Homecoming!
Join Us for Worship this SundaySeptember 12, 2021
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New Service Times!
Family Worship Service at 10 a.m.
Sanctuary Service at 11 a.m.
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The Transient and the Permanent
Rev. Bill Sinkford
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We will gather to begin the church year. But we will not be in person, for a second year. Through all the changes around us and the changes within us, what abides in our faith to ground and guide us? What promises can we make to help us move forward together toward liberation and love?
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Staying Connected BlogHomecoming
Rev. Bill Sinkford
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This coming Sunday, Unitarian Universalist churches around the country will be gathering to begin another church year, Homecoming Sunday.
Why call some Sunday in the early fall Homecoming, some of you may ask? Worship, pastoral care and programming continue through the summer. It has been a long time since Unitarian churches closed during July and August. Are we simply reflecting the school calendar, with students re-gathering in person this fall? For a community that values education so highly, following the schools would seem almost natural...continued.
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Family Worship
Hello Friends
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Welcome back to Family Worship this Sunday at 10 a.m.! We're excited to see you on Homecoming Sunday as we livestream our Family Worship service from the Eliot Chapel.
Cassandra will lead our service and bring out the Wonder Box to introduce our spiritual theme for September, Covenant, and share a story with us. What does it mean to be a friend? Can friendships overcome disagreements, hard times, or separation? Why does friendship matter? Dustin will lead our music, and Nicole will offer our meditation.
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Speaking of Justice BlogThis Year, Our Shared Plate Centers Climate Justice
Dana Buhl, Director of Social Justice
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Climate crisis is real. We are experiencing and witnessing increasingly devastating climate disasters, here in the Pacific NW, across this continent and across the globe. This church year, our weekly shared offering will focus on climate justice initiatives, from disaster recovery and mitigation to innovative solutions that center the experiences, well-being and building of power for frontline communities who are most adversely affected by the climate crisis...continued.
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We Grieve. We Rage. We Organize
Director of Social Justice Dana Buhl Responds to the Texas Abortion Ban From September 5, 2021, Worship Service
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Like many of you, my mind, gut and heart keep traveling to Texas in rage, in despair, in fear, and back again to rage. Abortion has essentially been made illegal in Texas. Vigilantes have been released on women, girls, people with a uterus...and on anyone who would support us in any way to get primary healthcare we need. Those of us who are most adversely affected are poor and working class people--disproportionately Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant...read more.
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NEW! - Handbells are Back! Let's Get Ringing!
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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.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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TOMORROW - 9/11: Twenty Years of War, Stoking Fear, Erasing Rights and Misdirected Funding
Friday, September 10 // 4:30 p.m.
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Speakers will address issues that have plagued America and thus, the world, after the U.S. chose to start endless wars rather than seek justice. Other than the wars, which expanded from Afghanistan to Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Libya, Somalia and Syria, topics will include threats to civil liberties/the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, and the rise in Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiments.
Location: Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW Yamhill and Broadway Please mask up and stay distanced for safety.
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NEW! - Loving Kindness Meditation
Mondays Starting, September 20 // 8 p.m. - 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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Vesper Prayer ServiceResumes 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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2021 Social Justice Community Gather-In & Retreat
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! - Antiracism Learning Circles are Back!
Offering 8 books/podcasts and 11 Learning Circle CohortsStarting this September
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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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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Living The Questions
Starts Wednesday, September 22 // 8 a.m. - 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.
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Interested in Spiritual Deepening in a Small Group?
How will you take care of your soul this year?
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.
Spaces are limited.
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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.
Curated by Ethel Gullette, Speaking of Justice Editorial Team
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Let Justice Roll Down: A Song by Aileen Vance
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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 Stream
& Social Schedule
NEW TIMES! - Join us LIVE from your computer or smart device by clicking on the links below.
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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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