Holidays at First Unitarian
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- December 24, at 4 p.m. Live stream only. Every night a child is born is a holy night. Please join us on this holy night to celebrate Jesus’ birth with a traditional telling of the Christmas Story, featuring creative contributions from children in our Learning Community. We will sing carols together including Silent Night by candlelight. Please have a candle and flame.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: Midnight Clear
- December 24, at 8 p.m. The Christmas Holiday is beloved as a time of memories recalled and memories created. Despite the commercialism and the theological tests of this season, we gather to celebrate what is worthy of our care and commitment. We gather together to light candles against the dark and to pray for peace.
A NOTE ABOUT RESERVATIONSWe are close to reaching the maximum number of reservations for our Christmas Eve service. This is a number determined in consultation with our Public Health Team advisors, with congregant safety as our priority.
Please know that registered people will be admitted to the Sanctuary building prior to unregistered folks.
If Sanctuary seats become available due to last-minute cancellations, unregistered folks who show their vaccination cards can be put on a waiting list for a seat on a first-come/first-seated basis up to our pre-determined capacity. We will also live stream the service into our Chapel as an overflow space for those unable to obtain a seat in our Sanctuary.
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With hopes that all of us find time to center-in and celebrate, together, in this season.
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Poetry Sunday
Sunday, December 26, 11 a.m.
The Sanctuary Service for December 26 will be virtual only. The forecast indicates there is a good chance for inclement weather on Sunday, with the resulting lower in-person registrations. In addition we are all paying more attention these days to the risks associated with the latest Covid surge.
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Join Intern Minister Carter Smith and Rev. Disrud for an abbreviated online service that will include a homily, readings, poetry, prayer and parish concerns. May we all be in a safe, warm place on Sunday morning.
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Family Worship
LIVE STREAM ONLY - Kwanzaa
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Bill will be leading worship, Dustin will lead our music and Cassandra will offer a meditation.
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Staying Connected Blog
Blooming Where We Are Planted
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A few days after Thanksgiving, thinking about Christmas coming up, I decided to buy some paper white bulbs, hoping that I could get them to bloom. I found a container that was the right size and found some pebbles to anchor the six bulbs. I carefully nestled them into the pebbles and filled it with water just up to the base of the bulbs...continue.
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Seminary for a Day - Doing the Inner Work of Racial Justice with Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
Virtual Event - Saturday, January 29, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., PST
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If you are engaged in the work of racial justice and long for spiritual connection in this work, join us for this year's virtual "Seminary For A Day".
This is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how racism has shaped our UU faith and our congregations; how structural racism still operates today, often unnoticed; and what is involved in cultivating Beloved Community and working against racism and oppression in all of its forms.
We will practice mindfulness meditation, conversation, and experiential exercises that get to the heart of healing internalized racism and being anti-racist. We will seek to create brave space, engage in courageous conversations on what is healing and what is harming racial justice, and rest in restorative meditation and embodied practices.
About Rev. Abhi Janamanchi: Rev. Abhi serves as the Sr. Minister of the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, MD. He describes himself as a Hindu-Unitarian Universalist and says that his Unitarian Universalism makes him a better Hindu.
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| | Upcoming Events, Workshops & Classes
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NEW! - Special New Year's Eve Vespers ServiceFriday, December 31 5 - 5:40 p.m.
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Prepare to welcome the new year in a quiet, reflective special vespers prayer service on New Year’s Eve, 5 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. on Zoom. We will share a festival of poetry and music, and hold prayer together.
The short vespers services are offered by our Lay Ministers each Friday and is an uplifting way to end the week. One-time registration is required to receive the zoom link.
Please note: there won’t be a Vespers service on December 24, Christmas Eve.
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PLEASE JOIN US! - Social Justice Community Gather-InSunday, January 2, 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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NEW! - Traces of the Trade: A Story From the Deep NorthSunday, January 9, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
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This film Traces of the Trade, sponsored by the Advancing Racial Justice Action Group (ARJAG), is another opportunity to delve into anti-racism learning. The film centers on the family of a white minister in New England as it tries to reconcile its current social standing with its heritage as the direct descendants of the largest slave-trading family in the United States. The great-great-grandchildren find slavery abhorrent, but cannot deny the family's history. What are they called to do today to reckon with history? What does this history mean for their understanding of their own wealth and education? Will they connect with that history or keep it safely and emotionally split off?
Please join us to watch the one-hour film followed by a facilitated discussion. There will be an optional breakout room for BIPOC participants.
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Living the Questions: Contemplative ConversationStarts Wednesday, January 12, 8 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
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One way we can continue to nurture and support one another is by keeping focus on the perennial values that give meaning to our daily lives.
Sophia Douglas facilitates these informal virtual get-togethers that focus on a central theme topic. Spaces are very limited.
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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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Welcome to First Unitarian with Rev. Thomas DisrudSunday, February 6, 12:45 p.m.
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Are you new to First Unitarian Portland? We are so glad you are here. This virtual class will offer an orientation to the church, to Unitarian Universalism and what it means to be a member. This will be a chance to meet other newcomers and to have your questions about the church answered.
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NEW! - Thank You for Your Donated Gifts This Holiday!
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PHFS staff told us that they "were able to provide holiday gifts for 79 families made up of more than 180 kids! As families picked up gifts last week, they enjoyed Christmas carols from the Portland State Opera and the Oregon Symphony.
By providing holiday gifts, our supporters made things a little bit easier for these parents so they can focus on what’s really important this time of year - spending time together as a family. In-kind donations are a crucial part of our support system and we couldn’t support families without them.
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Art for Social Justice: We Honor Bell HooksThe 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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This week, we honor the life and work of Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name bell hooks; she has died at the age of 69. She was an American author of more than 30 books, a professor, a feminist and a social activist. Her work addressed race, class, gender, art, history, sexuality, mass media, and feminism.
She emphasized the intersectionality of white supremacy culture, capitalism and gender, and what she described as their ability to produce and perpetuate systems of oppression. She also spoke and wrote often of the importance of love. We include three very different pieces as a tribute and to give a glimpse of the power and artistry of this amazing and impactful woman.
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Bell Hooks in Conversation with Sharon Salzberg: What Is Love?
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Bell Hooks on Interlocking Systems of Domination
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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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December Moderator Letter: Season’s Greetings
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It was wonderful to welcome the Amity Choir back into the sanctuary last Sunday. Though we are proceeding with caution, it feels like we are moving back toward the church we knew before COVID. Attendance at in-person worship is growing and we hope to welcome vaccinated children back to RE in the new year...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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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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| Holiday & Sunday Services
Sunday Services
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Christmas Eve
Shared Plate
We share our plate this Christmas Eve with First Unitarian's long-time community partner, Outside In. Since 1968, Outside In has helped to break the cycles of chronic homelessness, poverty, and poor health among those experiencing houselessness, and the underserved.
As the pandemic continues and the crisis of housing worsens, Outside is a critical source of supportive programming, health care and direct service for youth and marginalized people in our community. We are grateful for their ongoing and compassionate service.
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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...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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