🥞 Pancake Breakfast at 8:45 a.m. 🥞
Sunday Worship at 10:15 a.m.
Together Time: Children and youth begin in the Sanctuary 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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Music and Worship Service: All is Calm, All is Bright
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Join us for this service when we'll explore the vastness of light in this, the darkest time of year. With music, readings and poetry we'll celebrate the joy and wonder of winter.
Offerings given to this service's plate will go to our music ministry program.
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Minister's BlogSome Time Away
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Beginning next month I’ll be taking a four month sabbatical leave from my responsibilities at the church. This was originally planned for a year ago but superseding issues in the congregation made it clear last year was not the right time.
The leave will begin on January 6 and I’ll be back at the end of April. I’m still finalizing plans for the leave but it will likely involve some travel and time for rest and renewal. Mostly I’m looking forward to being away from the day to day demands of emails and other responsibilities.
This spring will be my 30th anniversary here at the church. That is a long time to be in a role and I hope to have some time to make space to reflect on what the next chapter of ministry looks like for me.
So who will cover my responsibilities when I’m away? Rev. Alison and Danielle Garrett will work with the lay ministry team to cover pastoral care. Rev. Alison and Kathryn Estey will bring others into the work of the Executive Team as needed. And one of the gifts of a sabbatical is to make space for not everything happening when someone is away. A colleague once said to me that leaving on a sabbatical can feel like a risk. “You may come to know that there is more to life than the church and the church may come to know that life can also go on when a minister takes a break,” he said. That has indeed been my experience.
I will miss you when I’m away. Part of my reason for writing to you now is so that my departure doesn’t feel abrupt. If you’d like an appointment with me in the next month, please let me know. After that, I will be away for four months and won’t be responding to emails, etc. If there is a critical need to contact me, Rev. Alison is the point person for that.
Sabbaticals are important to the health of a long term ministry, and I do not take it for granted. This will provide me with an opportunity for rest, renewal, learning, and perspective…
I continue to feel blessed to serve here, in joyful and in difficult times. I look forward to being away and I also look forward to returning. Meantime, I look forward to seeing you in church.
In faith,
Rev. Tom
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First Unitarian Holiday Happenings Guide
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Check out the flyer for the full list of holiday festivities at First Unitarian. Click the image below to view the flyer full-size in another tab.
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100th Anniversary Christmas Pageant: Call for Memorabilia and Participants
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December 22 will be the 100th anniversary of our annual Christmas Pageant!
How to participate:
- Share memories: Submit your photos and memorabilia to our pageant email.
- Play a role: ALL ages are invited to participate in the Christmas Pageant! Sign up here to join us. Required rehearsals on Saturday, December 14, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 15, from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- All-ages Pageant choir: No experience necessary. RSVP requested here. Required rehearsals on Sunday, December 8, and Sunday, December 15, from noon to 1 p.m. on both days.
The Pageant will take place on December 22 in the Main Sanctuary at 10:15 a.m.
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NEW! THIS SATURDAY — LGBTQIA+ Holiday Gathering
Saturday, December 7, 1 p.m.
Location: Classroom A108
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Come join us for some holiday cheer! Please bring a dish or snack to share. There will be a white elephant game. Bring a new or gently used wrapped gift if you'd like to participate.
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How Can a Weary World Rejoice?
Mondays, December 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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Momos This Sunday!
Sunday, December 8, immediately following the service
Location: Fuller Hall
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It's a special treat! Come enjoy delicious Nepalese momos and pakora this Sunday following the service during social hour in Fuller Hall. What a great way to keep yourself energized through your afternoon meetings! $5 per order recommended.
Momos are a type of steamed dumpling originating from Nepal, Tibet, and surrounding regions. They are typically made with a simple flour and water dough, filled with a variety of ingredients, including vegetables and cheese, making them a delightful vegetarian option.
Items available:
- Momos (vegetarian)
- Pakora (gluten-free vegetarian option)
Our own lead sexton Kamal Sunuwar’s Killer Banh Mi family restaurant will be catering.
Join us for this tasty treat and support our community!
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Alliance Holiday Sale
Sundays, December 8 and 15, after the service
Location: Buchan Reception
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You’ll find lots of jewelry, beautiful scarves, Christmas treasures, and unique handmade items.
Homemade cookies galore!
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Christmas Stars, too!!
Celebrate 100 years of the Christmas Pageant with a star ornament – $5/star helps refurbish pageant costumes.
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UPDATED! — Giving Trees for the Shower Project
Through December
Location: Narthex and Buchan atrium
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The 13 Salmon Shower Project is grateful to receive gifts of clothing for our guests. We are hoping to stock up on new items for the year, and for this winter season. Multi-packs of any of these items are welcome.
For the General Congregation
- Men’s undershirts, sizes M, L & XL
- Men’s boxer briefs, sizes M, L & XL
- Women’s sports bras, sizes M, L & XL
- Waterproof men’s winter coats, sizes L & XL
For the Family Ministry Giving Tree
- Gloves – Adult sizes M, L & XL (waterproof preferred)
- Adult warm beanie hats
These gifts can be delivered to the Giving Trees located in the Narthex and Buchan atrium for the month of December. If you’d like to offer a financial contribution directly to the Shower Project, please donate here.
We're happy to also share that thanks to a generous grant from the Oregon Community Foundation, we have funding for the 13 Salmon Shower Project to grow. Now, we need your help! Can you volunteer to help us open a second day of the week? Showers are integral to health and hygiene and we don’t want to turn away our unhoused neighbors. Please visit our webpage to volunteer, make a financial gift, or see a list of items that you might consider donating.
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Join the Holiday Gift Drive for WeShine
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COHHO invites you to join us in our holiday gift drive for WeShine.
WeShine is one of the organizations COHHO has chosen to support because of their mission and trauma-informed model of addressing the homelessness crisis.
Avalon Village, WeShine’s newest micro-village, is located in Inner Southeast Portland. Accommodating 10 people, Avalon Village serves women and female-identified adults and prioritizes those who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color, older adults, people with chronic health conditions or disabilities, and individuals who have been camping nearby.
Avalon villagers now have a warm, safe and welcoming place to live. However, they still have no or limited financial means to purchase warm clothing or other essential items for their personal welfare. So COHHO has decided to coordinate a holiday gift drive for them and the Avalon Village in general.
Avalon staff asked the villagers what one or two items would make a difference in their lives at this time. We now have that list and one with items that are critical for maintaining the village itself (e.g., toilet paper). Now it’s time to fulfill that wish list!
If you would like to contribute to our gift drive, please contact Cynthia. She will share with you the list with items ranging in price from $10 to $100.
COHHO will staff a table on December 8 and 15 after the services for sign-ups and item drop-offs. Although we plan to make one delivery on the 15th, we will accept items on the 8th if that’s more convenient for donors.
Please join us in making our first holiday gift drive for WeShine and Avalon Village a great success. Happy Thanksgiving!
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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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TOMORROW — United for Gaza: Benefit for UNRWA
Friday, December 6, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Eliot Chapel
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The United States and Switzerland are the only countries that have cut their funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Other countries have either maintained or increased their support for UNRWA. This cutting of funding is medievally cruel because UNRWA is the only organization on site with the infrastructure of staff, warehouses, and vehicles to deliver this humanitarian aid. In addition, UNRWA provides jobs, education, healthcare, and food to millions of Palestinian refugees in camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the West Bank.
Join us at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) on December 6 in Eliot Chapel to learn about UNRWA and to help support it. Zaina Dana from the Washington DC office of UNRWA and Dr. Michael Fakhri, 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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NEXT WEEK — The Alliance Presents "Threads from Heart to Heart"
Wednesday, December 11, 10:30 a.m.
Location: Eliot Chapel
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Join the Alliance and pianist Signe Lusk to explore piano music through the years at First Unitarian Portland.
To register your spot for the $25 catered lunch at noon following the program, purchase a ticket here. The presentation is free, but payment is required for the lunch.
Lunch will be catered by Tamale Boy (chicken or vegetarian), followed by fresh-made churros and ice cream or a vegan/gluten-free alternative.
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NEW! — First U RPCV Community Circle
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Are you an RPCV? If you served in the Peace Corps and are a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, you are invited to join the First U RPCV community circle.
We met last year to share stories, reflect on our countries of service, and consider how our faith's message connected with our experiences in the Peace Corps. Add your name to be included in the next gathering in 2025. Email Linda to be added to the group.
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Board Meeting Change for January
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The January Board meeting will be held on 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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Join us this Sunday for lots of fun! Come for our 8:45 pancake breakfast then stay for our 10:15 Together Time and Music & Worship service. During RE, 1st-6th graders will explore mystery in Create & Explore. After the service, join the Parenting Circle (including lunch and childcare). The Christmas Pageant Community Choir will sing in Eliot Chapel from 12 to 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome! Stop by the Alliance's Treasures sale in Buchan Reception and get some momos to eat in Fuller...MORE
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NEW! — Thank You and Update from the UU the Vote Team
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Thank you First U Letter writers for the 13,000+ letters you wrote! We put our UU values into practice, urging voters to exercise their right to vote and many of you wrote specifically to urge people to vote for abortion rights. While the Right to Abortion Proposition in Arizona did pass handily (yay!) we still don't know what impact our letter-writing had on getting out the vote in Arizona and in Georgia. To address that question, we share an update from Vote Forward, the organization with which UU the Vote and First Unitarian partnered to write our non-partisan Get Out the Vote letters. They write:
"We’ve heard from many letter writers after 2024’s The Big Send asking about the impact of our collective work. It is understandable that many of us are--in this moment--searching to understand what happened in the 2024 election cycle. Letter writers put in so much time, money and effort, and we’re so grateful for the real investment in our work..."
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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.
Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, poet, professor, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. Her work centers on themes that include racism, identity, family, and travel. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. In 1978, she wrote the poem "Still I Rise," which focuses on racial legacy, struggle, and overcoming obstacles.
To listen to her recitation of "Still I Rise," watch the video below:
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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): 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: 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.
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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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| 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:
- Men's shoes (large sizes)
- Men's pants (sizes 30-32 waist)
- Women’s pants (XXS-XS)
- Leggings
- Waterproof bags with handles
- Winter coats (all sizes)
- Gloves and winter hats
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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