If you’ve been thinking about becoming a member, now is the time.
Our Annual Meeting is coming up soon on May 17th, and signing the membership book allows you to vote on important decisions that shape the life of this congregation. There’s still time to complete the required Inquirers Series sessions:
April 19 – Transitions Q&A (formerly Care & Support; that session is now May 10)
April 26 – Membership 101
May 3 – Our Shared Values 📍 All sessions meet in Room 7 at 11:45 AM
We would love to welcome you into membership before the meeting. If that’s been on your heart, this is your moment.
Please contact Skyla King-Christison (dre@uucorvallis.org) for questions about the Inquirer Series and Joyce Standing (membership@uucorvallis.org) for questions about signing the Membership Book.
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.
Our Shared Values
Transitions Q&A
Building & Grounds Tour
Lifespan Faith Formation
Chalice Circles
Care and Support
Justice and Community Action
Membership 101
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.
We know many egg hunts are all about gathering as many eggs as you can, as fast as you can. Ours is a little different, and that difference really matters for your child’s experience. Please take a moment to look over the plan so you can help them understand what to expect: a cooperative, shared activity where every child gets one of each color and leaves with a full set of meaningful treasures. When children know ahead of time that this isn’t about collecting as many eggs as possible, they are much more likely to relax, enjoy the process, and feel proud of what they’ve gathered. Your guidance helps make the experience joyful and fair for everyone.
🌈 The Plan
This is a cooperative hunt, not a race. Everyone helps make sure all children can collect one egg of each of the 7 colors. Each color corresponds with a value, and each value has a station at one of the tables.
🥚 How It Works
Find one egg of a new color
Only take an egg if you haven’t already had that color.
If you accidentally get one twice. It’s okay. Just put it back in the grass.
Trade it in right away
Bring the one egg to the table that matches its color/value.
Trade the egg for a prize that helps you remember that value.
Leave the egg behind
Eggs stay at the tables. Only prizes go home.
Repeat
Go find a different color and trade it in, until you have visited all 7 value stations.
If you’ve found all you need, look around and see who needs help!
🎯 Important Guidelines
✔️ One egg per color per child
✔️ Trade each egg before finding another
✔️ Collect one prize from each station (7 total)
✔️ Most tables have two values, one has one value
✔️ Things run more smoothly if everyone doesn’t go to the same table at the same time, so no need to go in order.
🚧 Safety & Boundaries
Stay inside the cones at all times
Parents, Guardians, and Grown-ups who brought participants are responsible for supervising their children
Volunteers are here to staff tables and answer questions, but their focus is not on monitoring safety boundaries
💛 Remember
We are sharing, helping, and making sure everyone gets what they need.
Take your time. Help each other. Have lots of fun!
Elders Thriving in Community (ETC) presents Vida Miwa from Fitness Over 50, with suggested exercises that support mobility, balance and flexibility as we age. Plan to practice activities that can be done both sitting on or holding onto a chair, as well as options for standing or floor activities. Wear comfortable clothing & suitable shoes. Join us in the Sanctuary on Wednesday, April 8, 3-4:30 PM.
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 Religious Exploration Council is made up of the team leads from each RE Council team. We gather twice a year (usually in September and February) to coordinate the ongoing, behind-the-scenes work that keeps our programs running smoothly. Our meetings are open to anyone curious about the inner workings of the RE Council.
And because even administrative work deserves a little joy, we’ve embraced the unicorn as our council mascot. We show up in sparkly horns, committed to bringing a bit of magic into the life of the Fellowship. After all, a group of unicorns is called a blessing, and that feels just about right.
Got a spark? A dream to try? A question deep, a wondering why? A way to help our spirits grow, Or seeds of faith you’d love to sow?
Come join us—bring your hopeful schemes, We’re here to help you grow your dreams. With hearts (and maybe unicorn flair), We’ll build something meaningful together there.
This newly forming group aims to serve college students from around Linn and Benton counties with food, fellowship, and spiritual community rooted in UU values. Our regular meeting time is still being sorted out. If you’re keen to join, you can weigh in HERE. Team contact information coming soon. For now, reach out to the Director of Religious Exploration and OSU Spiritual Life liaison, Skyla, at dre@uucorvallis.org for the latest information.
Inquirers Series
This is a 9-session learning series offered at 11:45 AM every Sunday in Room 7, for the purpose of helping visitors and newcomers feel oriented and answer the most common questions people have while they are deciding whether UUFC is right for them. This series is offered in partnership with the Membership Team and is facilitated by a variety of leaders from a cross-section of Fellowship life. Sessions can be taken in any order, and sessions 1 (or 9), 2, and 8 are encouraged before signing the membership book. Bring your questions and your coffee and join us!
Family Breakfast
Our monthly breakfast gathering for families with children is on the second Sunday of each month at 8:50 AM, one hour before the 10:00 AM service in the social hall. We —a family of 4—cook a hot breakfast (yes—there’s bacon!), and serve coffee and pancakes. Families may bring a dish to share or simply come as they are. While adults enjoy conversation, kids can spend time together getting to know one another in a welcoming environment. All families with children are warmly welcome! Registration is appreciated HERE.
ETC!
Elders Thriving in Community provides resources, information, and social connections to help us thrive as we get older and our needs and abilities are likely to change. We bring in speakers from our congregation and the community to present topics such as home safety, brain health, local senior services, and internet scams, and coordinate social events to bring older people together. Team leads are Alison Meyers and Gerri Buckles.
Neurodiversity Support Group
The Neurodivergence and Mental Health Support Group is a safe, welcoming space for discussions regarding neurodivergence. It discusses topics such as mental health, connection, and sensitivity to name a few. The group meets every second and fourth Sunday of the month at 8:30 AM in room nine upstairs at the Fellowship. For more information, contact neurodiv@uucorvallis.org.
Parent Connection Dinner
The Parent Connection Monthly Dinner is held on the 2nd Thursday of each month @ 6:30-8:00 PM. Parents meet in room 3 of the classroom wing, and free childcare is provided in room 4 or 6C.
All families are welcome to join us for a free light dinner with facilitated conversation and mutual support among the parents, and a child-friendly movie night and play time with background-checked childcare providers for the kids in a nearby space. Please bring your own place settings, as we do not have a dishwashing team for this gathering.
Registering HERE one time will place you on the reminder list, and clicking the RSVP button in the reminder will help us determine how much food to prepare.
Library
The Rita McDonald Library is a treasure trove of books and resources that you can’t find anywhere else. And some you can, but how convenient is it that they’re already right here? This project has been kept alive for decades by a series of dedicated volunteers, the most recent of whom have been Holley and Eric Lantz, with support from RE staff. We need more team members to keep this project alive. If your flavor of volunteering involves quiet, solo work and tending in a peaceful space that smells like old paper and is bathed in slanted sunlight, this is the role for you! Join the team by emailing Skyla at dre@uucorvallis.org.
RE Safe Congregation Support Team
We bolster the safety of all who engage in Religious Exploration environments by supporting uniform policy and procedure implementation and creating consistent processes to invite registered families, RE lay leaders, and RE staff back into covenant when Safe Congregation policies are violated within RE spaces.
This newly forming group aims to serve college students from around Linn and Benton counties with food, fellowship, and spiritual community rooted in UU values. Our regular meeting time is still being sorted out. If you’re keen to join, you can weigh in HERE. Team contact information coming soon. For now, reach out to the Director of Religious Exploration and OSU Spiritual Life liaison, Skyla, at dre@uucorvallis.org for the latest information.
Beginning this Sunday, March 8th, the 3rd session of the Inquirers Series, formerly the Liturgical Year session, will be a session focused on interim ministry and our upcoming search for a settled minister. Sheryl Stuart and Robin Lancaster, members of our transitions team, will be on hand to share some of the basics and answer your questions about this unique time congregational life. If you have already taken session three, you are still most welcome to come and have your questions answered. These sessions are open to all interested participants!
Elders Thriving in Community with Ann Marchant on Wednesday, March 11, at 3 PM in the Sanctuary.
Every elder carries stories no one else can tell.
In this interactive workshop with Ann Marchant, we’ll explore the value of sharing simple, true stories across generations. Storytelling is how we pass along humor, resilience, wisdom, and the values that shape who we are.
Ann will begin by telling a brief story of her own, then guide you step-by-step in shaping one small story from your life—something you could share with a child, a friend, or another member of your community. No writing experience needed.
You’ll leave with a simple story outline, practical tools for meaningful connection, and renewed confidence in the gift of your lived experience.
Because one of the most powerful things we can offer one another is story—and only you can tell yours.
Childcare is available!
Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.
All Fellowship friends and members are invited to request a library card and start using our digital checkout system. Of course, you can still use the notebook, located on the shelf to the left of the window, but by using your very own digital library card, you help reduce the administrative overhead involved in keeping the library up and running.
It’s easy! Let me show you how!
Apply for a card at THIS LINK. Your card will arrive via email within 3 business days.
Search the catalog HERE or use the QR code on the bulletin board just inside the library door. Or, you can just browse the old-fashioned way. The resources have now been sorted into general categories. If you find something in the electronic catalog that you want to check out, you can find it on the shelf in the section indicated by the red tag. The example below is a book that can be found in the Unitarian Universalism and Congregational Life section! Please note that tags may only show up in the desktop version of the libib catalog on some devices.
Once you’ve found the book you want to take home, you could sign it out in the check out binder OR you could use your handy dandy new library card at the kiosk! If the iPad has gone to sleep (it probably has), simply press the button at the bottom to wake it up. Then you’ll find the libib kiosk app and tap it to open.
You’ll immediately be at the checkout screen. There are directions on the screen. Let’s walk through them together!
The first thing you’ll do is tap the blue SCAN button. This will open the camera on the back of the iPad to scan the QR code on the back of your book.
Simply lower your book (or movie or card deck) behind the iPad so that the QR code shows up on the screen.
As soon as it scans the code, it will say Success! and then your item will appear listed on the screen. You can scan until your heart is content. I mean, let’s be reasonable, but yeah. Take all the things you plan to read in the next little while.
When you’re all done, you’re ready click the CHECKOUT button in the bottom corner. Sometimes it’s green. Sometimes it’s blue. Life is a mystery!
Finally! The moment you’ve waited for! The chance to use your super cool Fellowship Library Card! You could enter your patron ID in manually, but that’s so boring when you could tap the QR code and then just scan your card like you did the book.
As soon as it has registered your patron QR code, you’ll be greeted with another friendly Success! message and you’re ready to go tell your friends how easy and fun that was.
When you’re done with your items, please return them to the “returns” basket located on the shelf to the left of the window. One of your friendly neighborhood library volunteers will check it back in and reshelve it for you!
If you happen to run into snags, come find or email me. Skyla! I’m happy to help you until we find a new librarian. Or, you know, you could use the binder and move on with your day. That said, I’d really appreciate knowing your experience, what’s working and what’s not, as we learn this new system.
In the earliest stages of our rollout, there may still be books that have fallen through the cracks and haven’t been stickered, or they have an old sticker, and the kiosk doesn’t recognize it. All of these details are things we want to know about! Please, if you have the time, don’t just stick the books back on the shelf if you find an anomaly that isn’t in the system correctly. Let me know so I can fix it!
Thanks for being a Fellowship library patron! You rock!
“Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.” ― Henry David
Thoreau Greetings, Families! The shortest month with the longest shadows has arrived, and our hearts are tender from all we’ve been holding. Let us re-center love this month, not in the glittery, greeting-card way, but in the steady, courageous way that shows up when the world needs us most. And because everything is easier as a village, I invite you to pull out your calendars and make note of these opportunities to gather in love and learning!
UPCOMING EVENTS: 2/8 Family Breakfast @ 8:45 (register HERE and bring a dish if you are able) 2/8 Eliot Family Camp Q&A session after RE pickup in the sanctuary 2/12 Parent Connection Dinner @ 6:30 (register HERE, one time only, to get reminders)
PLAN AHEAD4/17-19 Youth Coast Retreat (register HERE!)
More information about our events can be found below, and info for all events can be found at uucorvallis.org by clicking “News” in the menu bar and then selecting “RE Council” from the drop-down menu.
Big news! Our Endowment team has money to give as scholarships to get families to Eliot Institute’s Family Camp! We’re excited to use these funds in service of getting more families to this formative and inspiring gathering, so please don’t hesitate to apply! To help you decide if Eliot would be right for you (spoiler, it would be!), Linda Hardison will be showing an informational video and answering all your burning Eliot questions after you pickup your children from RE on February 8th. Please consider attending if you’re at all curious about family camping opportunities in a UUI context!
The annual Youth Coast Retreat is around the corner, and you don’t want to miss the fun! Your early registration will give us time get a rental van reservation if we need one again this year, so please check your calendars and register promptly if you are able. Youth will be staying at our usual place in Waldport, with a back door that opens right onto the beach. This is a relaxed, 2-night bonding weekend, where the youth will play collaborative games, cook together, spend time in nature, and co-create their own worship experience before coming home. I have it on Edna’s good authority that it’s the best thing they do all year. More details are in the registration link!
These are tricky times for everyone, but perhaps especially for parents who are navigating how much to shield and/or engage with our children about the things that are going on in the world. For that reason, I’ve added a page to our Family Faith Formation Toolkit with resources for parents during these challenging times. I hope you find some useful ideas there. If you have found resources useful that you’d like me to add to the list, please let me know! We’re all in this together!
In January, we spent time exploring ways we feel safe and loved, and ways to help others feel cared for. Our Spirit Play kiddos each got their own box to sit inside of, with a light and a welcome mat, and they decorated the insides with things that make them feel safe and loved, and were invited to take them home as a place to hang out whenever they want to be surrounded by things that give them the warm-fuzzies. Both our Spirit Play and Seeker Space groups built a “community of care” using our giant tinker toys. They had to come up with things that help people feel seen and cared for, and label each of the supports with one of those attributes to build a home for their community of care. If they needed more support, they had to come up with more attributes of a caring community. I read things like love, time, money, and family, among many other things that go into creating a community of care. The Seeker Space structure is still intact on the mezzanine, so pop upstairs, climb inside, and see what kind of things our kids decided are necessary for a welcoming community. It’s sure to give you a case of the heart-swells!
Occasionally, I become aware that there is a young person who really wants to attend a thing and it got scheduled for a date that they already have an obligation, or a weekend that they’re at their other parent’s house, and it really stinks! Some parents have offered me copies of their kids’ sports schedules, performance dates, and custody rhythms, and I refer to them every single time I plan an event like a service project or a retreat. It’s also great to have because we want to show up for our kids and cheer them on when they have a special event! So consider this an invitation to share, only to the extent that feels right for your family, any blackout dates on your child’s calendar (We’ve already paid for camp that week!) or events that they’d enjoy some extra support for (They would love some more fans at the basketball tournament!) and I’ll share them with the adults who directly support them in their RE spaces and refer to them before selecting dates for major events. I can’t always accommodate everyone’s schedule, but I use what I’m given to choose dates that work for as many kids as possible.
The family that serves together… builds beloved community! The Curry-Grant household is loaded with cheerful volunteers! Both Kevin and Molly serve on separate weeks in our Seeker Space. They bring calm, kind, and steadying energy to a group that can be more than a little boisterous! And Edna? She’s quick to volunteer in formal roles, when asked, but what stands out to me is the way I can always count on her to make new kids feel like they really belong. On more than one occasion, I’ve said, “Hey, Edna! We’re going to have a new kid today,” and she’s on it! I’ll see her giving a building tour, showing new kids where the snacks are, and introducing them to the other youth. Edna has the spiritual gift of hospitality! Big thanks to this family that oozes with volunteerism! We are so grateful for all you bring to our community!
There’s been so much goodness in RE in the last month, it’s hard to capture it all in pictures! One thing I want to make sure you notice, though, is that second picture. This is Pheobe, and she’s our newest childcare staff member, filling in primarily in Spirit Play when Niana is away at volleyball tournaments, but she’ll also be in the Rainbow Room from time to time when we need a sub. Phoebe has completed the child development class at the high school and is first aid and CPR certified. Most importantly, she’s got a heart for working with children! We’re lucky to have her on the team! While we’re talking about our amazing childcare providers, I want to remind all parents that we can often provide free childcare for UUFC events, given enough notice. Parents can fill out THIS FORM any time you need to request childcare for a Fellowship gathering, and I’ll do my best to assemble a care team from our fabulous pool of background-checked volunteers and youth childcare staff! I’m wishing you hope and love this month! And as always, if you need to chat, I’m just an email or a phone call away.
