Join us for Worship
Live Stream Only //Â Sunday, January 9, 2022
Family Service 10 a.m. // Sanctuary Service 11 a.m.
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Withered, We Come to Weather
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This is a line from a poem by Amanda Gorman for the new year. It speaks to how this year—with yet another surge in the pandemic and a return to virtual only worship and classes for our community—how the coming weeks will be a test for all of us. What will this time ask of us? How will we weather this latest storm?
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Family WorshipÂ
A Big Mess to Clean Up
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This Sunday we will explore our accountability theme through the seventh principle of Unitarian Universalism.
Cassandra will share a story that takes place in the ocean, a place where we have created a big mess. Dustin will lead our music, and Carter will teach us about Tonglen practice, a form of compassion meditation. Â
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Staying Connected Blog
Virtual Only…Again…For a Time
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I know that most of you are tracking the impact of the new Omicron Variant of the Covid Virus and the dramatically increased rates of infections that now are present even here in Portland.
On Tuesday, after meeting with our Public Health Team to review the situation and assess the risks, we decided that First Unitarian will discontinue in-person worship, beginning this Sunday, January 9. The wisdom of the Public Health Team and every analysis I have read indicates that this should be a short hiatus rather than a prolonged period. One Public Health Team member mentioned 2 months. At this point, we are not committing to an end date. We will monitor the situation carefully and offer in-person worship as soon as it...continue.
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| | What's Happening This Sunday
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Traces of the Trade: A Story From the Deep NorthTHIS SUNDAY! - January 9, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
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Traces of the Trade, is another opportunity to delve into anti-racism learning. The film centers on the family of a white minister in New England as it tries to reconcile its current social standing with its heritage as the direct descendants of the largest slave-trading family in the United States. The great-great-grandchildren find slavery abhorrent, but cannot deny the family's history.
What are they called to do today to reckon with history? What does this history mean for their understanding of their own wealth and education? Will they connect with that history or keep it safely and emotionally split off?
Please join us to watch the one-hour film followed by a facilitated discussion. There will be an optional breakout room for BIPOC participants.
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SEMINARY FOR A DAY - Doing the Inner Work of Racial Justice with Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
Virtual Event - Saturday, January 29, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., PST
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If you are engaged in the work of racial justice and long for spiritual connection in this work, join us for this year's virtual "Seminary For A Day."
This is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how racism has shaped our UU faith and our congregations; how structural racism still operates today, often unnoticed; and what is involved in cultivating Beloved Community and working against racism and oppression in all of its forms.
We will practice mindfulness meditation, conversation, and experiential exercises that get to the heart of healing internalized racism and being anti-racist. We will seek to create brave space, engage in courageous conversations on what is healing and what is harming racial justice, and rest in restorative meditation and embodied practices.
About Rev. Abhi Janamanchi: Rev. Abhi serves as the Sr. Minister of the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, MD. He describes himself as a Hindu-Unitarian Universalist and says that his Unitarian Universalism makes him a better Hindu.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR! - Antiracism Learning Circles
Winter 2022 registration links will be available next week.
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Here are some of the details to kick-start your planning:
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- Radical Dharma (Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams & Lama Rod Owens) - Tuesday evenings starting February 8
- The Path to a Livable Future (Stan Cox) - Monday evenings starting February 14
- Jonny Appleseed (Joshua Whitehead) + Missing & Murdered (podcast, CBC Media) - Wednesday evenings starting February 2
- Between The World & Me (Ta-Nehisi Coates) - Thursday evenings starting February 3
- Seeing White (podcast, Scene on Radio) -- Monday evenings starting February 7 -OR- Tuesday mornings starting February 8 -OR- Wednesday afternoons starting February 9
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Alliance Grant Nominations Due January 24
With proceeds from the Greens Sale, the Alliance makes small grants to organizations in the Portland area.
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In keeping with the church’s adoption of the 8th Principle, preference will be given to organizations that support and advocate for building a just community that seeks to dismantle racism and inequity, as well as organizations that support women, children and underserved communities. Although only Alliance members may recommend candidates for the grants, we want to broaden our voices and community connections. We encourage new members to join at any time to take advantage of this opportunity to help an organization of your choice.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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NEW! - Wheel of the Year Celebration Imbolc: Pagan Wheel of the Year Celebration
Sunday, January 30, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.Â
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Virtually join us in Imbolc, a pagan celebration marking the first hints of spring, and is celebrated through cleaning out stagnant energy, and planting seeds for all that we wish to grow in the new season.
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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.Â
An ongoing commitment is not required.
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Loving Kindness MeditationMonday's at 8 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.
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Welcome to First Unitarian with Rev. Thomas DisrudAre you new to First Unitarian Portland?
Sunday, February 6, 12:45 p.m.Â
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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! - Oregon Legislative Virtual Forum
Want to hear from Oregon’s Senators & Representatives about the 2022 short legislative session?
Sunday, January 23 // 1:30 -Â 3:30pm
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We’ll learn about priorities for housing, healthcare, human services, mental health, climate and transforming justice initiatives.
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Click image for the poster.
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Organizations involved: Oregon UU Voices for Justice and the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty co-host this Legislative Forum along with Oregon Coalition of Christian Voices, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and Muslim Educational Trust.
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ACTION ITEM! - Transforming JusticeUpcoming February 2022 Legislative Session
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The bill addresses concerns with the public safety system and proposes changes that transform our public safety system into one that truly provides justice and safety for all.
These are the Policy Priorities:
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- Eliminate unnecessary stops and arrests for minor infractions that disproportionately target people of color and instill fear.
- Improve parole and probation policies in order to provide better support for those on probation and parole in order to eliminate barriers to employment and allow them to care for their families.
- Allow culturally-specific organizations to receive investments so that money and resources are directed to communities most in need of help.
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How can we as a congregation be involved?
- Contact your legislators and indicate your support for this bill. Phone calls are often the most effective, even if you leave a message.
- More information will be forthcoming regarding this bill and the timing of our support.
- Check out Fair Shot Oregon.
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ACTION ITEM! - Treasury Transparency BillSend a single-click email to your legislators to let them know you support this no-brainer bill for Transparency.
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Oregon should be at the leading edge of climate-safe investments to support a sustainable future for us all. Our Community for Earth is a coalition member of the Divest Oregon campaign and supports the upcoming Treasury Transparency Bill that requires the Oregon Treasury to:
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- make a public annual accounting of investments under its management so Oregonians can see if their funds are in climate risky investments,
- make public any climate risk assessment conducted by the Treasury, andÂ
- create a workgroup to understand the fossil-fuel impacted holdings of the Treasury.
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NEW! - 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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Deva Majal with Resistance Revival Chorus, Everybody Deserves to Be Free
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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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January Shared Plate In January, we share our plate with the The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. RCRC is a broad-based, national, interfaith movement that brings the moral force of religion to protect and advance reproductive health, choice, rights and justice through education, prophetic witness, pastoral presence and advocacy...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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