weekly announcements

2025-26 Services Auction Feedback Request

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In 2026, for the first time, the Services Auction was held off-campus. This was an experiment, and we ask for feedback using the linked form https://forms.gle/XerdBHzwPQmj2MZ2A to share their views on the Scout Lodge and their preferences with respect to hosting future auctions at UUFC, the Scout Lodge, or, potentially, other off-campus sites. Responses will be used by the fundraising team in making its recommendation to the Finance Council and Board on the venue for future Auctions.

If more than one adult in your household attended the Auction at the Scout Lodge, please ask them to also complete the form https://forms.gle/XerdBHzwPQmj2MZ2A.

Questions: Michael Hughes treasurer@uucorvallis.org.

Inquirers Series swap this week, 6/21

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The Inquirers Series class this week (June 21, 2026) will be Membership 101. The Care & Support class will now be on June 28. This swap is temporary; the regular class sequence will continue after June 28.

Membership 101 is one of the three classes required before signing the membership book. If you’re interested in becoming a signed member of the Fellowship, you can read more on our Path to Membership page.

Democracy Action Team “Get Out the Vote” letters, 6/21

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Let’s Get Writing to GET OUT THE VOTE in the 2026 midterm elections!

Join us to write, ask questions, and share good company – in person on Sunday, June 21, 11:45 am, in the Library or on Zoom on Tuesdays, every week, at 4pm (ZOOM LINK – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89739152521?pwd=ICCRN0wITf7Ws78wycvpXQckt0iChc.1)

Check out Vote Forward letter writing, get addresses and letter templates, at (https://votefwd.org/get-involved)

Contact Claire Montgomery for information.

A Weekend of Kirtan and Yoga with Saul David Raye, 6/26, 6/27

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Join us for a special set of Kirtan and Yoga! There will be 2 events.

Friday night (June 26, 2026, 7 PM in the Sanctuary) will be a beautiful devotional Heart Medicine Kirtan Concert.

Saturday morning (June 27, 2026, 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary) will be an all levels healing yoga, qi gong and meditation practice with live music called ‘Evolutionary Heart.’

We are looking forward to connecting with friends old & new and sharing some community connection & heart medicine.

Tickets are available at https://ritamhealingarts.com/corvallis-2026/.

Transitions Team History Presentation (Zoom), 7/16

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The Transitions team is responsible for supporting and advising our interim minister during this time of transition. Generally speaking, the work of interim ministry can be expressed in five areas of emphasis: History, Mission, Leadership, Connections, and Future.

This presentation will focus on the first area: History. Join us for an exploration of what the Transitions team has learned about the history of the Fellowship and how it has changed through time.

Thursday, July 16 at 7 PM on Zoom. Link here: https://zoom.us/j/98559780585?pwd=Ztv0hVfYM7mLH26zXxzH9gXPXApPyt.1

The Right Relations Team is available

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The Right Relations Team is available for conversations about covenant and to support brave spaces where people can move from defensiveness toward resolution.  For the first step, reach out to rev.alex.mcgee@uucorvallis.org.

Members of the Right Relations Team

Mark Aron

Mark has attended the UUFC since 1986.  He has taught in the RE program for nearly all of those 40 years, including working with the teen-age youth group over the past twenty-five plus years.  In 2012-13, he served on a successful search committee that was tasked with finding a new settled minister.  In 2013, he was appointed to the Committee on Ministry, and became its chair several years later.  He chaired this committee until it completed its work in 2025.  He chaired the team that wrote our most recent congregational covenant.

Mark has particular interests in aiding groups to work in constructive patterns.  Specifically, he is committed to helping folks engage in respectful interactions, deep listening, and healthy means of dealing with conflict.  To these ends, he has served on the Right Relations Team since its inception in late 2025.

Susan Christie

Susan Christie and her husband Matt Mathews joined the Fellowship in November 1999. Since then, Susan has sung in the choir, served as secretary of the Board of Directors, led the Climate Action Team, and been a member of the Justice Council, the Democracy Action Team, the Right Relations Team, and the Fellowship Care and Support Team, which provided extensive training on deep listening. Her strength is understanding differing perspectives on social justice and other issues.

Susan is a retired scientific/technical writer and still does pro bono work in support of climate science. She is a strong advocate of bicycle transportation.

Joyce Marvel-Benoist 

With an orientation to helping people communicate and an ability to suspend judgement, Joyce has served as community mediator, life coach, holistic addiction treatment center director, child care center director and special interventions trainer, as well as group facilitator utilizing a mix of NVC (Non Violent Communication), the Option Process, and others.    Program developer and facilitator for trainings focusing on communication, parenting, couples, self care, staff collaboration, emergency procedures, and creative arts.

Joyce and her husband JF Benoist have attended UUFC since 2023 and have assisted with women’s and men’s retreats, offered an empowerment workshop, and enjoyed supporting justice work, as well as groups such as Queerly Beloved and Neuro Diversity Support.  A longtime activist, her approach is open hearted and minded with respect for differing perspectives.

Global Partners Team, 6/14

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With gratitude, the Global Partners Team acknowledges the “countless gifts that have been given – gifts of life and love and sustenance” – and what that brings to our work to deepen our relationships with partners around the world.

Please join us on Sunday, June 14 at 11:30 AM in the Library for our regularly scheduled Team meeting. We will discuss and develop a plan for distribution of funds in the new fiscal year.

Contact GPT lead, Heather E, at this link for more information.