First Unitarian Portland

Denomination Relations Committee Meeting
2025-06-01 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Fireside Room, A303
Gather together in the Fireside Room (A303) to talk about our relationships with other Unitarian Universalists beyond our church. How do we connect to neighboring UU congregations, the UUA Pacific Western Region, and the national Unitarian Universalist Association? How can our church fulfill our covenant with other UUs and congregations? Come help restart our Denomination Relations Committee.
For questions, contact Art U.

Children and Youth Learning Community: Together Time
2025-06-01 10:15 - 11:30 | Main Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
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
2025-06-01 10:15 - 11:30, 2025-05-25 10:15 - 11:30, 2025-05-11 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

🌀 Labyrinth
2025-06-01 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
2025-06-01 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.

Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub and Statewide Impact
2025-05-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Join Community for Earth (CFE) for an online presentation and dialogue on how the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub is a ticking time bomb. Why is it a statewide danger? The Hub stores 90% of the liquid fuels used throughout the state. Storage tanks sit on unstable ground within two earthquake zones. Millions of gallons of combustible fuels border Forest Park. In the event of an earthquake, the area would be prone to fires, releases and emissions which would travel down the Columbia River. It would be extremely difficult to transport these fuels elsewhere in Oregon. Learn about bills pending in the legislature right now that could help mitigate this risk and how you can help get them enacted.
Register here for the Zoom link.

Loving Kindness Meditation
2025-05-26 20:00 - 20:30, 2025-05-19 20:00 - 20:30, 2025-05-12 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.

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

RE Holiday – No LC Classes
2025-05-25 10:15 - 11:30 | OR
Nursery and toddler care are still available!

Vespers
2025-05-23 17:00 - 17:40, 2025-05-16 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

*Registration Required* Journey to Articulating Your Faith
2025-05-22 19:00 - 21:00 | OR
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.

Music Ministry Transition Team Online Listening Meeting
2025-05-20 19:00 - 20:45 | Virtual
Since its inception last summer, the Music Ministry Transition Team (MMTT) has been actively engaged in helping church leadership and the Interim Director of Music Ministries move our music program forward. We’ve come to a point where we need to hear from congregants. We have already had three in-person listening meetings. We know that in-person meetings do not work for everyone, so we have scheduled a Zoom meeting on May 20 at 7 p.m.
Our objective is to hear your thoughts about how the music program has been evolving so far, what you might envision for the future, and what you have found positive about our current music program, and what we need to improve. The MMTT looks forward to hearing about your feelings, ideas, and suggestions, which will play a vital role in planning for the future of the music program at church.
You can access the Zoom meeting here.

Good Times Book Group: Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
2025-05-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual
We meet by Zoom from 7 – 8:30 pm. Please contact Sue L. to get on the email list for Zoom links.

Connect & Reflect
2025-05-20 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.

Year-End Congregational Meeting
2025-05-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Eliot Chapel, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
Join the Board of Trustees in Eliot Chapel or by livestream for a Congregational Meeting and announcement of election results. Agenda includes short reports from Rev. Alison and Board Moderator Leslie Pohl-Kosbau, as well as an HR report, info on new Right Relations program, and a preview of congregational annual report process.

Drop-In Community & Parenting Circle
2025-05-18 11:45 - 14:00 | Daisy Bingham Room, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
Drop in for discussion on the month’s theme.
All are welcome to join for discussion and engagement! Great opportunity to meet folks and enjoy time together. You are welcome to bring your Souper Sunday soup or other lunch. Childcare is provided.

Sunday Service: Music & Worship! 🎵
2025-05-18 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 … Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem.

Join us on livestream here.

Children and Youth Learning Community
2025-05-18 10:15 - 11:30, 2025-05-11 10:15 - 11:30 | OR

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.

Contemplative Practices Group
2025-05-15 13:00 - 14:30 | OR
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.

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.
