Please Join Our Live Stream
Sunday, April 25, 2021Family Worship Service at 9:15 a.m.
Worship Service at 10:15 a.m.
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Waiting to Exhale
Rev. Bill Sinkford
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The Minneapolis verdict has offered brief but welcome relief. As we allow ourselves to exhale, we will seek clarity about what should and should not relieve us and, as we breathe in again, what we must be prepared for.
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It is Earth Day. I awoke mindful of needing to be present to this day and all that it requires. Present to the damage our species has done and to the danger that we may well not have the good sense to change. Present also to our belated but growing understanding of the danger and the possibilities that the forced slowdown of the pandemic have made possible. Re-opening offers us a chance to make new choices.Â
I awoke on this Earth Day mindful that I and we are at a juncture, a time of choice. And the choice, as it always seems to be, is between cursing and blessing the world, between cursing and blessing ourselves...continued.
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Family WorshipAn Awesome Girl
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This Sunday Nicole will explore awe through the story of an awesome girl and a team whose support helped her achieve her dreams.Â
Dustin will offer hymns, and Cassandra will guide us through a movement meditation.
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NEW! -Â Meet the Ministerial Search Committee of 2021-22
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Meet the committee this Sunday during First Unitarian's 10:15 a.m. worship service. We are active and looking forward to connecting with the congregation in various ways this spring, summer and fall. Visit our page!
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| Featured News & EventsTimestamps are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) unless stated otherwise.Â
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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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SUNDAY! - Climate Change - What About Diet?
Sunday, April 25, 8:45 a.m.
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NEW - A Picture’s Worth 1,000 Words!
First Unitarian Portland’s Online Photo Directory is coming soon to a computer (or tablet, or phone) near you!
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First U member Nancy Panitch has volunteered to administer a password-protected online photo directory for church members that is similar to the one she created for The Alliance two years ago—which they love! The directory will help us connect names with faces and provide contact information so that we can easily be in touch with one another in our Beloved Community. Â
The directory will include your name, your preferred phone number, preferred email address, and your photo. Â
- If you prefer to opt-out of this directory completely, just send an email. In the body of the email write “Please exclude me from the church directory” and type your full name so we know exactly whom to exclude.
- If you’d like to be in the directory, but don’t want your phone and/or email address included, send an email. In the body of the email, explain what you do and don’t want included.
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Exploring the 8th Principle: A Virtual Workshop
Sunday, May 2, 12 p.m.
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Church ballots will be mailed to all members of First Unitarian Church at the end of April. In addition to voting for Board of Trustees, Nominating Committee, and Foundation candidates, and approving the annual operating budget, members will vote on whether or not to incorporate the 8th Principle into our church bylaws. On May 2nd, the Board of Trustees and Reverend Bill will offer the workshop, "Exploring the 8th Principle."
If you have yet to attend one of these workshops, we invite you to come learn about the 8th Principle and why the Board of Trustees has endorsed its adoption. Learn more about the 8th Principle and congregational endorsements on our church website.
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First Unitarian Church Goals for 2021-2024Â
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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. Get involved by adding your feedback!
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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THIS SATURDAY! - Music as a Spiritual Practice Workshop
Saturday, April 24, 3 p.m.
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Together, we will learn the ways in which music can be incorporated into deepening your spiritual practice. No musical experience is necessary.
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White Supremacy in Oregon: History & Current IssuesWednesdays, Starting May 5 at 6 p.m.
A Five Week Zoom Course
We will collectively build an understanding of how Oregon’s whiteness, historically and today, has functioned, an understanding that will help us move forward to develop a better future for us all.
Instructor:Â Kristin Teigen, MA, M.Ed. educator at PSU
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UPCOMING! - Saturday Eco-Meditations at Mount Tabor and Washington Park
Saturdays, 9 a.m. - May 8, 15, and 22
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.Â
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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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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PHFS Spring Festival a Joyous Success!
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Portland Homeless Family Solutions - PHFS thanks all of you who contributed to their spring festival. Your support helped make the event a fun time for their families and staff.
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Clay Street Table Needs Your Help Now!
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Clay Street Table provided 218,000 meals last year, a 36% increase from 2019. Many of them went to residents of subsidized housing within walking distance of our church.Â
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UU's & Elders Build Momentum for Drawdown InitiativeÂ
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For the past few weeks, UUs and Elders Climate Action have been busy with the UUÂ Project Drawdown Initiative 2021. UU DD 21 mobilizes teams or individuals to earn points for taking a variety of actions for climate and environmental justice.
You can SIGN UP and take part in the challenge at any time until June, when the collective efforts will be compiled in a video to be shared and celebrated at UUA General Assembly. Get inspired with these highlights of progress so far.Â
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Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG) Meeting Sunday, April 25, 1 p.m.
Action Item
priorities established by the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ): HB 3265 which would update and strengthen our 30+ year old sanctuary law;Â HB 2417 which would expand the CAHOOTS program, a proven safety alternative to policing, and the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign (HB 2812, HB 2475, & HB 20) which acknowledges the intersection of immigrant, racial and climate justice. To keep abreast of current actions related to these IMIrJ priorities, please refer to the IMIrJÂ Running Action List here. This action list is updated regularly to offer the most timely information about this legislation.
IJAG also supports the following bills endorsed by other Oregon immigrant organizations:Â HB 2819, Leave No Worker Behind; HB 2358, Farmworker Overtime; and HB 3230, Universal Representation. Watch for additional calls-to-action as the Oregon legislative session continues.
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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.Â
Curated by Ethel Gullette, Speaking of Justice Editorial Team
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Emma’s Revolution, Living Planet
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| Memorial Service for Fran DaggettÂ
Saturday, May 1, 2 p.m. Live-Streamed from Eliot Chapel
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It feels like we are finally leaving winter behind. In keeping with our spiritual theme of “Awe” this month, I have been looking at all we have done together through this past year. One of the things I find awe inspiring is the breadth of our outreach and connection both to those who were here before the pandemic and to those who have joined us as we have journeyed through this year. Though I am experiencing some “Zoom fatigue,” I am grateful that First Unitarian has remained a “beacon of hope“ through these difficult times...continue.
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UUA General Assembly - Delegates Needed!Wednesday, June 23 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
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This year the UUA General Assembly will be held June 23-27, VIRTUALLY. The registration fee is $200. First U will reimburse some (and possibly all--depends on how many people apply) of the registration fee for those who request it and meet delegate requirements. We are seeking volunteers who:  Â
- Can devote up to three hours per day June 24 - 26, plus two shorter sessions, to participate in on-line discussions that frame the final issues to be voted on. And then, to vote your conscience.Â
- Will familiarize yourself on the issues to be voted on. Following GA, delegates will be asked to report back to First U membership on topics discussed and votes taken.
- Are comfortable using online tools such as Zoom to attend virtual meetings and participate in voting.Â
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This is a great opportunity to become engaged in the larger work of the Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations. And GA is not all work! There will be the Ware Lecture, on-line worship, speakers, workshops, and much more. Check it out!
If you act promptly, you’ll also be eligible to vote on enabling dissolution of our Pacific NW District! Please contact Stan or Bill by May 14 to apply.
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Have you Been Vaccinated?...a message from Rev. Bill
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The Executive Team met this morning with our new congregant medical advisory team to talk about Covid and coming back to church in person. It was an extremely helpful first meeting -- one of many to come.
There are lots of open questions; but one thing was clear: all four of our medical experts strongly urge everyone to get vaccinated – staff, congregants, and friends of congregants! Everyone. Moderna. Pfizer. Doesn’t matter. Just go for it.
If you’re already vaccinated, or have your appointment(s) in the pipeline, thank you! If you need help setting up an appointment, please call the church office and we’ll get you connected to someone who can help. We’re all in this together.
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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.Â
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Sunday Live StreamÂ
& Social Schedule
Join us LIVE from your computer or smart device by clicking on the links below.Â
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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...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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