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Sip & Snack – West Hills Vineyard, 7/28

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We will leave after the service on Sunday, July 28th, about 11:45. Carpooling at your discretion. Drive time is about 40 minutes.

Based on participant input, we’re adding West Hills Vineyards to our schedule this month (Thanks Suzanne & Carolyn)!

West Hills Vineyard is an historical gathering place on the grounds of the 1858 home of Governor Ike. L. Patterson (18th governor). The website states, “as long-time locals, when the opportunity to acquire a piece of Polk County history presented itself, we couldn’t pass it by. As we embark on this historic landscape’s next chapter, our mission is to grow grapes with regenerative practices that restore and breathe new life into fields that were once over-farmed and left neglected for many years.”

The vineyard features a tasting room with classic wines and a chef prepared seasonal menu (no outside food). Those with the wine passport will get a tasting flight of 4 wines. The menu is very appealing for lunch with salads, sandwiches, etc. West Hills offers an array of red, white and rose wines with prices ranging from $28 to $70.

Please RSVP to Heather E if you want to attend. Heather will send a confirmation email to participants on Saturday.

Nice, relaxed way to get to know other UU’s.

Jackson Street Youth Services – School Supplies Needed

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The Jackson Street Youth Services has a School Supply Drive for at-risk and homeless youth ages 10 and up.

Wish List:
Backpacks
Calculators
Notebooks
Flash drives
Planners (dated/undated
Sketchbooks
Headphones

Drive ends August 9. You can place in basket in Foyer marked Clothing or Staples in Albany during open hours, or Corvallis Tue-Wed, 10a-1p at 225 SW 4th St.

Questions: Ben email (ben.martens@jacksonstreet.org) or 541-760-5825 UUFC Secure Housing and Food for All team.

News from the Board of Directors

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Greetings from the Board of Directors! The Board met July 16, 2024 and made great progress in adopting policies related to the accounting and distribution of our financial resources. Small revisions were made to the Reserves and Justice Outreach funds, and we established an Endowment fund to support the long-term vitality of the Fellowship. The principal of the Endowment will not be spent, and annual distributions from the Endowment fund will not exceed 90% of earned interest. If there is a negative return, no funds will be spent until the principal level of the year just prior to a negative return is reestablished. At least $600 of earnings will be drawn upon each year for the benefit of youth through the Ozretich memorial fund and remaining funds will be allocated by the Board in collaboration with the Endowment Team of the Financial Oversight Council. As of June 30, 2024, the Endowment fund totaled approximately $90,000.

In other work, the Board continued to discuss a new fundraising policy and adopted a revised 2024-2025 budget that reflects lower income from pledges than hoped for. Rather than hiring additional administrative help for 2024-2025, staff duties will be rearranged, and volunteers will be recruited to fill the administrative role. If you are new or are a procrastinator and have not pledged, it is never too late.

To donate or find out more, visit the “donate” page uucorvallis.org/donate.
Find out more about Board activities through our approved minutes, as well as the latest policies in our Governing Documents, visit the UUFC Filing Cabinet page.

“Living In End Times” 7/28/24

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Rev. Jen Youngsun Ryu Minister, UU Church in Eugene From Christian fundamentalist to climate scientists, people around the world believe that we are living in the end times. But isn’t the world always ending? Don’t we live between the end of one thing and the beginning of another?

Pulpit exchanges between ministers and congregations are a long-time tradition in UUism. This week we welcome Rev. Jennifer Youngsun Ryu, minister of the UU Church in Eugene, OR, to the Fellowship, while Rev. Jill McAllister will be traveling to the Eugene congregation. Rev. Jen was born in Seoul, grew up in Toledo, became a UU in Baltimore, and went to seminary in Berkeley. She has served congregations in Virginia and Oregon and is a also a certified hospital chaplain.

Beautiful Bouquet Sale, 7/28

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7/28, 8/4, and 8/11

UUFC Parking Lot

Proceeds to benefit the Perla family from El Salvador. Brought to you by the Immigrant and Refugee Support Team. Sundays July 28, August 4 and 11 after the service in the parking lot.

Condolences

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With sadness we share the news of the death of Fellowhip member Beany Kunis on Wednesday, July 17. We send good wishes to Melodie and the rest of Beany’s family.

And our condolences also go to Tricia Bowlby and her family on the recent death of her father, in Maryland.

Between Us , 7/21/24

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I’m thinking about brave persons throughout history – people who have risked everything, including their lives, for their commitments to freedom and reason, to democracy and human rights, to peace and justice. The excesses of empires and the fall of empires are not new in human history. I remind myself of this when I find myself gob-smacked, once again, to be witnessing such unbelievable events as those in our country in the past week. It feels like another world. If we are indeed seekers of truth, as we say we are, then this is no time to turn away, even if it feels like there’s nowhere to turn. There is more to learn – there always is.

I’ve been thinking and talking with others about what it might look like to “prepare” ourselves for the election season and its aftermath. I’m making no predictions – whatever the results, I think we’ll be in for challenges. In August, I’m hoping to begin discussions with as many of you as are interested about what we can do to prepare – at least to help each other.

Also in August we’ll begin a process of planning for the Fellowship — a visioning and prioritizing process, beginning with our grounds and buildings. Conversations around climate change, trees, energy use, the sustainability of the Fellowship as a community resource and more have led to a need for such a process, which will aim to help us prepare a 3-5 year comprehensive plan. If you are interested in this project – focusing first on our buildings and grounds – please plan now to join in one of two gatherings to share ideas – on either August 24, 9 – 11 AM or on September 14, 9-11 AM.

UUFC Men’s Retreat, 10/25-27

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The 20th Annual UUFC Men’s Retreat will be held this year from Friday, October 25 (5 PM) through Sunday, October 27 (1 PM). Details and registration will be available soon. The Men’s Retreat is an opportunity for those who identify as men to get to know other men at UUFC, give yourself a respite from the daily routines, and enjoy time for personal reflection. We’ll be at the Menucha Retreat Center overlooking the Columbia Gorge in Corbett (https://menucha.org). Through large and small groups, singing, time in nature, and play time in the evening, we’ll connect with one another in deep and meaningful ways.
Our theme this year is: Building Authentic Connections

Releasing shame and self-criticism.
Being more emotionally present with others.
Exercises in integrity and relationship.
Enjoying one another and being courageously playful.

Mark your calendar now. Registration will be open soon!

Questions? Contact Alan Kirk, Nick Houtman, Jeff Martin, or JF Benoist

Contact Us

Imagine Peace — What might peace look like in 2050? 7/24

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July 24th at 4:30 in the Social Hall

Can you think of a perplexing issue for you in 2024 — social, political, cultural, religious? For all our issues, we will work together to figure out what changes they might undergo from now to 2050 and how we could contribute to changes toward a better world.

“Housing, Shelter, and Deservedness” 7/21/24

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The world’s problems are local as much as global. Members of our Secure Housing and Food For All team work locally on issues of food, shelter and housing, right here and right now. They’ll help us welcome our speaker — Fellowship member Andrea Myhre who is the Executive Director of Corvallis Housing First. Andrea has helped change the landscape in Corvallis around with regard to homelessness, and she has much to share with us.