Join us for Homecoming Sunday!September 11, 2022Â
NEW WORSHIP TIME: 10:30 a.m. PT
| |
Childcare is available during our worship service for children three and under (located in the nursery).Â
| |
Welcome to our Homecoming Sunday! We will kick-off our spiritual theme of the year, “Rooted in Relationship.” May this be a year of deepening and growth in how we relate to ourselves, to this multigenerational spiritual community, to our families and friends, to our neighbors near and far, and to all beings.Â
| |
Staying Connected BlogNew Beginnings
| |
Welcome to the start of a new year and a new shared ministry. This coming Sunday, September 11th at 10:30am is our homecoming, and children, youth, and adults of all ages are invited to join us in-person and online. I can’t wait to begin our first year together! It is a time of getting to know each other, of nourishing the roots of relationship, and of planting seeds for a vibrant future...continue.
| |
| Happening This SundayTimestamps are Pacific Time (PT) unless stated otherwise. Check out our Events Calendar for First U PDX gatherings.
Gmail Users: You may have to scroll down to the bottom of this message and click on "View Entire Message" to see the complete Front Steps.
| |
|
Homecoming Sunday Highlights
Sunday, September 11, 2022
- Multi-generational Sanctuary service at 10:30 a.m.
- Religious Education Open House immediately following the service. Come meet your teachers and see your new classroom before 12 p.m. (Classes will begin on September 18.)Â
- An “Everybody Come!” reception immediately following the service will be held in the Buchan Atrium with snacks, coffee, and tea. There is indoor and outdoor space in which to socialize.
- No Fuller Hall Social Hour on Homecoming Sunday.
- At 12:15 p.m. festivities continue and the work for justice begins anew. Our UU the Vote Party launches in the Buchan Reception Hall and online via Zoom.
| |
|
Homecoming UU the Vote Kick-Off Party
Rooted in Relationship, We Will Make a Difference
THIS SUNDAY! - September 11
Social Hour: Following the worship service with light refreshments, coffee and tea.Program: 12:15 - 2 p.m. Location: Buchan Reception Hall and on Zoom (register here)
NOTE: No social hour in Fuller Hall today
| |
We are excited to partner with The Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of North Carolina, Carolina Jews for Justice and the New North Carolina Project to get out the vote for the midterm election.
Our short program will start off with words from Reverend Alison and Intern Minister Eli and we'll be joined by special guest Dr. Aimy Steele, the New North Carolina Project founder and director! Our NC UU organizing partners will also share with us how we can join them to phone bank 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Thursday afternoons, from September 15 through the midterm elections (see announcement in Upcoming Events).
Following the hybrid program, we hope you'll stay to write more letters to voters in North Carolina as we UU the Vote. Please bring twenty #10 envelopes, twenty first class stamps and a blue pen. We will also have supplies just in case.
If you'd like to write voter letters before worship service this Sunday (and every Sunday through October 23), bring your writing supplies and head down to the table in Fuller Hall between 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. to pick up your packets and write more letters with friends.
| |
|
REGISTRATION OPEN! - Learning Community Classes
Childcare, Pre-school-6th Grade & Youth Classes Open!
Classes Begin Sunday, September 18 at 10:30 a.m.
| |
|
Immediately following our multi-generational service on Homecoming Sunday on September 11, come over to the Buchan building to visit your child's classroom and meet their teachers.
New families, please come to the Welcome Desk in the Buchan building for an opportunity to visit classes.
Masks required for everyone over two years old.
| |
| VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - Teach in the Learning Community this Year!
| |
|
We are thrilled to begin this church year with in-person classes for all ages Preschool through High School!Â
We are in need of volunteers to journey alongside our young people, co-leading with other volunteers. We have flexible options for balancing teaching with attending worship services and are looking for volunteers who can commit to teaching at least two Sundays per month.
We offer training and lots of support. Previous experience with children is helpful but not required. If you have never volunteered in the Learning Community previously or are considering returning to teaching after some time away, please consider making the commitment this year. We need you!
| |
|
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! -Â Wellspring Sources: 10-month Small Group Experience
Virtual gatherings start October 19, 7 - 9 p.m., first and third Wednesdays, Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
| |
Would you like the opportunity to engage in spiritual deepening within our UU tradition? Would you like to learn more about yourself, others, and our faith through a 10-month virtual small group experience? Each year, many members of our church participate in this amazing journey.Â
If you have been involved with Unitarian Universalism for at least 12 months and have never participated in Wellspring in the past, please click the button below for more information.
(Wellspring alumni: information on advanced curriculum will be available soon.)
| |
|
VOLUNTEER NEEDED! -Â Join our Front Desk Team!
Wednesdays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
| |
|
Friendly, computer skills, typing, answering phones. Basic office duties.
Please email John or call our office (503) 228-6389.
| |
|
Upcoming Events, Workshops & ClassesÂ
| |
|
NEW! - 2022 Social Justice In Gathering
A Retreat Open to All of First Unitarian Portland
On Saturday, September 24
In-person: Buchan Reception Hall, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Online:Â Zoom workshop, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
From the Social Justice Program
| |
|
If social justice is an important part of your spirituality, this in-gathering is for you. Whether you are an active member of our social justice groups or are exploring how your values for justice can be put into action, please join us in-person for a day of community-building, learning and fun. We will have a hybrid workshop (in-person and on Zoom) with our UU siblings at All Souls Church in Washington, DC. If you can’t be with us for the day, we would love to see you during the workshop that will focus on skill-building and our commitment to living into the 8th Principle.
The in-person program will start with a light breakfast and time to connect with our Social Justice Action Groups. Following the hybrid workshop with All Souls Church, we’ll have lunch with the Board of Trustees and the Executive Team. Then after lunch will be a time for fun together with singing, mural-making and a social justice book swap!
| |
| Monday Afternoon UU the Vote Letter-Writing Event
Monday, September 12, 2 - 4 p.m.
Location: First Unitarian Portland, in the Buchan Reception Hall
Enter the building: on the 13th Ave. door of the Buchan Building (Directly enters the Buchan Reception Hall; nearest corner of SW 13th and SW Salmon.)
| |
|
Come get oriented to writing voter mobilization letters and enjoy the fellowship of other congregants as you UU the Vote together. We are writing to North Carolina voters in partnership with the UU Justice MInistry of NC. We have a team of experienced letter-writers there to help guide the way. Bring a snack or goodie to share if you'd like.
If possible, please bring with you:Â minimum of twenty #10 letter envelopes; twenty (minimum)Â First-class Forever letter stamps; pens and highlighters for writing your letters. We will have envelopes and stamps available if that makes your participation possible.
Next letter-writing dates: 9/26, 10/3, 10/17 and 10/24
| |
|
Help Us Turn Out the Vote & Turn DeReau's Hair Blue!
ACTION! -Â Thursdays starting September 15 with Special Challenge:Â Thursday, September 29
| |
|
This fall, the Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of NC and Carolina Jews for Justice have teamed up with The New North Carolina Project Foundation to host eight straight weeks of non-partisan phone banking on Thursday nights from September 15 through November 3 (3:30-5:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 - 8:30 ET). Jews, UUs and other people of faith are invited to join us to put our Faith In Action by calling North Carolina voters of color about the midterm elections. We will be helping voters to be inspired and equipped to vote love and defeat hate this fall.Â
When you register, you'll receive all the information you need to join the phone banks. The hosts will teach everyone how to use the programs and will provide scripts and technical support. The first hour will be a chance to connect with each other, and to get trained and ready to dive into calling. The second hour you'll make calls with trained support at the ready when questions arise.
| |
| How You Can Turn DeReau's Hair Blue!
First Unitarian Portland has joined this effort as a congregational partner. On September 29, we will host a phone bank.
The Action: If we get 20 First Unitarian Portland congregants to phone bank that afternoon, our Director of Music DeReau Farrar will dye his hair bright blue (or maybe turquoise) through the election! Help us to turn out the vote and turn DeReau's hair blue by registering here.
| |
|
NEW! - Heart Space: Spiritual Small Group
Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 4, 7 - 8 p.m.
We will meet on Zoom every other week for four sessions with the option to extend if the group chooses.
| |
Are you looking for connection, reflection, grounding in these challenging times? Heart Space will offer an intimate small group setting to discuss spiritual themes such as “resilience” and “trust.”
| |
One of our goals as a church is to build a multicultural, diverse, engaged, spiritual community that works to dismantle racism and other oppressions. Antiracism Learning Circles are opportunities to do some of that work, to expose ourselves to our real history, to increase awareness of ongoing oppressions, and to explore and reveal our individual reactions to issues on race in America.
| |
Open to all; please invite your friends and neighbors to join our Circles on Zoom.
| |
|
Loving Kindness Meditation
Mondays, Starting September 12, Â at 8 p.m.
| |
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. No previous meditation practice necessary.Â
| |
|
Friday Vesper Prayer ServicesÂ
Every Friday // Â 5 p.m.
| |
Gather once again for a quiet time of prayer, reflection, meditation and music.
An ongoing commitment is not required.
| |
|
Transforming Hearts: A Free Course for Congregants
Complete at your own pace. Join anytime!
| |
This course is for everyone from novices on trans identity to those with decades of life experience. Rather than simply offering a “trans 101,” this class pushes participants to the next level of congregational welcome, relationship-building, and skills-building.
| |
|
THIS FALL! -Â Come Sing and/or Ring with Us!Â
| |
Our Music Ministry is preparing for the fall and would love to have you come sing and/or ring with us! Rehearsals for the fall term begin soon. Information can be found on our webpage.Â
| |
|
NEW -Â Building Unity:Â Effectively Countering Divisiveness
You are invited to Oregons UU for Justice annual conference!
Saturday, Septemnber 17, 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
| |
We will all be seeking, learning and talking about how to enact social, political, economic justice via policy enactment and real personal engagement.
| |
In the Community
Lila Palmiter, the mother of member Sue Palmiter, died on August 28 at the age of 92 after a 10-year determined struggle to be present even with the loss of memory and physical ability. In Sue’s words “She left every visit saying “I love you” and what more can a family ask for?”
Long time members Warren and Lynne Bacon were married on Labor Day, September 5, 1960. Their anniversary landed on Labor Day again this year. This week they celebrated 62 years of love and marriage.
A memorial service will be held this Saturday, September 10, for Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs at 3 p.m. Rob and his wife Janne joined our church after they retired here to Portland in 2021. Rob died on July 23 at the age of 71. The service will be in our Sanctuary and Clergy and Religious Educators invited to robe and process for service. Click here to view the service via livestream.
| |
|
NEW! - September Art Wall
From The Art Wall Committee
Travel from Portland to Paris with Jack Robinson. (You don’t even have to go through the TSA line!)
| |
|
Visit Our Church Book Store!
Every Sunday after the service.
| |
Come to our bookstore for books needed for UU Wellspring classes and Antiracism Learning Circles!Â
We also have bookshelves filled with books from Rev. Bill Sinkford’s personal library at 50% off!  And there are two great books about Queer & Trans Identities as well as they/them pronouns – presented in short, comic style writing – recommended by Rev. Tom Disrud.
| |
Do you have a birth in the family, a graduation, an anniversary, a memorial, or other events to share? You can acknowledge it to the entire congregation by sponsoring a floral bouquet. As we connect with friends, say it with flowers on the Chancel.
| |
Having trouble viewing our services through the website?
Find our Livestreams on Boxcast, YouTube or on Facebook.
| |
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.
| |
|
| Sunday LivestreamÂ
& Summer Schedule
| |
September Shared Plate
For the 2022-23 church year, First Unitarian dedicates our monthly offerings to organizations led by youth and/or committed to youth leadership development. Throughout the year, our YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists) high schoolers will help decide which organizations will be our monthly shared plate partners, consistent with their values and prioritizing the issues our youth care deeply care about.
For the month of September, we share our offering with Sunrise Movement PDX. Sunrise began with a group of young people heeding the call to create a space in Portland’s climate justice community for youth to come together and uplift each other’s voices. They strive to empower generations to become active and take leadership in this movement...continue.
| |
Want to know what this church has to offer? Show up for events/classes/socials and  stay engaged!
| |
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.
| |
Moved recently? Changed your phone number or e-mail? Fill out this form.
| |
|
