Join Us for WorshipSunday, November 14, 2021
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Family Service at 10 a.m. Â // Â Sanctuary Service at 11 a.m.
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As we make our gifts to support the ministry of First Unitarian, we will gather in gratitude for all the First Unitarian community means in our lives and, as we move into days before us, renew our commitment to help this congregation become a community worthy of being called Beloved.
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Family Worship
The Blessings Around Us
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This week Rev. Tom will offer a story about gratitude and noticing the blessings around us entitled “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt De La Pena with illustrations by Christian Robinson. Carter will offer a meditation and Dustin will offer music.
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Celebration Sunday
Sunday, November 14 at 11 a.m.Â
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Thank you to everyone who has given in support of "Meeting the New Day.” Every pledge and every gift helps fund the life and work of the church. Please know that your gift here is cherished.
Join us THIS SUNDAY at 11 a.m. for our Sanctuary service to celebrate the generosity of our congregation and the pledges and gifts that support our church!
It is also an opportunity for us to look forward and make a commitment to the new emerging church.Â
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Help Us Reach 100% Of Our Goal by Pledging Before Celebration Sunday!
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Total Goal: $1,575,000
Pledges as of 11/9: $1,227,217
We need an additional $347,000 to fund our church for the coming year and we need your help to make it happen.Â
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November 14: What You Need to Know About In-Person Worship
We worshiped in the Sanctuary for the first time in over 18 months on November 7. Halleluiah!
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Reservations for this Sunday, November 14, are now open. The reservation deadline for this Sunday's service is tomorrow, November 12, at 9 a.m. As a Covid precautionary measure, a maximum of 227 people will be permitted in the Sanctuary:
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Reservations for the following Sunday, November 21, are also open now.
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We are working to make this beginning of the return to the Sanctuary as safe and simple and satisfying as we can. These precautions and safety measures are new, however; and it is inevitable that there will be bumps on the road as we re-gather.Â
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Please treat each other and our dedicated volunteers and staff not only with respect but with KINDNESS. Every Sunday is a good day to have THANK YOU in your heart and on your lips but especially this first Sunday of the rest of the life of First Unitarian.
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Staying Connected BlogComing Back: A Work in Progress
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Sunday was a good day at the church. For the first time in over 18 months we had congregants back in the Sanctuary for worship. There were plenty of tears and lots of joy. I didn’t know what to expect going into the day. Would it be awkward after all this time? Would it feel different? Would our reservation system and the process for checking vaccinations work? Would it get in the way of having church...continued.
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What's Happening This SundayTimestamps are Pacific Time (PT) unless stated otherwise.Â
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Welcome to First Unitarian with Rev. Thomas DisrudSunday, November 14, at 12:30 p.m.Â
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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.
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NEW! - Virtual Board Forum
Sunday, November 14, at 1 p.m.Â
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Please join the Board virtually after service to review the provisional three-year Church Goals. We are excited to share what we heard from all of you and to talk about the goals we developed from your input.
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Living with Loss: How Will I Get Through the Holidays?THIS SATURDAY - Saturdays Starting November 13, at 10:30 a.m.
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This class, facilitated by Rev. Wendy Fish and Kristin Guest, will offer support through sharing information on the grief process, listening to one another's stories, suggesting ideas for holiday plans and connecting with others. This class is directed toward those who have experienced the death of someone they love, or a divorce or estrangement.
Advance registration required.
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Alliance Annual Greens Sale
LAST CHANCE! - Wreaths are on sale through November 14Â
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From the comfort of your own home, you can order aromatic holiday greens online. Choose from among 3 styles for safe pickup at the church garage on Friday, December 3, and Saturday, December 4, from 10-2 p.m.
Want to gift a wreath? There is one style available for shipping anywhere within the U.S., including Portland.
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Proceeds benefit women, children and marginalized groups.
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Speaking of Justice BlogInternational Human Rights Need Your Help
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UUs for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME) shares this update on current human rights abuses in Israel and Palestine. Please find action steps you can take at the bottom of this update.Â
Palestinian human rights groups as “terrorist” organizations. The designations allow Israel to silence these organizations by imprisoning their leaders, destroying their offices, and blocking all funding. The organizations are Addamer (prisoners’ rights), al Haq (human rights), Defense for Children International – Palestine (children’s rights), Bisan Center (human rights), Union of Agricuiltural Work Committees (farmers’ rights) and Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (women’s rights). No evidence is given for the designation.Â
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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Join UUs for a Nationwide Week of Action to Defend Democracy
Until November 13
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Join Side with Love and the Declaration for American Democracy coalition in distributed actions during the November 8-13 Senate recess, demanding that our Senators pass the Freedom to Vote and John Lewis Voting Rights Acts, and address the stranglehold the filibuster currently has over our democratic process.
Next week there will be multiple virtual events and phone bank opportunities to connect with voters in key states to their senators.
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In an effort to uplift the work of Side with Love and UU The Vote, we will be posting regular action opportunities in the Front Steps.
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NEW! - Watch a free award-winning documentary and join the conversation.Sunday, November 14, 12 p.m.
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Voices from the Holy Land, in conjunction with Independent Jewish Voices – Canada and Jewish Voice for Peace (USA), invites you to our nineteenth monthly Online Film Salon to be held on Sunday, November 14th at 3 pm EDT/12 noon PDT. Participants will discuss the award-winning documentary 1948: Creation and Catastrophe. 1948 was a seminal year in the life of Israel and Palestine. It was the year of the creation of a new nation state for some people, and the beginning of a generations-long catastrophe for others.
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NEW! - Transgender Day of Remembrance Interfaith VigilSaturday, November 20, 5 p.m.Â
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Rev. Thomas Disrud and intern minister, Carter Smith will be speaking at this year's hybrid Transgender Day of Remembrance Interfaith Vigil. The vigil will include representatives from diverse faiths, musicians, and community leaders.
We invite all people, transgender or cisgender, to join us in this reverent observation either virtually or in person. Â
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In Gratitude For All that is Our Life: A Day of Mindfulness with Katie Radditz
Saturday, November 20, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.Â
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This is the time of year to celebrate abundance – of the harvest and the rain following a hot summer. We will learn practices for developing insight, touching happiness, and leading a more compassionate life.
It will be a time for deep relaxation, reflection, and peace connected in our beloved home community.
The day will include long breaks for walking, meditation, and lunch off the computer. Â
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Plan Ahead for General Assembly Portland 2022June 22-26, 2022
Registration for in-person GA will begin November 15. Registration for online GA will begin March 1.
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GA registrants receive access to all workshops, performances, lectures, and events listed in the GA Program. Registrants will have exclusive access to a chat room, recordings of previous streams, and dedicated support.
If you wish to sign up to volunteer at GAÂ for 20 hours in lieu of the registration fee, be sure to sign up by November 1, because all positions fill up quickly.
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Vesper Prayer ServiceFriday's at 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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UPDATE! - Learning Community Phased ReopeningOWL, Requirements and Future Plans
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We were thrilled to open our doors to our middle schoolers last Sunday as they began OWLÂ (Our Whole Lives). YRUU, our high school youth group, continues to meet. Now that the Covid vaccination for 5-11 year olds is becoming available, our plans to reopen to this age range are feeling real! Full vaccination is required to participate in the Learning Community in person.
We hope that vaccinations for children under 5 will be close behind and look forward to when the whole Learning Community can be together again. Over the coming weeks, we will be able to share more about our plans for what the next phase of our reopening in January may be like, which will include in person Family Worship (which will continue to be livestreamed as well). We always appreciate your contacting us with any concerns, questions, or ideas you may have.
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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.Â
Curated by Ethel Gullette, Speaking of Justice Editorial Team
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Kings Return, Acapella Group
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NEW! - Check out UU Animal Ministry!Sundays, November 21 and December 19, at 7 p.m.
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The local chapter of the UU Animal Ministry meets monthly for online chats and to discuss ways that we can help the other species of the world. In November and December we are meeting a week early to accommodate holiday plans. Join our Zoom meeting if you want to participate.
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JOIN US! - Check out Africa Connections
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This group meets monthly via zoom. If you want to learn more about our current projects in Kenya or how to join our meetings, please contact Ann.Â
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In the Community
Georgianna Terrell, sister of member Eric Terrell, died on October 31, at the age of 87 in Pomona, CA, as she was recovering from open heart surgery on October 7. Georgianna was the 4th eldest of 15 siblings in the Terrell family, five of whom now remain. She had four children. She will be buried in a small cemetery in Batavia, New York, where the extended Terrell family has roots.
Amy Farrell, sister of member Jay Farrell, passed away on November 5 due to complications of esophageal cancer. She left surrounded by her large loving family.
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Do you have a reason to celebrate? Say it with flowers!
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November 14: On this day, flowers will be provided by Bill Cunninghame and Steve Nelson in appreciation of the hard-working First Unitarian staff.
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Fresh flowers are again gracing the Chancel for Sunday services. Sponsoring those flowers is a way to support the church and acknowledge life events. Do you have something to celebrate from these last 18 months? If you had a birth in the family, graduation, a birthday, an anniversary, or a memorial, or other reasons, you can acknowledge it to the entire congregation by sponsoring a floral bouquet. As we reconnect with friends, say it with flowers on the Chancel.Â
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Moderator Letter:Â Dear Fellow Congregants
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Excited relieved, happy, and
nervous (a little bit)Â
were the emotions I felt when I heard the news from our ministers that in-person services will begin on November 7. It has been a long time coming (approximately 19 months) but I am deeply appreciative that First Unitarian took a measured, science-based approach to resuming in-person gatherings...continued.
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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 StreamÂ
& Social Schedule
Join us LIVE from your computer or smart device.
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November Shared Plate For the month of November, we share our plate with the Immigrant Mutual Aid Coalition (IMAC). In September 2020 when devastating wildfires and hazardous smoke affected much of Oregon, IMAC quickly pulled together community members along with immigrant rights and...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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Moved recently? Changed your phone number or e-mail? Fill out this form.
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