A giant THANK YOU! to all who have already volunteered painting time or signed up to do so on June 13, 14, or 20.
We have completed Phase One of interior painting, and 2/3 of the exterior siding staining. Everything looks clean and fresh!
Commercial painters will paint the new Fire Suppressant Sprinkler System pipes starting (tentatively) July 7. After that 3 – 4 day job, they will also paint the remaining 1/3 of the exterior siding in areas unsafe for volunteers.
We are re-scheduling the planned Move-Back-In weekend from June 28 – 29 to July 19 – 20. Requests and sign-up sheets will start in early July.
Painting Help Phase Two Painting starts Friday June 13 and Saturday June 14 9 AM – 12 PM and 1 – 4 PM, and Saturday June 20 9 AM – 12 PM and 1 – 4 PM.
We especially need 2-3 people on the 14th 9 – 12 shift, and more help on June 20 both shifts. (Please sign up on sheets on foyer table or contact Wolfgang)
General Help needed (time TBD) Tasks include installing many shelves in the mezzanine storage room; installing blinds in windows in all the rooms; installing bulletin boards, fire extinguishers, signs, cabinets.
Contact Wolfgang Dengler in Breeze with questions.
Buy treats from a local UU-owned goody stand to support Linn-Benton Food Share (LBFS)! Holley Lantz, Donn Zellet and Nora Cohen operate a goody stand selling homemade jams, old-fashioned fudge, and scrumptious chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. This is the 17th year they have sold treats to benefit the food bank. They donate all proceeds to LBFS, and last year raised $1,024! Your purchases of jam, fudge, and cookies make a difference! LBFS is filling a critical need feeding more and more people who can’t stretch dollars far enough.
The goody stand is at 2921 NW Ashwood Drive – a small “C”-shaped street halfway between Circle and Walnut west off 29th – at the top of the driveway. It’s always open! Goodies are sold on the honor system. Leave cash or check (made out to LeoNora Cohen) in an envelope in the upper right cubbie. Take change if you need it.
Fudge and cookies cost $1 per piece, 6 for $5. Jam is $7 for one jar, or $6 per jar for multiples.
The fudge is made by Holley Lantz from a 1946 recipe. It is grainy like your grandma used to make and is deep, dark chocolatey goodness! Donn makes the most delicious, large chewy oatmeal cookies full or chocolate bits, cranberries and raisins. Cookies and fudge will be available June 8 or earlier. The jam is made in small batches by Nora Cohen in her kitchen. There are multiple flavors available:
Strawberry Mango (Shuksan U-pick strawberries, frozen mango) Italian Plum (from Nora’s trees) Apricot Fig (from Nora’s tree) with toasted walnuts, honey, fresh ginger and cinnamon Sweet Cherry and Mango Strawberry-Red Currant Blueberry
The selling season ends August 15! And thank you for returning jars and rings.
We made it through another fabulous Fellowship year! 🙌 With some of your favorite RE activities on summer hiatus, you might be wondering what other opportunities are coming for children, youth, and families. Well, wonder no more!
Grab your calendars and get ready for summer goodness you won’t want to miss!
SUMMER EVENTS for FAMILIES
6/8 Family Hike at Lewisburg Saddle, 1-2PM, register here
6/23-27 Play to Your Values summer camp, 8:30 to 11:30 on the Fellowship Lawn
6/29 Corvallis Knights Game, 5-8ish at Goss Stadium, register here
7/6 Sunday Morning Kids’ Lemonade Stand, during and after the service
7/13 Family Hike at Fitton Green, 1-2PM, register here
8/3 Sunday Morning Sidewalk Chalk Values, during the service for kids
8/10 Family Hike and Splash at Mary’s River Natural Area, 1-3PM register here
8/16 Outdoor movie night and camping on the lawn, 9PM register here
8/24 Ice Cream Social, 7PM on Fellowship Lawn, register here
SUMMER EVENT for YOUTH
8/24 Youth kickoff river float, noon to whenever, 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.
The second Sunday of each month, June through August, we’ll be hosting a family hike. We ask that families preregister so that we know who to wait for at the trailhead, and hikes with fewer than 2 registered families will be canceled via text.
We’ll be starting with Lewisburg Saddle and a little visit to the spot my family calls Salamander Heaven because there are tons of salamanders to see. Then we’ll hit Fitton Green in July. We’ll wrap up the summer with a short walk followed by a splash in a bend in the river that has shallows for little humans and a deeper pool for our confident swimmers on the back side of Mary’s River Natural Area.
Exciting news! The youth will have a dedicated youth room in September and they’ve chosen a wild accent wall to paint themselves. We will begin painting this Sunday and continue on Sundays until the job is done. Please have youth arrive in clothes that can get paint on them.
On the first Sunday of each month, we will have a multiage activity for the kids. In July, we’ll prepare a lemonade stand again to raise money for the charitable organization that the children vote to give to. In August, we’ll spend some time on the playground talking about our shared values and what they mean to us, and then sidewalk chalk the heck out of firwood entrance with 6 word statements about our values.
If you’re nervous about having the kids in the sanctuary again, know that you’ll have relief on the first Sunday of each month!
In addition to hikes and during-service activities, we have a couple of night time activities that are open to the entire congregation, and geared specifically toward families.
On June 29th, we’ll have a ballpark night with the Knights. Buy a ticket and join us in section 2 so we can sing and cheer and eat junk together. Register for that event HERE.
And on August 16th, we’re going to show the classic My Girl on an outdoor movie screen and you’re invited to camp on the lawn and show up to the service in your jammies the next day. Registration for the movie night with camping is HERE. You do not have to camp to come enjoy the movie!
It’s been so much fun getting to know your children over the course of this last year. They are delightful in all the ways and it’s the biggest honor to get to spend time with them week after week and get to know their quirks and gifts.Â
Thank you for raising such amazing humans and for being committed to doing it in community!
Before you go, some parents have requested to be contacted about RE happenings via text. Our church management software allows for that, but only once you’ve opted in. If you are interested in receiving things like this newsletter via text, please use this form to opt into that service. And please communicate with me about how it’s going if you opt in. Breeze can be a bit fussy, so this will be a new experiment. I’ll be counting on your feedback!  And as always, if you’d like to stop receiving updates about Fellowship RE activities, email me and let me know.  Happy June, Y’all!Â
“Welcoming our sorrow eases the hardened places within us, allowing them to open and freeing us to once more feel our kinship with the living presence around us. This is deep activism, soul activism that actually encourages us to connect with the tears of the world. Grief keeps the heart flexible, fluid, and open to others… Our activism is directly connected to our heart’s ability to respond to the world. A congested heart, one burdened with unexpressed sorrow, cannot stay open to the world, and consequently, cannot be fully available for the healing work so needed at this time.” – Frances Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow:
WHAT: Workshop offered by Skyla to explore lamentation — the ancient practice of passionately expressing sorrow through language and art. Participants will engage with a formal structure for writing a personal lament and artistically express their grief in the format of a small zine. No artistic skills are needed, and all supplies will be provided.
This workshop was generously provided to religious professionals around the nation by Rev. JaKaren Bell and the UU College of Social Justice, with the invitation to teach this practice in our home congregations. It is our hope that this spiritual practice will provide spiritual sustenance to fuel your justice work.
Oregon’s homeless shelters face a potential funding crisis if timely action isn’t taken. With the state budget deadline approaching on June 18 (or June 29 if there is an emergency declaration), your advocacy is critical to ensure shelters can continue operating without interruption starting July 1.
An update on Unity Shelter Funding
As some of you may have seen in multiple news outlets, or from our social media, Unity Shelter is at a critical point. While we have been solidly funded for the past 2 years by the State of Oregon, changes in the federal funding landscape are likely to cause challenges to the State’s ability to maintain the level of funding we’ve had in previous years. Click below to read a note from our Executive Director about how we’re responding and the changes to Unity Shelter operations.
Unity Shelter needs your advocacy! How to Advocate for Shelter Funding in Corvallis: A Guide for Action
The Urgency: Why Your Voice Matters Now
Oregon’s homeless shelters face a potential funding crisis if timely action isn’t taken. With the state budget deadline approaching on June 18 (or June 29 if there is an emergency declaration), your advocacy is critical to ensure shelters can continue operating without interruption starting July 1.
In Corvallis, if emergency shelter is closed, at least 160 individuals will be impacted by the closure of 3 Unity Shelter programs alone: Two congregate shelters and our emergency hoteling shelter.
Understanding the Legislation at Stake
Two bills are particularly important to Oregon’s shelter system:
HB 5011: This budget bill funds Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), including essential shelter funding. Currently in Ways and Means Committee, this bill directly impacts whether shelters receive timely funding. HB 3644: A policy bill directing OHCS to establish a coordinated shelter system by mid-2026. While this does have long-term implications, it’s not connected to our immediate funding concerns.
The most effective action right now is contacting members of the Ways and Means Committee, particularly those on the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee who review the OHCS budget.
When contacting legislators, emphasize these key points:
Continuity of Services: Explain how any funding gap would force shelters to close in July, leaving vulnerable Oregonians without critical services
Community Impact: Describe specific impacts on your local community if shelter funding is delayed (Remember – closing shelters means an additional 160 people outside, including children and the elderly. The city’s current practice of posting and clearing camps means that folx are perpetually dislocated. The data is clear that this is a harmful practice, see this article as just one example of recent research on the topic.) In addition to the impact to those without shelter, 40 people will be laid off.
Urgency for Distribution: Stress the need for not just approval but rapid distribution of funds once approved
Step 3: Mobilize Your Network
Share this information broadly and encourage advocacy!
Step 4: Follow the Process
Monitor committee hearings and votes on HB 5011
Stay connected with OHCS’s workgroup on “continuation” funding for shelters
Be prepared to provide testimony if public comment periods are available
Stay Informed
OHCS is aware of the critical timing issues and has established a workgroup focused on continuation funding for shelters
Follow updates from providers like Unity Shelter about budget developments
Remember: Your Advocacy Makes a Difference
Legislators need to understand the real-world consequences of funding decisions. Your specific examples of why this matters to you and how shelters impact our community are powerful tools for effective advocacy.
Sample Advocacy Message
Subject: Urgent Support Needed for Shelter Funding in HB 5011
Dear Representative/Senator [Name],
I’m writing regarding HB 5011, which contains critical funding for Oregon’s homeless shelters through Oregon Housing and Community Services.
Our emergency shelter organization, Unity Shelter, serves over 1,200 unique individuals annually, providing essential safety and support. Without timely funding at the start of the fiscal year, we face the possibility of service closure beginning July 1.
This would mean [include something about the specific impact this would have on our community – like, 160 individuals, including families with children, would lose emergency housing options in our community, 40 employees will be laid off.]
I urge you to:
Support full funding for shelter services in HB 5011
Prioritize rapid implementation to prevent any funding gaps in July
Recognize shelters as essential human services requiring funding continuity
I appreciate your consideration and your care for our most vulnerable citizens.
Sincerely, [Your name] [Organization, if applicable] [Contact Information]
Have you submitted a photo of yourself to the Breeze directory? The Membership Team will set up a photo booth after the June 1st service in the Sanctuary and take photos of anyone who wants one for their Breeze profile.
Having a photo attached to your Breeze profile helps others in the Fellowship learn who you are and connect your name to your face.
The annual UUFC Men’s Retreat is coming around again this fall, and two things are brand new – 1) it’s in a new location – Camp Harlow, just north of Eugene (barely an hour’s drive!); and 2) it’s earlier than in past years – October 3-5 (when the weather is often better than later in the fall). So mark your calendar now!
Our theme this year is “Sharing the Story of Your Life Journey.” We all share in the gift of life, and we each have our unique life journey. We have our story of where we were raised, the skills we developed, and the person we became. Yet we are much more than this. Our story shapes us through our challenges, successes, regrets, and lessons learned. It affects how we look at ourselves in the mirror, prepare for the day ahead, and engage in our community. Our story connects us with our deepest selves and with each other. At this year’s Men’s Retreat we will explore our stories, listen to one another, and consider what our stories teach us about ourselves, our life journey, and our connection to the wider community.
Registration information will be available in August. For more information, contact the Men’s Retreat Planning Team with this Breeze form.
My name is Alex McGee and I am honored that the Search Team invited me to come serve as Interim Minister, starting in August. I know that this is a tender time as you say goodbye to Rev. Jill. When I arrive, I commit to journey compassionately with you as you stay true to yourselves as you look at your past, strengthen yourselves in the present, and plan for the future. I am excited about learning more about the Corvallis area. Some folks have asked me to share the website that the Search Team has seen, so I updated it a smidge, and here it is: https://www.revalexandramcgee.org/.
The UUFC became an official UUA Welcoming Congregation more than 3 decades ago. The Gender and Sexuality Justice Team is ready to lead UUFC in updating our status as a Welcoming Congregation that includes non-binary and transgender folks.
An important first step is for members of UUFC to read and discuss the UUA Common Read book for 2024-25 – Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and their Families. Please read the book and join a four-part discussion workshop led by Anya Ballinger and Jema Patterson. The meetings will take place from 6:30-8:00 PM in the UUFC Sanctuary on 7/15, 7/29, 8/12 and 8/26. Tell us you plan to participate by registering here: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/a93a00
Authentic Selves, is a sweeping compilation of life stories and portraits of trans and nonbinary people, as well as their partners, parents, children, siblings, and chosen family members. This important new book was developed in collaboration with PFLAG National and Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund.
Please join us for an evening of sacred music with Portland’s Shantala on Sunday, June 15 at 7:00 PM. Benjy and Heather Wertheimer have been leading kirtan (sacred chanting) worldwide since 2001 as the duo Shantala. They are known for their special gift of bringing the audience into a vast and loving experience through their unique blend of exquisite voices with instruments of India and the West. Together they create music with beauty, passion, and reverence. Shantala has performed and recorded internationally with such sacred music luminaries as Krishna Das, Deva Premal & Miten, and Jai Uttal. Heather and Benjy have released five beautiful and well-loved albums of sacred chant music since 2003, including Living Waters, Jaya, LIVE in love, Sri, and The Love Window. They will be joined in this tour by bansuri virtuoso Steve Gorn.
