First Unitarian Portland

Sunday Worship: Flower Communion! 🌼
2026-06-07 10:15 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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

🥞 Pancake Breakfast
2026-06-07 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.

Vespers
2026-06-05 17:00 - 17:40, 2026-05-29 17:00 - 17:40, 2026-05-22 17:00 - 17:40, 2026-05-15 17:00 - 17:40, 2026-05-08 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

Contemplative Practices Group
2026-06-04 13:00 - 14:30, 2026-05-07 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!
—
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.

Monthly Board Meeting
2026-06-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Buchan Hall, 1226 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Congregants are welcome to join us in person (Buchan Reception Hall) or on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82930223125?pwd=[REDACTED]

Loving Kindness Meditation
2026-06-01 20:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-25 20:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-18 20:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-11 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.

Children and Youth Learning Community
2026-05-31 10:15 - 11:30, 2026-05-24 10:15 - 11:30, 2026-05-17 10:15 - 11:30, 2026-05-10 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
2026-05-31 10:15 - 11:30, 2026-05-24 10:15 - 11:30, 2026-05-17 10:15 - 11:30, 2026-05-10 10:15 - 11:30 | Main Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States

Vigils for Troubling Times
2026-05-26 17:30 - 18:10 | Virtual
Are you struggling to cope with the daily news and events in these dark days? We invite you to join Vigils for Troubling Times, a quiet service of music, poetry, readings, reflection, and meditation offered on Zoom.
Beginning on Tuesday, February 24, from 5:30 – 6:10 p.m. on Zoom, we will gather in community for lament, solace, inspiration and hope. The series will continue on the 4th Tuesday of each month through June.
Click here to join.

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

Contemplative Practices Group
2026-05-21 13:00 - 14:30

2026 All-Church Forum
2026-05-17 12:00 - 13:30 | Eliot Chapel, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
The calendar is set for forums and meetings through the end of the year. Events will be held at noon in Eliot Chapel unless otherwise announced. Childcare will be available.

Feb 8 – hear budget priorities from Rev. Alison and an update from the Board.
Mar 8 – review the proposed budget for next church year, ask questions, and provide feedback.
April 12 – learn about bylaws changes, see the final budget, and ask questions ahead of voting in May.
May 17 (Year-End Forum) – learn election results and hear year-end reports from the Board and Rev. Alison.

Watch our Front Steps e-news for more details.

*Registration Required* Good Grief: Navigating Personal Loss
2026-05-17 11:45 - 13:15
In this four-session 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 conduct a ritual of remembrance. We will offer suggestions for coping with significant anniversaries and holidays. Resources will be provided.
There is no cost, but pre-registration is required. Register here. There is a limit of ten participants.
The group is facilitated by the Rev. Duane Fickeisen and Dr. Bill Yasnoff. Both are members of First Unitarian and have personal experience with being widowed and in facilitating grief groups.
Questions can be emailed to either Duane or Bill. Registrants will receive confirmation and the room location at First Unitarian a week or so before the first gathering.

Dates: April 12, 19, and 26, and May 17.
Timing: 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Address: Eliot Center/Buchan Building

Pam Noble Celebration of Life
2026-05-16 14:00 - 17:00 | Eliot Chapel, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
Long time member Pam Noble died on April 14 at the age of 80 after a long health journey including hospitalization. Pam grew up in the church and later served as a Learning Community teacher, Wedding Coordinator, Family Camp Director, Parker Bell ringer, and helped restore the Children’s Mosaic. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and love of community building. Her son Geoff McMacken invites us to wear a splash of color to celebrate Pam’s love of rainbows and her artistic nature.
Join us in Eliot Chapel at 2 p.m. on May 16 to celebrate her life.

*Registration Closed* Journey to Articulating Your Faith
2026-05-13 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.

Drop-In Parenting Circle
2026-05-10 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.
