weekly announcements

Costumes, Trick-or-Treat, and Voting! 10/25

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This Sunday, October 25, we’re inviting kids AND grown-ups to come to church in costume for a morning of Halloween fun!

After the service, our fabulous UUFC teams will be waiting at their decorated tables with treats, activities, and opportunities to learn a little more about the people and groups who make our congregation such a wonderful place to get involved.

But this year, there’s a twist…

THE GOLDEN PUMPKIN IS BACK! 🎃

After a mysterious (okay, accidental) disappearance during the Great Building Clean-Out of 2024, our legendary Golden Pumpkin Award is making its triumphant return!

And this year, YOU get to decide who wins!

As you visit the tables, check out the decorations, enjoy the activities, collect your treats, and decide which team has earned your vote. Everyone, kids and grown-ups alike, will have the opportunity to cast a ballot for their favorite table!

The winning team will receive the coveted Golden Pumpkin trophy, a year of glorious bragging rights, and the extraordinary privilege of adding ONE RANDOM OBJECT to the trophy, where it will remain forever (or until the glue gives out).

We’re bringing back the dream of a ridiculous tradition, with a trophy that gets bigger, sillier, and more spectacular every year.

Here’s what you need to know:

When: Sunday, October 25, beginning 10 minutes after the service.
Where: On the back patio, weather permitting. (in the classroom wing if there’s rain)
What to wear: Costumes are enthusiastically encouraged for ALL AGES! Silly, spooky, spectacular, or simple. Come as you are, or as someone (or something!) else.
What to bring: Your Halloween spirit, something to collect treats in (paper bags will be available outside the RE office door in case you forget), and your very best voting judgment!

Whether you’re five or ninety-five, your vote counts in this supremely important congregational election.

We can’t wait to see your costumes, celebrate our teams, and discover who will claim the Golden Pumpkin!

Let the trick-or-treating (and democracy!) begin! 🎃

Settled Minister Search: Focus Groups

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The Settled Minister Search Committee is hosting multiple focus groups! Read below to see what’s coming up.

We’d like to welcome anyone who identifies as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) to participate in a BIPOC centered Focus Group for our settled minister search process. This Focus Group is specifically aimed to amplify voices of those whose perspectives may not be as prevalent in this community. It’s also a unique opportunity to come together as BIPOC and gather! Shikha Ghosh Gottfried will be facilitating these discussions.

Please register at least 24 hours in advance so that we can plan accordingly: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/search_bipoc

Tuesday 10/27 @ 7pm via Zoom

Sunday 11/1 @ 11:45am in UUFC Library

Focus Groups for folks in leadership roles – board members current and past, council leads and members, RE guides, affinity group leadership – are happening October 22 and 29 at 1:45 PM. To register, contact Molly Curry and Gary Barnes.

A Focus Group for RE parents is happening November 1 at 11:45 AM. To register, contact to Rachel Houtman.

A Focus Group for Care and Support is happening October 27 at 6:30 PM.

Oregon UU Voices for Justice 2026 Conference, 11/14

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Raising Our Voices Together: How UUs Can Take Action In These Times

It is easy to despair when the social progress of the past 50 years is unilaterally rolled back. All hope is not lost; by acting collectively and peacefully we can do what we can’t do individually. Understanding what gives us hope and what we can do to address today’s social justice challenges will form the foundation of our actions.

Join us on Saturday, November 14th from 9:30 to 3 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem, 5090 Center St. NE, Salem, OR, and online where we gather to Build Resilient Relationships Among People and Congregations

You can register here until 11:30 pm on Thursday, November 12th. Virtual attendees will be sent a Zoom link on Friday, November 13th.

What to expect:

  • A warm welcome, begin the day with light food, coffee, and a chance to connect.
  • A UU values-based program.
  • A slideshow during breaks showing congregations’ social justice activities. 
  • Opportunities to reflect, share experiences, collaborate, and form meaningful connections.
  • An opportunity to relax after the conference and enjoy each other’s company over light snacks and refreshing beverages.

Conference program

Finding our grounding

  • What gives you hope?
  • How are you coping with the changes coming at us?
  • How do you apply UU values to shape your social justice work?
  • What UU foundations strengthen your persistence and resilience?

How can we work together?

  • What barriers do you experience personally/congregationally in your SJ work?
  • How can Voices amplify your social justice actions?

What did we hear today; what can we do next?

Safety Week November 1 – 8

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UUFC Safety Team presents our first ever Safety Week November 1 to 8, 2026, with an educational focus for the whole congregation. Our new Safety Pamphlet can be viewed/downloaded below and is available as a hard copy at the Welcome Desk. There will be hands-on demonstrations of safety equipment during social hour. We will hold our annual All-Fellowship evacuation drill at the end of worship service on November 8. Be safe, everyone!

UUFC Safety Pamphlet 2026 web versionDownload

Gather to Write to Voters, 10/18, after service in UUFC Library

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Hello all letter writers!

Next week is the last week to write.

Mail date for Vote Forward is on or before Saturday, October 24.
Mail date for most postcards is Wednesday, October 21.

Join us for:

In person writing gathering on Sunday, October 18, after the Service in the UUFC Library! We will have materials and most of all Friendliness and Goodwill and sometimes Hilarity. Just bring yourself and a good writing hand!

On ZOOM on Tuesday, October 20 at 4pm. The link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89739152521?pwd=ICCRN0wITf7Ws78wycvpXQckt0iChc.1

If you need stamps, contact Claire Montgomery.

And don’t forget – Saturday October 17 is No Kings Early Voting rally. We hope to see you all there!!!

Thrive, 10/29

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Join the Immigrant and Refugee Support Team at a fundraiser for our partners, Corvallis for Refugees. CFR works closely with us to put on our International Flavors and Friends dinners. Thrive will take place at 7:00, Thursday, October 29 at CH2M Hill Alumni Center. Come and meet local immigrants and folks working to help them.

Global Partners Team, 10/11

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Change Your Perspective with the Global Partners Team. Meeting on Oct. 11 at 11:30 AM in the Library.

We are a standing team of the UUFC Justice Council. We are sustaining long-term relationships with Unitarian and UU communities worldwide. Cultivating authentic personal relationships deepens our understanding of faith. Exchanging ideas and experiences makes human rights and religious freedom real and relevant.

The focus of the Team is to support youth education for our partners and the UUFC. The Team educates and creates awareness about partnerships through activities which may include luncheons, annual dinners, RE sessions, holiday gift programs, monthly outreach during Team worship service, travel exchanges, and communications with partners.

The process of “reframing” your perspective involves self-reflection, embracing humility to learn from others, and a commitment to challenging your own limiting stories and beliefs. We will continue the conversation at our next meeting. Please join us.

To find out more and to join our team, please contact Heather E. via this link.

Birthday Celebration, 10/11

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Join us in the Social Hall after the Sunday service to celebrate UUFC birthdays occurring between October and December. All are welcome!
If you aren’t yet part of the Birthday Club, ask us about how your annual gift, a dollar amount equal to the number of your years, will support the Endowment Fund and help our fellowship thrive.

Outreach Offerings for October

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Our October Justice Outreach offering will support Unity Shelter. Unity Shelter was founded in January 2020 as an umbrella organization for Room at the Inn, SafePlace, and Corvallis Men’s Shelter. They continue to grow programs and operations to meet the growing demand for shelter, respite, resource navigation, and community.

To learn more about their work, visit the Unity Shelter website.

Democracy Action Team Letter Writing Gathering, Monday, October 5, 5pm – 7pm

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Gather together to Protect Free and Fair Elections

Last push to reach out to potential voters – less than 5 weeks until the midterm election! We will gather on Monday Oct. 5, 5-7pm in Room 3 to write:

  • Down Ballot Election Integrity Letters to voters in Nevada, North Carolina, Colorado, and Montana where important down ballot elections are occurring.
  • Letters and postcards to potential voters in states where elections are likely to be close.

We’ll supply materials, info, addresses, and food. Let’s join together to protect our sacred right to have our votes counted! For information, contact Claire Montgomery.

We will also gather on:

Happy writing! Let’s hope for the best – safe and fair elections – in November.

Claire Montgomery, Linda Zittel, Karen Josephson
UUFC Democracy Action Team