Please Join Our Live Stream
Sunday, October 4Worship Service at 10:15 a.m. PDT
Family Worship Service at 9:15 a.m. PDT
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Our Path Forward
Rev. Bill Sinkford
We yearn to reach the mountain top and see the Promised Land. But the path up the mountain has many branchings and few sign posts. We need to find faith to keep making the right choices even when the destination is not in sight. We need companions for the journey, accountabilities to guide us, a moral compass to point the way and hope to sustain us.
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Bill's BlogTurning
The warm weather and blue skies of this week have colluded to obscure the turning of the season. The smoke of the fires, by obscuring the sun, made the late summer temperatures feel more like fall. Now early fall feels like summer.
I had begun to feel dis-oriented and un-grounded. The surreal truth of our politics and protests and the tragedy of the virus-caused-deaths no doubt made those feelings worse.
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Celebration Sunday
Sunday October 4 at 10:15 a.m.
Join us THIS SUNDAY to celebrate the generosity of our congregation and the pledges and gifts that support our church!
Thank you to everyone who has given in support of "Our Path Forward." Every pledge and every gift helps fund the life and work of the church. Please know that your gift here is cherished.
Help us reach 100% of our goal by pledging today!
Total Goal: $1,535,000
Pledges as of 9/25: $1,230,506
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Help fund our services, ministry, programs
and staff by pledging a gift.
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Don’t Forget to Register for the 2020-2021 School Year
Families, Parents & Grandparents
Even though we won’t be meeting in person, it’s still important to register your child/youth so that we can keep you on our email and physical mailer list and be sure you don’t miss anything. We will keep your family on our email list through the end of September to give you time to register before updating our list for this church year. Thank you for registering!
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Videos for Voters Organized to Influence Critical Elections
Gain dialogue skills for intentional political conversations with people within your personal circle of connection such as family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and fellow congregants.
These are two videos in the track for Mobilizing Non-Voters:
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These are two videos for Dialogue Strategies Across Ideologies:
Developers: First Unitarian Portland and All Souls Church in Washington, DC, partnered with Dr. David Campt of the Dialogue Company.
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UU the VOTE
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has been strategic in partnering with frontline mobilizers around the country (New Florida Majority and Wisconsin Voices). This is our opportunity for faithful action to strengthen the movement for fair and inclusive elections. Here is what you can do to get involved and join others in virtual GOTV sessions:
- Phone banking is where the frontline communities tell us we are most needed!
- Tuesdays 3 PM PDT - Florida
- Wednesdays 4 PM PDT - Wisconsin
- 10 AM Pacific Time every Wednesday
Please contact Nancy if you’d like to join other First Unitarian Congregants for Get Out the Vote (GOTV) sessions.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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Spiritual Direction 101
Saturday, October 3, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
If you are interested in deepening your spiritual life, developing a spiritual practice, or broadening your sense of the sacred, please come join us for this virtual introductory class about engaging in Spiritual Direction.
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Attend Oregon UU Voices for Justice Annual Meeting
"Bridging the Economic Divide" All Are Welcome!
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Interfaith Conversations Before the Election
Mondays, Starting October 5, 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. PDT
Join Intern Minister Stacey Mitchell and notable female social justice leaders representing Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, and Unitarian Universalism traditions for weekly reflections on our current times and anxieties as we lead up to election day.
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White Supremacy in Oregon: History & Current Issues
LAST CHANCE - Mondays Starting October 5 at 7 p.m. PDT
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: Kristin Teigen, MA, M.Ed. educator at PSU
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We’re taking you behind the scenes of Family Village like you’ve never seen it before!
Friday, October 9 / 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Virtual Fundraising Event
Free to join and learn!
Hear intimate stories from PHFS families and staff, learn the impact of their work, and help raise critical funds to support homeless families.
From Committee on Hunger and Homelessness (COHHO): Thank you for your support for this great social service agency, that UUs have supported for many years. See how they've grown!
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Local Stories and Music for National Coming Out Day!
Saturday, October 10, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 11, 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Celebrate National Coming Out Day with Our Bold Voices! Local storytellers and musicians will share their experiences and participate in a live Q&A with the audience.
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Taking a Collective Breath:
Deepening Our Alignment with the Movement for Black Lives
Free Webinar: October 13
Starting at 4:00 p.m. PDT
The Unitarian Universalist Association and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee have collaborated to assist in deepening our collective activism and participation in the Movement for Black Lives.
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Will You Light Our Chalice?
Families! Send in video submissions to do our traditional chalice lighting.
What we need: A short video clip of your family introducing yourselves, lighting a chalice or candle at home, then reciting these words, slowly and clearly: “We are Unitarian Universalists. We light this chalice in faith, in hope, and in love.”
Tip: Besides using a smart phone, you can also record yourselves in a private Zoom. You can reach out to staff to assist with video editing.
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Reflection on Home
By Dana Buhl, Director of Social Justice
Dear Members and Friends,
How does a person know they are home?
As we are unable to meet together in physical space during the pandemic, connecting to our spiritual home takes on even greater meaning. It heightens my awareness that my spiritual home is about us. It’s about resonating with and tuning into the expression of spirit that moves through people. I feel the vibration of spirit that emanates from the words and music of our worship, that is shared in collaboration with ministers and colleagues in our programming and planning, that lives through the activism and the everyday love of our congregants...continued in our Speaking of Justice: Weekly Update.
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TAKE FLIGHT—For the Future We Hope to See
On June 27th, BRAVO Youth Orchestra students and staff joined a community of youth and adults in painting a mural in downtown Portland at SW 3rd and Taylor, just one block from the epicenter of the Portland #BlackLivesMatter protests. This video features the music of First Unitarian member Darrell Grant, who conceived this multi-media community art project, and includes many of Rich Kolbell’s beautiful photos. Several other First Unitarian members grace this project.
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In the Community
Community milestones, joys, & sorrows
Member Judy Welles died on Monday afternoon after living with cancer for the past couple years. We hold Judy’s spouse, Duane Fickeisen, and their extended family at this time.
James Howland, brother of member Mele Howland, died on September 24 at his home outside Toledo, WA. He was surrounded by family and friends in his last days.
Members Mele Howland and Daniel Karnes were married in a Zoom wedding with 10 participants on-scene and 200 viewing remotely on September 26. Rev. Bill Sinkford officiated. Mele and Daniel met when they both served as greeters at the church. We wish them happiness in the life they will share together.
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Board Meeting Reminder
Thursday, October 1 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. PDT
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Message from our Board Moderator
Our church year has begun again with Homecoming Sunday. It was good to see so many of us in photos and to remember how important this community is.
Our community has held up remarkably well through this time of physical separation. “Attendance” at our virtual church services over the summer was far higher than our typical in-person attendance has been in years past. Many groups are meeting through Zoom and in socially distanced gatherings...continued.
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Evaluation of the Ministry
The bylaws of First Unitarian Church, Article III, Section 5, require the Board, the Senior Minister, and the Executive Team to annually conduct a joint evaluation of the ministry of the church in reference to the church’s mission and the policies enacted by the Board. This year’s report revolves around the three core elements of the mission statement of the church—creating community, spiritual deepening, and bringing our values to the larger community.
The final report for the 2019-2020 church year can be viewed here.
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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.
Community Justice and Service
Unsure how you can learn, contribute and serve the broader community? Find our "Speaking of Justice: Weekly Update" through our Linktree.
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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 “For E-News.”
Submission deadline is noon on Tuesday.
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| Sunday Live Stream & Social ScheduleJoin us LIVE from your computer or smart device by clicking on the links below.
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Speaking of Justice: Weekly UpdateIn this period of physical distancing, the sacred work of justice continues. Engage with what our Social Justice Action Groups are diving into.
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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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Share photos of you or your family watching our Sunday livestream or volunteering in our community!
You might see yourself in our pre-service slideshow!
(By submitting your photos, you are giving us permission to publish and/or use images for First U publications.)
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Moved recently? Changed your phone number or e-mail? Fill out this form.
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