Please Join Our Live Stream
Sunday, April 4, 2021Family Worship Service at 9:15 a.m.
Worship Service at 10:15 a.m.
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Rolling Away the Stone
Rev. Bill Sinkford
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The message of Easter, mirroring the rebirth in the earth around us, is that we can rise. We are ready for these Covid days to end, ready to re-emerge. But as we roll away the pandemic stone, how will we discover the world has changed? How will we discover that we have changed? What will be asked of us as we emerge?
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Bill's BlogPassoverIt was the Passover. Jesus gathered his inner circle in an upper room somewhere in Jerusalem to celebrate. He blessed the wine and the bread, told his followers to drink and eat, that liberation was there for them as it had been for the Jews held in bondage.
It was not a promise of ease. Forty years in the wilderness followed that escape from bondage across the Sea of Reeds. The Jews were spared that last plague, but not the arduous journey to freedom.
For the community gathered in that upper room, not just the cross lay ahead, but many decades of persecution before some version of his message would receive official blessing. Safety would be a long time coming...continued.
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Family WorshipThe Easter Story
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| We’ll tell the story of Easter this week featuring a special Wonder Box item to help us explore our monthly theme of Awe.
Rev. Tom Disrud will bring the main story and Cassandra Scheffman will offer a meditation. Dustin Hunley will offer music.
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Holy Week Tenebrae ServiceAs we approach “Holy Week” in the Christian tradition, you are invited to view a special Tenebrae service recorded last year. A Service of Tenebrae, or “Shadows,” is a tradition that dates back to the 12th Century and is an extended meditation of the journey of Jesus leading to Good Friday and the crucifixion. It is a somber, reflective service of music and words that will include passages from scripture and music for Tenebrae from 17th Century composer Marc-Antione Charpentier. Revs. Sinkford and Disrud will lead the service and DeReau Farrar and Joe O’Donnell will offer special music. This service was originally broadcast in 2020.
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| Featured News & EventsTimestamps are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) unless stated otherwise.
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| Gmail Users: You may have to scroll down to the bottom of this message and click on "View Entire Message" to see the complete FrontSteps.
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First Unitarian Church Goals for 2021-2024
The Board, in collaboration with the congregation, will be developing church-wide goals to guide us for the next three years. In the past the church has set five-year goals, but with the uncertainty of the pandemic and because we will be settling a new Senior Minister next year, the Board believes three-year goals make the most sense for this cycle. Please link to the fillable form questionnaire and let us know your ideas for our future goals.
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Alliance Presents... Building Housing, Hope & Futures
Bienestar, an Alliance Allocations Recipient
Wednesday, April 7th, 12:30 p.m.
All are welcome! Presented by Gracie Garcia, Resident Services Director.
Non-Alliance members may email here for the Zoom link.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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NEW - Saturday Eco-Meditations at Mount Tabor
Saturdays, April 10 and 17, 9 a.m.
Intern Minister Stacey Mitchell will lead outdoor meditations (using Covid safety protocols). There will be a guided meditation component to each session, as we connect to our sacred earth. Beginners are welcome.
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NEW - Mindfulness Meditation with Katie Radditz and Sara Hamill
Saturday, April 10, 3 p.m.
Quiet the mind, look deeply, and enjoy the wonders of life within and around us through the practices of sitting, walking, paying attention, deep relaxation, and sharing together. Beginners are welcome.
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NEW - Survival Lessons: Reclaiming Your Life After Loss
Saturdays, April 10, 17, 24 & May 1, 10 a.m.
This four-session class will focus on telling our stories and identifying ways to experience healing and transformation following the death of a loved one. Limited to 8 participants.
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Antiracism Learning CirclesRead one book or several! Join other folks in this new spring session.
To join a cohort, read a synopsis, or if you would like further details, click on a book title you are interested in listed below:
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UUA General Assembly Wednesday, June 23 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
General Assembly is the annual gathering of UUs to do the business of our denomination. This year GA will be held virtually June 23-27, 2021. GA is a busy, fun week filled with worship, workshops, community building, business meetings, ceremonies, lectures, witness, singing (this year, a virtual choir) and much more. You can attend as a participant or represent our church as a delegate. GA in June of 2022 will be in Portland!
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Tales from the Pandemic: Celebrating our Humor, Patience & Resilience
Monday, April 5, 12:30 p.m.
After several weeks of scrambling to get a COVID-19 vaccination, we seem to have used just about every tool in our toolbox—and we’re still nowhere near done! Paul Iarrobino will share his experiences trying to help older adults sign up for appointments, pulling out all the stops, and telling it with humor. Do you have a story to share too? Let’s gather and reflect on our collective resilience!
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Vesper Prayer Service
Fridays at 5 p.m.
End your week with a brief quiet time of prayer, reflection, meditation and music offered by our Lay Ministers. Let this be a pause at the end of the week, to receive and to be held in love, without the need to converse. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. (An ongoing commitment is not required.)
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Caring Circle for Parents
Monday, April 5, & 19 at 7 p.m.
In these challenging times for families, our lay ministers invite you to join a Caring Circle for parents. This small group will meet every other week to provide listening and support to one another. (An ongoing commitment is not required.)
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Social Justice Action Item
Action request: Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG) supports the 2021 legislative priorities identified by the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ): strengthening the state sanctuary bill, supporting public safety alternatives to policing, and acknowledging the intersection of immigrant, racial and climate justice. To keep abreast of current actions related to these priorities, please refer to the IMIrJ Running Action List here. This list is updated regularly to offer the most timely information about these legislative priorities.
Meeting announcement: Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG) holds their regular monthly meeting on Sunday, March 28th 1-2:30 p.m.. To receive a zoom invitation to this meeting, please contact Ann.
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Social Justice Action Item
Support HB 3265
Support HB 3265 which will update & strengthen the 30+ year old Oregon sanctuary law. In the next two weeks help the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ) make 500 calls to Democratic (only) legislators requesting their support for this bill.
Among other things, this bill would prohibit warrantless arrests at courthouses, ban ICE detention contracts, and prohibit racial profiling in prisons/jails. Contact information for your legislators can be found here.
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SW HOPE Community Food Drive Needs Your Help
Are you getting an income tax refund or stimulus payment soon? Then COHHO asks you to consider sharing some of those funds with your Southwest Portland neighbors. Neighborhood House is now holding a fundraiser to serve the ever-increasing number of families who depend on their food pantry for sustenance.
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Art For Social Justice
The Speaking of Justice Editorial Team offers weekly art to deepen our connection to the work for social justice and building the Beloved Community.
Curated by Ethel Gullette, Speaking of Justice Editorial Team
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Am She, Nikki Rosa & My House by Nikki Giovanni
April is Poetry month, and Nikki Giovanni is a great poet to start off the month. Nikki Giovanni reads her poems "Am She," ""Nikki Rosa," and "My House." Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni, Jr. (born June 7, 1943) is an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator.
Giovanni gained initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement. Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement of the period, her early work provides a strong, militant African-American perspective, leading one writer to dub her the "Poet of the Black Revolution."
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In the Community
Member Fran Daggett died on March 27 at the age of 86. Fran seemed to know EVERYBODY, and had enough love for all. The church community was an important part of Fran’s life. We hold Fran’s daughters, Robin and Carrie, her six grandchildren and her many friends at this time of loss. Her family plans a memorial service in a few weeks.
Member Tom Ruddy died on March 17 at the age of 84. Tom joined the church in 2003 and was a greeter. He leaves a son and family as well as a cadre of second service friends here at the church.
James Thomas Smith, brother of member Bill Smith and brother-in-law of staff member Dana Buhl died on March 14 at his home in Jacksonville, Texas. We send Jim’s family our prayers as they grieve his loss. May they find comfort in their love and family bonds.
Suzanne Okrasinski Smith, sister of member Ted Okrasinski, died March 12 in Cherryville, NC. Suzanne recently entered hospice with Lewy body dementia. She was 77 and leaves two grown children and five grandchildren. Four months ago Suzanne recovered from COVID which affected every patient in her care facility.
Members Bill Cunninghame and Steve Nelson were married in a small, private ceremony in the Eliot Chapel, on March 23. The ceremony was on the anniversary of their first weekend together and they planned to honeymoon at the same hotel where they stayed 18 years ago. We celebrate with them and send them our love.
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TONIGHT - Board of Trustees Meeting
Open Board Meeting at 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 1, 2021
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We have passed a milestone in the church’s history that none of us could ever have predicted – we have not been in our buildings for an entire year. Though we all miss being together, our virtual ministry has allowed our beloved community to expand beyond just those who can drive to the church. I have met several of our new community members at Virtual Coffee Hour and enjoyed hearing their stories about how they connected with First Unitarian. Our virtual ministry and community will continue to be important even as we come together again.
Ministry and staff have been thinking about how and when we will regather when circumstances allow. They are consulting with congregants as they explore alternatives and develop plans. The transition back to meeting in person is more complicated than our move to the virtual world and will take more time to figure out....continue.
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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.
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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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Having trouble viewing our services through the website?
Find our Live Streams on Boxcast, Youtube or on Facebook.
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Have a Submission for E-News?If you have a church-related 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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Sunday Live Stream
& Social Schedule
Join us LIVE from your computer or smart device by clicking on the links below.
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April Shared PlateCully Neighborhood Renter Relief Fund: Living Cully started in 2010 as a collaboration between community organizations to improve the quality of life for people of color and low-income people in Northeast Portland’s Cully neighborhood.
They work to ensure that Cully will always be a place where people of color and low-income people can live and thrive. During this last year, COVID-19 has hit the Cully Neighborhood particularly hard. Some have lost friends and family members; many have lost jobs and are struggling with mounting expenses. Back-rent is coming due, food budgets are strained, and bills need to be paid. The Cully Neighborhood Renter Relief Fund insures that all money collected goes directly to Cully renters...continue.
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Want to know what this church has to offer? Show up for events/classes/socials and stay engaged!
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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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Moved recently? Changed your phone number or e-mail? Fill out this form.
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