Dear Congregation:

Fall Equinox is upon us, and the colors of the leaves show us that Mother Nature is shifting her energies.  

Here at the Fellowship, I am observing groups gather together in shared spiritual nourishment:  the Women’s Retreat and the Men’s Retreat planners are reaping the harvest of long summer planning and sharing it with others.  The Coordinators of Elders Thriving in Community are offering wonderful programs monthly.  I love seeing the foyer bubble with people arriving for those programs, and buzz with warm conversation as they leave informed and inspired.

I admire the hard work of the new Safety Team over the past six months.  They have been meeting monthly and doing “homework” outside of meetings.  As a result, this weekend there will be a training for lay leaders who have a role in streamlining a Sunday morning evacuation, if one were needed in case of emergency.  Wolfgang Dengler has achieved that great feat of leadership: making sure that a role does not depend on just one person.

As the days get shorter, some people may find themselves beginning to have hints of the Winter blues.  Please check on each other, and fire up your own self care tools.  Tune in to a healthy Fall routine for your body and mind.

Please remember that generous donations create the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.  This means that the minister has leeway to offer funds to members and friends who are going through a difficult time and would benefit from monies to help them bridge to a more stable place.  Pastoral care takes many forms, and this is one. 

With care,
Rev. Alex
Rev. Alex McGee is serving the Fellowship as Interim Minister and can be reached at rev.alex.mcgee@uucorvallis.org.

September 25, 2026