🥞 Community Pancake Breakfast 9 - 10:15 a.m. 🥞
Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m.
Time for All Ages: Families begin in worship service; then, children and youth leave to attend their classes.
Childcare is available during our worship service for children six months to 3 years old (in the nursery.)
Social Hour: Buchan Reception Hall after the service
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Grace is a quality that marks our lives in both extraordinary and ordinary ways. If we are mindful, we may notice that unbidden blessings abound every day.
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Minister's Blog
The Spring
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I don’t know about you, but I always feel like my life speeds up in the late spring, as though I’m barrelling towards the summer with no breaking mechanism. I don’t want to waste the first warm and sunny days, these blessed late sunsets, so I pack them in with walks, picnics, dinners on patios, and outdoor festivals. My calendar begins filling up with summer travel and concerts. And the church year gets especially busy, celebrating everything we’ve accomplished this past year and planning for the year ahead. We’ve been training new lay ministers, enjoying the last Alliance luncheon of the year, working on the 2024-2025 calendar, bidding on auction items, and planning end-of-the-year get-togethers. It’s fun but exhausting. I don’t always make the time to catch my breath, reset, and think about what’s most important...continue reading.
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REMINDER & INVITE — Auction Closes Sunday at 5 p.m.!
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| This year's auction closes Sunday at 5 pm. So don't miss out—BID OFTEN and BID UP! Let's help Zap the Gap by reaching (or surpassing!) our goal. Don't forget, you can place your bids online anytime, day or night, until Sunday at 5 p.m.
YOU'RE INVITED! We're throwing a celebration this Sunday after service to mark the auction's success. Enjoy music, delicious food, and games for all ages in the Buchan Reception Hall immediately following the service.
Thank You!
— The Auction Team
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Community Pancake Breakfast 🥞✨
Sunday, May 5, before service from 9 -10:15 a.m.
Location: Buchan Reception Hall
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We're excited to announce that the Men's Community is gearing up for another delicious pancake breakfast!
Join us for a morning filled with fluffy blueberry, chocolate chip, and plain pancakes straight off the griddle. Plus, we've got gluten-free options available for those with dietary preferences!
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NEW! — Ask Your Budget Questions
Sunday, May 5 at 9:15 a.m.
Location: Eliot Chapel
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| Do you have questions about the budget for FY 2024-2025 or anything else in your ballot packet? Stop by Eliot Chapel, where Church Treasurer Roger Robinson and Administrator Kathryn Estey will answer them for you.
Attention Voting Members! Ballots are due at the Church by 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 19.
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SAVE THE DATE — First U Program Wrap-Up Alfresco Afterparty!
Sunday, June 9, festivities will begin after the service
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It’s going to be a fun outdoor celebration to wrap up the program year, and we want you to be a part of it! We’ll be dishing out delicious pizza and ice cream, and we have some fun activities lined up for everyone, no matter your age.
Gather your friends and loved ones and join us in honoring the amazing things our community has accomplished this year!
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Upcoming Classes, Events & Gatherings
Enjoyed coming to gatherings at First Unitarian Portland? Consider contributing to sustaining our community. Your support goes a long way in fostering meaningful connections. Thank you!
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Vespers: Schedule Change
There will be no Vespers Zoom service on Friday, May 3. Lay Ministers offer the weekly vespers service and will be on retreat that evening. Services will resume on Friday, May 10.
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World Labyrinth Day! This Saturday!
THIS Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Fuller Hall/Daisy Bingham (Enter through Breezway)
Schedule
- Workshop: 10 a.m. til' Noon
- Potluck Lunch: Noon til' 1 p.m.
- World Labyrinth Walk: 1 p.m.
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Help us celebrate World Labyrinth Day this Saturday. We will begin with a workshop covering the history of the labyrinth, walking with intention, and bringing our hopes for peace and justice to our walk. We will share a potluck lunch together and then will join with other labyrinth sites across the globe as we “Walk as one at 1:00” and “create a rolling wave of peaceful energy passing from one time zone to the next.” You can join for all or part of this special day.
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SAVE THE DATE — "Freedom..." The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington
Sunday, May 19, 10:30 - Noon
Location: Sanctuary (1211 SW Main St.)
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With the choir, big band, and soloist Cecille Elliott, the First Unitarian Church of Portland will worship to the soundtrack of selections from Duke Ellington's iconic "Concerts of Sacred Music." We honor one of America's greatest composers during the week of the 50th anniversary of his death while contemplating his vision for freedom—an increasingly relevant and desperate vision, even for today.
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THREE-PART SERIES — Learning in Community: Human Rights & the Crisis in Gaza
Tuesdays, May 21, May 28, June 11 / 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.,
Location: Buchan Reception Hall
- May 21: UN Human Rights processes and the Right to Food
- May 28: Health and Human Rights in Gaza
- June 11: Student movements and Freedom of Speech
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Join Senior Minister Rev. Alison Miller and Director of Social Justice Dana Buhl to learn together about the current human rights crisis unfolding in Gaza due to the Israeli government's policies. Our in-person sessions will focus on collective liberation through a human rights lens. Participants will receive resources on the historical context and present-day situations.
We hold the complexity of this conflict and hope that our gathering will inform future actions for peace and liberation. We will include space for rituals to acknowledge the grief, anger, confusion, and all that participants may feel. It is designed to give participants a chance to learn in community in small groups.
Limit 30. Registration required.
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SAVE THE DATE — Social Justice End-of-Year Gather-In
Sunday, June 2, 12:15 - 1:45 p.m.
Location: Buchan Reception Hall
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Join us for an end-of-year Social Justice Gather-In. We'll shout out to all the amazing ministries we've co-created this year, "harvest" some of what we've learned, deepen our connections for resilience and solidarity, and cast our organizing sites on the horizon.
This is an all-come event and will be an opportunity to learn about the breadth of our Social Justice ministry and share what calls us as we move into the election season and beyond.
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BOOK DISCUSSION — Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American
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The group, co-led by David Delk and Jean Pierce, will meet the first week of each month beginning in June, with the exact time determined by the participants' schedules.
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Shower Project Needs Clothes & Snacks
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The Shower Project is going well, and our guests appreciate the service, especially the clothing donations. To ensure we can continue providing for our guests, we urgently need the items listed below. Your donations of these specific items will make a big difference in the lives of those we serve. Thank you for your support!
- White men's t-shirt sizes medium and large
- Men's boxer briefs sizes medium and large
- Snacks such as chocolates, power bars, and chips
- Men's large sneakers sizes 10-13
- Men's large-sized sweatshirts/hoodies.
Items can be left in the COHHO bins in Fuller Hall.
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Learning Community E-NewsFun, Food, Face Painting & More!
Rev. Leah Ongiri, Acting Director of Lifespan Faith Formation & Family Ministries
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This year’s church auction has some wonderful events and services especially tailored for families. I hope you’ll check ‘em out and then keep checking back. We’re already over half way to our $50,000 goal to help Zap the Gap in our budget--can you help take us all the way and maybe even over the top...continue reading.
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Social Justice Ministries
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In the Community
Longtime member Andrew Wheeler died on April 25 after he took a bad fall and broke his neck in March. He would have turned 94 in June. Andrew and his wife Julie were married for 65 years and joined the church in 1971. Andrew was an architect by profession and was involved in the church in various ways, most recently as one of the stars of the Board’s karaoke auction event. We hold Julie and their family at this time.
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Pick up your name tags in the Narthex!
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Name tags ordered and printed can be picked up in the Narthex/Lobby this Sunday, May 5.
We appreciate you picking them up promptly and helping us with efficient organization!
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| News from the Board
Annual Congregational Survey is Open
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The survey is open now and through May. We're (The Board of Trustees) encouraging everyone to take it and to spread the news! Board members will have paper copies and are happy to assist.
Complete the survey here.
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Spring is now upon us!
It is exciting to see all the colorful trees and flowers blooming after our usual overcast and chilly winter. And it’s exciting to see everyone, new and familiar, on a Sunday morning! I feel that we are all “blossoming” with the sense of energy and purpose for our church...continue reading.
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Chancel flowers this Sunday are given in memory of
Mary Anne Goodrich.
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Do you have a birth in the family, a graduation, an anniversary, a memorial, or other milestones 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.
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The Speaking of Justice Editorial Team offers weekly art to deepen our connection to the work for social justice and to build the Beloved Community.
Curated by Ethel, Speaking of Justice Editorial Team
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Kathy Mattea - Dark As A Dungeon
Kathy Mattea is singing Merle Travis' "Dark As A Dungeon." She said, "My daddy got out of the mines & we moved away from our beloved West Virginia when I was only 18 months old, but I still return & have strong ties there."
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Recurring Workshops, Classes & Gatherings
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Beloved Community of Color: Every second Thursday evening and fourth Saturday morning of the month. Email for more info.
Caregivers Support Group: Open to Newcomers. Fourth Sunday of each month at 9 a.m. via Zoom.
Care and Action for Reproductive Dignity (CARD): We meet on the third Sunday of each month. From 12:15 – 1:45 in Fireside.
First Connections: We meet once a month on the third Sunday for all new and returning folks! And it is a terrific way to meet new folks just coming into the community. Bring a brown bag lunch. Questions? Email Pat.
First Steps: Every first Sunday of the month at Noon // Location: Channing Room. Discover additional insights into life at First Unitarian Portland, avenues for connection, and delve deeper into Unitarian Universalism. Questions? Email Jen Thomas.
- Sunday Gathering at Church
Sunday, May 19, at 9:30 a.m. || Location: Channing Room - Lunch Gathering at Elephants
Monday, June 24 at 12:30 p.m. || Location: Elephants Delicatessen S. Corbett
Sojourners: Lollygagging Our Way To The Inevitable: This group meets monthly on the second Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. Email Lucy with questions.
"T” Time: A Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender-Expansive, Exclusive Gathering: Meet on the second and fourth Sundays in Channing Room at noon.
UU the Vote: Join Us For Community and Letter Writing
Look for the blue tablecloth EVERY SUNDAY.
Letter Writing Schedule:
- Every Sunday, until June 30 / Social Hour
- Every Tuesday, Until June 25 / 10 - 11:30 a.m. / B101
Women's Circle II: Meets most second and fourth Mondays of the month. Email Kim.
Women's Circle III: Meets on the first and third Mondays from 10 - 11:30 a.m. Questions? Contact Dorothy or Maryann.
Women's Circle IV: Meets first and third Wednesdays from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Questions? Contact Anne. (We are currently on pause from accepting new members.)
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Got something for Front Steps? Send in your church-related submission for our weekly publication. Use "Front Steps" as the subject line and submit here. Deadline: Tuesdays at noon.
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| Livestream Schedule
Friday Vespers – 5 - 5:40 p.m.
via Zoom (no Vespers this Friday, May 3)
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Our community's focus this year is to support the dignity of our houseless neighbors.
Sisters of the Road is a social justice organization that uplifts the dignity and autonomy of people experiencing poverty through low/no-cost meals, education and training, a barter work program, advocacy, and a welcoming community space for all.
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