Sunday Live Streaming ServiceSunday, August 30 at 10:15 a.m.
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Music and Worship
Please join us for this special Music and Worship service presented by our Praise Singers. Featured will be a number of pieces that take us from the loneliness of these Covid times to the full embrace of community.
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Bill's Blog“…we would rather lose 100 buildings than one more life to police violence.”
The Bradford UU Church survived the fires of Monday night, some of which burned adjacent to their building. More important, their sense of mission and the priorities in their ministry emerged with such clarity...continued.
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Send Us Your Selfies!
Help us celebrate Homecoming Sunday in a virtual way!
We’ll gather via our usual live stream service at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, to signal the beginning of our new church year.
We can’t be here in person … but we can we can “attend” via selfies!
Please email us selfies of you and your family (we WON’T attach names to your pics), and enjoy the unfolding of this special cyber-service.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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2020 March on Portland: Following the Dream
Pre-March Rally at 12 p.m. / March at 1 p.m. / Rally 2-5:30 p.m
Friday, August 28
Starting Point: PDX Convention Center at MLK
End Point: Revolution Hall
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Are you ready to march for Black lives? If you would like to attend and represent First Unitarian Portland, find our "Side of Love" banner at Revolution Hall at 2 p.m. with your UU regalia or UU yellow!
NAACP asking for donations: Hand sanitizer, water bottles and individual snacks. Bring them to Revolution Hall after 8 p.m. before the event. Things to bring: Your mask, water, sun protection and snacks.
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After Service Virtual Social Hours
Every Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Join fellow congregants for a virtual social hour each Sunday after the worship service.
There are two social hours from which to choose:
- one for the congregation at large and
- another specifically for families in our Learning Community
When you follow the link to your chosen social hour, you’ll be assigned to a “Zoom Room” with 6-8 fellow congregants. You’ll be invited to introduce yourselves and to share something that moved you in the worship service. And we hope that conversation will follow. Please be courteous and "share the floor." And if you're ready to make new friends, know that you can leave your meeting and sign back in to join a new group.
Use your QR code reader or Apple camera app to scan the QR Code on our Sunday slides OR click on the links below after the service OR type the tinyurl shown on Sunday's screen into your browser.
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Alliance “The Art of Transitions”
Wednesday, September 2
Time: 12:30 -2:15 p.m.
Virtual Zoom Event. All are welcome!
The program will focus on "On the Inside", a non-profit she founded to connect women in and outside of prison using theater and storytelling. Enjoy small group interaction in support of our social connections.
Alliance members get the Zoom link through the Co-President’s email. Others may email here for the Zoom link.
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Taking a Collective Breath:
Deepening Our Alignment with the Movement for Black Lives
Free Webinar Series: September 8,
September 22, October 13
Starting at 4:00 p.m. PDT
The Unitarian Universalist Association and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee have collaborated to assist in deepening our collective activism and participation in the Movement for Black Lives.
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We’re taking you behind the scenes of Family Village like you’ve never seen it before!
Friday, October 9 / 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Virtual Fundraising Event
Free to join and learn!
Hear intimate stories from PHFS families and staff, learn the impact of their work, and help raise critical funds to support homeless families.
From Committee on Hunger and Homelessness (COHHO): Thank you for your support for this great social service agency, that UUs have supported for many years and see how they've grown!
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Join Women's Circle 3: Welcoming new members!
First and Third Wednesdays of the month at 10 a.m.
Zoom Meetings
Circle 3 has continued to meet during the summer - on zoom. We are welcoming new members at this time. We meet the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 10 a.m., starting after Labor Day. So our first meeting will be on September 16. If interested in joining us, call Dorothy.
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Join the Anti-Racist Book Club!
Zoom Gathering on Thursdays
Time: 7-8:30 p.m. PDT
Dates: 9/17/20 - 10/22/20
Each group of 8 people will meet online weekly for 4-6 weeks per book. You can sign up for the first book now, or look for different books and times as the year progresses.
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Mindful Baking
Virtual Classes Wednesdays
Starting September 2 through 23,
5-6 p.m. PDT
Mindfulness Meditation, deepening one’s appreciation of the present moment, can be practiced in anything we do. Cultivating mindfulness has the potential for self-transformation and greater depth in our lives. Intern Minister, Stacey Mitchell, invites you to explore this practice through baking. No prior meditation or baking experience is necessary.
Details: On Wednesday, Sept 2. we will be making Oatmeal and Apple Squares (sugar-free and gluten-free).
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Speaking of Justice Weekly Newsletter
In this period of physical distancing, the sacred work of justice continues.
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UU the VOTE
As a church, we are committed to ensuring every voice is heard in the upcoming November election. We are partnering with UU the Vote to have regular GOTV sessions. First Unitarian congregants will support one another in this work of phone banking and letter writing until the election. Click the button below for how you can get involved!
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BIPOC Faith Leaders and Laity Council for Black Lives
First Unitarian Portland's Senior Minister Bill Sinkford and a group of BIPOC clergy and faith leaders in the PNW released this statement. They have been building relationships and discussing what it means to proclaim #BlackLivesMatter, how faithful people are called to show up, and what it means to divest in oppressive systems and reinvest in thriving communities. May this ground you in your faithful support for Black lives.
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Recommended Reading
Speaking of Justice highlights this New York Times article "Heard in Portland", covering Bobby Fouther and other Black Portland Artists on the historical racism of this town.
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Demand Justice for Jake
Justice can't wait. Add your name now: Demand the officer who shot Jacob "Jake" Blake in broad daylight is held accountable for attempting to take Jake's life.
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Support Campaign Finance Reform with Honest Elections
Honest Elections, the advocacy group which brought measures to limit campaign contributions to voters of Portland and Multnomah County (where both measures were approved by voters by margins approaching 90%), worked with the 2019 legislature to craft a constitutional amendment to allow laws and voter initiatives that:
- allow limits on political campaign contributions and expenditure;
- require the disclosure of political contributions and spending;
- require that political ads disclose who paid for them.
This will be on the Nov ‘20 ballot. BM107 needs your support now! Check out the campaign website. Endorse it/donate to the campaign. Then in November, vote Yes on BM 107.
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In the Community
Community milestones, joys, & sorrows
Longtime member Peggy McComb died on Aug. 22 at her home in Portland after living with melanoma for several years. Peggy is survived by her wife, Karen Cameron. We hold her family today.
Kahler Martinson died on Aug. 17, just one week after entering hospice care. His partner Linda Craig and Kahler's family are profoundly grateful that he did not have prolonged suffering. Kahler loved ducks and watching warblers, and Linda will miss her companion and birding buddy.
Longtime member Dorothy Pope died in June at the age of 90. Dottie joined the church in 1972 and lived with dementia the last years of her life. We hold her family at this time of loss
Former member Barbara Stallcup Miller died on July 21 at the age of 100. For the last seven years of her life she lived in Coos Bay, Ore., to be close to her daughter. Barbara was active in the church for many years, serving on our Foundation Board as well as the church’s development efforts. We hold her family.
Christine Sjogren died in May at the age of 96. Christine was a member of the church for many years and was especially a champion of arts and music in our city. We hold her family at this time.
Member Glenda Goldwater has moved to Hawthorne Gardens Senior Living Community after being in the hospital in declining health for several days.
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First Unitarian's Response to Covid-19
Here are a few important updates that affect our life together.
Sunday Worship
Staying Connected
Church Communications: Do you receive messages from the church including this weekly E-News and our Staying Connected emails? To receive church emails send a note to etafuri@firstunitarianportland.org.
Community Justice and Service
Unsure how you can learn, contribute and serve the broader community? Find our "Speaking of Justice: Weekly Update" through our Linktree.
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Naming First Unitarian Foundation in Your Will or Estate Plan
Help assure the long-term sustainability of this beloved congregation by including First Unitarian Portland in your will or estate plan.
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Have a Submission for E-News?If you have a submission you would like published in our weekly Front Steps (E-News), please submit it here with subject line “For E-News.”
Submission deadline is noon on Tuesday.
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| Join us LIVE from your computer or smartphone on Sundays at 10:15 a.m.
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August 30 Shared Plate
On this Music and Worship Sunday, our offering will go to support the Music Ministry of First Unitarian Church.
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Want to know what this church has to offer? Show up for events/classes, stay for connection!
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Trying to find connection with those in the congregation with similar interests?
Contact one of the many groups run by members of the church and connect.
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Share photos of you or your family watching our Sunday livestream or volunteering in our community!
You might see yourself in our pre-service slideshow!
(Your photos gives us permission to publish and/or use images for publications.)
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Moved recently? Changed your phone number or e-mail? Fill out this form.
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