Join Us for WorshipSunday, September 19, 2021
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New Service Times!
Family Service at 10 a.m.
Sanctuary Service at 11 a.m.
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Promises and PracticesRev. Bill Sinkford
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Our liberal faith is based on covenant, not a creed of belief. Covenant is a promise. Covenant states an aspiration. But covenant more importantly is a practice, which can for better and worse become a habit.
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Staying Connected BlogThis Place is Sanctuary
Rev. Bill Sinkford
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It felt good to “launch” a new church year last Sunday, even if it was, once again, at a distance. We were able to see our choir singing via video—not the same as in person but we were at least able to have an image of our singers there together in community. And it was felt good imagining all of you out there gathered on Sunday morning. That imagination has been one of the things that has sustained me in these months when we have not been together in person...continued.
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Family Worship
"God in Each of Us"Rev. Thomas Disrud
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This Sunday Rev. Tom will tell a story entitled “Sophia’s Guest” about how we can see the divinity in every person and how that is part of the covenant we all share together. Cassandra will offer this week’s meditation and Dustin will offer music. Join us!
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NEW! - Â Ministerial Search Committee Forum
This Sunday, September 19 // 12:30 p.m.
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Come meet the team, and discuss the results of the survey & the timeline. We will review the process for bringing you a candidate to be called as the next Senior Minister for First Unitarian Church. A summary of the survey results can be found here.
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2021 Social Justice Community Gather-In & Retreat
DON'T MISS OUT! - All are invited to join us for spiritual sustenance, relationship & skill-building!
Saturday, September 25 // 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. In gathering to meet UU peers at 8:30 a.m.
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Covid has created some significant obstacles to our congregation’s social justice work, but the explosion of passion for racial and climate justice in our society has opened up many possibilities! The social justice community gather-in and retreat will offer spiritual sustenance, relationship building, and concrete skills for this work and these circumstances, with a focus on the priorities and practices that are most relevant right now...continued.
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SIGN UP TODAY! - Antiracism Learning Circles are Back!
Offering 8 books/podcasts and 11 Learning Circle CohortsStarting this month.
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Learning Circles provide a supportive place to grapple personally and deeply with racism and white supremacy and help inform how we can take action for antiracism in our lives. These are small discussion groups based on a book or a podcast. Some meet weekly and some less often.
Registration required.
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Speaking of Justice Blog
Make Your Voice Heard to Help Save the Climate
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After failure by the Oregon legislature to adopt any meaningful climate legislation in the 2019 Legislative Session, Governor Kate Brown did what she could to reduce greenhouse gases through an Executive Order. EO 20-04 set new science-based emissions reduction goals for Oregon and directed state agencies to write plans for how they will use their statutory authority to help meet the goals..continued.
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NEW! - What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat
Thursdays, October 14 through November 18 // 7 - 8:30 p.m.
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“Love us enough to take a hard look not just at how you’ve been hurt by anti-fatness, but how you’ve been complicit in it. Love us enough to do a little bit better.” – Aubrey Gordon
Body Liberation is a part of our anti-oppression work and our commitment to the 8th Principle. Body Liberation is a movement to change cultural paradigms which tell us that some bodies are more acceptable and deserving of love and care than others. We know in our hearts that this is not true, don’t we? Then how do we confront the hurt that body judgement has caused us individually, and how do we recognize our unconscious biases so we do not harm others.
Join Debbie Kaufman, Senior Instructor at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, for a book discussion and exploration of weight science and health; the ways in which society has taught us to be critical of our own bodies; how weight stigma, bias, and discrimination hurt all of us and intersect with our other social justice work; and how to publicly support and defend fat people. We will read What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon. (UU World recommended reading for 2021!)  Registration required.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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Vesper Prayer ServiceResumes this Friday, September 17 // 5 p.m.
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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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NEW! - Immigrant Justice Action Group Invitation
Saturday, September 26 // 1Â - 2:30 p.m.
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The Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG) will begin holding monthly meetings. Our regularly scheduled meetings are the fourth Sunday of the month from 1-2:30pm (September-May). Please join us to learn more about issues being faced by immigrants and refugees, programs and organizations that serve these populations, and actions that you may take to support our immigrant and refugee neighbors.
Until further notice, IJAG meetings will be held via zoom. Please contact Mary Ann Barham to request a zoom link for the meeting.Â
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NEW! - Portland Homeless Family Solutions
Friday, October 8 // 5:30 p.m.
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Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) will host their annual Family Reunion fundraiser virtually this year (see their events page). Virtual guests will go behind the scenes and hear intimate stories from PHFS families and staff and learn the impact of their work.
COHHO members hope you will join us in supporting this amazing organization that helps families experiencing homelessness get back into housing of their own.Â
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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THIS SATURDAY! -Â Nourishing the Spirit
Monthly, Starting September 18Â // 10:30 a.m. - 12Â p.m.
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In a world of violence, injustice, and loss, the spirit struggles to stay hopeful when many of us feel burned out, discouraged, and exhausted. It is helpful to gather in community to share our journeys and affirm each other’s experience. This monthly gathering offers collective spiritual practices to strengthen the bonds among us.
An ongoing commitment is not required.
Facilitated by Rev. Katherine Jesch.
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UPCOMING! -Â Loving Kindness Meditation
Mondays Starting, September 20 // 8Â - 8:30 p.m.
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Join us for a moment each week to extend Loving-Kindness to yourself, to those around you and to the world. Surround yourself in the blessings from those who have loved you and those who love you now. With this Meditation, over time, one can cultivate feelings of happiness and dispel loneliness, while letting go of fear and anxiety. No previous meditation experience necessary. An ongoing commitment is not required.
Facilitated by Pat Malone, Katie Radditz and Steven Storla.
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UPCOMING! - Living The Questions
Starts Wednesday, September 22 // 8Â - 9:15 a.m.
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One way we can continue to nurture and support one another is by keeping focus on the perennial values that give meaning to our daily lives.
We invite you to join us each week for contemplative conversation. An ongoing commitment is not required.Â
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Interested in Spiritual Deepening in a Small Group?
How will you take care of your soul this year?Â
Wellspring Sources starts virtually in October, 7 - 9 p.m.
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Wellspring offers spiritual deepening within our Unitarian Universalist tradition, an opportunity for learning more about ourselves and our faith through a 10-month virtual small group experience.Â
Spaces are limited.Â
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Handbells are Back! Let's Get Ringing!Â
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Have you missed being in a music ensemble and want to get back into it? Have you never touched a handbell before but always wanted to give it a shot? Now's your chance!
The handbell programs are welcoming old and new members into their Warbington Chimes, Beacon Bells, and Parker Bells ensembles for the 2021-2022 church year.Â
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TAKE FOCUS - International Day of Peace
Tuesday, September 21
From Peace Action Group (PAG)
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The Peace Action Group and the UU@UN Envoy team would like to call your attention to the International Day of Peace. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease fire.
We invite you to take a moment in these troubled times to join the efforts of the United Nations family as we focus on the theme, "Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World."
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TAKE ACTION! - Influence Oregon Policy on the Climate
CFE Gives Instructions for How to Take ActionÂ
by October 4, 2021 // 4 p.m.
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Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is writing the rules for how Oregon greenhouse gas emissions will be capped and reduced.  This is the most important opportunity we'll have for some time to strengthen Oregon’s policy on climate. Now through October 4th, DEQ is accepting public comment. Community for Earth would like your help by submitting your comments. Click the link below to learn how you can write and submit your comment.
If you'd like some guidance in writing your comment, please REGISTER HERE for the Comment Writing Workshop through the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon on Monday, September 20 from 6pm-7pm, or refer to the The Public Testimony Guide prepared by the Metro Climate Action Team for more details and sample letter. Community for Earth thanks you for making your voice heard!
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Art for Social JusticeThe Speaking of Justice Editorial Team offers weekly art to deepen our connection to the work for social justice and building the Beloved Community.Â
Curated by Ethel Gullette, Speaking of Justice Editorial Team
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COMMISSIONS FOR NOW Ep.1: "Normal Never Was" by Jasmine Barnes
Normal Never Was, Resonance Ensemble’s imaginative 12th season, continues to respond to the striking new challenges of the pandemic and to those that always were: racial and gender violence, inequality, and loss.
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In the Community
Longtime member Pat McLean died on August 27, just shy of her 92nd birthday. Pat died of COVID 19 as well as from complications related to diabetes. Pat served as wedding coordinator here at the church for a number of years. She was also active in our Alliance. She leaves three children, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. We hold Pat’s family at this time of loss.Â
John Cobb Cooper III, died peacefully at home on September 7, just a week shy of his 100th birthday. He spent his last days surrounded by his family, which includes long time members John, Zaida and Sonrisa Cooper. John was a World War II veteran and he lived a long and fulfilling life and his family and friends will miss him dearly. Please keep the entire Cooper family in your thoughts and prayers.
A memorial service will be held on September 25 for member Roger Meyer died on December 1 at the age of 92. The service will be at 2 p.m. in Eliot Chapel and also live streamed here.
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Naming First Unitarian Foundation in Your Will or Estate PlanHelp 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 Tuesdays.
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Sunday Live StreamÂ
& Social Schedule
NEW TIMES! - Join us LIVE from your computer or smart device by clicking on the links below. Â
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Sept. Shared Plate
For the month of September, we share our plate with the Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy's disaster relief fund. These funds go directly to frontline communities in the Gulf South impacted by climate disasters. GCCLP's mission is to advance structural shifts toward climate justice and ecological equity in communities of color on the frontline of climate...continued.
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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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