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Sunday, November 15Worship Service at 10:15 a.m. PDT
Family Worship Service at 9:15 a.m. PDT
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A Petition for Persistence
Rev. Bill Sinkford
The Beloved Community must redress wrongs from the past but cannot be simply a collection of corrections. What vision can look both backward and forward? What prayer can sustain a community of both memory and hope?
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Bill's BlogRepresentation
âI did not realize how much anxiety I was carrying.â
âI can finally let my shoulders down.â
âI donât have to be afraid to wake up anymore.â
I heard each of these statements from congregants in the last couple of days. And many more similar sentiments...continued.
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| Featured NewsAll timestamps are scheduled in Pacific Standard Time (PDT) unless stated otherwise.
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Family Worship this Sunday
Sunday, November 15, at 9:15 a.m.
We will continue our exploration of the theme Prayer. We will think about our hopes for ourselves and others, and about how prayer or meditation can help us find answers.Â
Cassandra will share a story with us, Stacey will offer a reading and meditation, and Dustin will offer a familiar, classic song on piano. Â Â
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Q and A with Rev. Bill Sinkford and the Boardâs Quarterly Finance Update
Sunday, November 15, at 11:45 a.m.
- Whatâs on your mind? Bring all manner of questions to ask our Senior Minister at this periodic Q&A.
- Hear about the churchâs financial position, including the results of the Auditorâs review. Church treasurer Leila Wrathall will be on hand to answer your questions.
All are welcome at this virtual gathering.
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Welcome to First Unitarian with Rev. Thomas Disrud
Sunday, November 15, from 1 p.m. â 2:15 p.m.
Are you new to First Unitarian Portland? We are so glad you are here!
This virtual class will offer an orientation to the church, to Unitarian Universalism and what it means to be a member. This will be a chance to meet other newcomers and to have your questions about the church answered. If you are ready to become a member, please click here to complete our enrollment form.Â
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Alliance Wreaths are Here!
LAST CHANCE! Now â November 15
We are not going to let a pandemic set us back! We are not going to let down the women, children and marginalized groups who benefit from our greens sale.
From the comfort of your own home, you can order online and choose from among 3 styles for safe pickup at the church garage on Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5, from 10 â 2 p.m.
There is one style of wreath available for shipping anywhere within the U.S., including Portland.Â
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Listen to Rev. Bill Sinkford on KBOO Radio 90.7 FM
Tuesday, November 17th, 6 p.m.
Rev. Sinkford will discuss First Unitarian's participation in the upcoming Transgender Day of Remembrance Interfaith Vigil, an annual observance that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in anti-transgender violence.Â
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Transgender Day of Remembrance Interfaith VigilÂ
Thursday, November 19,
7 p.m. â 8 p.m.Â
Gather virtually with us for an interfaith service featuring local and national spiritual leaders (including our own Rev. Bill Sinkford and Rev. Thomas Disrud), live music and a candle lighting ceremony.
We invite everyone to join us in this reverent observation. A virtual reception will follow the service where you are invited to join us in fellowship.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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Sacred Circles: Session Two â Will you join us?
Meets every other Saturday through Zoom
First Meeting:Â Saturday, November 14 from 3 â 4:30 p.m.
Do you long for a place to discuss the events of this intense year, the history leading up to it and how best to put your faith into action with your fellow church members?Â
This past summer, in the whirlwind of events that we here in Portland and the nation were experiencing, the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIRJ) created a well-designed curriculum of readings, videos, discussion points and actions to respond to those events at the intersection of immigrant justice and racial justice.Â
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Hold the Line on DemocracyÂ
Join us as we continue to track the election!
Tuesday, November 17, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
 A team of congregants formed to ensure that we at First Unitarian are connected to the larger interfaith movement in Portland and across the country. Our goal is to see that the general election results are upheld.Â
We've been using Hold the Line: A Guide to Defending Democracy as our framework for nonviolent organizing through Inauguration Day. Join us to learn about what interfaith actions are underway locally and how you can stay connected to fellow congregants while we Hold the Line.Â
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Living with Loss: How Will I Get Through the Holidays?
Saturdays, November 21, December 5 and 12, 10:30 a.m. â 12 p.m.
Holiday times can be some of the most challenging times for those who are grieving a loss. Holidays may not be the same, yet we offer hope that holidays can still be meaningful.
Our facilitators, Rev. Wendy Fish and Kristin Guest will offer support through sharing information on the grief process, as you tell your stories and connect with others.Â
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Monthly Mailers and Zoom Gatherings
Registered families should have received their October mailer packets for the theme of Home. Watch your Learning Community news for details about a zoom session for each age group as we round out the month. Please share your feedback about the mailer packets and zoom sessions which will help us in planning future months.
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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, but an ongoing commitment is not required.Â
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Loving Kindness Meditation
Every Monday, 8 â 8:30 p.m.
Loving-Kindness towards self and others is a basic foundational view of Buddhism and other religions. Intern Minister Stacey Mitchell will gently guide you through this spiritual practice which cultivates benevolence, kindness, and amity.Â
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Contemplative Practice Group
Next meeting: Tuesday, November 24 from 6:30Â â 8 p.m.
All are welcome! We begin by meditating for 20 minutes, in any style you are comfortable with. Then we discuss a spiritual âcheck-inâ topic. We finish by sharing a poem related to the topic. We read it aloud twice with a pause in between, giving people time to reflect on a word or phrase that struck them. Afterward we discuss our reaction to it.
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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.
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Donation Drop Opportunity for Unhoused Campers
Need for Warm Blankets, Socks, Hats, Gloves, and Sleeping Bags
People who are camped at Laurelhurst Park and their supporters from www.beaconpdx.org are in desperate need of blankets.
Drop off located at Metanoia Peace House, 2116 NE 18th. The building is a mansion that has many people living there, so, if you knock or ring the bell, odds are excellent there will be someone there to receive your donation or leave your donation on the covered porch.
For more information contact Sandy 503-698-4463.
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Petition to Create Municipal Public Banks
Submitted by the Economic Justice Action Group (EJAG)
Let's keep our money local and reinvest profits back into our communities through public banks.Â
The Oregon Public Bank Alliance will present legislation to ease the creation of municipal public banks in the next legislative session. Please sign our petition declaring your support.
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In the Community
Member Amy Norcom and Thomas Freeman were married in a small ceremony in the Channing Room on November 5, attended by close family. We celebrate with them and wish them every happiness.
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Glenda Goldwater Art Exhibit
Glenda Louise Goldwater, 1934Â â 2020
We invite you to stop by to view Glenda's collection and take a moment to reflect on her memory.
Fais Pas Chier:Â The Art Collection of a Portland Icon
Upfor Gallery: 929 NW Flanders Street, Portland, OR 97209
An art exhibition from the personal art collection of member Glenda Goldwater, who died in September, has been organized to honor the life and memory. Glenda was known as a Portland icon, bon-vivant, and grande dame. The exhibit will at Upfor Gallery in November 2020.Â
Viewing Hours:Â Weekend viewing hours will be first come first serve, with limited capacity due to Covidâ19. Weekday viewing will be by limited by appointment only.Â
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Message from our Board Moderator
As we move into fall, we hope youâre all staying well. These are anxious times, and it is good to have our church community.Â
First, we thank all of you who have participated with a gift to Our Path Forward. As of last week, we have reached 93% of our goal, an achievement well worth celebrating. We expect additional gifts to come in over the next few weeks...continued.
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Faked Email Messages âfrom Rev. Billâ
Congregants receiving spoofed emails from Reverend Bill
Please only open messages from this email address bsinkford@firstunitarianportland.org. If the senderâs email isnât EXACTLY this email address, it isnât from Reverend Bill
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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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Have a Submission for E-News?If you have a submission you would like published in our weekly Front Steps (E-News), please submit it here with subject line âFor E-News.â
Submission deadline is noon on Tuesday.Â
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Sunday Live Stream & Social ScheduleJoin us LIVE from your computer or smart device by clicking on the links below.Â
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| November Shared PlateIn November, we share our plate with the ChĂșush Fund: Water for Warm Springs. In partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, MRG Foundation developed The ChĂșush Fund to directly benefit the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs as they work to restore their access and infrastructure for clean water.
In 2019, a water main break on the Warm Springs Reservation has meant continued water crisis on the largest tribal reservation in Oregon.Â
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Speaking of Justice: Weekly Update 11/12In this period of physical distancing, the sacred work of justice continues. Engage with what our Social Justice Action Groups are diving into.
What Inside:
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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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