Please Join Our Live Stream
Sunday, February 28, 2021Family Worship Service at 9:15 a.m.
Worship Service at 10:15 a.m.
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When I’m Wrong
Rev. T.J. FitzGerald, Guest Preacher
Learning is essential to any life of faith. Sometimes we learn by simply adding new information. But other more painful ways of learning involve being wrong and learning what to do about it so that we can see the whole picture more clearly.
Reverend T. J. is the minister of First Unitarian Church of Honolulu and a former intern minister of First Unitarian. He also serves as the statewide organizer in Hawaii for the Poor People's Campaign, and he is the producer and host of the television show Now That You Asked Me about living lives of faith in the Hawaiian Islands (currently on forced hiatus by the pandemic). He is also the author of the forthcoming book Together Again: Reconstructing a LIfe of Meaning, available this Spring.
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Bill's Blog The Art of Repair: Life Is What Makes Us
Kintsugi is a Japanese approach to pottery repair in which cracks are filled with golden lacquer, highlighting the shapes of the cracks with the valuable material. The flowing shape of the flaws adds to the beauty of the piece.
The technique was developed accidentally when 15th-century shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa broke his favorite tea bowl. He sent it to China to be repaired and was disappointed that it came back stapled together...continued.
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Family WorshipHonoring Each Other
In order to feel whole, we must be free to be ourselves. In relationships, we honor each other as the people we are meant to be. Sometimes we make mistakes, but we heal through love. Cassandra will offer a story. Dustin will lead our hymns and share music, and Nicole will lead us in meditation.
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| Featured News & EventsTimestamps are Pacific Standard Time (PST) 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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'Til Earth & Heaven Ring with DeReau Farrar
Saturday, February 27, 1 p.m.
Join Director of Music DeReau Farrar through a listening tour of music that has emerged from the 2020 Uprising for Black Lives. Using this music as sacred text, we will aim to hear what it may be demanding of our spirits.
What are some common themes? Where do we fit into the narrative that inspired this creation? What can we point to as we seek wholeness for and within this broken system?
REGISTRATION ENDS TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 26, AT 12 p.m.
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Consider How You Can Support First Unitarian With a Legacy Commitment through the Church's Foundation
Foundation Month
March is Foundation Month, a time to reflect on the impact and commitment of supporting First Unitarian's future by leaving a legacy gift. Join current Legacy Society members of First Unitarian Portland by making your gift intent today. You can include First Unitarian in your estate plan by leaving a portion of your estate to the Foundation.
Members of the Foundation’s Board will be available at a Zoom informational session every Sunday in March after services, starting March 7 from 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. to answer your questions and share helpful resources for those who are wondering about planned giving to the Foundation to benefit the church.
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Speaking of Justice Blog: Faith in Action
Letter from the Editors
We are happy to announce the reboot of Speaking of Justice: Faith in Action blog. Prior to the pandemic, Speaking of Justice was a periodic e-magazine. Once our church community switched to virtual gathering, we had a Speaking of Justice weekly update as a means to communicate calls to action and activities of our social justice action groups at First Unitarian Portland. We’ve rebranded and repackaged...continue.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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Invitation to Spiritual Practice
Occasional Saturdays, Starting March 6, at 3 p.m.
First Session "Writing as Spiritual Practice"
If you are looking to explore a new spiritual practice or bring a fresh perspective to a personal practice, please join us.
On March 6, join us for Writing as Spiritual Practice with Patty Clement .
We will discuss several types of writing practice that help you access and express your deepest truths. Limited to 15 participants.
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The Spiritual Directors of First Unitarian Portland offer five sessions on exploring spiritual practices. Through discussion and engagement of prayer, poetry, meditation, gratitude and music participants will be guided to respond together in beloved community. (An on-going commitment is not required, but spaces are limited).
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Human Rights with Rep. Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez & First Unitarian's UN Committee
Tuesday, March 9, 7 p.m.
First Unitarian Portland’s United Nations Committee is pleased to invite the congregation to learn more about United Nations Rep. Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez’s human rights work in Central and South America.
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Last Wishes with Rev. Disrud & Attorney Tabitha Koh
Sunday, March 14, 1 p.m.
We don’t like to think about or plan for death, but if we can make our wishes known we give a gift to those we leave behind. This class offers a space to think through the decisions related to the end of life. During this seminar, participants will make a checklist for a “last wishes” file: a will, final services, legal and medical issues.
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Uncovering Our Resilience, Gratitude, & Connections During COVID-19
First & Third Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
Together, we will share our challenges and through storytelling, discover how we might create a path of healing. This class is formatted for older adults.
Facilitator: Paul Iarrobino is the founder of Our Bold Voices. Paul helps individuals harness their inner strengths to remove barriers and rediscover their purpose.
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Friendship & Fun Wednesdays
Every Wednesday, 5 p.m.
Do you want to simply have fun and interesting conversations with new folks or folks you haven’t seen for a while at First Unitarian?
The facilitator-lead gathering will begin with an ice-breaker topic/question each week. Come with your favorite beverage or treat and be together through conversation. (An on-going commitment is not required.)
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Vesper Prayer Service
Every Friday 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, March 8, 22, April 5, and 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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Why We "Lift Every Voice & Sing"
The Story Behind the "Black National Anthem"
DeReau will be leading us in this hymn throughout February. Check out the origins of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," the song unofficially known as the "Black National Anthem."
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Support Your Right to Repair Legislation
Oregon UU Voices for Justice Action of the Week
OR UU Voices for Justice advocates for and joins OSPIRG in supporting legislation for a Right to Repair our electronic goods (cell phones, monitors, TVs etc). This is a consumer and environmental issue as well as having implications for worldwide conflicts and maybe even war.
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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.
Nina Simone - I Wish I Knew
(How It Would Feel To Be Free)
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Member Cheryl Lynn Macy died on February 13 at the age of 75 of pancreatic cancer. She died at home looking out at the snow with her close friends Julia Spence and Tyrae Mahan with her. Cheryl was a part of the church for over 40 years and was a longtime bookstore volunteer. She also worked on the church’s 150th anniversary committee. It was her wish that there will be a memorial gathering when her friends can be together in person, so that will be at some point in the future.
Member Al Ringquist died peacefully on February 10 at the age of 73. Al lived with Type 1 diabetes for 64 years and his wife Alice says he can now rest quietly from the good fight, in a place where there is no diabetes. Al leaves Alice, his daughter Rebecca and his grandsons Leo and Harvey who will miss his presence in their lives. He was an outstanding example of courage, fortitude and grace; and we will always treasure his love for us as he traveled beside us
Member Bob Atkins died on February 10 at the age of 95. His wife, Pat, says that Alzheimer's had gradually pulled him away over a number of years. Bob was a devoted church member including service as a teacher in our learning community for many years. We hold Pat at this time.
Member Suzanne Friend sustained a fractured patella earlier this month and is now staying with her son in Happy Valley for her first weeks of recovery until she can be walking again
We hold Espen Vösu, a 4th grader in our Learning Community, following a serious injury to their hand that will require continued treatment. The family, including Espen's older sibling, Silas, and mom, Bonny, welcome our healing and positive thoughts during this time.
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Memorial Service for Everett Goodwin
Saturday, February 27, 1 p.m.
A memorial service via Zoom has been scheduled for former member Everett Goodwin who died on December 5, 2020, in Pocatello, ID, where Everett lived in recent years.
Everett was 78 and a regular attender of First Unitarian during his years in Portland. He was a poet and loved to share his work and the work of fellow writers. He was also part of our men’s community.
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February Moderator Letter
We have nearly hit the one-year mark in our move to being a virtual church. It has been a year requiring creativity and resilience from our ministers and staff. They have all done a wonderful job reimagining how we “do church,” and keeping us all connected during this time of separation. Our move to becoming a virtual church was made smoother and easier by our forwarding thinking ministers, who put us on the path to upgrading our technology and starting live streaming of our services several years ago...continued.
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COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility & Appointments
How to Schedule a Vaccination Appointment
The following is updated information about how to schedule your COVID-19 Vaccination. If you would like help with scheduling your vaccination appointment, please send an email to The Alliance.
We recommend reading the instructions before signing up...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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February 28 Shared PlateOn February 28, we will share our plate with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) for their Texas Crisis Response. The extreme winter storm in Texas coupled with inequitable policies and failed leadership have created deadly conditions for people living with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, undocumented immigrants, and others who are disproportionately left out of immediate aid...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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