Sunday Worship at 10:15 a.m.
Learning Community (RE) classes are at 10:15 a.m. Nursery and toddler care is always available during our worship service. Learn about our program here. Current news here.
Social Hour: Fuller Hall after the service.
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Sometimes it is hard to get to gratitude—especially in times when the world doesn’t seem to be going our way. That may be when we need to lean into our stories, perhaps looking for things we haven’t noticed before. And with that may come a fuller perspective and new meaning.
NOTE: Enjoy special holiday music during Sunday's service, presented by Portland Gay Men's Chorus "Cascade" group, conducted by Garrett Bond.
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A Picture's Worth a Thousand WordsImages from the Eliot Chapel Rededication Ceremony
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Thank you to all who joined us to rededicate Eliot Chapel in celebration of 100 years on this block! Click here to view images from the ceremony on Sunday, November 17, 2024.
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NEW! — We Need Your Pledge!
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Deep gratitude goes to everyone who has Pledged a gift for 2025! You have helped us raise $1,217,095, 87% of our goal! These vital resources will be used to keep the church healthy and active.
If you haven't yet Pledged, we hope you will today. We need your support to reach our goal.
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| Help us raise an additional $183,000, and get in your pledge before the holidays!
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NEW! — Daily Advent by Email
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Announcing an opportunity to enhance your Advent experience! Starting today, you can sign up to receive daily readings and contemplations directly to your email.
From December 1 to 25, each day will feature a new prompt aimed at inspiring reflection and deepening your spiritual journey as you prepare for the joy of the season.
Join us in this meaningful journey of contemplation and connection this Advent season!
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NEW! — How Can a Weary World Rejoice?
Mondays, December 2, 9, 16, and 23, 9 - 9:30 a.m.
Location: Zoom
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Leave behind the chaos and clamor of the commercial Christmas season and the shock of the daily news by celebrating the season of Advent with four quiet Zoom services of music, poetry, prayer, and reflection.
Join Danielle Garrett, Sara, Karen, and Jennifer for a unique Unitarian/Universalist perspective on the season.
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NEW! — Our Very Own Word Cloud!
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A big thank you to all our members and friends for your heartfelt word "donations" which resulted in First U Portland's beautiful Word Cloud. Can you imagine this on T-shirts? On coffee mugs? On ... ?
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NEW! — CARD Meeting
This Sunday, November 24, 11:30 a.m.
Location: Fireside Room and on Zoom
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Find out and discuss how abortion fared on the November ballot. Learn about Plan C, medication abortion. Let's plan our next steps. Bring a snack. Dress warmly. All are welcome.
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NEW! — COHHO Meeting
This Sunday, November 24, 1 p.m.
Location: On Zoom
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Join us at our November meeting, which will be held on Zoom at 1:00 this Sunday. We are meeting a week later than usual because of last Sunday's joyful rededication of Eliot Chapel. Next month we will gather on the third Sunday, December 15, in the Channing Room after the service.
Besides discussing current issues related to hunger and homelessness, we will be planning a holiday gift drive for the villagers of WeShine's Avalon micro village. We invite you to gather with us!
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Around the Church
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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NEW! — Board Meeting Change for December and January
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The December and January Board Meetings will be held on Wednesday, December 4, and Wednesday, January 8, at 7 p.m. so Board members can attend choir practice.
We will meet in Buchan Reception Hall as usual. The Zoom info is unchanged.
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Hello! My name is Garrett Bond and I am the new Interim Director of Music Ministries here at First Unitarian. You can read more about me here. It has been an absolute joy stepping into this role only a few weeks ago. On behalf of the entire music community here at First Unitarian, we would like to invite you to join our music program!
Right now there are two vocal choirs and, as of November 20, a handbell ensemble. These groups rehearse weekly and serve an active role in our church services and the wider community.
Our Community Choir is non-auditioned, and all are welcome to sing regardless of your previous experience.
Our second vocal ensemble is for those who would like a more in-depth choral experience.
Everyone is encouraged to get involved and to contact me with any questions or comments. The vocal choirs rehearse Thursday evenings: Community Choir 6 - 7:15 p.m. and the more advanced ensemble from 7:30 - 9 p.m. Handbells will rehearse Wednesdays from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Please contact me to schedule a meeting time! We hope to see you soon. Thank you!
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Letter from the Board: November 2024
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I’ve been thinking about democracy and hard work this week.
This past week in our country, we used a democratic process to elect a president and representatives to the US congress, as well as local leaders to represent us in our community. I’ll be the first to admit that watching the results of this democratic process unfold nationally has been painful, frightening, angering, and disappointing. But this is one event in our country’s history. We have been down before, way down. That’s where the hard work comes in...MORE
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NEW! — November 24 & December 1 Newsletter
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Get ready for the 100th anniversary of our Christmas Pageant. The Pageant will be during the service at 10:15 on 12/22. Also, be on the lookout this Sunday for a special guest. And no RE on December 1st! Click through for all the details...MORE
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NEW! — United for Gaza: Benefit for UNRWA
Friday, December 6, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Eliot Chapel
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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) provides jobs, education, healthcare, and food to millions of Palestinian refugees in camps in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. The United States is the only country that has cut its funding to UNRWA. Other countries have either maintained or increased their support during the war on Gaza. This cutting of funding is medievally cruel because UNRWA is the only organization with the infrastructure of staff, warehouses and vehicles to deliver this aid.
Join us at 6:30 p.m. on December 6 in Eliot Chapel to learn about UNRWA and to help support it. An official from UNRWA-USA and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food will speak. A reception with coffee, tea, and Palestinian sweets will follow the event.
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Words for These Times from Peace Action Group
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At our post-election in-person meeting on November 9, the Peace Action Group members were gifted with a wonderful closing reading that one of our group members chose from Rev. Molly Housh Gordon, a Unitarian minister from Columbia, Missouri. We invite you to read these words with your heart and soul wide open:
"Here's one other thing. I think humans in Western cultures often need to feel like there is an upward arc to history and some promised arrival, in order for there to be meaning in our lives.
But the place we are going is just around the sun on a miracle of a planet.
And I want to tell you that we are still alive in a world that is so beautiful and so brutal all at once, and always has been.
And it is all drenched in meaning no matter where it's headed and it matters that we love each other well and that we drink up the beauty and resist the brutality. It matters."
Soon, we will share the opening reading from Barbara Kingsolver which we also found deeply inspiring. The Peace Action Group meets alternate months on Zoom and in person on the second Saturdays of each month. We always welcome new members to our group. Check in with us any Sunday at our table during coffee hour. In peace.
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CHECK WEEKLY — Art for Social Justice
Curated by Ethel, Speaking of Justice Editorial Team
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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.
Walela is a trio of singers, named for the Cherokee word for hummingbird. The group was founded in 1996 by sisters Rita Coolidge and Priscilla Coolidge, with Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield as the third member. To listen to their song "Wash Your Spirit Clean," watch the video below:
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In the Community
A Celebration of Life has been planned for longtime member Warren Bacon who died on November 2 at the age of 87. The service will be on Tuesday, December 17, at 11 a.m. in the Eliot Chapel.
Member Cindy Cumfer had successful laproscopic bowel surgery on November 4 and has been recovering. Her surgeon says it should allow Cindy to resume unlimited walking and physical activities to strengthen her core. We hold Cindy and her wife Valerie in our prayers.
We celebrate with member Stephani Skalak, who was ordained into the Unitarian Universalist ministry on November 10 at the UU Congregation of Willamette Falls in Oregon City. Stephani served as a intern minister in Oregon City as part of her formation process for ministry. We celebrate with her!
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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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November/December Art Wall Exhibitions
The Garden: Prints by Poppy Dully
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Poppy Dully’s artistic practices span painting, printmaking, and artist books. This exhibit features copper etched botanical prints. She plays with ink colors, moving from the traditional to the unusual. Nature is uninhibited in its array of colors and patterns, challenging us to consider what may be possible.
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Recurring Workshops, Classes & Gatherings
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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 fourth Sunday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Fireside and via Zoom. Contact Marni.
Committee on Hunger and Homelessness (COHHO): We meet on the 3rd Sunday of the month after services. Contact Cynthia for details or to be added to our email list.
Community for Earth (CFE):Â We meet on the 2nd Sunday of the month before worship services (hybrid) and on the 4th week of the month at rotating times. Contact our group or visit our calendar for details.
Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG): Check the IJAG page on the church website for ways to get involved and groups that need our energy and gifts. For meeting info, contact Laurie.
Lotsa Helping Hands: A care calendar that enables volunteers to provide meals or visits for congregants going through challenging times. To join, send a request here. For questions or to receive support, contact Leslie or Susan.
Mental Health Caregivers Group: Second Wednesday every month via Zoom 7 - 8:30 p.m. Email Ellen for more information.
Sojourners: Lollygagging Our Way To The Inevitable: Sojourners and Sojourners 2 are two groups that meet for two hours at First Unitarian. Members support each other through aging with facilitated discussions, activities, personal stories, and social events, fostering growth and friendship. All are welcome, but both groups are limited in size; no drop-ins, please. 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 12 - 1 p.m.
Wednesday Night Meditation: Every week from 7 - 8:30 p.m. All mindfulness and Buddhist-based meditations. Beginners welcome. A thirty-five-minute meditation followed by a member-led discussion to increase understanding and integration of Buddhist principles into our daily lives. For the link, contact Robert.
Women's Circle II:Â Meets most second and fourth Mondays of the month. Email Kim.
Women's Circle IV: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month. Email Anne. 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 5 p.m.
If your submission is urgent and couldn’t be sent before the deadline, please include “URGENT” in the subject line.
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| November's
Shared Plate
For the month of November, we share our plate with Oregon's Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ). Its mission is to support and equip communities and people of faith to advance immigrant justice through direct accompaniment of immigrants facing detention and deportation, policy advocacy at local, state, and national levels, and purposeful organizing. Through networks of relationships, IMIrJ creates a more just world for immigrants, migrants, and asylum seekers by taking immediate humanitarian action and long-term collective, intentional action. First Unitarian's Immigrant Justice Action Group has been a close partner of IMIrJ for 10 years, and we are grateful for their ongoing interfaith organizing. Our spiritual theme for November is Story, so click here to read one from IMIrJ.
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| This Week's Shower Project Requests
Your donations make a big difference in the lives of those we serve. All donations are greatly appreciated. At this time, we are in special need of the following items:
- Blankets and sleeping bags
- Winter coats/jackets (all sizes)
- Men's clothes (all sizes)
Our page includes a list of our most frequently-needed items.
Please bring your items to donate to the cabinet in Fuller Hall, next to the kitchen. Thank you for your support!
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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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