October Services

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October 1 – “Love As Spaciousness” with Rev. Jill McAllister. A new generation of UUs suggests articulating our values in new ways, beginning with Love at the Center  

October 8  – “Not So Like-Minded After All” with Rev. Jill McAllister. We’re learning a lot about the real differences in how brains work – neurodiversity. Turns out we’re more different than we imagine.

October 15  – “What is Transformation?” with Rev. Jill McAllister. Have you ever experienced transformation? How is it part of religious and spiritual growth?

October 22  – “God Is Not One, Neither are We” with Rev. Jill McAllister. One of the unique characteristics of our religious movement is pluralism – the willingness to be different and be  together at the same time.

October 29  – Wheel of the Year – All Ages – Samhain / Halloween

October 19, 2025 – Compassion as an Open Door

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Anger and indignation may well up for us as we read the news.  But spiritual teachers such as Howard Thurman have convincing arguments for why love is better for us and for everyone.  Can we perhaps have compassion for our own anger?

Rev. Alex will preach and the choir will sing.

Helpers Needed for Holiday Fair, 12/6

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If you are a musician, consider joining the fun of the Holiday Fair by volunteering to play seasonal music during the fair for a half hour between 9 am and 3 pm on Saturday, December 6. One of the highlights of last year’s Holiday Fair was the live music in the lobby during this beloved annual event.

The fair organizers are also looking for someone to be in charge of organizing the volunteer bakers who will make Baked Goods for sale. These very popular tables usually offer pies, cookies, candies, and other delicious items for sale. The organizers will help you recruit volunteer bakers and take payments! You only need to receive the baked goods from the volunteers the day before or the day of the Fair, then present and price them.

If you are interested in either (or both!) of these opportunities, please email Holiday.Fair@uucorvallis.org.

Holiday Trees For Sale

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Members & Friends, for the third year in a row, the Climate Action and Fundraising teams are collaborating to offer small, native, conifers for sale as table-top holiday trees. After the holidays, you can either return trees to us to plant, or you can plant them yourself.

This year we will have 36 trees available: 18 Doug Fir and 18 Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine. All trees will be in 3-gal pots (up from last year’s 2-gal), will cost $25 each, and will be available beginning Sunday, November 30. We will take trees back for planting on Sunday, January 4 and Sunday, January 11.

With supplies limited, look for the opportunity to reserve your tree(s) via a pre-order. Trees not reserved will be available on a first-come first-served basis before and after Sunday services and at the Holiday Fair.

Questions: <treasurer@uucorvallis.org>

Classroom Wing update

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Apologies for the continued difficulty with the new heat pump heating system. Rooms 9 and 10 are still shut down until repair on October 15. Rooms 7 and 8 work, with variable response to the handheld remote. Please report any problems to Wolfgang Dengler via Breeze.

There will be changes coming soon regarding keyed and key-less entry into the building as we continue to improve the safety and security of our building.

We plan to mount hooks for hanging jackets and bags in the restrooms.

A giant THANK YOU to everyone involved in the Classroom Wing remodel project for ALL your help in the last 10 months. We did it together, our community in Action. The Classroom Wing is now safely protected against earthquake and fire, and has become a warm inviting space for congregants and visitors. Let’s Go UUFC!

Partner Church Team meeting, 10/12

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The Partner Church Team is meeting on Sunday, October 12 at 11:45 AM in Room 3.

Did you know that 4 members of the UUFC traveled to Kőrispatak, Romania last month to visit our partner church? The goal was to keep the bonds of our nearly 30-year relationship alive with mutual trust, friendship and respect.

During the 10-day pilgrimage, members visited the Transylvania region of Romania where Unitarianism started as an organized religion and learned more about local customs and culture.

If you want to travel in 2026, please come to the PCT meeting on Sunday Oct 12th and be part of the conversation!

Contact PCT lead Heather E. if you want more information.

From Rev. Alex McGee for Oct 12, 2025

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Dear Fellowship:

First: I am so grateful for all the work by Ginny, Joyce, and Bobbi to make meeting rooms in this Fellowship so hospitable.  I genuinely enjoy relaxing into meetings there and feel I can focus on our relationships and work.  The couches in room 7 are comfortable and the plants bring vitality.  The tablecloth in room 3 brings softness and the UU banners show heritage.  And this week the library carpet was cleaned!

Why does this matter?  Because when a community cares for its spaces, it is showing care for the people in it.  Hospitality and welcome are spiritual practices that often involve unseen work.  And this is just one example.  All over the Fellowship, people quietly, and sometimes alone, do work that makes a nicer space for all of us.  Although I have named three people specifically in this note, there are so many more!  Hurray.

Second: On Sunday I plan to read a poem by a poet named Robert Monson.  I think some of you might like to learn more about his perspectives, so I am including a link to an article here:  https://sojo.net/articles/interview/reconstruct/theologian-robert-monson-wants-softer-social-justice.

The article discusses “masculinity and softness, Blackness and disability, crying, and why you should love yourself.”  I have a hunch that taps into things that some of you have on your minds and hearts!  If you read it and have insights that you want to share with me, I would love to hear.  I can be reached at rev.alex.mcgee@uucorvallis.org.

Peace,
Rev. Alex

4th Quarter Birthday Celebration, 10/12

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Gather in the Social Hall after the service on 10/12 to celebrate 4th quarter birthdays: October, November, December. We all deserve to be celebrated.

Also, if you’re willing consider joining the UUFC Birthday Club where you make an annual donation on your birthday equivalent to your years. Sign up near the cake table.