First Unitarian Portland

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.

Vespers
2025-05-16 17:00 - 17:40, 2025-05-09 17:00 - 17:40, 2025-05-02 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

Contemplative Practices Group
2025-05-15 13:00 - 14:30
First Thursdays in Channing (A101)
Third Thursdays in Classroom A108

The Contemplative Practices Group is returning! 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. Facilitators are Patty and Ron. They look forward to being with you!
—
Patty has been a UU since childhood and has attended First Church 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 Church. She has been an active Spiritual Director since 2012.
Ron is a spiritual director and has been a lay minister, Wellspring facilitator and taught in the learning community at First Church. He has maintained a centering prayer and lectio divina practice for over twenty years.

Conversation: How Do We Protect Immigrants in Our Communities?
2025-05-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Over the past few months, we’ve learned so much at the Immigration Forums hosted by IJAG and ARJAG. Now it’s time to do something! Please join other members of First Unitarian as we deepen our conversations about what we can do, both individually and as a congregation.
Many of you are already involved and might like others to join you. If you are not involved, would you like to do so with others? Come & meet others who want to do something!
Let’s do something!
Register here!

Communications Committee Meeting
2025-05-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual
The Board Communications Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Meetings are open to congregants.
Click here to join on Zoom.

Finance Committee Meeting
2025-05-13 17:00 - 18:30 | Virtual
The Board Finance Committee meets on the second Tuesday of most months, 5 – 6:30 p.m. Meetings are open to congregants.
Click here to join on Zoom.

Loving Kindness Meditation
2025-05-12 20:00 - 20:30, 2025-05-05 20:00 - 20:30, 2025-04-28 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.

Drop-In Parenting Circle
2025-05-11 11:45 - 14:00 | Daisy Bingham Room, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
Join the community of parents at First Unitarian and share stories, wisdom, and explore spiritual reflection. These circles are great for long-time families and newcomers alike to build community with those who share a parenting journey. Meets the 2nd Sunday of most months from October to May. You are welcome to bring your lunch. Childcare provided.
For more info, check out the flyer.

Children and Youth Learning Community
2025-05-11 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
2025-05-11 10:15 - 11:30, 2025-05-04 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

Music Retreat Talent Show!
2025-05-10 19:00 - 21:30 | Buchan Hall, 1226 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Come experience the “home version” of our “Saturday Night Soiree” talent shows that have occurred at our yearly Music Department retreats over the years. See a collection of serious and not-so-serious acts from the singers and ringers in our music department. There will be snacks and beverages to boot. Come on out and have some fun while helping to support the church! Please enter through the Salmon St. door.
You can buy $20 tickets at the door if you don’t already have slots that you purchased from last year’s auction.
Please note! There’s a Timbers game at 7:30pm that night, and parking on the street and in lots may be difficult, so plan to arrive early for parking.

Liz Julee Celebration of Life
2025-05-10 14:00 - 17:00 | Eliot Chapel, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
Long-time member Elizabeth (Liz) Julee died on March 21. Her daughter Tara Johnson-Medinger served as our Children’s Christmas Pageant director in past years.
Join us in Eliot Chapel from 2 – 3 p.m. for a memorial service, followed by a reception in the Buchan Reception Hall until 5 p.m.

*Registration Required* Journey to Articulating Your Faith
2025-05-08 19:00 - 21:00
A Spiritual Development Opportunity for People in Their 20s and 30s
Join Rev. Alison and Danielle Garrett for an 8-session course of theological exploration and discovery for young adults. 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! To register or for more information, contact Danielle.

Board Meeting
2025-05-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Buchan Hall, 1226 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
The Board of Trustees meets on the first Wednesday of most months, 7 – 9 p.m. Meetings are open to congregants.
Join us in Buchan Reception Hall (B102), or click here to join on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 829 3022 3125
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Or join by phone: +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

The Alliance Presents "Building Power for Frontline Communities"
2025-05-07 10:30 - 14:00 | Eliot Chapel, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
Ronda Rutledge, Executive Director of Ecotrust, and citizen of the Cherokee Nation will give a presentation on building power for frontline communities.
Register for buffet lunch following program ($25) using the form below.
If the registration form below does not work for you and ONLY if it does not work, you can pay here and email our Communications team to let us know your number of attendees and any dietary restrictions.
If joining online, use this link: https://boxcast.tv/channel/uio1swe8fnfspcmtxuba

Opportunities to Help Our Immigrant Neighbors
2025-05-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual
With the incoming administration, we know that big changes are coming that will impact immigrant communities. We want to be informed, prepared, and ready for action.
The third of our forums on protecting immigrants in our communities (co-sponsored by IJAG and ARJAG) will explore different paths to active allyship with our immigrant neighbors, whether as individuals or as a community. We want to be informed, prepared, and ready for action, as the current administration’s attacks on immigrant populations continue.

Our Panelists:

Keren Rodriquez – Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ)
Parker Berger – Western Farm Workers Assn. (WFWA)
Beth Ronk – Immigrant Mutual Aid Coalition (IMAC)
Romeo Sosa – Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC)

Registration info can be found in the Front Steps e-news.

Watch Part 1 (January 28): Featuring VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project, Innovation Law Lab, and Oregon for All Coalition. The recording of that session is available here on YouTube.
Watch Part 2 (March 4): Featuring Ricki Ruiz (District 50 Oregon State Representative), Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), and ACLU of Oregon. The recording of that session is available here on YouTube.

Connect & Reflect
2025-05-06 17:30 - 18:15 | Virtual
Join Rev. Alison Miller and Jen Thomas on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of most months through June from 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. on Zoom. Come share in conversation centered on the topic of the most recent sermon. Look for the discussion question during preservice slides and order of service.

Joanne O'Connell Memorial
2025-05-04 15:30 - 17:30 | Buchan Hall, 1226 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Congregant Joanne O’Connell died on March 4, 2025, at the age of 67. Joanne was active in the Pride group for many years. She worked for Multnomah County for almost 13 years as a specialist for various programs and most recently as the contract liaison for the community services Veterans Directed Care program. She always had a smile on her face and would take the time to listen to everyone.
Join us in the Buchan Reception Hall from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. for a celebration of her life.

First Steps Orientation and Campus Tour
2025-05-04 11:45 - 13:00 | Narthex/Lobby, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
First Steps Orientation and Campus Tour is a welcoming monthly event held on the first Sunday, 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, Member Engagement Coordinator.

Children and Youth Learning Community: Together Time
2025-05-04 10:15 - 11:30 | Main Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States

🌀 Labyrinth
2025-05-04 09:30 - 12:00 | Fuller Hall, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205
This year, as we explore the church theme “Join the Journey,” we will have monthly opportunities to deepen our spiritual practices and focus on our inner journeys through the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth will be set up in Fuller Hall on the first Sunday of most months from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
We’re always looking for more volunteers to help us set up our sacred space and plan other labyrinth related activities throughout the year. If you’d like to volunteer, reach out to Teri.

🥞 Pancake Breakfast
2025-05-04 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.

Contemplative Practices Group
2025-05-01 13:00 - 14:30 | Channing, A101
First Thursdays in Channing (A101)
Third Thursdays in Eliot Chapel

The Contemplative Practices Group is returning! 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. Facilitators are Patty C. and Ron W. They 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.
Ron is a spiritual director and has been a lay minister, Wellspring facilitator and taught in the learning community at First Unitarian. He has maintained a centering prayer and lectio divina practice for over twenty years.

Communications/Governance Committees Info Session: Proposed Bylaws Changes
2025-04-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual
Join the Board of Trustees Communications and Governance Committees to hear about the proposed bylaws changes on the May ballot.
Click here to join on Zoom.

Congregant Budget Meeting
2025-04-27 12:00 - 13:30 | Eliot Chapel, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
Rescheduled from April 13.
Join other congregants to learn about the final budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1. Church Finance Committee and Executive Team members will walk folks through the numbers and the basis for decisions made. This budget will be presented to our Voting Members at our May election.
Join us in Eliot Chapel or watch online.
