Letter from the Board: January 2026

Board of Trustees

Happy new year to all, from your Board of Trustees!

The calendar is set for forums and meetings through the end of the year. Events will be held at noon in Eliot Chapel unless otherwise announced. Childcare will be available.

Plus, we're looking for another volunteer...MORE

Staffing Change

Your executive team (Rev. Alison, Rev. Tom, and Kathryn) are very saddened to inform you that John Rosette’s employment has been terminated. His last day was Thursday, January 15. Due to personnel standard procedures, we can say no more. We have been in very close contact with the Executive Team’s lay members on the HR Advisory Team and our legal resources. If you have any questions or concerns you can reach to any one of us. You can email us at ET@firstunitarianportland.org.

Adult Our Whole Lives (OWL) 3-Session Class Forming NOW

Sundays, February 8, 15, and 22, 12:15 - 1:45 p.m.

Location: First Unitarian

Facilitated by church member Bill C., Congregational Life Director Jen Thomas, and Lifespan Learning Director Rev. Leah Ongiri, Adult OWL is a holistic UU sexuality education program based in compassion, respect, justice, and spirituality. It balances knowledge-building with exploration of attitudes, values, and feelings about one’s own and others’ sexuality. Themes include Gender Identity, Intimacy, Reframing Sexuality, Consent, Boundaries and Boundary Violations, Family Matters, and Communication.

Class will meet 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 15, and 22. (Plus optional local field trip on March 15!)

Participants are asked to make a firm commitment to attend all sessions.

NEW! — The Alliance Presents "From Crisis to Community: Building Food Security Together"

Wednesday, February 4, 10:30 a.m.
Location: Eliot Chapel

The Alliance

Join Stephanie Barr and CaSaundra Johnson from Lift UP for an honest conversation about the reality of food insecurity in the Portland area, the innovative solutions growing through partnership, and the movement towards building a more equitable food future beyond crisis response.

Bring your lunch and $5 to enjoy dessert & beverage after the program. RSVP for the dessert by emailing AllianceRSVP@firstunitarianportland.org.

NEW! — In Your Beacon Bookstore

Location: Fuller Hall

We have some of the new and favorite books you’ve requested in the last 2-3 weeks. If you’ve been waiting for On Tyranny or a copy of the US Constitution – we have them. We’ve also just received I am Jazz, Selected Poems of Adrienne Rich, Intrepid Girls – the history of the Girl Scouts, several books by Thich Nat Hahn and several from Parker Palmer, several copies of Hands Like Roots by Therese DesCamp, and part of our order of books by bell hooks and by Walt Whitman. We’re still waiting for about 15 additional titles (the holidays and the weather must have made shipping slower): Life Reimagined by Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell (we received 1 copy and sold it within 10 minutes, but lots more are on the way), Heartstopper (1 each of volumes 1-5), Braiding Sweetgrass, Healing the Heart of Democracy, and the book Rev. Leah read from last Sunday, Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester.

Our Fuller Hall bookstore’s center display feels a little like we’ve all been playing in there and no one has heard the grown-up’s call to “Pick-up your toys!” It’s a mixture of Christmas, Hannukah, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, good gifts for journal writers and meditators, great picture books Rev. Leah has read to us, $5 Justice Sale books with blue dot stickers, and who-know-what-else. This Sunday will be a great day to stumble on books you might not otherwise seek out!

Then, by Sunday, January 28, we ought to have all the books we’ve recently ordered. Many of them will be on the center display or on the rolling stand just outside the door.

Please keep us in mind for book club orders. We are able to give you a receipt for your 40% church donation for tax purposes when you buy from us. Thank you all for visiting our little shop!  

CHECK WEEKLY — January 25 Newsletter

Rev. Leah Ongiri, Acting Director of Lifespan Faith Formation and Family Ministries

Dear Learning Community,

A special shout out to everyone who has helped make our worship service happen, especially those of you who have lit the chalice, read the Together Time story, or had other roles on the chancel. If someone in your family might like a chance to help lead our service, please be in touch. We have all kinds of ways to involve children, youth, and whole families--whether the people involved are shy, confident, in between, and otherwise...MORE

Faithful Resistance: The Power of Noncooperation

Sunday, February 1, 12 - 2 p.m.

Location: Daisy Bingham Room

Join Dana Buhl, Director of Social Justice, and Mary Ann B. to explore how we Unitarian Universalists can participate in the larger movement to resist authoritarianism, grounded in our faith commitment and connected to our communities. We’ll learn about the local and national movement to build people power through the nonviolent strategy of “noncooperation.” This will be a 2-hour interactive workshop, and childcare is available.

Space is limited and advance registration is required. Register and reserve childcare here.

For questions, please email Leslie C.

NEW! — Oregon Bills Advancing Social Justice - Learn & Act!

Tuesday, February 3, 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Location: Zoom

The 2026 Oregon short legislative session starts February 2 and ends March 9. Several bills are being introduced that can have a positive impact on social justice, including climate justice, reproductive freedom, economic justice, voting rights, and more.

Register here to learn more and to take action to support these bills. Let's join together to make a lasting difference by adding our values and voices to the 2026 legislative session! 

Winter Antiracism Learning Circles

Dates & times vary

Location: Zoom

You are invited to join an Antiracism Learning Circle this winter. It’s on Zoom, so you can join from anywhere. Invite your friends, too. Circles have started, but there's still time to register.

Full descriptions, schedules & registration information are HERE.

A printable flyer is HERE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Winter 2026 we are offering:

• Seeing White - Start your journey here! The real history of the US, the one none of us were taught in school. Documentary podcast series from Scene on Radio.
• The Land That Has Never Been Yet - an examination of whether we have ever had a real democracy. Documentary podcast series from Scene on Radio.
• Doughnut Economics - seven ways to think like a 21st century economist to thrive, not just grow
• Master Plan - The 50-year plot to legalize corruption in the US
• It’s Not You, It’s Capitalism - a guide to budding anti-capitalists
• This Chair Rocks - a manifesto against ageism
• Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America - and how to solve it
• The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story - a revealing vision of American past and present

LEARNING CIRCLES are small discussion cohorts based on a book or podcast that provide:

• Important learning about white supremacy, racism, and our national history
• The opportunity to build trust and go deep in small group discussions over time
• A safe place to have difficult discussions and deal with discomfort
• An opportunity to create and strengthen relationships with others
• Connection, focus and purpose in a virtual setting

How Do LEARNING CIRCLES Work?

• Each cohort (typically 4-12) gathers for a series (from 6-12 sessions) of facilitated Zoom discussions.
• Register for specific Learning Circle(s). Meeting dates & times vary.
• Everyone is given the opportunity to share reactions, then discuss as a group
• We ask that you plan to attend all sessions so we can build bonds of trust and insight

For questions, email Jody F. 

LAST CHANCE — It's Tamale Time!

Orders accepted this Sunday, January 25, during social hour

Location: Fuller Hall

Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG)

For the last several years, members of IJAG have taken orders from First U congregants for tamales made by members and friends of Western Farm Workers Association in Hillsboro.

WFWA is an all-volunteer membership association of farm workers, seasonal workers, landscapers and others working in low-income, service positions. Agriculture is second only to high tech in its importance to the Oregon economy. Farm workers’ labor produces this economic and cultural value, yet farm service workers are treated as second-class citizens. When you purchase tamales, you are making a donation to fuel fairer working conditions and better living for our neighbors, so many of whom have been targeted by ICE in these times.

Food prices have gone up and the price of the tamales has to reflect that increase. Cash or check payment only.

The prices are as follows: 

• $30 a dozen (12)
• $15.00 half-dozen (6)

Available in Chicken, Pork, Vegan—No mixed orders.

TAMALE PICK-UP: Sunday, February 8.

Venezuela Peace Buttons

Peace Action Group

The American war with Venezuela has begun. To show your support for peace instead of another endless war, this one extending the Monroe Doctrine into the 21st Century, stop by the Peace Action Table and pick up a Peace button with the word Venezuela on it. Now is the time to be visible in opposition to more war, especially this war for oil, fossil fuels, and empire.

Shower Project Requests

Each week we offer unhoused neighbors a secure space to shower, enjoy a meal, get clean clothing, and experience refuge from conditions on the street.

We are always looking for more helping hands. Volunteers sign up for 2-hour shifts that work for their schedule - and enjoy meeting other congregants this way. If you're interested, please click here.

Your donations make a big difference in the lives of those we serve. We are in special need of the following items:

• Men's clothes, especially jeans/pants/sweats (30 - 36)
• Hoodies, sweatshirts, coats, and rain gear
• Boxer briefs - NEW (M, L)
• Women's underwear - NEW (S, M)
• Direct monetary donations

Drop off your items in the marked cabinet in Fuller Hall during Sunday church hours or during Shower Project hours (Wednesdays and Thursdays between noon and 4 p.m.).

For questions, email Casey C. Thank you!

CHECK WEEKLY — Art for Social Justice

Curated by Ethel G., Speaking of Justice Editorial Team

The Speaking of Justice Editorial Team offers weekly art to deepen our connection to the work for social justice and to build the Beloved Community.

Taína Asili is a New York-based Puerto Rican singer, filmmaker and activist carrying on the tradition of her ancestors, fusing past and present struggles into one soulful and defiant voice. Her music combines powerful vocals and movement, carrying themes of hope and liberation with an energetic fusion of Afro-Latin, reggae and rock.