When we stand together, the wisdom and power of community is brought forth. People with clear moral conscience can resist in nonviolent ways and bring about social change. We can stand together for immigrant justice in so many ways: in accompaniment, in solidarity, acuerpados, all from our own context and…

Welcome to our annual Celebration Sunday – the final public day of the “Weaving Threads of Generosity” Campaign for 2026. Part of weaving our community into the future is about understanding how the threads of our history and present have been interwoven by our members along with the greater context…

What is at stake spiritually and morally when our political leaders or anyone attempts to rewrite parts of our history?  While any one of us inevitably will only hold a piece of the truth, there are deliberate efforts underway to erase or alter parts of our history. As Unitarian Universalists, this…

One of the main spiritual practices of humanity is storytelling. Most religions are anchored in a major story. The narratives we tell, read, and listen to have the power to shape our lives and our worldview. What stories can serve us in this time of uncertainty and fear, in this…

On this All Souls Day service we will name those in our congregation who have died in the last year. And in this month when we begin the theme of Story, we’ll talk about how they–and each of us–are part of a larger story of faith, of hope and of…

Our spiritual theme of the year is “Weaving Community,” and the topic this month is our interdependence. A church is not a building; it is the people of all ages who care for one another, who tend to the wellbeing in the world beyond, and yes, to the building too.…

Belonging comes before belief, but it is integral as we pursue justice, as the warp, right there with compassion, fellowship, and solidarity, as the weft. In this season of high tension and low tolerance, we must relearn how to journey together. We must remember how to call each other “into…

The words practice love are part of our benediction every Sunday—and could actually succinctly say what we are about. Easy words. Not easy to put into practice. Our monthly theme for October is Interdependence. These are times when we need each other. Question is, how do we live into those words?

Alice Walker says "resistance is the secret of joy" but the inverse is also true. Joy is the secret of resistance. In these tough times we often focus on resistance and forget to be joyful together. But Joy is essential! Our joy is what scares them, our joy is what…

At newcomer classes, when talking about our congregation's history, I begin our modern history with 1992, a pivotal year in the life of the church. I came to the church just a few years after that, in 1995. What are the lessons from these years and how do they inform…

We will be embarking upon a journey to renew our mission, vision, and plans for the future of First Unitarian in 2026. Before we get there, we will want to reflect on where we come from as a church that has been a liberal religious beacon in Portland for 160…

Our theme of the year is “Weaving Community,” and we aim to do so in a time that might be described as the Great Unraveling. We are experiencing multiple crises connected to the climate, our democracy, and more. Let us reflect together on how we can cultivate community that is…

Come one, Come all to our Homecoming Service at 10:15am! We will be kicking off the year’s spiritual theme in a worship designed for people of all ages. We are called to weave community from the strands of our separate lives in ways that puts creativity and love at the…

“Is church becoming obsolete?” This question was asked by Unitarian Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer in 1929. Garlin answered her own question. To avoid becoming obsolete, the church must change and grow as modern life changes. Let’s extend Garlin’s question to consider changes in ministry as the role of the church…

This annual Question Box Service is a time for members, friends, and visitors to ask questions of Rev. Alison about faith in general, Unitarian Universalism in particular, our congregation, or whatever question is on your heart and mind. Learn more in Rev. Alison's column here. Please drop your question(s) in the…

Our spiritual theme of this past year has been “Join the Journey.” It is fitting that we reflect on the journey’s end as the topic for our twelfth month. After a long sojourn, the journey homeward may be the most important part. While many focus on the destination, it is…

Each passerby is living a life as complex as our own. We may not recognize it, but we constantly influence the journey of others. Let us be attentive to how we affect another as we care for the intertwined life. Rev. Mitra Rahnema is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist and has…

Join Rev. Charlotte in an exploration of the innovative work and transformative potential of street chaplains and spiritual care providers serving in marginalized spaces shaped by poverty, oppression and homelessness. Learn more about Rev. Charlotte's personal journey into this calling—how she discovered her passion for spiritual care for the unhoused,…

We are reminded of unexpected sources of advice for Unitarian Universalists, coming from General Assemblies in years past. One calls us to stretch into an embrace of pluralism, even when it is difficult. The other inspires us to journey toward good trouble as we seek to heal the world. Rev.…

Existence always includes everyday irritations, but it can be especially easy to sweat the small stuff when surrounded by larger realities of crisis, repression, and hardship. As a countermeasure to inevitable annoyances, a “pet fave” is the opposite of a pet peeve. It can offer the relief of satisfaction with…

Afoot and lighthearted, I take to the open road, Walt Whitman tells us. It is good to stay in what we might describe as our usual lanes, our usual routines. But there must also be space for adventure, for taking risks, for placing ourselves in what might not be so…

Instead of constantly testing the boundary of what femininity allows and what masculinity forbids, our nonbinary siblings are attempting to inhabit a third place. They are gendernauts, stepping outside of the binary world to boldly go where no one has gone before. Rev. Stephani Skalak is a hospital chaplain working…

Poet Jan Richardson writes, “... a blessing does not end. This is part of the fundamental nature of a blessing: the energy and the grace of it cannot dissipate or disappear.” Let us reflect on the blessings that endure in the midst of change and multiply when we make commitments…

Click here to watch the online service. => => PLEASE NOTE! You MIGHT have to scroll backwards to the beginning of the service. All UUs are invited to watch the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly’s online worship service from their homes on Sunday, June 22. Read more about this…

Theologian Rebecca Parker reminds us that each of us can choose to bless or curse this world. This recognition of our individual power is both a gift and a responsibility. On the heels of the “No Kings!” rally, let us reflect on our own faith tradition’s commitment to shared ministry…

Join us for our annual joyous Flower Communion Sunday. We will also be honoring the transitions of our children and youth in our religious education program, including our youth bridging to young adulthood. Let us celebrate this community where at every age and stage we support the journey of becoming…