Please Join Our Live Stream
Sunday, May 9, 2021Family Worship Service at 9:15 a.m.
Worship Service at 10:15 a.m.
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Mother Earth
Rev. Gretchen Haley
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| How do traditional notions of motherhood play out in our understanding of our relationship with the earth? Change parenting, change the world.Â
Join us for a service exploring the origins of Mother’s Day, the role of the “Ideal Mother” and other gendered pitfalls, all set beside our expansive and connective responsibility to the earth. Â
Rev. Gretchen Haley began with Foothills Unitarian Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2012, and was called as their Senior Minister in 2016. She has an audacious ambition for the liberal church, believing in its capacity to transform lives and our world by way of hyper-local relationships and partnerships that inspire the unleashing of courageous love.
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Guest BlogConnecting With Others & the Earth
Stacey Mitchell, Intern Minister
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As we slowly emerge from the pandemic with vaccines becoming available for most adults throughout the country, I am thinking more about re-connecting where I have been disconnected this last year. So much of our lives are interdependent on others and occasions around us. I think of some of the words by Thich Nhat Hanh on inter-connection:Â
You are me and I am you.Â
Isn’t it obvious that we inter-are?Â
You cultivate the flower in yourselfÂ
so that I will be beautiful.Â
I transform the garbage in myselfÂ
so that you do not have to suffer.Â
I support you-you support me.Â
I am here to bring you peaceÂ
you are here to bring me joy...continued.
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Family WorshipMother's Day
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On this Mother's Day, we will explore the origins of the holiday we know today, including its UU connection, the women who paved the way, and the inspirational peace and justice work of women and mothers of our time.
Cassandra will offer our message, Rev. Bill will guide us in meditation, and Dustin will lead our hymns and special music.
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Speaking of Justice: Blog
The Abolition Movement Today: Study Group Reflections
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What are we learning about “abolition” and why is it relevant today? We hope you’ll check out our blog post to read reflections from participants in our 6-week action/study group: “The Abolition Movement Today.” We will continue these reflections over the coming weeks so please stay tuned.
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| Featured News & EventsTimestamps are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) unless stated otherwise.Â
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| 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.
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NEW - Welcome to First Unitarian with Rev. Thomas Disrud
Sunday, May 23, 11:30 a.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! -Â Budget Review Meeting
Thursday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m.
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Voting members have received (or soon will) their annual ballot packet in the mail. Do you have questions about the budget that you’ll be voting on?Â
Please join members of the Finance Committee and staff to learn about the budget and to ask your questions.Â
Voting member or not, all are welcome! Â
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PLEASE VOTE! -Â Voting Members - It's That Time Again!
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This is the month when voting members should be on the lookout for their annual postal-mailed ballot packet from First Unitarian.
This year you are asked to vote on the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the adoption of the 8th Principle bylaw and two other bylaw changes, two candidates for the Foundation board, and a ballot of seven recommended candidates to serve on the Church’s Nominating Committee and Board of Trustees. See brief bios of the Church’s candidates.
It’s important that every voting member’s voice be heard.
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NOTICE! - Was Your Mailed Ballot Returned?Â
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With no explanation? No postage due? If that’s the case, please white out or thoroughly mark out the last line of the First Unitarian address and drop it in the mail again. Â
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DON'T MISS OUT! - First Unitarian Goals for 2021-2024Â
Get involved by adding your feedback!
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The Board, in collaboration with the congregation, will be developing church-wide goals to guide us for the next three years.Â
In the past the church has set five-year goals, but with the uncertainty of the pandemic and because we will be settling a new Senior Minister next year, the Board believes three-year goals make the most sense for this cycle.Â
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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UPCOMING! - Saturday Eco-Meditations at Mount Tabor and Washington Park
Saturdays, May 8, 15, and 22 at 9 a.m.
Intern Minister Stacey Mitchell will lead outdoor meditations (using COVID safety protocols). There will be a guided meditation component to each session, as we connect to our sacred earth. Beginners are welcome.Â
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Phone Banking Hosted by First Unitarian
Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign
Wednesday, May 12, 5:30-8 p.m.
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Please join First Unitarian’s climate, immigrant and racial justice groups in their support for the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity campaign, a campaign led by a statewide coalition of frontline communities impacted by racial, climate and economic injustice.Â
We will be advocating for the passage of three bills that will reduce the impact of the climate crisis on communities of color, low-income Oregonians, and rural communities. These bills aim to reduce energy bills, support home upgrades that keep families healthy, and create good jobs in clean energy projects across Oregon. Additional information can be found here. Â
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Decluttering during the Pandemic
Thursday, May 27, 1 p.m.
We have more time at home during this pandemic to be reminded of all the organizing projects we meant to complete but didn’t. We will share some tried-and-true techniques for cutting through the clutter and open it up for group sharing. Come join the conversation and get ideas to jump start your plans!
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Vesper Prayer Service
Fridays at 5 p.m.
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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Action Item - End Gun Violence
Gun violence increases daily. What can we do about it?
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Lift Every Voice Oregon (LEVO) has filed two new initiatives - one to ban future sales of all assault weapons and a second to require gun licensing. You can help get these on the November 2022 ballot.
Please take action now. Help collect the first 1,000 valid Oregon voter signatures. Read this Action of the Week from OR UU Voices for Justice for details.
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Art For Social Justice
The 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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"Normal Never Was" by Jasmine Barnes
Normal Never Was, Resonance Ensemble’s imaginative 12th season, continues to respond to the striking new challenges of the pandemic and to those that always were: racial and gender violence, inequality, and loss.
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Cards of Thanks for Stacey
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Stacey Mitchell, who has served as our intern minister this year, will be ending her internship in June. We won’t have the usual in-person reception to thank her for her ministry that we might normally have, so the Ministerial Internship Committee invites congregants to send cards to Stacey as a way of saying goodbye and thanking her.
Please send a card, by June 1, to:
Stacey Mitchell c/o Michael MurrayÂ
14978 NW Mill Rd. Portland, OR 97231
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A Picture’s Worth 1,000 Words!
First Unitarian Portland’s Online Photo Directory is coming soon to a computer (or tablet, or phone) near you!
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First U member Nancy Panitch has volunteered to administer a password-protected online photo directory for church members that is similar to the one she created for The Alliance two years ago—which they love! The directory will help us connect names with faces and provide contact information so that we can easily be in touch with one another in our Beloved Community. Â
The directory will include your name, your preferred phone number, preferred email address, and your photo. Â
- If you prefer to opt-out of this directory completely, just send an email. In the body of the email write “Please exclude me from the church directory” and type your full name so we know exactly whom to exclude.
- If you’d like to be in the directory, but don’t want your phone and/or email address included, send an email. In the body of the email, explain what you do and don’t want included.
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Congratulations to Outside In/Thank You Congregation!
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Our church neighbor, Outside In, provides healthcare and basic services for unhoused youth and young adults. When the pandemic hit, they were suddenly strapped for space because they needed to increase their food service. We were able to offer Outside In the free use of our Buchan Reception Hall for their food pantry, delivery and free vegetable market.
Now there's exciting news to share! Outside In has found a new permanent space for their food distribution! We are grateful that with the financial support of our church membership and the skills and labor of church staff, First Unitarian could host Outside In for a year with no cost to them. Thank you, Congregation!
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UUA General Assembly - Delegates Needed!Wednesday, June 23 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
Apply by May 14
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This year the UUA General Assembly will be held June 23-27, VIRTUALLY. The registration fee is $200. First U will reimburse some (and possibly all--depends on how many people apply) of the registration fee for those who request it and meet delegate requirements. We are seeking volunteers who:  Â
- Can devote up to three hours per day June 24 - 26, plus two shorter sessions, to participate in on-line discussions that frame the final issues to be voted on. And then, to vote your conscience.Â
- Will familiarize yourself on the issues to be voted on. Following GA, delegates will be asked to report back to First U membership on topics discussed and votes taken.
- Are comfortable using online tools such as Zoom to attend virtual meetings and participate in voting.Â
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This is a great opportunity to become engaged in the larger work of the Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations. And GA is not all work! There will be the Ware Lecture, on-line worship, speakers, workshops, and much more. Check it out!
If you act promptly, you’ll also be eligible to vote on enabling dissolution of our Pacific NW District! Please contact Stan or Bill by May 14 to apply.
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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.
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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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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 Tuesday.Â
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Sunday Live StreamÂ
& Social Schedule
Join us LIVE from your computer or smart device by clicking on the links below.Â
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May Shared Plate
First Unitarian shares our plate offering with the Pacific Northwest Family Circle, an all-volunteer community group that supports Oregon and Washington Families whose Loved Ones were killed or injured by police officers. When a Loved One is killed by the police, it puts the families into a club they never wanted to be in...continue.
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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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