Our condolences to the Shilaos / McCoy family, on the news that Terry McCoy unexpectedly passed away on June 19th surrounded by his daughters. Per his request, there will not be a memorial service. His ashes will be scattered on Saddle Mountain where he and his wife, Viki Shilaos, first met.
david
Our Liturgical Year: A Survey
On Sunday June 28 we began a conversation about holidays and holy days, with an aim to create a “liturgical year” calendar specifically for the UUFC. Thanks to all who filled out the short survey that Sunday! I
f you were not there, and would like to participate, the survey is still available:
July Sunday Services
July 7 – Service Canceled due to high temperatures
July 14 – “Imagine Peace” UUFC members / friends and Rev. Monica Jacobson-Tennessen
July 21 – “Housing, Shelter, and Deservedness” Guest Speaker Andrea Myhre
July 28 – Rev. Jennifer Ryu, UU minister in Eugene, OR (Pulpit Exchange with Rev. Jill McAllister)
Outreach Offerings In July
Our Sunday Outreach offerings in July support DRUUMM – Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries – which is a Unitarian Universalist People of Color Ministry and anti-racist collective bringing lay and religious professionals together to overcome racism through resistance and transform Unitarian Universalism through our multicultural experiences. As an all-volunteer ministry, DRUUMM continues to lead efforts to fulfill the Journey Towards Wholeness Resolution towards becoming an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural UUA, creating space for youth, young adult and our families of color to heal and work collectively, and steward an effective organization that develops new leadership and manages consistent communication with members. DRUUMM is a collective of people who identify as People of Color. Allies are welcome and organized as Allies for Racial Equity. Together we are open to all people.
At the Fellowship, our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Justice Team works in partnership with DRUUMM.
Between Us
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.
UUFC Fiscal Insights – Fulfilling Your 2024-25 Pledge
First, our thanks to all who have committed to the ongoing success and growth of the UUFC through a pledge for its 2024-25 fiscal year. Together we are doing great things! It is not too late to make a pledge if you have not yet had the chance to do so. To make your pledge, visit the annual pledge drive page.
For those who have made a pledge, now is the time to ponder how you intend to fulfill your pledge. Some of you will have seen a version of this information via a direct email:
Pay By Check
Drop checks at church or mail to UUFC, 2945 NW Circle, Corvallis OR 97330. No need to read further.
Use Your Bank Bill Pay System
Be sure that the donation amount and beginning and end dates for these contributions are correct. Have checks mailed to UUFC, 2945 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis OR 97330. No need to read further.
Pay Through an IRA
If you have an IRA and need to take a minimum required distribution, you can make such directly to the UUFC with tax advantage. Talk with your financial advisor about options.
Stock Donations
Some people make stock donations. If you need information about making stock donations, please ask Russ Karow.
Breeze Automatic Payment System
If you would like to pay using the Breeze automatic payment system and have not already set that up, follow these steps:
- Log in to Breeze, using the link in the “Members Area” at the bottom right of any page on the website.
- Click on Manage Recurring Giving button at mid-screen or in the left-hand column
- Use the “Stop this recurring gift” button to stop your 2023-24 pledge
- Add a new pledge
- Enter dollar amount and if possible, agree to cover the processing fee
- Select 2024-25 operation budget from drop down menu.
- Select frequency of the gift – one time, weekly, every two weeks, etc.
- You should see an option for using an existing account or you can add a new debit/credit or bank account Please note that some people have said they see a different screen setup when they go to Breeze. If you have issues with the system, let us know.
Additional Thoughts
If you are currently using the Breeze payment system but are comfortable using bill pay through your bank, please consider this option for the UUFC payment. It saves processing fees – neither you nor the UUFC have to pay these fees
If dealing with the breeze system seems overwhelming, please let us know and UUFC staff will deal with the system for you. We are happy to do so.
If you have any questions, send an email to the address below or call Russ Karow at 541-760-4770 (leave a message if I don’t answer) and we will find answers for you.
Thanks for your many contributions to the success of the UUFC. You are appreciated.
May your summer be amazing.
Contact email – businessmgr@uucorvallis.org Russ Karow on behalf of your UUFC Board, Financial Oversight Council and Staff
2nd Quarter Birthday Celebration, 6/30
Please join us in the Social Hall after the service on 6/30 to celebrate all 2nd quarter birthdays.
Music Sharing Night, 8/7
Music Sharing Night! For the first time since before the pandemic, the UUFC will be hosting another Music Sharing Night! 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.
More details about how to sign up to share your music coming in future weekly announcements. Hope to see you there!
David Servias
UUFC Director of Music
“Be Careful What You Worship” 6/30/24
It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said “… it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.” This brings up the question of our “liturgical year”: What are the holidays / holy days we observe, or celebrate, and why? If we could choose, what would be the most important days or events or observances to include in our congregational life, as a way of helping to orient us to what is most important? Maybe we can choose! This is worth some discussion.
Recurring Meetings Expiring! Check the Calendar to and Renew if Needed
If you have scheduled recurring events, many of them will expire at the end of June, so please double check and extend them if you need to.
Occasionally we find events on the calendar that have been recurring for a long time, but aren’t actually happening anymore. We are working to clean these off of the calendar.
To schedule new events, please visit the “Members Area” by scrolling to the bottom of any page on the website.
Here’s what it looks like:
