Dear Members and Friends of the Fellowship:
The contract I signed to serve you includes an agreement that the Board and I will work to support the congregation in multicultural understanding. I am so excited that Skyla, the Fellowship’s Director of Religious Education, has arranged for you to be able to participate in Mosaic, which is a new UUA program inviting us to reflect on anti-racism, UU culture, and how to transform our best intentions into better understanding. This is core to the congregation’s acknowledgement (published at the bottom of the order of service each week), saying that we are committed to dismantling oppression and continually learning more. I look forward to seeing you there on Monday nights in the fall: https://uucorvallis.org/mosaic-antiracism-workshop-for-adults-register-by-9-1/.
I said in last week’s sermon that I would give you the links to creative campaigns that are working to stop deportations. Even if this isn’t how you will choose to take action, please read about them so you can learn from their strategies. Perhaps you would like to commit to share the links with three other people?
Ground Avelo is a campaign to stop and disincentivize this airline from secretly deporting people using tax dollars.
Signs of Solidarity provides a toolkit to talk to local business owners about worker safety in case of ICE presence.
I want to offer you a spiritual music video from time to time in this weekly email. So, here is one related to this coming Sunday’s sermon on “Dignity of Labor.” During the sermon I will describe a group of Christian songwriters who felt that more songs were needed to honor not just Sundays, but also the workweek. Therefore, a few years ago they created an album. One song particularly moves me, as it describes feelings of never being able to get ahead despite hard work. The YouTube video of the song is embedded below. If you listen to it, I hope you will tell me how it made you feel. If you don’t see the video, click this link to watch it: https://youtu.be/IsoCkFqai8k.
This week included my first board meeting. I admire the Board’s ability to handle both the macro and micro. The board members bring a rich variety of skills and insight. I am excited about how they are tending to the justice work, spiritual work, and financial stability of the congregation.
As I come into the end of my third week with you, I continue to observe your hospitality, sense of community, and service work. I loved being outside in the fresh air together on Sunday evening at the grounds work party and enjoying Joyce’s peach rhubarb crisp! And thank you to everyone who answered the survey that greeted me when I came. I have already used those tips to make an appointment for an oil change in my car, to find great gluten free food and local produce, and to slip away for quiet time in nature. And thank you to everyone who helped me get the office set up here for my use.
In a few weeks, college students will be returning. Please look for ways to reach out, tell them why you value this Fellowship, and offer them a ride, or offer to bike or walk together.
May you find moments of beauty each day,
Rev. Alex McGee
(she/her)
rev.alex.mcgee@uucorvallis.org