Please Join Our Live Stream
Sunday, November 29Worship Service at 10:15 a.m. PDT
Family Worship Service at 9:15 a.m. PDT
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Prayer & Action
Stacey Mitchell, Intern Minister
Prayer is a form of communication, often connecting to something outside of ourselves.
How is love a form of prayer?
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Bill's BlogThanksgiving: Gratitude & Grief
This is not my first attempt to write a “Thanksgiving” message. You all expect me to offer one and I understand offering a word of gratitude in this season to be a responsibility of my ministry, part of my job. But I have had a hard time staying in the space of gratitude. Â
One of my first efforts centered on the Native American understanding of this holiday as a Day of Mourning. I used the poetry of Joy Harjo to bring the Trail of Tears into the present in the caging of children on our border. I wrote of the need for a new story that does not paper over the violence and the exclusion that is a through line in our history. That effort failed to get to gratitude...continued.
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Family WorshipGratitude, Thanks & Honoring
Our focus this Sunday will be about gratitude, giving thanks, and acknowledging and honoring the traditions of Indigenous Peoples that continue today. Members of YRUU wrote a thankfulness poem that will be offered as our prayer and meditation.
Nicole will share reflections from over the years in YRUU as our high school youth have explored and shared their growing awareness of the true history of Thanksgiving, and how that awareness has helped to shape new traditions in the Learning Community. Dustin will lead us in one of our hymns about giving thanks. Â
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| Featured NewsAll timestamps are scheduled in Pacific Standard Time (PST) unless stated otherwise.
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Another Legal Step: Amicus Brief
First Unitarian, along the other named plaintiffs in our federal case limiting the extent of government policing on our streets, has joined an Amicus (Friend of the Court) brief in another, related case (Index Newspapers v. US Marshalls Service). The brief argues that our church has an interest in the protection of the ability of journalists and other observers to report and share information about the governments conduct during protests
These legal actions are all designed to establish boundaries/limits for federal policing actions.
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Harvest the Power Justice Convergence & Teach-in
ONE MORE DAY! November 19 – 26
Join the UUA, UU Ministry for Earth, UUSC, & many partners in reverence for the Earth.
The Harvest the Power Justice Convergence & Teach-in is a series of excellent programs and documentary screenings to provide grounding, community, and justice education for the week of Thanksgiving.

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The Alliance Presents... "Listening Beyond the Notes: People, History & Culture Behind my Music"
All are welcome!
Wednesday, December 2 at 12:30 p.m.
We welcome young violinist and musician Noah Carr. Enjoy the musical talent of this fine young musician. See Noah with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony - (MYSfits).
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Holiday Giving Tree Drive-by Drop-off!
Collecting On: Saturday, December 5 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Curbside Drop-Off: Eliot Center Entrance, 1226 SW Salmon St.
Our “Giving Trees” will look a little different this year. Team up with the Learning Community and three of our Social Justice Action Groups on behalf of First U PDX, by signing up to donate items or monetarily give to one or several partnering organizations listed below.Â
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The Learning Community will be collecting mittens, socks, scarves, blankets and hats for Don't Shoot Portland.
Mental Health Action Group will be collecting gift cards of a suggested $10-$30+ for those living with mental illness for Central City Concern.
Animal Ministries will be collecting dog food, cat food and litter that will go towards the Paw Team.
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Don't Shoot PDX   -   Paw Team   -   Central City Concern
Click to monetarily donate towards these organization.
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First U PDX! Adopt-a-PHFS Family for the Holidays!
Collecting on: Sunday, December 13 from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Curbside Drop-Off: Eliot Center, 1226 SW Salmon St.
Because of safety concerns related to COVID-19, Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) will not host an in-person holiday event for their families this year. Instead, PHFS is recruiting donors to "Adopt a Family” and provide holiday gifts and cheer for an entire family.
Keeping with our tradition of the Giving Tree and supporting PHFS holiday gift drives, Committee on Hunger and Homelessness (COHHO) has committed to adopting four families. Please consider giving!
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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A Thanksgiving Invitation: Hollywood Senior Center
Reflection, Light Stretching & Gratitude Gathering
Thursday, November 26, at 10:00 a.m.
For many, Thanksgiving is a tradition of family and friends coming together. This year will look very different, as the pandemic has made it challenging to get together with others in person this fall. Gratefully, we are still able to gather, and we hope you will join us!Â
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Join us to Imagine the People’s Inauguration
Tuesday, December 1 at 4:30 p.m.
What role do you want to play in our collective action? How can we support each other in this important work for a healthy democracy?
Over the past month, a team of congregants has been meeting to "Hold the Line" for a safe, fair and respected presidential election. As we continue to monitor the presidential transfer of power, we are shifting our focus to planning for The People’s Inauguration on January 21, 2021.
In the next eight weeks we will celebrate our successes and imagine together how to transition our community, our nation, and our world towards the Beloved Community.Â
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Caring Circle for Parents
Mondays, November 30, December 14, 28, January 11, 25
From 7 - 8 p.m
An ongoing commitment is not required.Â
In these challenging times for families, our lay ministers invite you to join a Caring Circle for parents. This small group will meet every other week to provide listening and support to one another.Â
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Monthly Mailers & Zoom Gatherings
Registered families should have received their November mailer packets for the theme of Prayer. Watch your Learning Community news for details about a zoom session for our younger age groups as we round out the month.
Please share your feedback about the mailer packets and zoom sessions which will help us in planning future months.Â
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Did You Pre-Order an Alliance Wreath for Church Pick-Up?
Pick-up days: Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5
Pick-up time: From 10 – 2 p.m.
Pick-up location: Church Office Garage, 1034 SW 13th Avenue
Please note, wreaths will NOT be available for sale. Pick-up is for pre-ordered wreaths only. If you purchased a wreath to be shipped, they will be going out in the mail.....Â
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Vesper Prayer Service
Every Friday 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, but an ongoing commitment is not required.Â
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Loving Kindness Meditation
Every Monday, 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Loving-Kindness towards self and others is a basic foundational view of Buddhism and other religions. Intern Minister Stacey Mitchell will gently guide you through this spiritual practice which cultivates benevolence, kindness, and amity.Â
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Honoring of Land & People
Click Photo for full-size Grand Ronde poster.
First Unitarian Church is located in the heart of downtown Portland. We honor the indigenous people on whose traditional and ancestral land we sit.
We recognize the Multnomah, Clackamas, Clowwewalla (or Willamette-Tumwater) and Cascades (or Watlala) bands of Chinookan peoples, and the Tualatin Band of Kalapuya.
These indigenous peoples signed the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 and were later forcibly removed from their homelands to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation; their descendants live today as members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Many other indigenous nations of the Columbia River have connections to this place as well, and their descendants also live on.
We acknowledge the ancestors and survivors of this place and recognize that we are here because of the sacrifices forced upon them. We honor their legacy, their lives, and their descendants who carry on Tribal traditions for present and future generations.
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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.
A Beautiful Dawn by Radmilla Cody A hauntingly beautiful musical offering.
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A Note From Your Emergency Planning Team
Emergencies by their very nature take us by surprise.
COVID-19 made us all conscious of how important it is to plan for contingencies.  Now is a perfect time to pull items together in case you need to leave home in a moment’s notice.  It is easy to procrastinate, but please DON’T! If needed, you will be forever grateful.
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Board Meeting Reminder
Thursday, December 3 at 7 p.m.
There is a Zoom link on the Board webpage and in the agenda for the meeting in the packet.
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Nominating Committee in Search of a Few Good Candidates
Are you a member of First Unitarian and wondering how you can give back? Are you wanting to help build the beloved community, seeing representation of all of our members in the leadership of our church?
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NEW  – Message from our Board Moderator
We made it through the election and have reason to hope for healing as we look to a new year and a new administration. The prayer vigil offered by Rev. Bill, Rev. Tom, and Intern Minister Stacey on election eve was a time of calm and blessing in the frenzy of that night.Â
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As Rev. Bill reported, we prevailed in the lawsuit we joined with the Western States Association to protect our right to bear witness to, and protest, oppression free from interference by federal officers. Not only were we successful in protecting our rights in Portland, we also provided a framework that will help other communities of faith protect their right to express their faith through action. This is truly an example of thinking globally and acting locally. Thank you to Rev. Bill, Dana Buhl and our social justice groups for all they have done to help us put our faith into action...continued.
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Faked Email Messages “from Rev. Bill”
Congregants receiving spoofed emails from Reverend Bill
Please only open messages from this email address bsinkford@firstunitarianportland.org. If the sender’s email isn’t EXACTLY this email address, it isn’t from Reverend Bill
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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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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.Â
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Sunday Live Stream & Social ScheduleJoin us LIVE from your computer or smart device by clicking on the links below.Â
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| November Shared PlateIn November, we share our plate with the Chúush Fund: Water for Warm Springs. In partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, MRG Foundation developed The Chúush Fund to directly benefit the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs as they work to restore their access and infrastructure for clean water.
In 2019, a water main break on the Warm Springs Reservation has meant continued water crisis on the largest tribal reservation in Oregon.Â
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Speaking of Justice: Weekly Update 11/25
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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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![[Image Description: The Harvest the Power Justice Convergence & Teach-In Advertisement for November 19-26, 2020. The Image contains a beautiful illustration of 5 women surrounded by nature created by Molly Costello which says “The Land Loves Us Back”. At the bottom of the advertisement are the logos for the UUA, UUMFE, and UUSC.]](https://d31hzlhk6di2h5.cloudfront.net/20201125/63/8f/8a/b6/a6ce6222a0820eb89cb0a725_840x316.png)
