Whole Foods Plant-Based Potluck, 3/24

Join at 5:30pm in the Social Hall for a plant based potluck every 4th Sunday. No food shaming, please! – we are all exploring ways to support the health of each other, and our planet. For details see https://uucorvallis.org/connect-up/ for more info.

“Storm Warning,” 3/24/2024

We welcome the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt as our preacher today. She is a long-time UU minister who serves as the President of one of our two main theological schools – Starr King School for the Ministry. Before she entered the UU ministry, Rev. McNatt was a writer /editor for the New York Times Book Review. Before going to Starr King she served as Senior Minister of the Fourth Universalist Society of the City of New York. Rev. McNatt has been voice of reason, challenge, wisdom and leadership within UUism for decades. Plan now to join us! You are invited to a reception for Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, after the Sunday Service, at 2 PM Come for refreshments and conversation, to learn about what’s happening in theological education for UU minister, and to help us welcome and thank her for joining us this Sunday. Let Rev. Jill McAllister know if you plan to attend.

Daily Practice: A Weekly Reminder, 3/22/2024

Along with trees and bushes and bulbs, the Fellowship seems to be in a season of blooming! Events and activities abound – so many ways to get together with others, to share in religious learning and growth, to increase justice and peace step by little step. New formats and methods for communication are emerging. The Fellowship calendar suddenly feels full, as do the Sanctuary and the foyer and the Social Hall on Sundays. Tables are multiplying in the foyer – that’s a sign of activity and of the need for folks to invite other folks to join them. (Tables can also sometimes feel like obstacles – we’ll need to take care in how we use them.) It’s also a season of cleaning up and cleaning out – including some moldy carpets and furniture. We’re in preparation for renovation of the meeting wing of the building – finally, and we’re preparing for Stewardship season and Earth Month. It can feel very energizing and exciting and a little overwhelming at the same time.

Recently I found a prayer I wrote after a retreat of some sort, more than 15 years ago. It was like a gift to myself in this season of growth. May it be helpful to you as well.

“In the swirling of paradox in this moment, acknowledging my conflicting needs and aims, let me gather all the love I know, and give thanks.

May I hear the sound of today calling me, and may I never forget the call of all ages – may these calls from Life guide and steer me as I move.

May the path on which I move be a path toward more justice and peace: may it be as clear as possible and filled with enough curves to keep me from certainty.

As I move, may I be an instrument of the music at the heart of Life, ready and willing to be played and to melt into the song.”

May I wake up into more and more gratitude for each day that is given to me and for all that it offers.”

Town Halls for Stewardship and Annual Meeting Prep

All members and contributing friends are invited, welcome and needed at our Town Halls to kick-off the Stewardship season at the Fellowship. Four different Town Halls are scheduled. Please sign up for at least one of them, using the links provided. The Fellowship is all of us, and our work together needs all of us!

Monday, April 1: The first Town Hall is designed primarily for the newest members of the Fellowship (since 2021), though all others are invited as well. We’ll meet in the Social Hall at 7 PM for wine, cheese, charcuterie and other refreshments, and conversation about Stewardship and upcoming bylaws changes.

April 1st Town Hall Sign Up

Tuesday, April 2: Zoom Town Hall – 7 PM You’ll have to bring your own refreshments – but we’ll be glad to see you on Zoom for conversation about the stewardship pledge drive and upcoming bylaws changes on the Annual Meeting agenda.

April 2nd Town Hall Sign Up

Thursday, April 4: Town Hall Supper with Indian Buffet – 6 PM in the Social Hall. Join us for a buffet supper with Indian specialties, and good conversation about the stewardship pledge drive and upcoming bylaws changes on the Annual Meeting agenda. (Space limited by the capacity of the Social Hall….)

April 4th Town Hall Sign Up

Sunday, April 7: Our stewardship pledge drive begins this day – Online pledging will be available beginning on Sunday afternoon. The Sunday service will include both light-hearted looks at stewardship and pledging in the context of our Covenant, plus information about pledges and the Fellowship budget in general. The Town Hall begins at 11:30 AM immediately after the service; enjoy a Brownie Sundae as we join for conversation.

April 7th Town Hall Sign Up

Daily Practice – A Weekly Reminder, 3/17/2024

This is the week – Spring has definitely arrived. Daffodils and jonquils have been holding on thru cold rainy days – and now they are standing proudly! The long line of ornamental plum trees around the corner are purple pink today. When the crescent moon appeared last night, with Jupiter shining close by, frogs and owls began to provide music – this morning owls and robins. Spring has arrived. Once more the gifts are given.

It has been four years (!) since the Spring of March 2020, when we shut down and entered into pandemic living. The human world began to feel more calamitous and fractious — and in many ways it still does. Nothing has simply reverted to the way it was before. Perhaps by now we realize that there are only constant opportunities to start over, to begin anew in a changed world, as always.

From time to time we consider the ‘art of embracing’, as a practice of turning toward and moving toward — moving in the direction of with arms opened wide. The question is “What are you willing and able to move toward for the good of all?” Everything we have been practicing will continue to help us – inner nobility and steadiness, naming our fears and counting our blessings at the same time, and the core strengths of courage and trust. Beginning today, every day, the way stretches out before us, and we can only take one step at a time. There are blessings that live in the very acts of reaching out, of moving toward, of opening our arms in anticipation.

Every day may we breathe in deeply and feel the calming power of an exhale, as we open our arms and begin again. Sending love to you all — Jill

Reception for Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt – Join Us, 3/24

All are invited to a reception for Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, President of Starr King School for the Ministry, a UU seminary. Come for refreshments and conversation, to learn about what’s happening in theological education for UU minister, and to help us welcome and thank her for joining us.

2 PM Sunday, March 24

Ostara, 3/17/2024

As we look toward Ostara, a fleeting moment of balance in the Wheel of the Year, we pause to reflect on what it means to embrace the seasonality and impermanence of all things on the Earth and within ourselves. This Sunday we’ll share a moment of transition between the Wheel of the Year services we’ve come to know and love and the inevitable “what’s next” with an experimental worship service for all ages offered by Director of Religious Exploration, Skyla King-Christison.

Justice Council Newsletter

On February 2nd, 2024, the Justice Council gathered for a summit to present their current work and goals. This PDF newsletter contains updates about each team’s accomplishments and vision for the year ahead. Your pledges directly support the work of the Justice Council, allowing us to live out our mission of “inspiring action toward a better world for all.” Check it out, and consider how you can get involved!

Justice Council News PDF

Love Mercy, Do Justice, Buy Coffee

Café Justo is the coop in Mexico where we buy the coffee that we serve in the Social Hall. It is also for sale after Sunday services. Not only do the growers get a fair price for their beans, but they own the roasting facility which enables them to have health insurance and a retirement program.


FRONTERA DE CRISTO AND CAFÉ JUSTO created the “Love Mercy, Do Justice” (Amar Misericordia, Hacer Justicia) initiative to provide coffee for migrant shelters across the southern border. Thousands of women and men each week are greeted with a cup of coffee, a meal, and vital medical attention when they are repatriated into Mexico. You can help support this effort with a donation to Love Mercy, Do Justice.

2,170 pounds of Café Justo were provided to migrant shelters through Love Mercy, Do Justice in 2023 and 2024.

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