Connection

Posts pertaining to the work of Connections within the Fellowship.

UUFC Group Campout at Moonshine Park, 9/10 – 13

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Registration is now open for the UUFC Group Campout at Moonshine Park, September 10 – 13!

Come and join in fun and fellowship while camping at Moonshine Park in the coastal mountains, near Siletz, OR. Group Site B has been reserved with a limit of 50 people. Plans include group meals on Friday (picnic style) and Saturday (potluck) evening, time for hiking, swimming, exploring, building community, and much more. Bring your own tent, personal gear, and food. Come out for all or part of the event. More information will be available with registration confirmation.

Only tent camping is available on the site but small RVs (no hook-ups) are allowed in the site parking area. We are limited to 8 vehicles with the reservation and will be charged for any additional vehicles. A camper being pulled by a vehicle counts as two vehicles. So, carpools are encouraged!

Here is a link to the registration page:

https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/CampingSep2026

The registration fee for the whole weekend is $30 per person (a family with children rate will apply). Fees may be paid during the registration process or paid to the UUFC by check or cash. Please note “2026 Moonshine Park Campout” in the memo line (or on the envelop if paying in cash). If the name on the check is different from the participant, please note the participant(s) name. You may give your payment to Julie Halter or Nancy Gill at Sunday service or place your payment in the collection box in the foyer to the left of the sanctuary doors.

Men’s Retreat, Save the Date! 10/16-18

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Our theme for this year is Playing the Game of Life: How Do We Roll? What have been the biggest shapers of our lives? People, places, work, play, our highs, our lows… experiences of all kinds! We’ll explore this broad question (with many answers) at the 2026 Men’s Retreat. But wait, it’s a retreat, for heaven’s sake! You know – relax, put your feet up, fun and games! YES, it’s that too! And good food! Sharing meaningful experiences and having fun together – it’s all about building deeper connections with one another in our UU community.

Sound good? Then MARK YOUR CALENDAR for October 16-18 (Friday late afternoon through Sunday lunchtime). The retreat will be at Camp Harlow outside of Eugene, barely an hour’s drive from Corvallis. Watch for details and registration information in August. For more information: mensretreat@uucorvallis.org.

Transylvanian Summer Luncheon, 6/20

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Summer is almost upon us, so we invite you to join us for a special luncheon to celebrate this time of year on Saturday, June 20th at 12:30 PM. 

This will be in the Social Hall and is sponsored by the Community Events Team. The menu will feature Transylvanian and other traditional or popular Romanian dishes; see the menu below! You can reserve a spot for lunch by submitting the form through the button below:

RSVP Here!

You will also find a sign-up table in the foyer or social hall on the two Sundays before, during and after service.

We are limiting attendance at only 48 guests this time, so be sure to get your reservation in early to claim your seat at the table.

The suggested donation is $15 and all proceeds after food costs will be passed on to the Global Partners Team for their charitable work in our community.

If you’d like to be a part of this and help out, you can volunteer to assist with food preparation or Setup or service or cleanup, and if you can help for at least an hour, you can dine with us for free as a thanks for your kind assistance. Here’s a link for volunteers:

Sign up to volunteer!

We look forward to seeing many of you at the luncheon. 

* Community Events Team
Rich Brainerd
Nick Houtman
Roberta Smith
Linda Zittel
Ernest Cardona

Menu

  • Zucchini marinated in fermented kraut juice (Dovlecei marinati, zeama de moare) or (dovlecei marinați în suc de varză fermentat)
  • Eggplant dip w crusty bread (salata/sos de vinete cu pâine crocantă)
  • Fresh seasonal green salad (salata de vara)
  • Polenta, served with stew below (Mamaliga)
  • Tocăniță de ciuperci (vegetable stew with mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes, and red bell peppers)
  • Fresh-squeezed lemonade with fresh mint (limonadă proaspătă cu mentă)
  • Dessert: peach crisp (Prajitura cu Piersici ) with vanilla ice cream (înghețată de vanilie), finished with pomegranate molasses and date syrup

Childcare is available!

Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.

Women’s Retreat, Save the Date! 10/2-4

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The 2026 Women’s Retreat will be October 2-4 at Camp Harlow in Eugene. More information and a registration link will be available soon. The cost per person will be $175 (includes housing and meals). Partial and full scholarships will be available as well as assistance for overnight caregivers. Requests for financial assistance will be kept confidential. Due to generous donations from attendees in prior years, we are able to subsidize the per-person cost of attendance this year. Such subsidies may not be available in future years.

Due to the off-site nature of this year’s event, pre-registration will be required. Please send questions to womensretreat@uucorvallis.org.

Opportunity to Sign Membership Book

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For people who have completed three required Inquirers Series for Membership, you are invited to come sign the Membership Book.  Joyce Standing will be in the Library on Sunday from 11:30 AM – 12 noon to welcome you as you sign and give you ceremonial gifts from the Membership Team.  (Note that a public recognition will occur on May 17 during service, for those who sign the book by May 13.) For more information, contact membership@uucorvallis.org.

LEGATO potluck, 4/8

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Come lend your voices to table talk about justice in our society. You might share song titles the choir and band could include in its repertoire. The potluck is Wednesday April 8 at 6:30 PM. Come early if you can help set up tables.

Bring a dish to share (please identify all ingredients), serving utensil (if needed), and your own plate, fork, and water. The kitchen will not be used. This is a low-impact meal.

This is a Connect Up Event with the purpose of building community within the UUFC congregation.

Childcare is available!

Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.

The Path to Membership

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Is membership right for you?

We highly encourage all newcomers who are interested in membership to attend all sessions of the Inquirers Series, a series of classes offered every Sunday after worship in a 9-week rotation. The sessions are not just for newcomers and do not need to be completed in a specific order. Sessions begin at 11:45 AM on Sundays in Room 7. 

Attending Our Shared Values, Transitions Q&A, and Membership 101 (or UU Roots) are required before requesting to become a member of the Fellowship. 

  1. Our Shared Values
  2. Transitions Q&A
  3. Building & Grounds Tour
  4. Lifespan Faith Formation
  5. Chalice Circles
  6. Care and Support
  7. Justice and Community Action
  8. Membership 101
  9. Our UU Roots and Q&A

We introduce and welcome new members to the Fellowship during a Sunday morning service. New members will be offered the opportunity to participate but are not required to do so. A short biography to introduce each new member along with a headshot photo for the directory may be requested. More information will be shared during the Membership 101 class.

Final steps to membership

After attending the Inquirers Series, you become a member by signing the Membership Book. This signifies that you choose to align yourself with our mission and values, undertaking the rights and responsibilities of membership.

The Membership Welcome ceremony is offered each quarter; new members are invited to sign the Membership Book and be introduced to the congregation. You may also
arrange to sign the Membership Book in private with the Minister.

New members are invited and encouraged to make a pledge of financial and volunteer support to the Fellowship. This is what stewardship means. Detailed stewardship information is available on the UUFC website under the Donate button.

Seeking highly committed members

Generations of highly committed members have worked to create what you experience at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis today: a dynamic, liberal community of faith devoted to religious learning and growth and to justice, compassion, and peace.

Carefully consider the responsibilities of membership before you make the commitment. Members readily and generously give their time, talents, and financial resources to support the life and mission of the Fellowship. This spirit of generosity and commitment develops over time and is the result of active participation in our programs.

Membership represents a deeper connection to your faith community. Are you prepared to make this kind of commitment by becoming a member?

Why does membership matter?

Membership means taking your religious life seriously, participating in the life of the Fellowship, and supporting the Fellowship with time, talent, and resources according to your means.

Membership means being present and participating in this vital, dynamic congregation, joining hundreds of others as we work for justice, nurture freedom of thought and religious expression, advocate for the worth and dignity of every person, and dedicate ourselves to environmental stewardship.

Membership is required to participate in the governance of the Fellowship: electing and serving on the Board of Directors, who oversee policies and finances. Membership is also required to be eligible to vote at official congregational meetings. In addition, you’ll receive UUWorld, which is the journal of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Our Mission

Explore. Love. Act.

We gather as an inclusive religious community to search for meaning, build deep connections, and inspire action toward a better world for all.

UUFC Group Camping Opportunities

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group camping at cascadia
group camping at cascadia

Save the Dates: Cascadia County Park, June 25 – 28, 2026
Moonshine Park (near Siletz), September 10 – 13, 2026

Come and join in fun and fellowship while camping with fellow UUFC members and friends! Plans include time for hiking, exploring, crafts, building community, happy hour, and much more. Bring your own tent, personal gear, and food. Parking is very limited (6 cars and 2 RVs – no hook-ups) at Cascadia and 8 vehicles (including RVs) at Moonshine Park, so carpools are encouraged. Come out for all or part of the event.

Links to the camps:
Cascadia County Park: https://www.linncountyor.gov/parksrec/park/cascadia-county-park
Moonshine Park: https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/1060/Moonshine-Park

Registration fees: $30 per person for each weekend (4days/3nights); family rates are available and will be detailed on the registration form

Registration is now open for the Cascadia Campout (June 25 – 29, 2026). Please click on the following link: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/Camping2026

If you have specific questions, please contact Julie Halter and Nancy Gill by filling out this form.

Women’s Retreat 2025 Recap

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The theme for the 2025 Women’s Retreat was Right Here, Right Now; Peace through Practice.

Priscilla Galasso wrote this retrospective. It was originally published in the November 2025 edition of the UUFC Journal.

“If ever there were a time for a candle in the darkness,
this would be it.
Using a spark of hope,
kindle the flame of love,
ignite the light of peace,
and feed the flame of justice.”

Melanie Davis

The Women’s Retreat Team lit the Chalice in the Social Hall before 40 UUFC women crossed over the threshold into the Sanctuary, a sacred and safe space for creating connection and practicing peace. Two wheelchairs slid through the portal, a teenager, several octogenarians, a mother and daughter who had only just moved to Corvallis and gone to one Sunday service, the weary, the hopeful, the angry, the lonely, the wise. We gathered to share strategies for creating peace in our center, peace in our connections, and peace in our community. 

The Friday night program centered on the Byron Katie model called “The Work”, presented by Susan Grace Beekman and Nancy Sowdon. On Saturday morning, we dove into best practices in relationships, outlined by the Gottman Institute, with Heather Thomas and Linda Marten (or was that Miss Stern?). Through interactive small and large group discussions, we connected deeply to the material and to each other. Workshop presenters offered sessions on yoga, art, laughter, gardening, and self-discovery. We enjoyed a delicious catered lunch from Forks & Corks. And then we balanced peace with PROTEST!

The planning team had no way of knowing that the No Kings II protest would fall on our retreat weekend, and we quickly adapted the schedule so that those who wanted to participate could do so. One key advantage to having an onsite retreat is that it allows for greater flexibility and inclusion. We made it a priority to have low barriers, providing scholarships and “drop in” registration to fit lives that are often full of care-taking and serving others. Our “choose your own adventure” schedule was not constrained by an outside venue operation, and our campus is in the heart of our own Corvallis community, making travel and transportation easiest. 

During Saturday afternoon’s session, we worked with representatives from organizations who strive to create peace and build community through Religious Exploration, the Arts, and Education. Skyla King-Christison, Anya Ballinger, Thea Hart, and Laura Blackwell (of the Majestic Theater and Corvallis Parks & Recreation) gave us great insight into the philosophy of peace-making among cultures and great examples of Corvallis programs available to us all. 

During our final meal together, the bright Fall day became a quiet, dark evening. Our table conversations included shared stories of protest thoughts, workshop discoveries, and determination to carry on as instruments of peace in this troubled and beautiful world.  

Thank you to all the Team members: Heather Thomas, Ann Marchant, Linda Marten, Sandy Piper, and Kimi Mayo. Thank you to all the Workshop leaders: Kris Egan, Diana Titus, Joyce Standing, Joyce Marvel-Benoist, Joyce Federiuk, Heather Thomas, Linda Marten, Gwen Ellen, and Kayla Garcia. Thank you Ginny Gibson and all the others who volunteered their time making our gathering nourishing and comfortable. 

Thank you to those who have signed up to make next year’s Retreat a reality! 

Dona nobis pacem. Go now, women, in Peace.