Join Us for Worship this SundaySunday, July 4, 2021Â // 10:15 a.m.
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Sunday Reprise: Pioneer Square Service
Rev. Thomas Disrud
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 The original plan for this July 4 Sunday was to bring you a special worship service from our recent Unitarian Universalist General Assembly called the Service of the Living Tradition. It honors those who serve in professional ministry in our association. We learned this week that that service would not be available as expected.
This morning we are bringing you our own church’s worship from June 13 that was live from Pioneer Courthouse Square. It was a wonderful service, most of all because we were able to gather together in person for the first time in many months.
Our joyous Pioneer Square Service felt like one of those services that bears repeating. It was a blessing to be reminded that hopefully, before long, we’ll be back together in person every Sunday. May that be so as we gather in this virtual space once again this morning.
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Staying Connected Blog
“Bill’s Blog” becomes “Staying Connected Blog”
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The Blog is on break this week, and will return next week.  As Rev. Bill shared in his blog last Thursday, “this blog will begin sharing reflections from Rev. Tom and our Program Leaders, as well as from me.” Monday’s “Staying Connected” platform for multiple staff voices has been so well received during the pandemic that we plan on continuing it into the new church year.
The Staying Connected reflections will be sent out on Mondays as usual, and then repeated on Thursday in our Front Steps e-News as the “Staying Connected Blog.” This expands our outreach, helping to “connect” the church to our now broader and more geographically dispersed community.Â
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DON'T MISS OUT! -Â Special Virtual Social Hour
Sunday, July 4, at 11:30 a.m.
Join us for a special Virtual Social Hour this Sunday!
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In addition to our regular space for conversation and fellowship, we will open an additional room for those who would like to talk about our UUA's General Assembly (GA) held last month or for those who are simply curious about GA and would like to learn more.Â
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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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HEADS UP! - Summer Office Protocol
The office is open on a limited, by-appointment basis this summer.Â
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If you need to meet in person with a minister or staff member, please contact them ahead of time to make arrangements. And of course, meeting via Zoom is still an option.
If you haven’t been vaccinated, we ask that you wear a face mask while you’re in the office. And please be aware of your surroundings when you come to our office door. As a downtown church in a city that’s not “fully back” yet, it makes sense to pay extra attention to any activity nearby.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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Reclamation Toward The Futurity of Central Albina: Dreamworld Urbanism: Re-broadcast with live Q&AÂ
Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m.
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BobbyFouther Chillin’ in Central Albina Age 5 (Photocredit: From the extensive & unrivaled Fouther Family Archive)
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| For the past 6 months, The Emanuel Displaced Persons Association 2, EDPA2, partnered with the brilliant minds of FutureLab to create an inventive expression for the Destruction of Central Albina, the impact of that destruction and a clear justification for restitution. This groundbreaking 104 page report combines years of EDPA2 research with the latest GIS technology.
It introduces new concepts to explain the experiences of Forced Removal and chronicles this ugly City of Portland history in a way that has never been done before! It clearly explains the EDPA2-led idea for Curable Loss and Incurable Loss while providing clear examples. And finally, this project completes a full economic assessment for destroyed Real Estate Wealth. The report is complemented with an interactive digital platform for further study and exploration. It answers all questions and removes any lingering doubt...
In mid-June, First Unitarian Portland hosted EDPA2 and FutureLab for a "Sneak Peek" of the report and the interactive tool. Due to high demand, we will host a rebroadcast of the presentation and members of EDPA2 will be available to answer questions following the presentation.
If you missed it the first time, you will want to be sure to join us for this second opportunity. Note: The full report will be available for public consumption soon via a public announcement.
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REGISTER NOW! - Jubilee 3: Antiracism Virtual Workshop
Friday, 7/16 - 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 7/17, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; & Sunday 7/18, 12-6:30 p.m.
Cost $170
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Paula Cole Jones, Dr. Leon Spencer, and Lutricia Callair co-lead a 3-day, virtual anti-racism workshop that covers the history of racism, societal and institutional mechanisms maintaining racism, the personal injury of racism, and analysis of racism in our immediate communities.
This engaging virtual workshop delves more deeply into the work of dismantling racism in the company of other congregants and UUs on the West Coast. Jubilee 3 is the third incarnation of this anti-racism training that has been finely developed over time and has been shared with UU congregations across the country.Â
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Are you Interested in Spiritual Deepening in a Small Group? Registration for Wellspring Sources is now open!
Starts virtually in October, click the button below for details.Â
“What will you do with this one wild and precious life?” asks the poet Mary Oliver. UU Wellspring™ is a 10-month program of distinctly Unitarian Universalist spiritual development designed to help participants answer that provocative question.
Each year, many members of our church participate in this amazing journey. Wellspring offers spiritual deepening within our Unitarian Universalist tradition, an opportunity for learning more about ourselves and our faith through a year-long virtual small group experience.
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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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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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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Taina Asili y la Banda Rebelde | It's In Our Hands
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In the Community
A memorial service has been scheduled for member Jan Harris on Sunday, July 11, at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Jan died on June 19 at Holladay Park Plaza where she lived. Jan was 80 years old and had recently experienced a recurrence of leukemia. Jan was part of the community at Holladay Park Plaza that watches services together. She also served as an usher and Learning Community teacher here at the church. Register here for the memorial service Zoom link.Â
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NEW! - June Moderator’s Letter
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We have reached the end of our church year and are finding our way to the new normal. 300 of us gathered in Pioneer Square on June 13 to hear our service in person for the first time in 15 months. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and to sing and dance together.
We also concluded the year by revising our bylaws to include the 8th Principle, which states:
“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.” ...continue.
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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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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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June/July Shared Plate
We share our plate with Black & Beyond the Binary Collective. BBBC is dedicated to advocacy and healing for transgender and gender-variant Oregonians who are Black and have lived experiences as a member of the African diaspora. They seek to uphold the dignity of the Black transgender and nonbinary community in Portland Metro by providing resources without stipulations, sharing Black joy, and combatting transmisogyny and anti-Black racism...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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