Sunday Live Streaming ServiceSunday, May 10: 10:15 a.m.
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Roots and Wings
Rev. Bill Sinkford
Rev. Bill will be joined by three mothers who will offer their personal stories of the complex and challenging and beautiful experience of motherhood. We will celebrate mothers (and all who parent) with gratitude, on a day which is so much more complicated that those Hallmark cards ask us to believe.
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Bill's Blog Stay
The Sweet Gum tree outside my kitchen has finally leafed. It is always a “late bloomer” and the leaves are still unfolding a bit, up here on the hill where I live. I love being present to the greening of that tree, though it makes me wait each year, and though I am already missing the stark outlines of the branches against the grey winter sky.
For me, this is a time between. Though winter is so clearly over, whatever summer will bring is only beginning to emerge. But there are signs. The ferns along my front path, planted by previous inhabitants of our house, have put out a profusion of new bright green leaves. They haven’t produced new leaves like this since we’ve lived here. I thought they were dying. But something in this season has called out new life in them...Continued
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First Unitarian's Response to COVID-19
Here are a few important updates that affect our life together:
Staying Connected
Church Communications: Do you receive messages from the church including this weekly enews and our Staying Connected emails? To receive church emails send a note to etafuri@firstunitarianportland.org.
Sunday Worship
We will be offering virtual worship at 10:15 a.m. until further notice.
Coffee Hour with the Ministers
Wednesday at 8 a.m., join the ministers and fellow congregants on zoom for a simple spiritual check-ins. To join click here. Password: FirstU#
For other ways to connect through classes and small groups, see offerings in this enews.
Community Justice and Service
Please click here to learn how you can contribute and serve our broader community. You'll find it in our Speaking of Justice weekly update.
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Collaborating with Immigrant Business Owner
Immigrant Justice Action Group Provides Masks to Bienestar
In response to the Covid-19 crisis, IJAG is collaborating with Bienestar to provide residents with face masks. IJAG is collecting mask-making materials and funds to pay immigrant community members to help meet the goal of 2,000 masks. Already, First Unitarian Portland has commissioned Jeanne-Pierre Nuglose, owner of Nkossi African Boutique, to make a large batch of masks that will be donated to Bienestar.
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Ballots Have Been Mailed
If you are a voting member, your ballot is in the mail.
Your postal-mailed ballot must be received in the church office by Thursday, May 14, so make sure you review the packet carefully, cast your votes on the enclosed ballots, and mail them back using the provided envelope in time to be counted.
If you are expecting a ballot and do not receive one by Saturday, May 2, please contact Erin.
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Black Lives Matter
We honor the life and protest the death of Ahmaud Arbery, the young man murdered in Georgia last February for the "crime" of jogging while Black. While the prosecutors refused to bring the killers to justice, public outcry forced their arrest today.
Good Morning America by Brandon Lee
We brought Order out of Chaos
We shine bright to illuminate the darkness
We taught Humanity how to build and live in alignment with universal laws
We represent the source from which all are descendants
Our ancestors are fire, earth, wind and sky
And yet, we are slaughtered
We are beaten
We are framed
We are symbols of pain and profit...continued
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Nourishing the Spirit: Practice for the Long Haul
Saturday, May 9, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Location: Virtual Class
In community we reawaken the hope, imagination, and passion that sustains us as we work to build the world we see in our dreams. Join us for a rejuvenating class with Rev. Katherine Jesch.
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Reflections on Two Months in Hebron
Monday, May 11, 6:30 p.m.
This is a virtual Zoom event.
Curtis Bell is a retired neuroscientist and a peace activist. He works with the Peace Action Group at First Unitarian Church and the larger Portland Peace movement on the large anti-war protests held in Portland during the early years of the Iraq war. Read more by Curt in this weeks Speaking of Justice.
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Uncovering our Resilience, Gratitude and Connections During COVID-19
Wednesday, May 13, 10–11 a.m.
Location: Virtual Class
This week's topic is: channeling fears into growth. Together, we will share our challenges and through storytelling, discover how we might create a path of healing.
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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Dealing with Loss During COVID-19
Join us for two special storytelling sessions on loss.These 90 minute informal discussions are geared towards older adults.
No Charge.
Facilitator: Paul Iarrobino is the founder of Our Bold Voices. Through storytelling, Paul helps individuals harness their inner strengths.
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General Assembly Delegates Needed
Saturday, June 24–28
Location: Virtual Class
The Unitarian Universalist Association, of which First U Portland is a member, hosts an annual General Assembly, in which UU churches in the US are invited to participate, to set priorities and to celebrate Unitarian Universalism.
This year the General Assembly will be held June 24-28, VIRTUALLY rather than live, due to the impacts of COVID-19. First Unitarian Portland is entitled to twenty delegates, based on our membership. The registration fee is $150 but First U can reimburse fully those who request it. We are seeking volunteers, people who are ready, willing, and able to participate as voting delegates.
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Social Justice and Service
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Speaking of Justice Weekly Update
News. Urgent Community Needs. Actions & Advocacy.
"Love calls us to the sacred work of seeking justice.” This is the core of our social justice covenant at First Unitarian Portland. As we adapt our organizing and actions to this period of physical distancing, the sacred work of justice continues. Click below for updates and articles from our Social Justice Program and our Social Justice Action Groups.
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Learning Community Zoom Sessions Begin!
We’re excited to announce opportunities for our children and youth to connect using Zoom. Sessions will be hosted periodically with our volunteer teachers for each grade level and will offer everyone an opportunity to stay connected and share with one another. Children 1st/2nd and younger should attend with a parent/caretaker. If you don't have a Zoom account, you can still participate in Zoom sessions. Or you can set up a free account ahead of time. We’ll be sending the details to each grade level, so keep an eye on your email for upcoming sessions.
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All Ages Service Project - Get involved at home!
In March, we had planned to gather in the Learning Community to learn about and take part in The Butterfly Effect: Migration is Beautiful project. While we can no longer meet in body to share this experience together, here is a video which will include opportunities to engage with this important effort at home. When we are all together again, we’ll all be able to combine what we’ve created. Please explore the project website.
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Don’t have a Chalice at Home?
Maybe you do! Here’s a creative opportunity with the kids—make a chalice from materials you may have lying around. Lighting a chalice together when watching worship, at the dinner table, or even as part of your bed time ritual can be meaningful and help keep your family grounded during these times.
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Summer Chalice Camp
Update: We understand families need to make plans, and in consideration of our current circumstances, we will be making a decision before or by May 31 about whether we will be able to have Chalice Camp this year. We will keep everyone informed as soon as a decision is made.
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Trans Inclusion in Congregations
Location: Virtual Class
"Welcoming is a spiritual practice." - Transforming Hearts Collective
First Unitarian is offering this virtual class free of charge. You may complete this course on your own time. This educational opportunity is for everyone from novices on trans identity to those with decades of life experience.
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Auction Canceled
The difficult decision has been made to cancel the already postponed auction for this year. It is clear that an auction is neither safe nor feasible at this time or in the near future.
There is great hope that the congregation will be able to come together again in the fall and the auction committee is exploring the option of a potential bake sale at that time to celebrate!
Thank you to those who already donated this year and for those who were planning to – as well as everyone who has made our last seven auctions so successful. We shall all get through this together.
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In the CommunityCommunity milestones, joys, and sorrows
Norma Conant, grandmother of staff member Cassandra Scheffman, died on April 27 at the age of 94. She was like a parent in raising Cassandra who attributes many of her core values to her grandmother. She will be remembered for her genuine kindness and generosity toward all people and animals, dedication to her family, and spirit of helping. Cassandra appreciates being held in your thoughts through this time of loss.
Member Ron Jamtgaard died on May 4 at the age of 87, surrounded by his family. Ron and his wife, Shirley, joined the church in 1981. Rom will be buried at Willamette National Cemetery on May 8. We hold them in our prayers this week.
Members Jeanna and Ellen Summers are pleased to share news of the birth of their grandson, Mycah Summers Polk. Mycah was born on March 2 to daughter Tori and her partner Prince Polk. Mycah joins big brother Marquis age 8.
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April 2020 Board of Trustees Moderator Letter
Greetings,
Well, it has been a month since we implemented our physical distancing and safe ways of being with each other. The board hopes you all are healthy and continuing to find the gifts in your life.
We are blessed to have ministers and staff who are holding our spirits with outstanding services & music, and keeping our physical facilities day by day, while also looking and planning ahead for how we will be together in the coming months.
It is likely we will have virtual church services for the rest of our church year. These have been very well ‘attended’. If you haven’t, please tune in, and continue to monitor the church website and bulletins for ways to stay connected.
First Unitarian is committed to pay all our staff through the month of April. We have applied for a Payroll Protection Loan, part of the CARES Act, which if received will allow us to extend that for approximately two additional months...Continued
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Sunday, May 3 Attendance:
Livestream: 886
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Faked Email Messages “from Rev. Bill”
They’re becoming more frequent: “Spoofed” email messages that appear to be from Bill Sinkford asking for your help. Email spoofing is an actual thing! It is the creation of email messages with a forged email address for the purpose of fooling the recipient into providing money or sensitive information. In our case, the messages look like they’re from Bill. But they’re not. Spoofed emails are very prevalent because it is incredibly easy to spoof an address. Fortunately, a spoofed email message does not mean that your email (or Bill’s) has been hacked or compromised.
So how can you tell when a message is spoofed? A quick way to check if Bill is the actual sender is to carefully check the full email header. This is where important details are located. By reviewing the header of the email, you’re able to determine the actual email address of the sender.
Bill’s email address is bsinkford@firstunitarianportland.org. If the sender’s email isn’t EXACTLY this email address…and you really have to look carefully…it isn’t from Bill!
And sorry to say, email spoofing isn’t something that’s under our control to stop. So it’s up to each of us to pay close attention to the sender’s complete email address, not just the name.
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Why Pronouns Matter
At church and elsewhere, it’s becoming more common for people to introduce themselves with the pronouns they use, and to ask, “What pronouns do you use?” Though this may be an unfamiliar question for you, becoming comfortable with it is a way to live our UU principles.
Here’s why:
Gender is a primary way our creative identities interact with the world. Many people feel comfortable with the gender assigned to them at birth based on their genitals, assigned male or female, and are called cisgender. (Cis means “on the same side of,” so for these people, gender and sex-at-birth align.) For many others, their assigned gender is not a true or comfortable identity. Read more here.
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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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Do You Have an Item for E-news and/or the Sunday Bulletin?
If you have an item you’d like published in our weekly Front Steps (eNews) or the Sunday Bulletin, please submit it here and include in the subject line “For eNews” –or– “For Sunday Bulletin” –or– “For eNews and Sunday Bulletin.”
Deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday.
Because space is limited in our Sunday Bulletin, we’re unable to run articles for more than a week or two in advance, depending on the number of submissions. Articles may need to be shortened if space is tight.
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| Sunday Livestream
Join us LIVE from your computer or smartphone on Sundays at 10:15 a.m.
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Jump to our program resources!
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May’s Shared Plate
Since 1968, Outside In has helped to break the cycles of chronic homelessness, poverty, and poor health among those experiencing houselessness, and the underserved. Outside In has risen to the challenge of continuing supportive programming for youth and marginalized people amidst the Covid-19 crisis. Their clinics and pharmacies are operating, behavioral health treatment continues remotely, and meals are provided for young adults, ages 18 - 24. Until this month, one challenge they faced was a lack of space in their cramped basement, making it difficult to maintain healthy distancing for their food program. In addition to sharing our plate, First Unitarian is now providing space and staff support for their Food Pantry and Free Food Market. It is with gratitude that we share our plate with Outside In.
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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. If you are unsure about a particular group's schedule, please contact their leader.
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What's your family doing together while you’re spending more time at home?
Sharing your photos adds to our media collection and gives us permission to publish and/or use images for publications, website content, and social media.
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Have you moved recently? Changed your phone number or e-mail address? Anything else you'd like to let us know about?
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