visitor?" links are aimed at people exploring the church.
2. Members and friends — event listings, small groups, and volunteer activities like writing love notes to absent members support ongoing participation.
3. Community participants — public-facing events such as the Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism gatherings at Nichols Park and the Samhain Community Dinner are open to broader involvement.

Practical Notes

• The site states that all ages are welcome.
• Some recurring events have set schedules — for example, the Green Sanctuary hikes are listed as the last Saturday of each month, and Faithful Defiance gatherings are listed as Sundays at 1:00pm at Nichols Park.
• If you want current details, check the events calendar and the upcoming Sunday service information directly, since listings change over time.

If your goal is simply to understand what the organization is, the homepage and visitor's page give you that answer. If your goal is to attend or join something, start with the events calendar and the visitor's form.

First Unitarian Church of Chicago's website points to one named giving effort: the Together Toward Tomorrow campaign. The site states that contributions "sustain us and make a profound difference in our continued growth and impact," and it labels the effort the 2026-2027 Campaign. That is the clearest support path the homepage describes. Beyond money, the same page lists several ways to give time and presence — joining events, small groups, and volunteer writing projects.

The named campaign: Together Toward Tomorrow

The homepage presents Together Toward Tomorrow as the church's current fundraising focus. Two details are stated directly:

• Purpose: contributions sustain the church and extend its "continued growth and impact."
• Term: the campaign is identified as the 2026-2027 Campaign.

If you want to give financially, this is the campaign the site names. The homepage does not list payment platforms, suggested amounts, or a direct donation link in the material available, so treat the campaign name as your starting point and look for the giving page or contact the church office for the mechanics.

Non-financial ways to support the community

The site frames support broadly. Several listed activities let you contribute time, skills, or participation:

• Write Love Notes to "our absent members and friends" — a volunteer writing task the homepage explicitly invites people to help with.
• Join a Small Group Ministry — ongoing small-group participation that sustains community life.
• Attend Community Meal Nights and Game Nights — childcare is noted as available for these.
• Join an Affinity Group — connecting with a group tied to shared identity or interest.
• Join the Green Sanctuary Committee — monthly hikes on the last Saturday of each month in Cook County.
• Attend the Samhain Community Dinner (listed for November 4) and other events on the EVENTS calendar.

These are participation-based forms of support rather than donations, and each is named on the homepage.

Events as a support channel

The EVENTS calendar is the hub for service and LRE (Lifespan Religious Education) information, small group meetings, and more. Supporting the church often means showing up:

A featured service noted on the page is "A New Era of Action in Illinois" with Natasha Walker, dated Sunday, October 11, 2026.

If you are new

The site has a Visitor's Page with a visitor's form, described as a way for the church to "get to know you." Filling it out is a low-commitment first step that also signals your interest — useful if you are deciding whether to give or get involved. All ages are welcomed, per the homepage.

What the site does not specify

The available homepage material does not state donation amounts, payment methods, membership requirements for giving, or whether any activity carries a fee. For those specifics, use the campaign name and the Visitor's Page as entry points, or reach out to the church directly.

Start at the Visitor's Page on firstuchicago.org. It is the site's front door for newcomers: it explains what to expect, points you to opportunities to get involved, and includes a visitor's form you can fill out so the congregation knows you are coming. From there, two other sections answer most practical questions — the Upcoming Sunday Service information link for what is happening this week, and the Service Archive if you want to see what a service looks like before you attend.

What to check before your first Sunday

The homepage lays out the main entry points a visitor needs:

• Visitor's Page — described as the place to "find opportunities and fill out a visitor's form." Use this first if you want someone to expect you.
• Upcoming Sunday Service information — the current listing of what the next service covers.
• Service Archive — past services, useful for getting a feel for format and themes before you show up.
• Events calendar — the broader schedule of services, Life Span Religious Education (LRE) information, small group meetings, and more.

Who is welcome, and what about children

The site states plainly that all ages are welcome at First U Chicago, and that childcare is available for Community Meal Nights and Game Nights. If you are bringing children to a Sunday service, the Upcoming Sunday Service information and the events list are the places to confirm what is running that week, since programming varies.

Ways to get connected beyond a single visit

If you want to move past being an anonymous attendee, the homepage names several routes:

• Small Group Ministry — join a smaller group for ongoing connection.
• Affinity Groups — connect with a group that matches your identity or interests.
• Green Sanctuary Committee — monthly hikes in Cook County on the last Saturday of each month.
• Community Meal Nights and Game Nights — with childcare provided.
• Joys and Sorrows — a way to share personal news with the community.

A practical first-visit sequence

1. Open the Visitor's Page and read what to expect.
2. Fill out the visitor's form so the congregation can welcome you.
3. Check Upcoming Sunday Service information for the date you plan to attend.
4. Skim the Service Archive if you want a preview of tone and content.
5. Check the Events calendar for anything adjacent — small groups, LRE, hikes — that fits your schedule.
6. Note whether you need childcare, and confirm it applies to the event you are attending.

One caution: the homepage excerpt mixes recurring items with dated ones (for example, a Samhain Community Dinner listed for November 4, and a service dated Sunday, October 11, 2026). Treat the Upcoming Sunday Service information page and the events calendar as the authoritative sources for dates rather than any single homepage blurb.

First Unitarian Church of Chicago (firstuchicago.org) highlights social action and advocacy through a mix of public witness, justice-focused programming, and environmental engagement. The clearest examples on its homepage are the recurring "Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism" gatherings at Nichols Park, a scheduled talk titled "A New Era of Action in Illinois" with Natasha Walker, and the Green Sanctuary Committee's monthly hikes. These are framed as community and justice-oriented activities rather than standalone political campaigns, so visitors should read them as ongoing ways the congregation shows up in public and in shared spaces.

Public Witness: Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism

The site lists "Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism" as a recurring event held Sundays at 1:00pm at Nichols Park. The homepage pairs the listing with the line "Join us and let our voice be heard!" and points to a separate information page.

What this tells a reader:

• It is a recurring, in-person gathering in a public park, not a one-time service.
• Its stated purpose is collective presence and voice — a form of public witness.
• Because it happens on Sundays at 1:00pm, it sits alongside, rather than inside, the congregation's Sunday worship schedule.

If you want to attend, the practical step is to check the events calendar or the linked information page before going, since the homepage does not state a start or end date for the series.

Justice-Focused Programming: "A New Era of Action in Illinois"

The site also promotes an event titled "A New Era of Action in Illinois" with Natasha Walker, listed with the date Sunday, October 11, 2026.

This is the most explicitly advocacy-oriented item on the page: the title points to action at the state level, and it is presented as a named speaker event rather than a worship service. For a visitor trying to gauge the congregation's advocacy priorities, this is a useful signal that the church hosts programming about civic and social change in Illinois, not only internal community life.

Environmental Engagement: Green Sanctuary Committee Hikes

The Green Sanctuary Committee is highlighted with monthly hikes on the last Saturday of each month in Cook County. The homepage invites people to "Join the Green Sanctuary Committee on the last Saturday of each month to hike Cook County!"

This is a lower-barrier form of engagement than a rally or a speaker event:

• It is recurring and predictable (last Saturday monthly).
• It is local (Cook County).
• It connects environmental stewardship with shared outdoor activity.

For someone who wants to participate in the church's action-oriented work without committing to a public witness event, this is the most accessible entry point listed.

How These Efforts Fit Together

Read together, these listings show a congregation that treats social action as part of its regular rhythm — weekly, monthly, and by special event — rather than as a separate campaign. The homepage also notes that "All ages are welcome at First U Chicago!" and points to affinity groups, which suggests these activities are meant to be joined as community, not observed from a distance.

What to Do If You Want to Get Involved

1. Check the events calendar first. The homepage directs readers to "our EVENTS calendar" and a "2026 Events" list for service, LRE, small group, and other information. Dates and details for recurring items like the Nichols Park gatherings are most likely to be confirmed there.
2. Use the Visitor's Page. The site offers a visitor's form and a "First Time Visitor?" link, which is the stated way to get connected and learn about opportunities.
3. Pick the format that fits you. A monthly hike is a low-commitment start; a Sunday gathering or a named speaker event is a more direct entry into the congregation's public advocacy work.

One caveat: the homepage gives the what and the when for these activities but not full logistics — meeting points, registration requirements, or whether any event has changed. Confirm details through the calendar or visitor form before attending.

First Unitarian Church of Chicago (firstuchicago.org) lists a mix of recurring gatherings, one-time events, and ongoing groups on its homepage and events calendar. The main categories visible there include Sunday services, community meals and game nights, monthly hikes, affinity and small-group ministries, seasonal celebrations, and registration-based programs such as OWL. Below is what the site itself surfaces, so you can decide which listings are worth checking before you visit or sign up.

Recurring Events and Gatherings

The homepage highlights several repeating activities rather than a single annual calendar:

• Sunday services — The site points to "Upcoming Sunday Service information here," along with a service archive and a "First Time Visitor?" entry point.
• Community Meal Nights and Game Nights — Listed with the note "Childcare Available."
• Monthly hikes — Organized by the Green Sanctuary Committee on the last Saturday of each month to hike Cook County.
• Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism — Held Sundays at 1:00pm at Nichols Park, described as a way to "let our voice be heard."
• Small Group Ministry — An ongoing group option for connection.

Seasonal and Special Events

Some listings are tied to specific dates or seasons:

• Samhain Community Dinner — November 4.
• "A New Era of Action in Illinois" with Natasha Walker — Sunday, October 11, 2026.
• Love Notes — A volunteer activity to "write Love Notes to our absent members and friends."
• Everything Inbetween: Documenting the Artwork of 1st U Chicago — Listed as a project/event.

Groups and Programs You Can Join

Beyond events, the site names several groups and registration-based programs:

• Affinity Groups — "Connect with an Affinity Group!"
• Small Group Ministry — For smaller, ongoing connection.
• Green Sanctuary Committee — Runs the monthly hikes.
• OWL Registration (2026) — A values-based sexuality education program for young people, described as helping them "develop self-worth, build healthy relationships, make responsible decisions, and grow in understanding."
• 2026–2027 Campaign — A contributions campaign ("Together Toward Tomorrow").

Where to Find the Full List

The homepage directs visitors to the EVENTS calendar for "service and LRE information, small group meetings, and more." If you want current dates and times, the calendar is the authoritative place to check, since the homepage mixes recurring items with dated announcements.

Quick Reference

All ages are noted as welcome at First U Chicago, and childcare is available for Community Meal Nights and Game Nights. For exact times and any changes, use the EVENTS calendar on the site.