Join Us for WorshipSunday, December 5, 2021
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Family Service at 10 a.m. // Sanctuary Service at 11 a.m.
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Devotion, our monthly theme, asks us what we set our hearts upon and how we offer our thanks and praise. In a noisy world, the space of silence and honesty is also where discernment and centering can take place, where the still small voice can be heard.
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Family Worship
ONLINE ONLY - The Wonder Box: Devotion
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On this first Sunday of the month we will bring out the wonder box to help introduce us to our new spiritual theme for December, devotion. Cassandra will share a story about a young child searching for his beloved Buddha. Dustin will lead our music, and Carter will offer a meditation.
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In-Person Worship
As a Covid precautionary measure, congregants must sign up for each Sunday they'd like to attend in person.
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We still have room for you this Sunday!
Reservations for this Sunday, December 5, are open until Friday, December 3, at 9 a.m.
Our weekly registration system is a good tool to guarantee there will be a seat for you. But we hope the system will not be a barrier to your joining us – there have been plenty of extra seats available since in-person worship resumed in our Sanctuary. If you miss the Friday morning registration deadline, don’t let that stop you from coming! It is very likely there will be a seat for you. Just bring your vaccination card that Sunday morning, or email it ahead of time if it will be your first time attending in-person services.
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Staying Connected Blog
Hopes and Intentions
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On November 14, Celebration Sunday, I asked those in worship to name their hopes for First Unitarian as we begin to regather and the intentions or commitments they were ready to make as well. The pandemic has changed so much and we all know that our lives and our church will change. As we move to complete our annual fundraising, it seemed a good time to do some “taking stock.”...continued.
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Holidays at First Unitarian
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So many of us are so ready for celebration. As we approach the holidays, First Unitarian will offer an array of opportunities. Safety will continue to be critical, but, assuming that infection rates do not increase again, in-person worship will begin to feel more normal. All services will continue to be live streamed.
Rev. Bill will be in the pulpit on Sunday, and the choirs continue to ease their way back into our building and in-person worship. We're delighted that our Amity choir will sing in person this Sunday.
- The special holiday services begin December 12 with our Music and Worship Service, when the choirs will sing the Poulenc Christmas Motets, in person in our Sanctuary
- On December 21, at 7 p.m. you can join us to celebrate the Solstice. Intern Minister Carter Smith will lead this service marking the longest night of the year and the turn toward longer light.
- And on Christmas Eve, December 24, there will be a Family Service at 4 p.m. (livestream only) and one traditional candlelight service at 8 p.m. (in-person and livestream).
Sundays throughout December will continue to include livestream-only Family Worship at 10 a.m. In January we plan to welcome many of our young people who are vaccinated back to in-person church. Family Worship will be offered both in-person and live-streamed. Look for more information about this important part of our re-opening and about Learning Community classes as the New Year draws closer.
We also hope to begin slowly welcoming other gatherings and meetings back to our buildings in the New Year.
With hopes that all of us find time to center-in and celebrate, together, in this season.
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Meeting the New Day: 2022
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Thank you to everyone who has given in support of our "Meeting the New Day" campaign. Every pledge and every gift helps fund the life and work of the church. Please know that your gift here is cherished.
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We need to raise an additional $140,000 to fund our church for next year.
Help us by pledging a gift now!
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What's Happening This Sunday
Timestamps are Pacific Time (PT) unless stated otherwise.
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Social Justice Community Gather-In
THIS SUNDAY! - December 5, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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This monthly gathering is for ALL community members concerned and or engaged with issues of justice, whether or not you are part of a church action group. Join us for readings, music, reflection and time to get to know one another. Invitations for upcoming actions and community events will be shared. Our justice work is done in community, and we hope you will consider yourself a part of our UU justice community.
We look forward to being with you! From the Social Justice Leadership Team: Rev. Abigail, Caitlynn Hill , Intern Minister Carter Smith, Dana Buhl, Leslie Pohl-Kosbau, Nikki Beezley and Sue Palmiter.
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How First Unitarian Portland is Giving this Holiday
Collecting items Sunday, December 12, after the service
What are the Holiday Giving Trees? Every holiday season, First Unitarian partners with our neighbors to give back to the community.
Team up with the Learning Community and our Social Justice Community, by donating items or monetarily giving to one or several partnering organizations listed below.
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Donating To: Home Free, whose mission is to assist adults and children surviving domestic violence to move not just toward safety, but toward freedom and all that the word home suggests.
Collecting: (by the breezeway after the service.) Essential winter accessories including new or gently used hats, mittens and gloves, scarves, and socks (new) in child and adult sizes.
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Donating To: The Children’s Book Bank, Their mission is to advance child literacy, encourage family bonding, and ignite curiosity through the power of books.
Collecting: (by the breezeway after the service.) New and gently used board books, picture books, and graphic novels for children and youth. Gift cards for local bookstores are also welcome! (Please no musty or damaged books, magazines, coloring books, encyclopedias, textbooks, ex-library books, or books for adults.) Culturally relevant books are especially needed.
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Collecting: (right outside, on the corner of Main and 12th after the service.) They are collecting specific asks from families like toys, toiletries, bedding, coats, gift cards, wrapping paper, and more! Contact Cynthia for specifics.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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Moral Monday March on WashingtonMonday, December 13, at 4 p.m.
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Organizers from UU the Vote are joining with the Poor People's Campaign for a Moral Monday March on Washington. The march on Capitol Hill will demand that our senators pass Build Back Better and voting rights legislation by the end of this year. You are invited to join in DC, of course, but there are also opportunities to contribute from afar.
Join a phone bank to call UUs in the DMV area (DC, Maryland, Virginia) and encourage them to attend this important march by signing up:
In an effort to uplift the work of Side with Love and UU The Vote, we are posting regular action opportunities here in E-News. If you have any questions or plan to attend these events, contact Carter.
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Program ResourcesAdult Programs, Social Justice, Learning Community, Music & Arts
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Loving Kindness MeditationMonday's at 8 p.m.
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Join us for a moment each week to extend Loving Kindness to yourself, to those around you and to the world. Surround yourself in the blessings from those who have loved you and those who love you now. With this Meditation, over time, one can cultivate feelings of happiness and dispel loneliness, while letting go of fear and anxiety. No previous meditation experience necessary. An ongoing commitment is not required.
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Vesper Prayer ServiceFriday's at 5 p.m.
Note: No Vesper Service on Christmas Eve.
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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 JusticeThe Speaking of Justice Editorial Team offers weekly art to deepen our connection to the work for social justice and building the Beloved Community.
Curated by Ethel Gullette, Speaking of Justice Editorial Team
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Joanne Shenandoah "Womens Song"
Legendary Native American musician Joanne Shenandoah, a trailblazer popular with both mainstream and Native audiences, has died at age 64.
A multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer, Shenandoah won a Grammy award and was among the most lauded musicians in the history of the Native American Music Awards. When she began her musical career, her songs and stories were efforts to help transform the hundreds of years of marginalization of First Nations peoples. Every breath she took, every song she sang was her way of saying, "HERE WE ARE."
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TAKE ACTION! - Blanket Collection to Support Western Farm Worker Association (WFWA) Holiday Gift Drive
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Each December WFWA provides gifts for children from 100 families. Soft cuddly blankets are often found on their gift list. If you wish to donate blankets (new only), please contact Mary Ann Barham or Laurie Lester to make drop off or pick up arrangements.
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Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG) Presentation: Leaven Land and Housing CoalitionSunday, December 12, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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Check out UU Animal Ministry!Sunday, December 19, at 7 p.m.
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The local chapter of the UU Animal Ministry meets monthly for online chats and to discuss ways that we can help the other species of the world. In November and December we are meeting a week early to accommodate holiday plans. Join our Zoom meeting if you want to participate.
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Do you have a reason to celebrate? Sponsoring Sunday morning Chancel flowers is a way to support the church and acknowledge life events. Want to celebrate a birth in the family, graduation, a birthday, an anniversary, or a memorial, or other special event? You can acknowledge it to the entire congregation by sponsoring a floral bouquet. As we reconnect with friends, say it with flowers on the Chancel.
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Moderator Letter: Dear Fellow Congregants
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It has been wonderful to be back in the sanctuary, seeing familiar faces “in 3D.” At the same time, we know that many of you are being cautious, and our virtual church remains strong and well-attended
We thank all of you who have given a gift or made a pledge during our season of giving, Meeting the New Day. Your generosity makes this church and all we do possible. If you haven’t yet made your gift, there is still time. You can donate on the website or by calling the church office.
On Sunday, November 14, we held our first Board Forum of the year. The topic was the three-year Church goals. We had a good turnout and received...continued.
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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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Plan Ahead for General Assembly Portland 2022June 22-26, 2022
Registration for in-person attendance is now open!
Registration for online attendance opens March 1.
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GA registrants receive access to all workshops, performances, lectures, and events listed in the GA Program. Registrants will have exclusive access to a chat room, recordings of previous streams, and dedicated support.
If you wish to sign up to volunteer at GA for 20 hours in lieu of the registration fee, be sure to signup here. Positions fill up quickly!
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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 Stream
& Social ScheduleJoin us LIVE from your computer or smart device.
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Note: No Vesper Service on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 23.
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| Holiday Live Stream & In-Person Schedule
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December Shared Plate This church year, we focus our giving on climate justice initiatives that use innovative solutions and an intersectional lens to support and build power for communities at the front lines.
For the month of December, we share our plate with Seeding Justice. Formerly known as the MRG Foundation, their vision is a just and joyful Oregon where people, cultures and ecosystems thrive by focusing on the movement for racial, gender, disability, economic, and environmental justice across the State...continued.
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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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