As we move towards the end of our third year of shared ministries here at First Unitarian Portland, I am conscious of all the ways that 2024 – 2025 has been filled with renewal, inspiration, and commitment.Last Sunday was a prime example: We honored our Coming-of-Age Students (7th and 8th graders) in a special service celebrating the community they have built together and hearing their thoughts about the meaning of this church and the values that guide their lives. We were witness to a soaring presentation of Fauré’s Requiem by our choirs and instrumentalists in our Music & Worship service.…

Whenever I was taught about the great masterworks of our human civilization, the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré is a perfect example. A work of French genius which contains layer after layer of different flavors, some poetic, some darker and richer, infinite nuance and intrigue; and yet, at the same time, everything is perfectly balanced, harmonious, not one element overpowering the others. This brilliance of balance – depth of content with refinement and grace – is the unique gift of French art. Gabriel Fauré was a definitive exponent of this art. This amazing Requiem depicts the timelessness of human existence, the…

It is good to be back. I've been on a sabbatical leave for the last four months and last Sunday was my first time in church since January. It was a gift to be back and to see so many of you. For many years I've been in church most Sundays and so being away for a few months was indeed strange. Four months is long enough that some of the familiar begins to fade away—at least a little bit. My time away was good. It included some time traveling through California visiting friends and old haunts. It included some…

In May, we are kicking off our topic of “Belonging” as a part of our year’s spiritual theme of “Join the Journey.” While many of you have chosen to belong to this community by becoming a member, our congregation is also a member of the wider Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations along with over 1,000 other communities. This is a good time to reflect on that wider set of relationships as one of the major gatherings, our Annual General Assembly, is coming up in the middle of next month, and you might think about joining one, a couple, or many…

Our Annual Auction is the biggest FUN-raiser and fundraiser of the year. It kicked off last Sunday, April 27, in Fuller Hall on Sunday and online throughout the week, and it will last through the festive auction coffee hour on Sunday, May 4, up until 5 p.m. While some auctions are focused on selling high-priced rarities, ours focuses on members and friends of our congregation providing services for each other. Many of these services are social gatherings, like a dinner or a hike. Other offerings are treasures from the heart, like a painting, or items that are just plain practical…

Our congregation is a teaching congregation. Over time, we have served the wider Unitarian Universalist Association by accepting and mentoring intern ministers who are in the process of formation as religious professionals. Occasionally, we are blessed to be able to ordain someone who has served us as an intern, especially when they have continued in service as an Assistant Minister for a period of time. All of you are invited to the joyous occasion we are anticipating with great excitement – the Ordination of Danielle Garrett into the Unitarian Universalist Ministry on Saturday, June 7, at 2 p.m. in our…

Last Saturday, over 80 members of our community joined with thousands of others in Portland to peacefully protest attacks on our democracy and human rights. Our UU values and commitments were on proud display, with some members of the group hanging our "Side With Love" Banner over the side of the Burnside Bridge! It was a joyful and hopeful day of resistance and community. Thanks to those of you who showed up, in Portland and at other protests around our area. For those of you who weren't able to march, know we carried you in our hearts. And for those…

As you may have read in last week’s minister column, “In a time when so many of our values, such as promoting democracy and human dignity, are under attack, our shared social justice ministries can be a grounding and guiding force in our lives and in the world. I have heard from many of you that you want to figure out ways we can show up for our values together.” One opportunity is happening this Saturday, in nonpartisan rallies across the country, where folks are coming together to push back against attacks on our democratic institutions and basic rights. This…

Unitarian Universalism is a faith that lifts up the “prophethood and the priesthood of all believers.” While I may possess the title of Reverend and the role of a minister, the ministries of our congregation – creating worship, teaching, caring, organizing, serving, justice-making – all of these are our shared work. You are also invited to minister to one another and to the brokenness and possibilities in our individual lives, in our congregational life together, and in the world beyond our walls.   One example of a shared ministry is our social justice efforts, which engage many hearts and minds in…

In these days that can feel dark and stormy, it’s a joy to come together and celebrate the vibrant life of our community. On April 6, 2025, First Unitarian Portland will celebrate our members and welcome new folks to membership in the church in the Sunday service. It is a moment to shine a light on the deeper connections that membership brings and remember what it means. As Rev. Alison reminded us in her January column, membership is more than a formal commitment and more than just signing the book—it’s about embracing our shared humanity and fostering meaningful relationships. I…