This Sunday 6/9 join us in the UUFC Library at 11:30 to talk about happenings for the unhoused in Corvallis.
Shelter, food, transitional housing and new home for CHF (Corvallis Housing First).
Secure Housing and Food for All team Meeting, 6/9
david
Secure Housing and Food for All team Meeting, 6/9
Sangha Jewel Center Open House, 6/29
Sangha Jewel Zen Center Open House & Book Sale!
All are Welcome!
Saturday, June 29th, 10am-1pm
Come see the Zen Center! Get a tour, ask questions, learn about our offerings, have tea, check out the book sale, enjoy a musical offering, learn meditation, and build community!
Come anytime from 10am-1pm. Questions? hello@corvalliszencircle.co
“The Shared World” 6/9/24
We may live with different ideas of what is real, what is true, and what is important, yet as human beings, with each other and all other living things, the fact is we live in a shared world. As our country and other parts of our lives feel increasingly fragmented, how do our values call us back to the facts of connectedness?
Between Us
When I became a Unitarian Universalist, by joining the Fellowship in the 1980’s, I was overjoyed to discover an approach to religion which did not require me to assent to creeds and beliefs that didn’t make sense to me. I was thrilled to discover the breadth and depth of global religious traditions and practices. I was excited to become part of a community which was asking questions – sometimes uncomfortable questions – about what it means to be good, and right, and to live a good life. And I remember now that within that congregation of the 1980’s I both heard and experienced racism, homophobia, sexism, ageism, and more. There was lots of “talking the talk” but not as much “walking the walk.” The life of the mind is an important thing – deeply important. And how ideas affect the ways we live in relation to others is no less important. At this point in my life I think the ways we live are more important.
My ideas about religious freedom have changed. For me, it is not enough to talk about religious freedom when acting in ways that thwart the ability of some people to be free to be themselves, free to believe what makes sense to them, free to live and work how and where they want to. These are basic human needs, and our religious commitment to freedom means nothing if it does not include these as priorities. When I was new to UUism, one of the most important phrases I learned and repeated was about the importance of “freedom of conscience.” These many years later, I’m convinced that “freedom of conscience” is shallow if it is not aligned with a commitment to “collective liberation.”
I’m thinking back over this year of “building a new way.” We have made some progress, and there is still much to learn, especially about being with and for each other as the primary commitment, instead of the second thought. Rev. Dee Vandiver wrote it this way in a chalice lighting: “We light this chalice—symbol of our faith alive in this world—naming our vision of collective liberation, and daring to re-member each other into beloved community.” May we stay on the path, on the journey, toward making it so.
Children in Worship – Discussion 6/16
On Sunday June 16, after the service, the RE Council will be hosting a post-service discussion for you to ask questions, voice concerns and ideas, and hear about the approach to multigenerational worship that we will be experimenting with this summer. Grab a cup of tea and come catch the vision for a summer of beautiful multigenerational worship!
You can read more about the specific changes coming to RE to help you prepare for our conversation!
June Sunday Services
June 2 “River of Life Ceremonies” – DRE Skyla King-Christisen and UUFC Youth
June 9 “The Shared World” – Rev. Jill McAllister
June 16 “Summer Solstice : Considering the Sun” – Rev. Jill McAllister
June 23 “She, They, and Me” – Rev. Jill McAllister
June 30 “Be Careful What You Worship” – Rev. Jill McAllister
Outreach Offerings in June
Our outreach offerings for the month of June will once again support Flaming Chalice International, the non-profit organization founded by Rev. Fulgence Ndagijimana to support both Burundian Unitarian refugees and Unitarians within Burundi. Our contributions help support job training, scholarships, housing and food for refugees, social justice projects focused on women’s health and dignity, and maintaining clean water supplies in remote villages. The Fellowship has been part of this international partnership for more than ten years. Our support makes a difference in lives of many Burundians and in the health and growth of global UUism.
Dance Planet Season Finale 6/1
This Saturday is the final Dance Planet at the UU before we take a summer break. From 7:30 to about 8:45 we’ll move, each in our own way, to a rhythmic flow of music from around the world and across the decades. But starting at 7 we’ll have something special. I (George) play in a world music group called Compass Rose. Two of the instrumentalists in that group, harpist extraordinaire Laura Zaerr and super cellist Sabina Monn, will join me for a unique 30-minute musical journey through time and space. Come move, stretch, warm up, dance, or just listen. What a great way to cap off our Dance Planet season!
Admission to this family-friendly event is a suggested donation of $5—15. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to local environmental organizations.
Fellowship Building Has a Sparkly Clean Look!
Our Fellowship Building has a sparkly clean look after 21 adults and 3 children spent a Saturday morning washing all the windows inside and outside ; hand-cleaning the red chairs and bench seats and dust-cleaning the mobiles and high-up areas in the sanctuary; All throw pillows have been washed; Room 7 furniture vacuumed. Outside, all the playground equipment was pressure washed, all the rain gutters cleaned, painting projects completed, and the patio area weeded and improved.
Many thanks to Sair Wylie, Robert T Meyer, Jack Elder, Dianne Roth, Diane Weisner, Nancy Kyle, Lynn Evans, Allison Smith,Brian Egan, Kris Egan, Priscilla Galasso, Roberta Smith, Jill McAllister , C Giles, Thea Hart and Ursa, Lirael, and Perri Hart,Adrienne Kimmy, Laurie Reed, Tom Sattizahn, and Julie Halter.
Our community rocks !
Wolfgang Dengler and Nick Houtman, Building Stewards
Empty Bread Bags
Empty bread bags make excellent dog-poo bags, and our test bag-exchange is off to a great start — on the supply side. Dog owners, please help yourself to bread bags from the white bucket tucked into the corner at the UUFC entrance. Others. please continue to repurpose your bread bags.