October 1 – “Love As Spaciousness” with Rev. Jill McAllister. A new generation of UUs suggests articulating our values in new ways, beginning with Love at the Center
October 8 – “Not So Like-Minded After All” with Rev. Jill McAllister. We’re learning a lot about the real differences in how brains work – neurodiversity. Turns out we’re more different than we imagine.
October 15 – “What is Transformation?” with Rev. Jill McAllister. Have you ever experienced transformation? How is it part of religious and spiritual growth?
October 22 – “God Is Not One, Neither are We” with Rev. Jill McAllister. One of the unique characteristics of our religious movement is pluralism – the willingness to be different and be together at the same time.
October 29 – Wheel of the Year – All Ages – Samhain / Halloween
If “work” is the body exerting physical and/or mental effort to affect change in one’s environment, and if “labor” is work that we are paid to do, how can we live our lives so that work is sacred and labor is just? These are questions that Rev. Alex posed to us, and below are the piano selections from today’s service connected to the dignity of work. These pieces hail from different eras and genres, but all speak in their own way of finding meaning, wellness, or peace in our work and labor.
While many of us are familiar with Fields of Gold, Sting’s pop/rock song about love and the passing of time, I find myself drawn to Eva Cassidy’s stripped down and vulnerable folk rendition rather than the original. Regardless of which version is preferred, once one looks past the surface ideas of love and the passing of time, this song is rooted in imagery of scenes from a certain type of work: fields, laboring outdoors, harvests. When listening to Sting croon about the shared time and effort of a romantic relationship, parallels can be found with the meaning in collaboration and valuing others within our work and labor. And of course, the lyrical melody and lovely harmonies of Fields of Gold are a gentle, lovely way to welcome our community into the sanctuary on a Sunday morning.
Coldplay’s “The Scientist” is filled with a number of poignant lyrics, but the most crucial words of all are “Nobody said it was easy”. We encounter this concept every day, in both our personal and professional lives. Even if the task at hand is “easy”, there are always challenges and struggles that can arise, be it with work or labor, practical or creative endeavors, large tasks or small. The song’s message to persevere, be accountable for our mistakes and pursue growth is an important one.
Normally a buoyant, upbeat song from Pete Seeger, If I Had a Hammer is a piece of music that inspires us to clap our hands, tap our toes, and sing along – but it’s also a call to action. As we sing about a hammer, a bell, a song, we are really singing about standing for justice, fairness, and hope, and our singing serves as a reminder that what we do matters most when it builds equity and uplifts others. (David Servias was originally slated to play the piano today, and If I Had a Hammer was originally his idea for the offertory!)
Let the River Run was not the planned postlude for today – some of the options I considered was to play the more traditional version of If I Had a Hammer or perhaps the Beatles’ Come Together! But after hearing Rev. Alex’s sermon, a different song came to mind, a song that represents possibility, dealing with disappointment and injustice, striving for change, and the hope for personal peace. While a lively finale of “If I Had a Hammer” would have been fun, “Let the River Run” just seemed very right for the end of today’s service.
The Chalice Circle session of the Inquirers Series will be offered on 8/24/2025 instead of the regularly scheduled Membership 101 session.
We encourage all Inquirers Series participants who wish to attend each session to check the Fellowship calendar for updates. Our facilitators occasionally experience calendar conflicts and swap dates with another session. These updates will always show in the primary Fellowship calendar, under the “programs and events” calendar. Thank you for your understanding!
Time to register for the annual Men’s Retreat, this year at Camp Harlow near Eugene (only an hour’s drive from Corvallis). The retreat will be held from 5 PM Friday October 3 to 2 PM Sunday October 5. For those who identify as men, this is an opportunity to get to know each other and build connections with other men at UUFC. Our theme this year is “Sharing the Story of Your Life Journey.” Check out the flyer with details at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f6YJIxzCbjXZdWaI45a5bDxtDZsJoCsv/view?usp=sharing
There are new doorstops on the entry doors. Use your foot to lower the doorstop in position. To release it, step on the metal tab and the doorstop pops back into the open position. No more bending to unlock the hook latch!
There are also new window blinds in the classroom wing rooms which are operated by lifting up slowly from the bottom with two hands. This stacks the blind as you open it (no cords to pull). To close these blinds, pull down gently/firmly/evenly. A plastic rod on the left can be rotated to tilt the blinds into varying degrees of light entering.
The art hanging team needs some additional hands for our next art installation. The artist and his wife will also be on hand with Isabel Prusinski to hang their art on Friday, August 29 at 1 pm. One volunteer is needed. Ability to climb up and down a ladder is a must. This is a great opportunity to get a sneak peak at the art which will enhance our space AND talk with the presenting artist. Please contact Isabel Prusinski if you are interested.
Looking to increase your resilience during trying times?
OSU research suggests that cultivating a sense of openness and fun even though things may be challenging (lemonading) helps. There is no greater place to create a moment of joy than serving on the Greeter Team.
Don’t wait! Join the Greeter Team and experience the joy of providing valuable human connection to those seeking reassurance (especially newcomers).
Speak with anyone at the Greeter desk or contact the Team lead via this form for more information. Cheers!
A blood drive will be hosted in our Social Hall from 9:30 am until 2:30 pm on Wednesday 9/10. You can sign up to donate on the American Red Cross Donate Blood website.
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.
As we look ahead to Labor Day next week, let’s explore the many meanings of work and labor. What do various spiritual traditions have to say? What does our Unitarian Universalism have to do with the Labor Day solidarity action planned in Corvallis this year?
Parents and guardians, it’s to register your children for the new year of Sunday morning Religious Exploration!
CHILDREN WHO WERE REGISTERED AT ANY POINT LAST YEAR MUST STILL BE REGISTERED Anew BEFORE ATTENDING RE THIS YEAR.
Please read the following descriptions carefully and register each child for the appropriate space. We acknowledge that school grades are not a perfect proxy for age or development. Nonetheless, we find them useful for determining the most appropriate group for most children. If you feel your child would benefit from being in a different group than the one designated below, please reach out to the Director of Religious Exploration, Skyla King-Christison.
THE RAINBOW ROOM
This space is for new walkers through preschool. We may occasionally be able to accommodate infants if the caregiver-to-child ratio allows; however, your infant may be returned to you in the service if more children arrive and it can no longer be safely accommodated. Children in this space may be dropped off in Room 4 of the classroom wing no earlier than 9:50, and should be picked up before their guardians attend coffee hour.
Please register for the Rainbow Room HERE prior to dropping your child off.
SPIRIT PLAY
This space is designed to meet the approximate developmental needs of beloved children in grades K through three. Children in this space begin in the service with their families, and will depart for room 6c as a group after the time for all ages. Guardians should pick them up before attending coffee hour. This group may occasionally be on the playground, through 6c, at pickup time.
Please register for Spirit Play HERE prior to their first Sunday.
SEEKER SPACE
This space is designed to meet the approximate developmental needs of beloved children in grades four through six. Children in this space begin in the service with their families, and will depart for room 9 (upstairs) as a group after the time for all ages. This group will prioritize outdoor time and project-based exploration, so please ensure that they are dress for the weather all year round. This group must be picked up before attending coffee hour.
Please register for Seeker Space HERE prior to their first Sunday.
OPEN MINDS GROUP (OMG!)
This space is designed to meet the approximate developmental needs of beloved children in grades seven through twelve. Youth in this space will be released to come join the adults in the social hall. They do not need to be checked out by guardian, but they are not permitted to linger in the classroom wing unattended. Please discuss expectations with your youth prior to their attendance.
Please register youth for OMG! HERE before their first Sunday
If you have questions about any of our Sunday morning offerings for children and youth, don’t hesitate to contact the Director of Religious Exploration, Skyla King-Christison at dre@uucorvallis.org.
