First Steps Orientation and Campus Tour
2025-12-07 11:45 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.

Alliance Treasures & Cookie Sale
2025-12-07 11:45 - 13:30, 2025-12-14 11:45 - 13:30 | Buchan Hall, 1226 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Come one, come all to the Alliance Treasures & Cookie Sale in Buchan Hall after the services on December 7 and 14.
You’ll find lots of jewelry, beautiful scarves, Christmas treasures, and unique handmade items, as well as homemade cookies galore!
(You could even buy some to freeze and save for the Christmas Cookie Potluck on December 21!)

Matins for Advent
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
2025-12-08 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 | 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.

*Registration Closed* Journey to Articulating Your Faith
2025-12-10 17:30 - 19:30
A Spiritual Development Opportunity for Adults of All Ages
Join Rev. Alison and Rev. Tom for an 8-session course of theological exploration and discovery. Together, we will trace our spiritual paths, explore our understandings of the sacred, human nature, and religious practice, and develop our personal credos: an expression of our most sacred beliefs and fundamental values that guide our lives. We will also get a chance to learn a little more about Unitarian Universalist history and build community with one another!
**Registration is now closed.**
Schedule: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on November 12, December 10, January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, and June 10.

Vespers
2025-12-12 17:00 - 17:40, 2025-12-19 17:00 - 17:40, 2025-12-26 17:00 - 17:40 | 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

Children and Youth Learning Community
2025-12-14 10:15 - 11:30, 2025-12-21 10:15 - 11:30, 2025-12-28 10:15 - 11:30
The Learning Community, also referred to as R.E. (Religious Education), meets at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings. On the first Sunday of the month, children and youth start out in the main Sanctuary for our monthly “Together Time” before moving on to their classrooms in our Eliot Center/Buchan Building, right next door to our Sanctuary building. Stop by the R.E. Information Desk in the Eliot Center if you need to register your children or youth, or have questions for us. All are welcome!
Click here to view more information about our Learning Community.

🕯️ Sunday Worship: Music & Worship! 🎵
2025-12-14 10:15 - 11:30 | Main Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
In-person
Sanctuary
1211 SW Main St.
Portland, OR 97205

Click here to see more about this very special Music & Worship service …

Join us on livestream here

Neighbor-to-Neighbor Interfaith Witness at ICE
2025-12-17 14:00 - 14:45 | Portland ICE Facility, 4310 S Macadam Ave, Portland, OR, 97239, United States
Neighbor-to-Neighbor Interfaith Witness at ICE is an opportunity for faith communities to be in solidarity, declaring our moral outrage at the cruel practices of abducting community members, terrorizing communities, and separating families, in the name of an inhumane political agenda. We will demonstrate that neighbors show up for neighbors. We will be shoulder-to-shoulder to bear witness to our outrage, deepen our relationships, and build solidarity among our interfaith communities. Please dress accordingly for the weather. Please do not bring signs. We will provide whatever is needed for the ritual.

This series is supported by Together Lab, which has been organizing interfaith clergy to be a daily moral presence at the ICE facility on Macadam and at the Federal Courthouse downtown, as well as organizing neighbor-to-neighbor solidarity with teachers and families around Portland.

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

🌙 Solstice Service
2025-12-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Eliot Chapel, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
You are invited to a special annual evening Winter Solstice service at the time of the shortest day and longest night of the year. Let us greet the arrival of winter, the season of chilly temperatures and darkness. At the same time, let us light candles to symbolize the returning of the light in anticipation of a warmer season.

Our Labyrinth will be available to walk before and after the service in Buchan Hall. Following the service we will light a Bonfire in the Buchan Courtyard (in our new smokeless firepit) and enjoy refreshments.

🕯️ Sunday Worship: Christmas Pageant
2025-12-21 10:15 - 11:30 | Main Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Join us for our annual church Christmas Pageant. An old story of mystery, love, and connection–made anew each year by our care and attention. May it always be so!
After this special service, come to Buchan Hall for a Christmas cookie potluck. Please bring no more than 1 dozen cookies!

In-person
Sanctuary
1211 SW Main St.
Portland, OR 97205

Join us on livestream here

🍪 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.

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

🎄 Family Christmas Eve Service
2025-12-24 17:00 - 18:00 | Main Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Merry Christmas Eve! All are welcome to our candle lighting & carols service. Come, let us sing, let us share in story, and let us usher in the joy and meaning of the holiday together. This service will be geared more towards families.

🎄 Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
2025-12-24 20:00 - 21:00 | Main Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Merry Christmas Eve! All are welcome to our candle lighting & carols service. Come, let us sing, let us share in story, and let us usher in the joy and meaning of the holiday together.

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

🕯️ Sunday Worship
2025-12-28 10:15 - 11:30 | Main Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
In-person
Sanctuary
1211 SW Main St.
Portland, OR 97205

Join us on livestream here
