Sunday Live Streaming ServiceSunday, April 26: 10:15 a.m.
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Spiritual Practices for the Long Haul
Rev. Thomas Disrud
What are the things that will sustain us through hard times? We have probably been discovering what those things are for each of us in recent weeks. Just what are spiritual practices and how might they be helpful to us? What will help us through the long haul?
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Bill's Blog“Insert Crow-bar … and Push!”
A good friend, a longtime activist, confronted with injustice, is fond of asking, “Where can I insert my crow-bar and push!” Her question asks where needs are greatest and where effort can be most effective.
Six weeks into the Covid 19 world, many of us privileged folks are seeing clearly the ways we remain insulated while marginalized communities bear the brunt of the pain. Where is the virus most deadly? Communities of color, poor communities, immigrant communities, incarcerated communities. Covid is shining a spotlight on the inequalities built into the fragile prosperity that has blessed too few at the expense of too many.
Gratitude is an important religious discipline. I begin each day by giving thanks. But many of the blessings in which we live…in which I live…are the result of my privileged place. I have a job. I can work from home. I have a home to work from and a full refrigerator. The truth of my privilege requires more of me, and more of many of us, than mere thanks...Continued
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First Unitarian's Response to COVID-19
We are doing all we can to stay connected as a community and to provide resources both within the church and in the larger community. Here are a few important updates that affect our life together:
Staying Connected
Church communications: Are you signed up to receive messages from the church including this weekly enews and other messages to keep us connected? To receive church communication send message to etafuri@firstunitarianportland.org.
Sunday Worship
We will be offering virtual worship at 10:15 a.m. until further notice.
Coffee Hour with the Ministers
For other ways to connect through classes and small groups, see offerings in this enews.
Community Justice and Service Action Items
Please look below in the Justice and Service section for ways you can contribute, advocate and learn.
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Ministerial Search Committee
Sunday, April 26, 11:45 a.m.
Locatio: Zoom Meeting
Greetings from your Ministerial Search Committee! We are hosting an upcoming Zoom forum after the service this Sunday, April 26 at 11:45 a.m. to answer questions from the congregation.
Please submit questions no later than Friday, April 24.
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We Need Mask Materials and Household Items
The church is collecting items to be donated to community partners serving houseless and immigrant communities. Click below for a list of materials and how to safely drop them off.
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Ballots Have Been Mailed
If you are a voting member, your ballot is in the mail.
Your postal-mailed ballot must be received in the church office by Thursday, May 14, so make sure you review the packet carefully, cast your votes on the enclosed ballots, and mail them back using the provided envelope in time to be counted.
If you are expecting a ballot and do not receive one by Saturday, May 2 please contact Erin.
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Younger Adult Virtual Events
Younger Adult Dinner
Wednesday, April 22, 6–8 p.m.
Theme: Earth Appreciation
Younger Adult Spiritual Circle
Tuesday, April 28, 7–9 p.m.
Theme: Friendship, facilitated by Laura and Elise
Younger Adult Logistics Meeting
Sunday May 5, 12–2 p.m.
Help us plan our upcoming events. Newcomers are welcome!
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National Earth Day Event
Friday, April 24
For Earth Day's 50th Anniversary you can be part of the 3-days of livestream programming with millions of activists, celebrities, musicians, and more in an epic moment of community and hope for the future.
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Nourishing the Spirit: Practice for the Long Haul
Saturday, April 25, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Location: Virtual Class
In community we reawaken the hope, imagination, and passion that sustains us as we work to build the world we see in our dreams. Join us for a rejuvenating class with Rev. Katherine Jesch.
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Reclaiming Stolen Black Lands in the "Whitest City" Q&A
Monday, April 27, 7–8:30 p.m. on Zoom
Emanuel Displaced Persons Association 2 (EDPA2) consists of impacted families, including descendants and survivors, whose homes and businesses were taken and demolished to make way for the Emanuel Hospital expansion during the 1960’s and '70’s. Due to the pandemic, we canceled the live lecture Reclaiming Stolen Black Lands in the "Whitest City." That event would have been EDPA2's opportunity to share the detailed story of the forced removal, lack of restitution and ongoing fight in their own voice.
Advocacy for restitution continues. In lieu of the live event, and in solidarity with EDPA2's pursuit of justice, First Unitarian Portland and Havurah Shalom will host an informational Q&A session with EDPA2 descendants and survivors.
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Ending Mass Incarceration/Advancing Racial Justice Action Items
Deadline: Tuesday, April 28
Help get Initiative Petition 44 on the November ballot! The Drug Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Act would expand access to addiction and recovery services and eliminate harmful — and racially inequitable — criminal penalties for personal drug possession. Sign the petition at here.
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Uncovering our Resilience, Gratitude and Connections During COVID-19
Wednesday, April 29, 10–11 a.m.
Location: Virtual Class
Together, we will share our challenges and through storytelling, discover how we might create a path of healing for both ourselves and our loved ones. This week's topic is life-long learning.
Facilitator: Paul Iarrobino is the founder of Our Bold Voices. Paul helps individuals harness their inner strengths and rediscover their drive and purpose.
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Healing Space for Activists & Organizers
Wednesday, April 29 at 5 p.m. & May 7 at 8:30 a.m.
This offering is free to our activist community.
These one-hour Zoom sessions will provide a gently held sacred space to connect with oneself and with one another in order to reduce stress and anxiety. We will use guided exercises, art, journaling and other grounding techniques to help navigate these challenging times. Please have paper and some sort of drawing tool (markers, colored pencils, crayons, pen or paint etc.) with you.
Facilitator: Hun Taing, Co-Founder of Training 4 Transformation
Please Register:
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Q&A with Rev. Bill & Quarterly Congregant Finance Review
Sunday, May 3, 11:45 a.m.
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Join Rev. Bill for another in a regular series of Q&A sessions. After a brief update on developments at the church, he will respond to the questions you bring about the church or about our faith.
Bill will be joined by church treasurer Leila Wrathall who will facilitate our quarterly congregant finance review.
Look for the Zoom link in the April 30 e-News.
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Social Justice and Service
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April 2020 Social Justice Service, Action and Learning
Our Social Justice Action Groups remain active. See how you can be involved with material support, advocacy/activism and learning about issues of justice.
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Urgent Community Resource Needs:
From Committee on Hunger and Homelessness (COHHO)
Clay Street Table needs people to help bag non-perishable goods and to deliver them Volunteers bag goods at First Christian Church 1314 SW Park Ave. Contact Lois here for date and time. Go to claystreettable.org to donate.
The Northeast Emergency Food Pantry (NE 72 & NE Wygant) needs people to transfer food boxes into cars from 12:15–3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Dress for the weather and wear a mask and gloves. Call John Elizalde for information: 503.740.9810.
Street Roots is raising funds to support vendors since they have temporarily halted the print edition of their newspaper. This fund will support every vendor with direct financial assistance and provide stipends for their Coronavirus Prevention and Action Team and for new vendor mentorship and leadership roles.
Lunch Bunch in Southeast picks up the 20 sack lunches you prepare at home. A neighbor from BeaconPDX picks them up and delivers them. Instructions for what and how to pack the lunches at this link. Direct questions to John.
From Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG)
Please donate to organizations that serve immigrants and farm workers:
From Animal Ministry (UUAM)
Portland Animal Welfare (PAW) Team provides free veterinary care for people experiencing poverty or houselessness. Contribute. To donate dry cat and dog food, and cat litter. Contact to arrange pickup.
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Fight for Climate Justice Virtually
Community for Earth (CFE) is continuing the fight for climate justice virtually. The Covid 19 crisis underscores how interconnected we are as a planet, and how essential it is to be proactive in creating a network of care to sustain life and well-being.
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"We are a People Dreaming of Beloved Community"
The sacred work of seeking justice continues.
Rev. Abigail Clauhs, First Unitarian Community Minister, writes about “Building an Interfaith Community to Counter White Nationalism,” and our First Unitarian involvement.
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Please Note:
Learning Community classes have been cancelled while Oregon's "Stay Home-Save Lives" Executive Order is in place.
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Learning Community Zoom Sessions Begin!
We’re excited to announce opportunities for our children and youth to connect using Zoom. Sessions will be hosted periodically with our volunteer teachers for each grade level and will offer everyone an opportunity to stay connected and share with one another. Children 1st/2nd and younger should attend with a parent/caretaker. If you don't have a Zoom account, we recommend you set up a free account ahead of time. We’ll be sending the details to each grade level, so keep an eye on your email for upcoming sessions.
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All Ages Service Project - Get involved at home!
In March, we had planned to gather in the Learning Community to learn about and take part in The Butterfly Effect: Migration is Beautiful project. While we can no longer meet in body to share this experience together, here is a video which will include opportunities to engage with this important effort at home. When we are all together again, we’ll all be able to combine what we’ve created. Please explore the project website.
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Don’t have a Chalice at Home?
Maybe you do! Here’s a creative opportunity with the kids—make a chalice from materials you may have lying around. Lighting a chalice together when watching worship, at the dinner table, or even as part of your bed time ritual can be meaningful and help keep your family grounded during these times.
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Summer Chalice Camp
Update: We understand families need to make plans, and in consideration of our current circumstances, we will be making a decision before or by May 31 about whether we will be able to have Chalice Camp this year. We will keep everyone informed as soon as a decision is made.
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Trans Inclusion in Congregations
Location: Virtual Class
"Welcoming is a spiritual practice." - Transforming Hearts Collective
First Unitarian is offering this virtual class free of charge. You may complete this course on your own time. This educational opportunity is for everyone from novices on trans identity to those with decades of life experience.
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Auction Canceled
The difficult decision has been made to cancel the already postponed auction for this year. It is clear that an auction is neither safe nor feasible at this time or in the near future.
There is great hope that the congregation will be able to come together again in the fall and the auction committee is exploring the option of a potential bake sale at that time to celebrate!
Thank you to those who already donated this year and for those who were planning to – as well as everyone who has made our last seven auctions so successful. We shall all get through this together.
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In the CommunityCommunity milestones, joys, and sorrows
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April 2020 Board of Trustees Moderator Letter
Greetings,
Well, it has been a month since we implemented our physical distancing and safe ways of being with each other. The board hopes you all are healthy and continuing to find the gifts in your life.
We are blessed to have ministers and staff who are holding our spirits with outstanding services & music, and keeping our physical facilities day by day, while also looking and planning ahead for how we will be together in the coming months.
It is likely we will have virtual church services for the rest of our church year. These have been very well ‘attended’. If you haven’t, please tune in, and continue to monitor the church website and bulletins for ways to stay connected.
First Unitarian is committed to pay all our staff through the month of April. We have applied for a Payroll Protection Loan, part of the CARES Act, which if received will allow us to extend that for approximately two additional months...Continued
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Sunday, April 19 Attendance:
Livestream: 832
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Faked Email Messages “from Rev. Bill”
They’re becoming more frequent: “Spoofed” email messages that appear to be from Bill Sinkford asking for your help. Email spoofing is an actual thing! It is the creation of email messages with a forged email address for the purpose of fooling the recipient into providing money or sensitive information. In our case, the messages look like they’re from Bill. But they’re not. Spoofed emails are very prevalent because it is incredibly easy to spoof an address. Fortunately, a spoofed email message does not mean that your email (or Bill’s) has been hacked or compromised.
So how can you tell when a message is spoofed? A quick way to check if Bill is the actual sender is to carefully check the full email header. This is where important details are located. By reviewing the header of the email, you’re able to determine the actual email address of the sender.
Bill’s email address is bsinkford@firstunitarianportland.org. If the sender’s email isn’t EXACTLY this email address…and you really have to look carefully…it isn’t from Bill!
And sorry to say, email spoofing isn’t something that’s under our control to stop. So it’s up to each of us to pay close attention to the sender’s complete email address, not just the name.
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Why Pronouns Matter
At church and elsewhere, it’s becoming more common for people to introduce themselves with the pronouns they use, and to ask, “What pronouns do you use?” Though this may be an unfamiliar question for you, becoming comfortable with it is a way to live our UU principles.
Here’s why:
Gender is a primary way our creative identities interact with the world. Many people feel comfortable with the gender assigned to them at birth based on their genitals, assigned male or female, and are called cisgender. (Cis means “on the same side of,” so for these people, gender and sex-at-birth align.) For many others, their assigned gender is not a true or comfortable identity. Read more here.
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Ongoing Groups
For information on a specific group please contact the leader by clicking the button below.
Many church groups meet on a regular schedule during our program year (approximately September through May or June); however, groups often meet on an irregular basis or take the summer months off, so if you are unsure about a particular group's schedule, please contact the leader.
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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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Do You Have an Item for E-news and/or the Sunday Bulletin?
If you have an item you’d like published in our weekly Front Steps (eNews) or the Sunday Bulletin, please submit it here and include in the subject line “For eNews” –or– “For Sunday Bulletin” –or– “For eNews and Sunday Bulletin.”
Deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday.
Because space is limited in our Sunday Bulletin, we’re unable to run articles for more than a week or two in advance, depending on the number of submissions. Articles may need to be shortened if space is tight.
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| Sunday Livestream
Join us LIVE from your computer or smartphone on Sundays at 10:15 a.m.
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Jump to our program resources!
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April Shared Plate
We share our plate with the Emergency Relief Fund of our community partner, Bienestar that provides quality low-income rental housing and programs for farmworkers and their families.
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What's your family doing together while you’re spending more time at home?
Sharing your photos adds to our media collection and gives us permission to publish and/or use images for publications, website content, and social media.
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Have you moved recently? Changed your phone number or e-mail address? Anything else you'd like to let us know about?
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