david

Between Us

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I’m so grateful for the group of Fellowship folks who are presenting the Sunday service this week, “Imagine Peace.” Bill Glassmire gave us the starting point with his questions: “What does PEACE mean to you? no war? good relations with your neighbors? a life with enough for everyone?” It’s easy to think that peace, or perhaps world peace, is too much to aim for, too hard to even imagine. Yet we know, we do know, that we either create more peace or create obstacles to peace with every action, every step we take.

Let’s not let our imaginations wither, for if we cannot imagine peace we cannot help create it. How DO you imagine peace? practicing humility? practicing forgiveness? being other-centered?outgrowing a need to be right? being less afraid? sharing space, sharing homes, sharing money? remembering that people are more important than things, that animals are as important as people? learning to center yourself in the breath which is given each moment? Was there ever a better time than now to give our attention to creating peace? Thank-you to all of you who are joining in this conversation.

Tuna Roast & Picnic, 9/2

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Looking for a fun and relaxing way to spend Labor Day? Join us for our annual tuna roast and picnic in the park! Plan to bring along your own plate, utensils, and drink ware, and a dish to share with others. Seating is limited so camping chairs are also encouraged. Marinated, grilled, fresh tuna and corn on the cob will be provided. Volunteers will be needed to help and a link to sign up will be provided soon. Contact Rich Brainerd with questions.

DEMOCRACY ACTION TEAM – Let’s Meet and Chat, 7/14

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CASUAL GATHERING! – 7/14 after Sunday Service Come join us in the Sanctuary Gallery at 11:45 to:

• meet Democracy Action Team coordinators and anyone interested in our work

• hear what we’re doing in the run-up to the 2024 election in November

• join us to write letters and put stamps on them

• and just to chat about what we can do to strengthen our Democracy.

Thanks to all of you who have contributed to the UUFC Stamp Fund. You have donated enough to pay for 15,000 stamps!!! You have enabled people to be free to write without worry about postage. We wrote over 20,000 letters to prospective voters in swing states in both 2020 and 2022 and we’ve been writing since March for 2024.

Mini Film Festival, 7/21

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“Making the Invisible Visible.” What are the challenges and gifts that often go unnoticed for those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities or divergence? You are invited to come and see for yourself. You’ll be glad you did! We hope you’ll grab your favorite beverage from the social hall and join us Sunday July 21, in the Sanctuary for 3 short, outstanding “Sprout” documentaries. You’ll laugh, cry, and be inspired by stories filled with courage, humor, love, romance, and compassion.

Brought to you by a collaboration of The Arc of Benton County and UUFC justice teams: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), Climate Action (CAT), and Secure Food and Housing for All (SF&H). Questions? Contact elonameyer@icloud.com

UUFC Family Camping, 9/5 to 9/8

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Come and join in fun and fellowship while camping at Cascadia State Park. Group Site ‘B’ has been reserved with a limit of 25 campers. Plans include group meals on Friday and Saturday evening, time for hiking, exploring, building community, and much more. Bring your own tent, personal gear, and food. Parking is very limited (6 cars and 2 RVs – no hook-ups) so carpools are encouraged. Come out for all or part of the event.

The registration fee will be determined by the number of participants and as such will be determined closer to the event. Efforts are being made to keep the fee under $25 per person* (for the whole weekend!) and a family with children rate will apply.

Register for Cascadia Campout

South Corvallis Food Bank Needs Summer Help

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South Corvallis Food Bank Needs Volunteers Would you like to give back to your community? The South Corvallis Food Bank is having its usual summer shortage of volunteers Need is four sessions each week where volunteers host clients, explain the limits and help them select their food as they shop.

These shifts are:

Monday/Wednesday at 12:15 PM to 3:15 PM

Thursday 4:15 PM to 7:15 PM

Saturday 9:15 AM to 12:15 PM

When you sign up for a shift, please treat it as a commitment. We need to be sure we have enough people present each time.

You can sign up for July shifts at Stone Soup website. Please sign up as host, check-in requires more experience. A brief training at the beginning of each shift for the tasks required for that shift. In practice often means a brief explanation followed by the new volunteer shadowing an experienced volunteer.

Please wear closed-toe shoes, it’s too easy to drop a can on your toes while working.

Sign Up to Volunteer

“Imagine Peace” 7/14/24

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What does PEACE mean to you? no war? Good relations with your neighbors? a life with enough for everyone? Join us as several Fellowship members, including Bill Glassmire, Molly Curry and Joyce Federiuk, share their understandings of peace and why we need to give more attention to it. Rev. Monica Jacobson Tennessen joins us to host the service.

Join us outside on the Fellowship back lawn this Sunday. 

Sign Up For Music Sharing Night, 8/7

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Music Sharing Night is coming up! Bring your instruments and your voices to share music with the community, open-mic style. All musical acts are encouraged to participate. In the past we’ve had performers of all ages share a variety of styles and genres of music. You don’t have to be a professional musician. In fact, we’ve had people make their performance debut right here at UUFC. Perform as a solo act, or form a group. Original music is welcome and encouraged. Each act will have 10 minutes to perform.

To sign up, please fill out a form:

Music Sharing Night Participation Form

Space is limited, so please sign up early.

David Servias

UUFC Director of Music

Between Us

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These are hard times my friends, as you well know. The weather is extreme and the political situation in our country feels extremely volatile, because it is. There isn’t a perfect answer and we are awash in opinions, some reasonable, some strident, some hard to believe, some inhumane. There is fear and anxiety. We are not immune – we are feeling the effects of everything. Of course we are.

I am no political pundit. I never have been. I don’t want to offer an opinion. I want to remind all of us that these are times which call for the best we can give – to each other. Remember that everyone is carrying some of this burden, and we are acting it out in many ways – often projecting our fears and anxiety on others, trying to find something, anything, to blame.

In case you have forgotten, a daily practice of centering can be very important for navigating these times with care and compassion.

A good place to begin is some variety of the Compassion Prayer: May I be free from fear, may I be safe, may I be happy. May I be as healthy and whole as possible, may I be at ease and know peace. May you be free from fear, may you be safe, may you be happy. May you be as healthy and whole as possible, may you be at ease and know peace. May all be free from fear, may all be safe, may all be happy. May all be as healthy and whole as possible, may I be at ease and know peace.