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
Romance and partnerships are what immediately come to mind when hearing “love” in February, but this compact little word is so much more complex and holds a multitude of meanings. You can love your significant other, your family of origin, your family of creation, your chosen family, your friends, and your dog. You can also love your neighborhood, your community, and those you teach or help. And, you can feel love for a little boy in a blue bunny hat who you’ve only seen on television, or for two strangers who are grieving the murder of their child, a healer whose last words to were to ask if someone was okay. Love can be romantic, platonic, hopeful or painful; it can be joyfully exuberant, or quietly steadfast. Today’s piano selections offered a glimpse of some of the ways love can appear in our lives: a promise, ardor, care, compassion, the sacred, healing, and affirming.
Make You Feel My Love is surprisingly simple in its presentation. There is no flowery language, dramatic imagery, or big musical/emotional climax; instead, the song is a quiet vow of steady, enduring love. Bob Dylan wrote this contemporary standard, but rather than hoarding the recording rights, he shared advance copies of the music with other artists, and the world was first introduced to Make You Feel My Love by Billy Joel. Bob Dylan eventually released his own performance, and as the song became a hit, countless other musicians covered this song, drawn to its tenderness and statement of unconditional love.
To Love You More sharply contrasts Dylan’s song about peaceful and plainspoken love with its sweeping, romantic intensity. Originally written as the theme song for a Japanese TV drama, it skyrocketed to the top of the charts around the world and is now one of the signature power ballads that Celine Dion is known for. With its theatrical dynamics, virtuosic vocal writing, and impassioned lyrics, To Love You More is a declamation of passion being shouted from the rooftops. Its energy and momentum are perpetual, and the fervor of both the text and music propel the song to its end, never relaxing.
Burt Bacharach’s What the World Needs Now Is Love asks us to think of love as a necessity; not just a personal emotion but a universally shared good that the world cannot function without. Its easy-going melody, conversational feel and repetition throughout the song send the message home that yes, “what the world needs now is love, sweet love. No, not just for some but for everyone.”
Elaine Hagenberg’s stunning O Love is probably the least known of all the music offered today but in the choral world it is considered a contemporary masterpiece and has been sung by choirs around the world. Its reverent text and luminous setting invite reflection and even played as a piano solo without lyrics, the harmonic dissonances and their resolutions evoke sighs that always transform into hope. The lyrics are based upon text by 19th-century Scottish minister George Matheson. Matheson’s words were originally sacred in nature, but can hold meaning for anyone whose heartache has been healed by love.
O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thy ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.
O Joy that seeks me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain That morn shall tearless be.
The smooth groove of the Bee Gees’ How Deep Is Your Love reframes the age-old query: I love you…do you love me? This question really is many questions wrap into one, as it is also asking: Do I matter to you as much as you matter to me? Can I trust you? Am I safe with you? Will you leave me? Does my happiness – or sorrow – mean anything to you? Feeling loved isn’t just something that gives people a warm fuzzy feeling; it provides security, strength, and hope. Feeling loved is more important than ever in the world we live in today. In addition to make sure that the people we care about know that we love them, performing acts of love – to those in our lives, to strangers, to whole communities – is a way to deal with our frustration, our fear, our insecurity. We may not be able to solve homelessness, erase racism, or provide justice for all who have been wronged…but any difference we can make, no matter how small, is putting love into action. Whether in personal relationships, in community, or in the pursuit of social justice, let’s answer the question “How deep is your love?” with both words and deeds.
For several decades, Corvallis has grappled with challenges of what it means to have safe housing for all and shelter accessible to those in need. This UU Fellowship has played a role in many ways. Come reflect on the history of the congregation’s collaboration with Unity Shelter, current local issues, and what might be possible in the future.
Shawn Collins, Executive Director of Unity Shelter, will be our guest speaker. Shawn got his first look at the realities of homelessness and poverty in the Willamette Valley through his volunteer experiences at the South Corvallis Food Bank. After leaving HP in 2016, Shawn worked at United Way of Benton & Lincoln Counties, as the Program Manager for the Housing Opportunities Action Council (HOAC) through 2019. He was instrumental in securing the site that would become the Corvallis Men’s Shelter in 2017.
The Secure Housing and Food for All team invites you to visit the Corvallis Museum to hear an in-depth talk and ask questions about how Unity Shelter is meeting the needs of unhoused people in Benton County.
Three dates: Friday, February 27th, 2026 Friday, March 6th, 2026 Friday, March 20th, 2026
Drop by between 2 – 3 pm for a 15 minute tour and talk by a Unity Shelter staff member.
Gallery talks are limited to 10 people and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The tours will repeat through the hour.
The Secure Housing and Food for All team would also like you to know that the South Corvallis Food Bank is still in need of food. Food that is easy to heat up and/or comes in pop-open cans is highly desired. The Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center also needs donations of warm clothing.
Did you know OSU offers a Peace Studies Certificate and that there is a Peace Literacy Institute with coordinators in Corvallis? Friendship Force of Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley and the UUFC are cosponsoring an event at which we can all learn more. The meeting will be on Saturday March 21, 10 am to noon in the Sanctuary of the UUFC. OSU’s Dr. Linda Richards will tell us about the OSU Peace Studies Program and Certificate. OSU’s Dr. Shari Clough will tell us about the Peace Literacy Institute. Following these background presentations, we will explore ideas for how interested local people can engage and support these programs. All are invited to this exploratory meeting. Bring your own beverage and a snack to share if able to do so.
Childcare is available!
Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.
Please join the Democracy Action Team gathering on Tuesday, February 17 at 5 PM in the Social Hall.
This is our gathering twice monthly to greet each other, clarify recent developments and responses, and educate ourselves through videos, films, and speakers as we move forward supporting each other.
Childcare is available!
Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.
Your UUFC lawn mowing team has at least one open position at this time, maybe two. WE NEED YOU! We have a state-of-the-art set of electric lawn mowers and associated lawn trimmers and blowers. While mowing takes time (1-2 hours, once per month on your own schedule), it is a pleasant workout experience (1.5 to 2 mi of walking). The UUFC lawns are divided into front and back sections. We need mowers for both sections. If you have interest, please contact the team lead by filling out this form and we can arrange to talk further about this opportunity to be a member of the UUFC’s volunteer corp. Thanks for your consideration!
Your Board of Directors meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Members of the Fellowship are welcome to attend. Next Tuesday, February 17, at 6 PM the Board will convene in Room 3 of the Classroom Wing to consider a number of items, including the creation of a task force to determine the best staffing level at the Fellowship, the exact methods the Board will use to create a Search Team for a new settled minister, and the idea of honoring Rev. Jill McAllister with the title of minister emerita. View the full agenda for the meeting by clicking the button below.
Rob & Melissa have a mission: to bring more love into the world. They are devoted to serving through music, mantra, and connection—to soften the barriers that keep us feeling separate, and to remind us all of our innate Love, Joy, Childlike Spirit, and Belonging. Through mantra, story, music, and presence, they hope to offer a reminder that the Divine is already here, alive in each of us, and always ready to be sung.
Childcare is available!
Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.
Please help us keep our calendar accurate! If you are the contact person for a group that meets in the UUFC building, please make sure that your meeting info is up to date. Check the Room Use Calendar (https://uucorvallis.org/calendar/#room_use) to see what is currently being displayed. If there are any changes, please email secretary@uucorvallis.org. Thank you for helping us to communicate effectively with each other as we work together!
The Nominating Committee is looking for members to help serve and lead our congregation in the coming year (2026-27). Your service is especially important at this time of transition, and we seek a diversity of ages, backgrounds and perspectives. Nominate yourself using this form or suggest others for positions as a Director, the Personnel Committee Chair, or next year’s Nominating Committee. You can learn more about each role through the links above or ask one of the members of the Nominating Committee: Kris Egan (Chair), John Bailey, Steve Strauss, Heather Thomas, and Jim Good. Duties and time commitments are outlined for each; childcare is always available for meetings and special functions.
