In its first off-site meeting since the pandemic, 22 UUFC men met at the Menucha Conference Center Nov. 3-5 to share stories and deep feelings about their lives. Through the lens of engagement, attendees spoke of connecting and disconnecting with others and the lifelong events that had impact on those choices. We met in small and large groups, sang songs, shared our own music and poetry, and spent time in the beautiful Columbia Gorge consolidating our insights and emotions. The UUFC men’s group welcomes all who identify as men and continues to meet weekly, in person at noon on the first Sunday of each month and via Zoom on other Sundays. Contact Jerry Buthmann for details.
Last Saturdays of the month, meet with Jim Wagner and other Unitarian friends for a casual hike in the Corvallis area. These are suitable for all ages. The intensity and difficulty of the hike will vary depending on interest. Meeting time will vary. Contact us to sign up and join the group! Connect@uucorvallis.org
March 2024 Hike Info:
March Connect Up will be the northern leg of Section 36 Loop in McDonald Forest. This is mature forest along the upper part of Calloway Creek. Early spring wild flowers can often be seen along this trail. Walk is about 4 miles and gains about 600′. About 1/4 of the distance is on trail and the rest on forest road. So, keep Saturday, March 30 (day before Easter) open! More info will be sent to the email list.
Thursday, April 11th at 12:00 – 1:30 pm in the UUFC library
We will gather together to share from our hearts about the griefs we are carrying and to witness one another. These may be very personal sorrows or extend to the losses that we witness in the world.
Our time together will include sharing, poetry and simple ritual. “Every one of us must do this. We must learn how to work with the grief in our lives…simply gather the courage to speak from your heart, and let the others know that you are feeling sad and carrying grief in your body.What I have discovered in grief rituals over many years is that we feel relief when we finally are able to acknowledge our pain with one another.” ~ Francis Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow.
View and discuss how the TV Series Star Trek has portrayed social justice issues. Each evening we will watch an episode together and then discuss the relevant social justice themes from a Unitarian Universalist perspective.
Join LGBTQ+ folx and allies for social gatherings centered on queer issues and themes. We understand the importance of queer community, and our goal is to provide a safe space where people can find that sense of belonging right here in Corvallis. We meet monthly on the 3rd Sunday in the afternoon. All are welcome! Questions: connect@uucorvallis.org
Women and non-binary persons are invited to come and share science news articles or books. No science background is required. You do not have to bring anything except a desire to learn and a healthy curiosity. Topics depend on what people bring to share and requests from the group – they range from astronomy to zoology and everything in between.
2nd Saturdays, 10:30 am, year round. Contact person: Priscilla Spears
Star Trek and UU The UU Seven Principals align well with the values of the imagined future of the Star Trek Universe. Star Trek has a long tradition of producing shows that address challenging topics of our contemporary life using the guise of science fiction and alien civilizations to tell allegorical stories. The shows are not just entertaining (though they totally are); some of them dig into some really difficult issues that are worth sharing with others and starting some conversations around. We shared a curated list of relevant episodes from multiple Star Trek series’ dealing with racism, war, the nature of individuality and ones inherent rights, gender identity, the environment, homelessness and genocide. Each episode was briefly introduced, then watched, followed by some great discussion. We also had snacks. We met for 10 sessions on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month from February through June. At our first session two people came. At our last 16 people came. Over 20 people participated at least once. The ages of the participants ranged from mid 20’s to mid 70’s. We hope to resume this Connect Up activity in October 2023. Anyone can attend, you do not need to have prior knowledge of Star Trek or be a Trekkie to participate in this activity. Star Trek and UU was organized by Amy Ayers with the help of Tyson Bryant.
Our keynote speaker is Linda Carroll, author of Love Cycles: The Five Essential Stages of Lasting Love, which has been translated into four languages, and the highly-acclaimed book, Love Skills, published in 2020. Linda holds a master’s degree in counseling and has practiced psychotherapy, specializing in couples and communication, since 1981. She works in Corvallis, Oregon, and coaches’ clients virtually, by phone, and in person all over the world. Linda first joined the UU in 1978 and is also a co-founder of a nonprofit serving migrants in Tijuana called Just One Story at a Time. just1atatime.org
Linda has authored three books on personal growth and healing. She grew up in a conservative Catholic family in San Francisco during the 1950s and came of age during the countercultural 1960s. From her traditional childhood, she preserves a faith in the importance of service, mystery, and reverence for all forms of life, and from her early flower-child leanings, she maintains a belief in looking outside the box for approaches to healing. Visit her website at lindaacarroll.com/.
Retreat Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 7 6:30 p.m. – Greetings, registration, workshop sign-ups, and sing-along 7:00 p.m. – Program begins in the Sanctuary Welcome & Housekeeping – Kris Egan Chalice lighting – Jill McAllister Speaker introduction – Amy Ayers 7:15 p.m. – Keynote Presentation – Linda Carroll 8:30 p.m. – Bedtime Story and Singing – Ann Marchant 9:00 p.m. – Housekeeping announcements and Dismissal
Saturday, Oct. 8 9:00 a.m. – Gather and Greet in the Sanctuary 9:15 a.m. – Announcements and chalice lighting – Kris Egan 9:20 a.m. – Speaker introduction – Bonnie Morihara 9:30 a.m. – Focus on Connection, Community, Caring – Linda Carroll 11:50 a.m. – Lunch and break announcements – Heather Thomas 12:00 p.m. – LUNCH and Recess 1:00 p.m. – Break-out Workshop #1 2:00 p.m. – Break-out Workshop #2 3:00 p.m. – Break-out Workshop #3 4:00 p.m. – Bathroom break; Re-group and Gather in Sanctuary. 4:15 p.m. – Singing 4:30 p.m. – Love in Action suggestions – Priscilla Galasso 4:45 p.m. – Closing thoughts – Jill McAllister 6:00 p.m. – Dismissal
Workshops and More!
Walking Connections – Priscilla Galasso
We will begin with circle time in the parking lot to introduce ourselves and focus our attention on the possibilities for connection during our walk. We will walk on paved paths west along Circle Blvd to Witham Hill Nature Area, where we will follow the Upper Loop trail through the woods and then return to the UUFC. The total distance is approximately 3 miles with about 200 feet of elevation gain. The pace will be moderate. Please dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring your water bottle. This workshop will run from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Listening and Telling: The Yin and Yang of Connection – Shikha Gottfried
The stories we choose to tell others reflect part of the identity we portray as we move through the world. In this workshop, we’ll explore deepening our connection to one another by sharing small slices of our stories via a few guided questions, and perhaps along the way finding threads of shared experiences that you didn’t know existed in this community. This workshop finds inspiration from the book Between the Listening and The Telling: How Stories Can Save Us by Mark Yaconelli. Please bring a small object that symbolizes for you a time when you were either deeply cared for, or that you really gave of yourself to care for someone else. One hour
Connections within sewing and stitching circles – Amy Ayers
A brief history and celebration of women gathering in circles to knit, sew, quilt, or practice any other needle art as a part of community, necessity, charitable works, and political action. Please bring any portable needle art project you may be currently working on such as knitting, crochet, needle point or embroidery to work on while we share our projects and consider the power of women gathered together in sewing circles for connection, learning, and sometimes to promote political and social change. One hour
Poetry and Hats – a lighthearted way to share poetry. – Jean Gilbert
Please bring three poems and three hats. ALL types of hats are welcome! We will read the poems aloud while wearing the hats, with stories about our choices as time allows. I’ll have a few extra poems and hats in case you forget to bring them. One hour
Foods to build Community, Connection, and Caring – Ann Marchant
Community: Each person’s micro-biome is a community of microbes – some beneficial, others not so much. Which foods promote a healthy gut community?
Connection: the Gut – Brain Connection plays a major role in mental health. Food choices help guide that connection.
Caring: What do you bring to potlucks? Is everyone welcome at your table? Introducing “Universal Meals,” developed by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. Even most people with food sensitivities can enjoy these delicious recipes. https://www.pcrm.org/universalmeals One hour
Ukraine and our connection to the world community – Irja Galvan
Join Irja as she shares her knowledge of and caring connection to the Ukraine. Learn and discuss more about the current crisis and how we all are connected to it. One hour
Word Play – Bonnie Morihara
Come play with your choice of different “illuminated” acrostic forms. Add words to represent various UU or personal values and color the pages. Or complete an alphabetical acrostic. What fun! Materials: pre-printed forms, colored pencils and pens which Bonnie will supply. Your playful, creative mind: you supply. One hour
Belly Dancing – Dawn Dirks
Come learn some basic belly dance moves. For Dawn, this dance form is sacred dance, ritual dance, Goddess dance. Sacred dance has probably been practiced for as long as humans have been able to move and to think about what it means to practice spirituality. This workshop will include gentle stretches and slow, low-impact movement. No dance experience is necessary – just bring your open heart and willingness to move your sacred body in ways that may be new for you. Dawn will bring hip scarves and silk veils for participants to use during the session. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one for a short meditation at the end of the session. One hour
Living Room Conversations – Nancy Haldeman Limited to 8 participants
Join Nancy in discussing “Coronavirus – Reflecting and Transitioning”. Each person speaks to questions provided for up to 2 minutes each with no cross talk. 1½ hours
2022 Women’s Retreat Planning Team:
Amy Ayers Priscilla Galasso Kris Egan Heather Thomas Bonnie Morihara
