david

EDI Book Discussion 1-29

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Monday, January 29th, 7:00 pm on Zoom.

With the current controversy around the need for reparations, the UUA common read, On Repentance and Repair, Making Amends in an Unapologetic World, by Danya Ruttenberg offers us an opportunity to explore what true reparation or restitution can be in our public institutions and our own lives. Join us for a timely conversation as we explore Ruttenberg’s book 7-8:30 PM, Monday, January 29th.

Let us know if you need assistance locating this important book.

Contact Elona Meyer to recieve the zoom link.

Organized by the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Team, a member of the UUFC Justice Council.

Between Us, 1/14/2024

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In our Inquirer’s Series – the after-Sunday-service sessions designed for newcomers (and everyone else too)– one of the sessions is devoted to learning about the “Liturgical Year” of the Fellowship.  The idea of “liturgy” (which is most commonly defined as “the work of the people”) comes from our Christian roots where it refers to both the order of service for Sunday worship and the annual calendar of holidays and holy days. Unitarian Universalism does not have an official liturgical calendar, though some celebrations are widely shared among congregations – for example the Czech Flower Ceremony, the Joining of the Waters, and National Pride Month.

In my own liturgical year, two of the most important days are the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr, and the holiday which remembers it. (This year they are the same day).  I was only ten years old when King was killed: I still have strong memories of his face and voice on television, and the scenes of his funeral. When I became a student for UU ministry, I began to read his collected sermons and writings, and I have been doing so ever since.  I imagine that I will continue to study his life and work for the rest of my life. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in 1929.  If he had lived, he would have been 95 years old. He was murdered 56 years ago, at the age of 39. How different would our country have been, would we all be, if he had lived this long?  We have now been observing his birthday as a holiday for 38 years – nearly as long as his short life.  So much has changed since his death, and so much has hardly changed as all.  Washington Post writer Perry Bacon, Jr noted last year that “the protests after the murder of George Floyd led to a society-wide rethinking of America’s policies toward Black Americans, but not much policy change.”  In truth, the justice King advocated, and died for, remains elusive too much of the time. 

The annual observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. day is an opportunity for learning and contemplation of where we’ve come from and where we’re going, in this particular history, this specific tragedy of American racism. A day to listen again to his words and the words of others and to acknowledge our own lives within this history, which includes right now.  What will we do with this day, for the promise which still calls?  What can we do, beginning now?      

In 1966 King wrote:  “Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”  May this be a year in which we  see  changes in our souls, in ourselves, and in the communities we are part of, including the Fellowship.  Let us begin again.  

Watching the Weather

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Fellowship leaders and staff are carefully watching the weather, like everyone else, given the forecast for a winter storm tomorrow. Our Emergency Closure Policy gives clear guidance that if “Local or state government declares a weather, health, or seismic emergency and asks people to not drive or to stay home,“ (or if we think too many Fellowship folks will be affected by the conditions) we’ll cancel activities at the Fellowship. IF that becomes necessary, a UUAnnounce email will be sent as soon as a decision is made. Meanwhile, take care!

Watching the Weather

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Fellowship leaders and staff are carefully watching the weather, like everyone else, given the forecast for a winter storm tomorrow. Our Emergency Closure Policy gives clear guidance that if “Local or state government declares a weather, health, or seismic emergency and asks people to not drive or to stay home,“ (or if we think too many Fellowship folks will be affected by the conditions) we’ll cancel activities at the Fellowship. IF that becomes necessary, a UUAnnounce email will be sent as soon as a decision is made. Meanwhile, take care!

Faith-based climate action this week, 1/7/2024

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Good News

Climate-action Opportunities

Of Note

Save the Date

Climate Action Opportunities: We track (row 25) the number of clicks on the respond link for each suggested climate-action opportunity. The climate-action opportunity tracking results (an average of 3.4 clicks/opportunity) suggest this has not been an effective way to engage members/friends in climate action. Please consider committing the approx. 2 minutes per week needed and/or suggest ways to encourage and boost participation in this, our influence project.

Corvallis Sustainability Coalition: UUFC is a proud listed as one of the engaged partners of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, with Laura Craig as our representative.  There are multiple ways to get involved in the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition to help promote an ecologically, socially, and economically healthy city and county.  The Coalition’s annual meeting is this Wed, Jan 10, 4:30 – 6:00 PM, at the Corvallis Community Center, 2601 NW Tyler Ave.

Tree Planting: We still need volunteers to help plant ten (up from  our originally planned eight) trees in the islands in the Crystal Lake Playing Fields/Willamette Park parking lot, 10:00 AM to Noon, Sat 20 Jan. This is our third year of collaborative tree planting with the City’s Urban Forestry Program. Questions and/or to volunteer, email Michael Hughes with Subject Tree Planting.

Carpooling to Sunday Service: You’re invited to join the UUFC carpool group at Gomates. Questions: email Scott Bruslind

Cheers, Michael

The one thing we need more than hope is action. Once we start to act, hope is everywhere.

Greta Thunberg

Congratulations!

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Congratulations to Fellowship members Blaise Ntakarutimana and Gisele Akima, living now in Portland, on the birth of baby Miley Anaya Shimineza in December. Everyone is doing well, and siblings Shanti and Josh are very excited!

Between Us 1/7/2023

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Much of the following I have said before – maybe you’ve heard me say it or maybe not. I come back to these ideas often, and so want to share them again with you: 

“Remember that every day is a new beginning. Make time to reflect upon your choice of this path, and upon your commitment … and give yourselves the chance to choose it again and again.”  

I use these words most frequently in wedding ceremonies, but they are appropriate for any new beginning, including the new year before us. In terms of ethical living, it is clear that the choices we make day after day are where ethics and right relations become real, or not. As we enter a new year, in these continually tumultuous times, we are called to strengthen our commitments to the religious life, which means to living in right relations as much and as often as we can.

The call of liberal religion – the highest aim, especially of a liberal religious congregation such as ours, is not theology or dogma or charisma or tradition, but covenant—the agreement to walk together and work together, in service to the highest ideals of justice, equity, compassion, and wisdom. The call is to a commitment, and a way of life.

Living in covenant means living in active engagement with each other. In marriage, this is obvious, though not always easy. In a religious community it is an ideal, but often without shared understanding of the practices and skills it requires. All relations of mutuality and respect require both commitment and practice. I think of a few friends, for whom I am especially grateful, each of whom I have come to trust for their willingness to be generous and honest with me. We do not agree on everything—in fact two of us disagree on a great deal—but we have come to appreciate greatly how much we need and depend on the loving offering of different perspectives, to challenge and to nurture one another. We have ventured out on limbs of trust together, and because of that we have each changed and grown. The gift of this trust is priceless. It is the currency needed in the search for truth.

If you’re new to the Fellowship, or if you’ve been with us for years, I want to say to you that this is what the Fellowship can mean to you. It is a community where you can find others who are equally committed to the search for wisdom and truth. It can be a place to find trustworthy companions to respectfully nurture the best in you, if you will do the same for them.

As the new year begins, I invite you to come as often as you can. Come to help build this network of trust, which the world desperately needs. 

See you Sunday — Jill