Vespers
2025-11-28 17:00 - 17:40, 2025-12-05 17:00 - 17:40, 2025-12-12 17:00 - 17:40, 2025-12-19 17:00 - 17:40, 2025-12-26 17:00 - 17:40, 2026-01-02 17:00 - 17:40, 2026-01-09 17:00 - 17:40 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Our Lay Ministers will offer inspirational readings, guided meditation, and quiet music in a contemplative program at week’s end.
Congregants and visitors are invited to bring their prayer requests to be held during the service. They are received in real-time through the Zoom chat box, seen, and read aloud anonymously by the hosts. This is a time to join in prayer not only for our community but also for the world.
We look forward to sharing this time of quiet reflection with you when we are all holding so much in our hearts.
Details: Fridays, 5 – 5:40 p.m.
Join here (SAVE THIS LINK! It works every Friday.)
https://tinyurl.com/Vespers-1stU

Matins for Advent
2025-12-01 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-12-08 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-12-15 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-12-22 09:00 - 09:30 | Virtual
Do you love the Christmas pageant and the traditions of the Advent and Christmas stories? What if the symbols of the season have a deeper spiritual meaning for our lives than we may have considered?
Join Matins for Advent to learn more about a unique UU perspective on the metaphors of the season.
A quiet Zoom service of reflection, prayer, music, and poetry. Offered on Mondays, December 1, 8, 15, and 22.
Click here to join on Zoom.
If you would like a weekly reminder, email Karen S.

Loving Kindness Meditation
2025-12-01 20:00 - 20:30, 2025-12-08 20:00 - 20:30, 2025-12-15 20:00 - 20:30, 2025-12-22 20:00 - 20:30, 2025-12-29 20:00 - 20:30, 2026-01-05 20:00 - 20:30, 2026-01-12 20:00 - 20:30 | Virtual
The teachings of Loving Kindness, or Metta, are about finding a path with heart. Jack Kornfield says, “It’s about undertaking a path that transforms and touches us in the center of our being. To do so is to find a way of practice that allows us to live in the world wholly and fully from our heart.”
With this Spiritual Practice, one can cultivate feelings of happiness, dispel loneliness, let go of fear and anxiety. If you are feeling stuck, this practice can help you enjoy a more compassionate life for yourself and others.
Join us on Zoom on Monday evenings to extend Loving-Kindness to yourself, to those around you and to the world.
No previous meditation practice is necessary, and new participants are always welcome. Join on an ongoing basis, or drop in as you’re able.
May we be at peace and keep our hearts open.
Contact Katie R. for more information.
Click here to join.

Contemplative Practices Group
2025-12-04 13:00 - 14:30, 2026-01-01 13:00 - 14:30 | Channing, A101
First Thursdays in Channing (A101)
Third Thursdays in Eliot Chapel

Join with us on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to sit together in silence. Connect to your inner self as well as something bigger than yourself. Bring more peace and joy into your life, increase mindfulness and develop more perspective.
“Contemplative spirituality is about slowing down and relaxing our action, our striving, and all of our ‘doings.’ In order to ‘wake up’ to the Reality in which we are already immersed, we must slow down and gently transition ‘from doing to being.’ “ – Keith Kristich
This is a drop-in group. Any silent sitting practice is welcomed and no prior meditation experience is needed. If you would like to learn a contemplative practice for use during the group, let the facilitators know and they will meet with you half an hour before the group sit begins.
Each group meeting consists of a 20-minute meditation, a check-in on a spiritually oriented topic, and deep discussion of a poem or short reading. Facilitator is Patty C. We look forward to being with you!
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Patty has been a UU since childhood and has attended First Unitarian for 20 years. She has taught spiritual practice classes and been involved with Wellspring, the Labyrinth and other church programs. She learned meditation in college and has had a daily meditation practice since joining First Unitarian. She has been an active Spiritual Director since 2012.

🥞 Pancake Breakfast
2025-12-07 08:45 - 10:00, 2026-01-04 08:45 - 10:00 | Buchan Hall, 1226 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Join us for free, delicious pancakes in Buchan Reception Hall from 8:45 to 10 a.m. on the first Sunday of the month. We will have plain, blueberry, chocolate, and blueberry-chocolate pancakes fresh off the griddle. All are welcome!
Hosted by the UU Men’s Community.

First Steps Orientation and Campus Tour
2025-12-07 11:45 - 13:00, 2026-01-04 11:45 - 13:00 | Narthex/Lobby, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
First Steps Orientation and Campus Tour is a welcoming regular event held on the first Sunday of most months, designed for new and returning members of First Unitarian Portland (First U PDX). This session offers an overview of the church’s history, core values, and vibrant community, encouraging participants to explore their connection and discover ways to engage.
For assistance in finding your way, please check in with the Welcome Desk in the main sanctuary narthex/lobby.
Attendees will meet church leaders, learn about various activities and programs, ask questions about Unitarian Universalism, and tour the campus. This informal setting fosters connections among newcomers and long-time members, enhancing the sense of belonging.
For those interested in deepening their commitment, the orientation covers membership requirements, including signing the Membership Record Book and making an annual financial pledge. Participants can also submit their membership application during the session, taking a significant step in their spiritual journey with First U PDX.
Hosted by Jen Thomas, Director of Congregational Life.

*Registration Closed* Grief and the Holidays
2025-12-07 11:45 - 13:15, 2025-12-14 11:45 - 13:15
In this class for people who are grieving the loss of a close family member, we will explore the nature of grief, offer the opportunity to share your own grief story, and make a plan to navigate the winter holidays. We will meet in person on four Sunday afternoons, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., on November 9 and 23 and December 7 and 14. The Rev. Duane Fickeisen and Dr. Bill Yasnoff will facilitate the group. Both are members of First Unitarian and have personal experience with being widowed and in facilitating grief groups.
There is no cost, but pre-registration is required. More info and preregister here.

Contemplative Practices Group
2025-12-18 13:00 - 14:30

🍪 Christmas Cookie Potluck
2025-12-21 11:45 - 13:30 | Fuller Hall, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205
Join us in Fuller Hall after service for a Christmas cookie potluck. Bring a dozen of your tasty baked goods to social hour where we’ll “make merry” with cider, hot cocoa, and your scrumptious baked goods.

🥣 Souper Sunday
2026-01-11 11:30 - 14:00
On the second Sunday of most months, we offer two different soups as part of our Social Hour, including at least one gluten-free option and at least one vegetarian option. To learn what type of soups will be offered at the next Souper Sunday, subscribe to our Front Steps e-newsletter.
If you are able, the suggested cost for the soup is $5 to help us cover the cost of ingredients.
Please supplement the offering by bringing the following to share:

Breads
Treats
Snacks/sides
Kid-friendly prepackaged drinks

Spoons and cups for soup will be provided. Please consider bringing your own containers and utensils to be more environmentally friendly.
It takes a lot of folks to put on Souper Sunday every month: organizers, cooks, servers, shoppers and clean up team to name a few. We are appreciative of all who volunteer. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Barbara M.

Drop-In Parenting Circle
2026-01-11 11:45 - 14:00
Join our community of parents and caregivers. Share stories and wisdom, and take time to explore spiritual reflection. Long-time families and new folks are welcome. Meets most months from September to June. Childcare provided. Drop-ins welcome.
