First Unitarian Portland

Auction Donations (3/23 - 4/7)
2025-03-23 - 2025-04-07 | Virtual
The latest edition of “Creating Connections: Welcome In!” is just around the corner! Donations start March 23rd and end on Monday, April 7. For a list of donation ideas, go here. Online bidding starts April 20 and continues through May 4. Join us! Look for more information in the Front Steps e-news.

For questions, contact the Auction committee.

Auction Bidding (4/20 - 5/4)
2025-04-20 - 2025-05-04 | Virtual
The latest edition of “Creating Connections: Welcome In!” is here! With over 120 exciting events, services, and vacation homes up for grabs, this year’s auction is not to be missed. Place your bids through the online catalog until May 4.

New this year, you can view items in a calendar format for easier browsing by switching between Grid View and Calendar View below the Bidding Tips section.

Click here to bid now!

Everyone must register to bid! Even if you participated in last year’s auction, you’ll need to register again to bid in Auction 2025. Don’t miss out on the chance to win incredible items – register here now!

For questions, contact the Auction committee.

Annual Vote - Ballots Due at 10:30 a.m.!
2025-05-18 | Narthex/Lobby, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Ballots are due at the church by 10:30 a.m. on our Annual Vote day, May 18.
Ballots mailed to the church via U.S. Postal system must be received in the office by Thursday, May 15, to be counted, as the office is closed on Friday, May 16, and no mail is received.

Office CLOSED
2025-05-26, 2026-05-25
The office will be closed on this date in observance of Memorial Day.

Ordination of Danielle Garrett
2025-06-07 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Main Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Click to watch the ceremony!
Join congregants and guests on June 7 at 2 p.m. in the Main Sanctuary for the ordination of our Assistant Minister, Danielle Garrett. The Rev. Rob Hardies will preach, our choir members will offer inspiring music, and the congregation will confer the sacred rite of ordination. A reception with pie and champagne will follow in the Buchan Reception Hall!
We hope you will be able to join us for this special occasion and celebration. Read Rev. Alison’s blog post on the role of ordination in our tradition here.
All are welcome. Nursery care will be provided for our youngest guests, and children are welcome to attend the service.
RSVPs are not required, but encouraged as they’ll help us make sure we have enough pie for everyone! To do so, please use the RSVP box below.
Clergy are invited to gather in the Eliot Chapel at 1:30 p.m. to robe and process.

WAYS TO HELP:

Volunteer to help with the reception: Sign up here
Bake pies for the reception: Sign up here
Bring flowers for the ceremony and reception: Do you have tea roses, lavender, zinnias, tulips, or peonies? Flowers can be dropped off at our Salmon St. entrance on June 6 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Contact Marti Y. for details and additional information.
Make a financial gift to help cover the cost: Donate here, or send a check (with the memo line “Ordination”) to our office: First Unitarian Portland, 1034 SW 13th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205. You can also drop off a check in our plate collection or the boxes in the Sanctuary lobby.

TRAVEL DETAILS:
June 7 is going to be a very busy day with complicated travel and difficult parking expected due to the Grand Floral Parade and other events taking place downtown.
The church has secured the parking lot on 12th Ave. directly across from the Sanctuary for free parking from noon to 6 p.m., but we strongly encourage you to carpool or take public transportation when possible.
Public transportation options:

Park and Ride: Your best bet may be to use Park and Ride, then commute to church by MAX or bus. Park for free up to 24 hours at a Park and Ride and hop on a bus or MAX to your destination. For locations, visit Trimet’s website.
Streetcar: The Museum Stop at 10th and Main is the closest to First U. To plan your trip, visit the streetcar schedule.
MAX: Galleria/SW 10th (walking up to church) and Providence Park (walking down to church) are the closest stops.
Bus: Stops depend on bus routes. To plan your trip, visit the Trimet trip planner.

Parking options:

Consider carpooling and allowing extra time to commute and park!
12th Avenue parking lot: The church has secured the parking lot on 12th Ave. directly across from the Sanctuary for free parking from noon to 6 p.m. Simply show up and park in any available space.
Park and Ride: Your best bet may be to use Park and Ride, then commute to church by MAX or bus. Park for free up to 24 hours at a Park and Ride and hop on a bus or MAX to your destination. For locations, visit Trimet’s website.
PSU parking: The closest PSU parking lot is a multi-story blue and grey building almost immediately off Hwy 405 at the 12th Avenue exit. It is called Parking Structure 3 and is 0.3 miles straight down 12th Street to First Unitarian, about a 10-minute walk. More information on their website here.

Bicycle options:

Personal bike: Please email Jen Thomas to arrange for safe storage of your bike during the service.
Biketown rentals: You can rent a Biketown e-bike near your starting destination (find one on the map here) and park in one of the several docks near First U. The closest docks are in front of Safeway (Columbia & 10th) which is 0.3 miles from First U, about a 6-minute walk, or at Director Park (Yamhill & 9th) which is 0.3 miles from First U, about a 7-minute walk. This requires downloading an app and a distance-based fee. Read more details here.

Office CLOSED
2025-06-19
The office will be closed on this date in observance of Juneteenth.

Online Service ONLY
2025-06-22
Click for the livestream

All UUs are invited to watch the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly’s online worship service from their homes on Sunday, June 22. Read more about this special worship event here on the UUA website.
Our building will be closed!

Office CLOSED
2025-09-01
The office will be closed on this date in observance of Labor Day.

Office CLOSED
2025-11-11
The office will be closed on this date in observance of Veterans Day.

Office CLOSED
2025-11-27
The office will be closed on this date in observance of Thanksgiving Day.

Office CLOSED
2025-12-24
The office will be closed on this date in observance of Christmas Eve.

Office CLOSED
2025-12-25
The office will be closed on this date in observance of Christmas Day.

Office CLOSED
2025-12-31
The office will be closed on this date in observance of New Year’s Eve.

Office CLOSED
2026-01-01
The office will be closed on this date in observance of New Year’s Day.

Office CLOSED
2026-01-19
The office will be closed on this date in observance of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Office CLOSED
2026-02-16
The office will be closed on this date in observance of Presidents’ Day.

Auction Donations (3/19 - 4/6)
2026-03-19 - 2026-04-06 | Virtual
Because we bought our church property piecemeal, we have many roofs of different ages, and almost all are leaking now, causing damage to floors below. That’s why this year’s auction—CREATING CONNECTIONS: MANY BELIEFS, MANY ROOFS—wants your help to raise funds for roof repair and long-term maintenance. Consult with your friends to create an event—a group hike, a fancy dinner, your vacation home? Donations accepted online beginning March 19. Our motto is: “Bid High, Keep Dry!”
Donations start March 19 and continues through April 6. The Auction’s online bidding starts April 19 and ends May 3. More news to follow in later Front Steps editions. Stay tuned.

Auction Bidding (4/19 - 5/3)
2026-04-19 - 2026-05-03 | Virtual
The Auction Is Coming!!! The Auction is Coming!!! Donations start March 19 and continues through April 6. The Auction’s online bidding starts April 19 and ends May 3. More news to follow in later Front Steps editions. Stay tuned.
