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.
Cameron
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
Dignity of Work – August 24, 2025
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?
Rev. Alex McGee will preach.
Hello dear congregants at UUFC: What a week it has been in this world, with the extreme heat and more painful political news. But that discomfort and pain is not the whole picture. As we continue in our spiritual growth and grounding together, we have opportunities to find a soothing balm as well as deep courage. Please continue to make time for the things that nourish you spiritually and connect you to others. I was grateful for the coincidence that my sister was travelling through Oregon this week and I got to go hiking with her as we explored the mountains and waterfalls together. Here is a photo!
In my second week at the Fellowship, I continue to observe generosity of time, talent, and treasure. I see so many members getting great joy from doing their part in sustaining this spiritual community. I was inspired to see the nearly 30 people who came on Wednesday evening to the training coordinated by the Democracy Action Team. Folks left energized with ideas of the many ways to resist autocracy with focus on what is unique to this location in Oregon, to their unique abilities, and to this spiritual community.
Next week will be my first board meeting and I will begin working with the board as they provide leadership to you all during this interim time. I will be leading worship with you here for the first time this coming Sunday, and I look forward to being with you there.
In joy and patience,
Rev. Alex McGee, Interim Minister
Adjusting to the Moment, August 17, 2025
Habits help a person get through life with ease, but sometimes those habits don’t serve us when we encounter new situations. Many people are experiencing new situations in public safety, national economy, and also right here in the Fellowship. What spiritual practices can guide us to be present and act skillfully – both as individuals and community?
Rev. Alex McGee will preach.
Connect Up Hike, 8/30
We will hike the Takena Landing lollipop trail in Albany. Meet at the UUFC parking lot at 8:30 a.m. if you would like to carpool. We’ll gather at the trailhead under the bridge at 8:45 and begin hiking at 9:00. This 3.6 mile riverside hike in North Albany has little elevation gain. There are opportunities for wading and for agate hunting and blackberry picking.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM CORVALLIS: Take Highway 20 to North Albany. When you come to the stoplight/intersection with NW North Albany Rd, turn RIGHT into Takena Landing and proceed to the parking lot under the bridge.
Kirtan With Girish, 8/17
Girish, an accomplished musician of many genres, former monk infused in spiritual practice, loving wordsmith linking lyrics and rhythm in a blissful musical event, sings traditional Sanskrit mantras with a modern, funky, yet deeply devotional twist. Accompanied by his amazing band, Girish invites his audience at his kirtan concert to participate by singing along, call and response chanting, and dancing. Girish has been recommended and featured in “O, The Oprah Magazine”, “Yoga Journal”, “Spirituality and Health Magazine”, “LA Yoga Magazine”, “Common Ground” and “Yogi Times.” Girish’s original music catalog of seven albums is popular in yoga studios and music festivals all over the world, and his “Music and Mantras” book was published in 2016.
Parking Lot Garage Sale, 9/20
Do you have stuff you no longer need and want to get rid of? Are you willing to donate all the proceeds to UUFC? We’ll be holding our annual Parking Lot Garage Sale on Saturday, September 20 from 10 AM – 2 PM.
Here’s the procedure:
- Price your items (whole dollar thrift store prices or less)
- Bring your items to our parking lot and “sell” them, sending buyers to the cashier with their items. You don’t have to collect any money.
- At 2 PM take all unsold items home or deliver them to your favorite thrift store.
Unhoused Persons task force meeting, 8/17
A task force has been formed to address the impact of unhoused people living on the Fellowship’s grounds. This Unhoused Persons task force will be meeting after service on the first and third Sundays of each month. The next meeting will be in the Sanctuary on Sunday, August 17 at 11:40 AM.
The task force’s goal is to provide the Board of Directors with:
- A plan for the ongoing management of unhoused persons already residing on Fellowship grounds.
- Elements of a policy to guide management of future residents, either on the ground or in cars.
Labor Day Tuna Roast, 9/1
End the summer with a party! Specifically, a Tuna Roast on Labor Day from 4 – 7 PM at the Lions Shelter in Avery Park.
Since 1997; always on Labor Day, always at Avery Park, Lions Kitchen; a party for all UUFC members and friends, old and new. This event marks the beginning of the new church year and a welcome to our new interim minister Alex. It is a good place to bring kids as it is next to the swings, the old train, and the dinosaur bones. Teens can “hang out” or help with the barbecue. To cover costs we ask for a donation of $7.00 per adult and whatever you think is appropriate for your kids. Sliding scale because we want everyone to come, so no one will be turned away for lack of funds. This is about being in community, not a fund raiser. If there is any leftover money, Rev. Alex can direct it to an appropriate place.
We provide barbecued tuna, sweet corn on the cob, lemonade and sheet cakes. For vegetarians there will be veggie burgers and barbecued eggplant and zucchini. For picky kids there will be hot dogs. We ask you to bring your own plates and silverware and $$$.
A folding chair might be helpful. Especially, bring a potluck dish such as dessert, salad, bread, chips, dips, veggies, fruit, pickles, and lots more desserts.
This is a community event and it takes a community to run it, especially if you are able bodied and not herding little kids. We always need help setting up at 3:00 PM and cleaning up around 7:00 PM. We’re hoping that many people will take turns barbecuing. For these things just show up and jump in.
We do need someone to obtain the corn from WINCO, early arrivals can shuck the corn, and a couple of quiet people can cook it. We need a drink master, to make the lemonade and keep the jugs refilled. We need 2-3 people to help me prep the tuna on Monday morning. Finally we need someone to pick up seven rented tables at Special Occasions on Friday, and return them on Tuesday. If you have a truck with a bed long enough for 8-foot tables, that would be excellent. Otherwise we can borrow Lee Holt’s truck, but a driver is needed. Special occasions does all the loading and unloading so you don’t need to be muscular.
Contact Rich if you can help on these several jobs.