Our April Justice Outreach offering will support the Community Services Consortium Weatherization Program. The program targets lower income housing for basic energy efficiency repairs and upgrades. These involve energy assessments, insulation, weather stripping, ducts, furnace safety, and more, in a planned, organized process by local workers. This is free for qualified residents of Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. The program relies heavily on Federal funding which has become more difficult, while the waitlist for program services lengthens. Your donations will allow more local households to be served and help those with sub-marginal incomes to save on energy costs. For more information, visit https://communityservices.us/weatherization/.
How to donate to the monthly Outreach Offering
Each month, the Fellowship gathers donations for a certain charitable cause. These are our Outreach Offerings. You can contribute to this month’s offering in a few ways:
The Kitchen team donates an assortment of sweet and savory refreshments, including gluten-free and vegan choices, for our enjoyment at the social hour following Sunday worship. These items are purchased and prepared by the team to encourage donations to the Outreach Offering. Collection baskets are always found at the ends of the refreshments table. The next time you’re eyeing something tasty on the table, consider putting a donation in the basket first to show how much you appreciate having that treat ready and waiting for you!
Happy Spring! Time to get outdoors and get our grounds looking great. Joyce has scheduled 4 work parties for April, and will plan additional work parties weekly in May. Please come help out when you can – let Joyce know if you plan to attend.
April Work Parties Mondays: April 6 and April 20 3-5pm Saturdays: April 4 and April 18 3-5pm
If you can’t make those times and would prefer to come when you can, there are specific tasks you can work on individually or with a buddy (a potentially new friend?). Specific tasks include things like:
cardboarding and mulching the areas adjacent to Firwood and Elmwood to get rid of the scraggly grass and weeds that are unsightly and difficult to mow.
weeding a specific area (lots to choose from!)
repotting potted plants
Our group efforts will involve completing work on the pollinator garden, which will mean planting annuals, mulching, setting up a watering system and woodchipping the path. And other misc. pruning and wood chipping the paths.
We are having the large oak trees pruned on April 16th by Peak Tree Care. After their work, we should have some high quality wood chips to use for the paths.
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 Justice Outreach Fund (JOF) created in 2015 supports our Unitarian Universalist Values with an emphasis on creating a just and diverse multicultural Beloved Community where all thrive. To do this, the Fund awards small and large grants up to $10,000 to projects that are aimed at seeding and/or achieving social, economic, racial, and environmental justice.
The JOF Team is looking for projects that support one or more of the following three outcomes:
Changing how people are thinking and talking about an issue.
Engaging people and communities in civic action.
Developing or changing public or corporate policy.
For more information, the JOF Team encourages you to visit our table in the Social Hall on the first Sunday of each month, visit our newly revised webpage, or email us at jofund@uucorvallis.org for more information.
Embroider your life with song! The UUFC Choir meets every Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary and is open to anyone – whether you have musical experience or not. There is no audition.
We sing a variety of pieces – each with unique style, instrumentation, and cultural significance – which allows for diverse musical exploration and personal expression.
The Choir is a great way to be of service to our Fellowship community… and have FUN! Contact Director Steven Evans-Renteria for more information at this link.
Childcare is available!
Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.
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.
Shantala, the kirtan duo of Benjy and Heather Wertheimer, has over two decades of experience leading kirtan (sacred chanting), and have captivated audiences worldwide. Their music is a beautiful tapestry of exquisite vocals, Indian instrumentation, and Western influences, creating a loving and reverent atmosphere.
Want to make local change happen? Considering running for office? Interested in learning more about how local politics works?
Join our Foundations of Corvallis Politics course on April 4th at 12pm at the UUFC.
No experience necessary. We’ll teach you how power and influence moves in the city, and how you can participate. This workshop will set the foundation for several tracks – whether you’re an advocate, potential candidate, or campaign support, this class is for you.
The UUFC Annual Meeting is coming up on Sunday, May 17, 2026 after worship service. Many things happen at our annual meeting, including voting on who will fill various leadership roles. For exact details, please read the UUFC Bylaws, shown at the bottom of this page.
Here is the timeline of events leading up to this year’s annual meeting.
Saturday, May 2, 2026: Deadline for any candidates to be nominated by petition (see Bylaws Article III Section 1)
Saturday, May 9, 2026: Finalized slate of all nominated candidates is published
Sunday, May 17, 2026: Annual Meeting!
The Annual Meeting on May 17 is also online. If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person, it will be available on Zoom using the same link as the Sunday Service, included below. You will also be able to vote using Zoom. The meeting will start after the service at approximately 11:30 am.
Come vote on many key items and celebrate our search for meaning, deep connections, and actions toward a better world for all, The meeting will be held shortly after the service on Sunday, May 17. We require a quorum of at least one-quarter of the membership. Sign-in sheets will be available before the service. Snacks will be available in the Social Hall. The meeting will be carried on Zoom and on-line voting will be available. The agenda includes several important items:
Gathering, Chalice Lighting, and Confirmation of Quorum
Voting
Search Team (requires a vote of ¾ of members present)
Emerita Status Resolution (requires a vote of ¾ of members present)
Note that the Chair of the Committee on Ministry would normally also be elected at the Annual Meeting, but the work of the Committee on Ministry is paused during our time of Interim Ministry.
Ministerial Search Committee
The Board of Directors has presented a slate of candidates to serve as the Ministerial Search Committee, which will be tasked with conducting a search for our next settled minister.
Motions are passed by majority vote of those present, which is determined through a verbal Yea/Nay vote. Attendees on Zoom will vote using Zoom’s polling function.
Becoming a Voting Member
Voting at the Annual Meeting is only open to people who are signed, active members of the Fellowship. In other words, those who have signed the membership book and maintained active membership. See Bylaws Article II.
There is still time for new members to join before the Annual Meeting! Prospective members are required to attend three of the Inquirers Series sessions before signing the book: #1 Our Shared Values, #2 Transitions Q&A, #8 Membership 101 (or #9 UU Roots). These sessions will be offered before the Annual Meeting, on these dates:
Transitions Q&A: April 19 (swapped dates with Care & Support, which is now on May 10)
Membership 101: April 26
Our Shared Values: May 3
If you have already completed any of these sessions, you only need to attend the others. You do not need to repeat a session you’ve already attended, though you are welcome to!
The membership book will be available for signing after the Inquirers Series on May 10, for those who have completed the prerequisites. This will be the last opportunity to sign the membership book before the Annual Meeting. To learn more about membership at the UUFC, see our Path to Membership page.
UUFC Member Voting FAQ
This list of Frequently Asked Questions was prepared to help inform people about the votes that will occur at the Fellowship’s Annual Meeting. Please read these questions, and share this page with anyone who has questions about voting. If you have a voting question that isn’t answered here, please email it comms@uucorvallis.org.
Do I have to be a member to vote? Yes, per the Fellowship’s Bylaws.
Does pledging make me a member? No. But it is greatly appreciated!
How do I know if I’m a member? Check the list of members that is currently available at the Board table in the Social Hall after Sunday worship service. You can also ask by emailing comms@uucorvallis.org.
How does the Fellowship keep track of who the current members are? Fellowship staff maintain a member database using Breeze Church Management Software.
Can I vote proxy? No.
Can I vote with an absentee ballot? No.
Can I vote on Zoom? Yes.
Can I vote by phone? No.
Can my friend / roommate / spouse / cat vote for me? No.
How many of the Inquirers series do I have to take before I can become a member? Three; specifically Sessions 1, 2, and 8 (or 9). For more information see Our path to Membership page.
Can I sign the book the morning of the congregational meeting? The day before? The week before? Our Membership Coordinator is willing to meet with people to sign through May 13, but after that, the list of members will be in process to be prepared for the Annual Meeting.
If I was a member elsewhere, can the minister make an exception for me? No.
I didn’t know I had to be a member. Can I vote anyway? No.
I have been coming to the UUFC for a long time. Doesn’t that count? Not for the purposes of voting on congregational matters, no.
I think I signed the book 20 years ago, but you all don’t have proof. Can I vote? No. But ask about your membership status anyway, so existing records can still be checked.
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!
The NO KINGS demonstration rally is TOMORROW, March 28, noon to 3 pm. We obviously have a national crisis and this is our chance as regular citizens to do something about it. How many people from UUFC will be there? Let’s help make Corvallis contribute in a big way to making the nationwide attendance far exceed the 7 million that were at the previous NO KINGS in October.
As for transportation to the demonstration, which begins at noon, I recommend taking the bus to avoid hunting for parking near the courthouse. If you just go to the rally at the courthouse, all the bus routes end at the transit station just a block away from there. If you want to join the march, which starts at noon at 11th and Monroe, several of the bus routes go right by that intersection. Check the route maps on the Corvallis Transit System website to find the route that applies to you.
The march will include songs of resistance, other music, and speeches, not only at the beginning but also at a second half-hour stop at Central Park. It is scheduled to arrive at the 4th-street rally at 2 pm, just 1 hour before the rally ends. Personally, I think the rally is the most important part, so I intend to skip the march, or at least part of it, and spend most of my time on 4th Street. Either way, I strongly encourage everyone one to participate.
