As parents and grandparents, teachers and churchgoers, Portlanders and people in general, we find ourselves once again on the day after a shooting in a school in a church. This time in Minnesota. And, at this tender time of first days of kindergarten, and fifth grade, and ninth grade, and freshman year in college. How do any of us manage to let go, to close the door, and to say goodbye to our children? Yet, we do it for many reasons, including that we cannot nourish life’s flourishing by keeping our children walled off from all that is outside… love…

Last Sunday, the Reverend Charlotte Cramer, an interfaith chaplain who works as a street chaplain, spoke of the critical importance of spiritual care for houseless people. I agree with her and would add that spiritual care is important for all of us. The ministry of spiritual care happens in multiple ways in our community and is upheld by many hearts.The ordained ministers here – me (Rev. Alison Miller), Rev. Tom Disrud, and Rev. Leah Ongiri – all have some availability to offer pastoral care when the need arises in your life. You can email us directly or call the church…

At a campus ministry workshop a number of years ago, we were comparing the slogans we put on signs for tabling at college activities fairs. One that sticks out in my mind is – “Unitarian Universalists: we have a question for your every answer.” This quip holds a fundamental truth about us as a people who believe that the act of questioning is a spiritual practice. Coming up later this month we have a special tradition that speaks directly to this practice. We are holding our annual Question Box Service on Sunday, August 24, at our 10:15 am worship. It is…

Some of you may have noticed that I've been hobbling around a fair amount the last few months. I've been living with arthritic pain in my hips for some time and there has been a long wait to schedule replacement surgery. A couple weeks ago I received word that I am now on the schedule and next week I'll be having hip replacement surgery. I expect I will be away from my responsibilities at the church for a few weeks and hopefully back for a new church year in September. In a few months I hope to have surgery on…

A number of us traveled to Baltimore, MD, in person or virtually to attend Religious Professional Days followed by the Annual General Assembly (GA) of the Unitarian Universalist Association. This is the annual conference where ministers, other religious professionals, and lay leaders gather to do the business of our wider association, to network with and learn from one another, and to attend insightful workshops and meaningful worship. It is always inspiring to gather with 3,000 to 4,000 UUs from across the country and to feel the power of our collective faith and what’s possible.Here is a glimpse of some of…

Dear Ones, After two years ministering amongst you all, the time has come to say “farewell.” I know colleagues who have had the privilege of officiating the weddings of babies they dedicated, so in the grand scheme of ministry, two years is not very long at all. And yet, the two years we’ve spent together have not been ordinary. They’ve been marked by deep, painful conflicts and divisions inside and outside of these church walls. We’ve joined in protests together against the rising tide of authoritarianism and Christian nationalism in our nation, and we’ve tried to find our way forward…

Thank you to everyone who wished me well on my 3-month sabbatical and welcomed me home with open arms this last week. My time away was renewing and I’m returning with refreshed focus and determination for our work together in these very challenging times. It was a joy to come back for the fabulous turnout for the No Kings protest last Saturday and Sunday’s beautiful Shower Project volunteer recognition and celebration of our Shower Coordinator Kelly’s completion of graduate school! Thanks to every congregant and staff person who not only covered my ongoing work tasks, but also took our community…

Dear Beloved Community, On behalf of the Ordination Committee, I wish to extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for the extraordinary outpouring of support, generosity, and love that made the ordination of Rev. Danielle Garrett a truly unforgettable celebration. Thank you to all that attended! If you were unable to, you can watch the recording here. From the very beginning, your willingness to step forward—whether by donating flowers from your gardens, baking one of the 38 delicious pies, or volunteering your time and energy—transformed this occasion into a living testament to the spirit of Unitarian Universalism…

As Portlandia’s landscape changes, it impacts our Learning Community and Religious Education program. Many can recite dour statistics: Housing costs and other factors drive families with children and youth further away from downtown and the Metro area. Long accustomed to meteoric population growth, Portland proper has experienced stagnation and even shrinkage in recent years. Since pandemic lockdown, all kinds of institutional life report reduced participation, including less school attendance, volunteering, and religious community involvement for people of all ages. Traffic and safety concerns make weekday evening treks to the church building less appealing. The cultural expectation that Sunday morning is…

If we desire to create holistic and positive change around an issue of social justice, this will inevitably include education, service, advocacy, public witness, community organizing, and fundraising. Our Shower Project is one opportunity we offer in our building to engage in direct service to ensure more of our houseless neighbors have access to better hygiene and greater wellbeing and health. This is an essential service in a society where access to clean water has become increasingly privatized or accessible only within home spaces. When our guests arrive at the Shower Project they are met with compassion and hospitality alongside…