Greetings, 

It feels like we are finally leaving winter behind. In keeping with our spiritual theme of “Awe” this month, I have been looking at all we have done together through this past year. One of the things I find awe inspiring is the breadth of our outreach and connection both to those who were here before the pandemic and to those who have joined us as we have journeyed through this year. Though I am experiencing some “Zoom fatigue,” I am grateful that First Unitarian has remained a “beacon of hope“ through these difficult times. 

Almost two years ago, before our world changed, the Board asked Rev. Bill to convene a task force to look at our physical plant and property to assess what we have, and to begin imagining what we might do with it. We called this “Phase 0” because it was work that needed to be done before we could even start having conversations about what we might do with our property. The task force met through the ’19-’20 church year and gave a report to the Board last spring. They did a tremendous amount of work and I would like to acknowledge them. The Board and I thank Robin Boyce, Ian Carlton, Ryan Deibert, Dev Dion, Rev. Tom Disrud, Lorelei Juntenen, Randy Russell, Karen Shawcross, Rev. Sinkford, and Dan Valliere for their time and their commitment. 

Though the task force produced a report, by the time they finished their work we were in the new world of virtual church and had shut down our facilities. Many of the assumptions that went into their work are changing and we know we will need to reexamine the property and our options when we see what church means to us post-COVID. Nevertheless, there is useful information in the report. We have prepared a summary for the congregation, which you can find under reports on the Board’s web page. If you have any questions, please write us at board@firstunitarianportland.org. 

The Board is continuing to meet with various groups across the church as we develop our church goals for the next three years. In May there will be two open meetings for anyone interested in participating. Zoom links will come out in the Front Steps. You can also give your input online here.

There are positive signs that we are on the path to returning to our physical church. The Northwest Academy, which rents our Buchan building during the week, will be returning its students to part-time, in-person gatherings. Watching how this process unfolds will help us as we imagine what our own return might look like. I know I am excited to see what is next for First Unitarian. 

In service, 

Mindy Clark , Moderator