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Sunday Service

  • This Week:

    2025-08-10 “Community Wealth Sharing has Positive Impact!”

    With the support of individuals, the City of Corvallis, the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, Seeds for the Sol has helped over 450 households experiencing low income to reduce their power bills and upgrade the value of their homes. Learn about what you can do, in these times, to make your own home more efficient and to continue to help others in your community! Energy efficiency as a subversive act! We firmly believe that energy efficiency is an important path toward a livable planet.

    Julie Williams, Seeds for the Sol

Services This Month

  • Registration is required HERE.

    WHAT: A fun and connecting communal exploration of radical inclusion through the lens of race and culture.

    WHEN: Monday evenings, 9/7 – 10/20 from 6:30-8PM

    WHERE: Room 7 @ uufc

    WHY: Because the social and political landscape is ever-evolving, there will always be more to learn about how to be inclusive, and this will never be a topic we can check off the old to-do list and call it done. In 2020, the Commission on Institutional Change’s report, “Widening the Circle of Concern” (UUA), the commission recommended that we “hold conversations across generations about issues of inclusion, with the goal of recognizing the evolution in our Living Tradition and that spiritual development needs change over time.” Let’s answer that call in Corvallis!

    More details:

    Each session will include the following elements:

    • Opening: chalice lighting and check-in
    • Read: audio or video of a book or an article to explore together
    • Watch: video
    • Do: craft, game, or other activity
    • Close: chalice extinguishing words and other classroom rituals to close the circle
    • Take Home: suggested activity and/or conversation starter to encourage further faith development at home

    We want to see a majority of our adults engaging with this material. We want to see teams and councils putting this learning to work in all we do in every corner of Fellowship life and beyond. We want to do whatever is needed to help you engage deeply, share bravely, and welcome wildly, so if you want to be included and can’t figure out how, or if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Skyla King-Christison at dre@uucorvallis.org .

    PS Our children will be engaging with Mosaic across the year, too! Below are some pictures of our leaders of the children and youth programs getting ready for the juicy and community-building year ahead!

From the Minister

  • Rev. Alex McGee began on August 1, 2025 serving as Interim Minister as our Fellowship enters our interim time, following the retirement of Rev. Jill McAllister. 

    Greetings UUFC!

    What a joy and honor it has been to spend the first week with you.  Thank you for your thoughtful welcomes in so many ways.  I see warmth and enthusiasm here.  Just in a few days I have observed the lovely shared worship leadership on Aug 3; the thoughtful caring of the Coordinating Council; the many hands painting, fixing, carrying, and beautifying the renovated wing.  I have met with the staff and am learning their talents.  

    As I look ahead, I am excited to undertake the five tasks of interim ministry with you.  These five areas are a professional standard nationwide, across faith groups, for congregations during a transition time.  They are:

    • Reviewing history
    • Clarifying identity
    • Bolstering leadership
    • Strengthening connections locally and nationally
    • Looking to the future together

    You will be seeing these show up in many opportunities throughout the life of the Fellowship.

    What is moving in me in my daily prayer as I journey with you at this moment are three themes from our Universalist heritage:  Faith, Hope and Love.  These enhearten me as I honor the unknowns of this new-to-me place, the heartache of the national and international news, and the stories that each of you are holding.  Faith is something I understand from both my Christian and Yoga experience, as something that comes from beyond us to help us trust there is a wider meaning we cannot yet see.  Hope is something we choose so we can step forward.  And Love is a current that flows through us connecting us to others with compassion and joy.  I look forward to hearing from you all what is moving in you spiritually at this time.

    —Namaste, Rev. Alex McGee

    August 7, 2025

This Week at UUFC

Announcements

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See past weekly announcements.

CALENDAR THIS WEEK

The “Events Calendar” has all of the events except for outside rentals and private meetings. If you want to see ALL the events including events not open to the public, try the ROOM USE CALENDAR.

17

Aug

RE Covenant Team

* 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

*Library

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RE Covenant Team

Aug 17, 2025


start time: 6:00 PM

end time: 7:00 PM

location: Library

description: None

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R.E. COUNCIL NEWS

Current Events

See All RE Events

Faith Formation Toolkit

Maybe you’ve got an awesome minister (If you’re at UUFC, you do! ☑️), and a caring Religious Exploration team (Lucky you! You’ve got that too!☑️), and excellent friends and family support (I sure hope you do! ?). Did you know that even with all that, parents and grandparents are still a child’s first and most influential spiritual guides? Yes, YOU! You’re the biggest factor in your child’s spiritual growth and development. How cool (and maybe scary) is that?

In an effort to support families as they raise faithful and spiritually grounded children, we offer you the Family Faith Formation Toolkit with you! On the 4th Sunday of each month, I’ll be adding a new tool to our toolkit below. Each tool will come with resources and practical ideas for how to explore matters of the spirit with your family, and grow in confidence as a spiritual leader. As always, if you have immediate needs relating to your family’s faith formation, I’m available to chat. Just reach out to dre@uucorvallis.org to set up a time.

  1. Discussing the G-word (answering questions about God when you’re not sure yourself)
  2. Prayer as a Family Practice
  3. Meditation with the Kiddos
  4. Service with the Family
  5. Gratitude with the Kiddos
  6. Building a Family Lectionary
  7. A Family Sabbath Plan
  8. UP NEXT: Retreat

From the DRE

  • RE Summer Newsletter

    Greetings, Families!

    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 Canceled

    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. 

    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! 

More from the DRE

JUSTICE COUNCIL NEWS

  • Watch Party: One Million Rising Trainings, 8/13

    During the justice renewal earlier this year and the Democracy Action team meeting in June, many voices were raised in support of more opportunities for training. Created by the organizers of the “No Kings” protests,… full post

    Watch Party: One Million Rising Trainings, 8/13

  • Update on Needs in our Community – Secure Housing and Food For All Justice Team

    The passage of the Big Beautiful Bill has had a profound—and deeply challenging—impact on local Corvallis shelters. With funding significantly reduced, these vital organizations are struggling to meet the basic needs of those they serve.… full post

    Update on Needs in our Community – Secure Housing and Food For All Justice Team

  • Tie-dye T-Shirts for Democracy, 8/3 & 8/10

    Handmade tie-dye t-shirts made by Elaine Kahn will be available to purchase in the parking lot on August 3rd and 10th to raise funds for the Democracy Action Team’s work of letter and postcard writing… full post

    Tie-dye T-Shirts for Democracy, 8/3 & 8/10

  • Movie night: “Milk”, the story of Harvey Milk, 7/13

    Queerly Beloved July meet upSunday July 13, 2025 4:00-7:30 PM, UUFC Join the Sexuality and Gender Diversity Team for a viewing of the inspiring movie “Milk” starring Sean Penn, telling the story of gay rights… full post

    Movie night: “Milk”, the story of Harvey Milk, 7/13

  • Know Your Rights Trainings, 4/28 and 5/6

    More than ever it’s important to know what your rights are and how to keep yourself, your friends, family and neighbors safe. Join us at Westminster House, 101 NW 23rd St, on April 28 and… full post

    Know Your Rights Trainings, 4/28 and 5/6

  • Hands Off Rally, 4/5

    Hands Off RallySaturday, April 5, at noonBenton County Courthouse120 NW 4th St., Corvallis We want our government to govern democratically so let’s make our voices heard again and again. Our message: Defy Autocracy! Defend the… full post

    Hands Off Rally, 4/5

  • Sign-Making Party, 3/30

    Sign-Making Party!Sunday, March 30, 1:30-3:00 PMWestminster House, McLean Room, 101 NW 23rd St, Corvallis. To make signs for the Hands Off Rally on April 5. We’ll make signs for the rally and for your yards… full post

    Sign-Making Party, 3/30

  • Health Care Delays, Denials, & Costs – Action Not Anger, 2/26

    Come listen to a panel hosted by Mid-Valley Health Care Advocates on Wednesday, February 26, 7-8:30 PM at the Corvallis-Benton public library or online by Zoom at bit.ly/3DY0x22. Find out how we can ensure high… full post

    Health Care Delays, Denials, & Costs – Action Not Anger, 2/26

  • Queerly Beloved 5/19/24

    Sunday, May 19th in the UUFC Social Hall 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm This month, we’ll have a casual potluck and some icebreaker games, hosted by Ginny and Linda! Come and get to know your… full post

    Queerly Beloved 5/19/24

  • Film: Where Can We Live in Peace?, 5/18

    Saturday, May 18, 3:00 – 4:30 pm in the UUFC Social Hall Award-winning Canadian film maker Judy Jackson brings the moving story of the ABBA House migrant shelter in Celaya, Mexico. Founded by Pastor Ignacio… full post

    Film: Where Can We Live in Peace?, 5/18

  • Faith-based climate action this week, 3/3/2024

    Good News Climate-action Opportunities Of Note Save the Date Democracy Action Team:  > First week of March: Letters will be ready.  VoteFwd.org. > Letter Writing: Sun 10 Mar, 1:45 PM, (after the Action Lunch), UUFC… full post

    Faith-based climate action this week, 3/3/2024

  • Spring Luncheon 3/30 – Cancelled

    This event has been cancelled. The Secure Housing and Food For All team and Ernest Cardona invite you to join us for a Spring Celebration Luncheon on Saturday, March 30th , 2024 at 1:00 p.m.… full post

    Spring Luncheon 3/30 – Cancelled

  • Justice Outreach for February

    Our outreach offerings in February will support Unity Shelter, a local non-profit organization which provides emergency shelter and transitional housing, plus wrap around services for people who are without safe housing or shelter. Unity Shelter’s… full post

    Justice Outreach for February

  • Secure Housing and Food for All

    The Secure Housing and Food for All team appreciates and thanks everyone who contributed money to We Care last month. If you are interested in working with We Care, please take a look at their… full post

    Secure Housing and Food for All

  • Justice Theatre Auditions

    Justice Theatre auditions are this Monday and Tuesday, January 29th and 30th, at 7pm in the social hall. No acting experience necessary! LGBTQ+ performers are particularly invited to audition. full post

  • EDI Book Discussion 1-29

    Monday, January 29th, 7:00 pm on Zoom. With the current controversy around the need for reparations, the UUA common read, On Repentance and Repair, Making Amends in an Unapologetic World, by Danya Ruttenberg offers us… full post

    EDI Book Discussion 1-29

  • Secure Housing and Food For All Meeting, 1/21

    The Secure Housing and Food for All Justice Team is meeting this Sunday 1/21 at 11:30 in the Gallery of the sanctuary. (okay to bring in coffee). Information about the Warming Centers open the past… full post

  • Difficult Conversations: The University’s Role in Restoring Civic Dialogue with Drs. Robert George and Cornel West

    Jan 22nd, 7-8:30 PM, at LaSells EDI would like to invite you to an opportunity to attend a special event at LaSells, focusing on civil discourse and “difficult conversations” —an area of deep concern for… full post

  • Action Lunch is Back! 3/10

    An Action Lunch is a light lunch provided by volunteers, after a Sunday service, usually to support some aspect of our justice and outreach work.  We haven’t had one in a long time, until now!… full post

    Action Lunch is Back! 3/10

  • Secure Housing and Food For All Meeting, 1/21

    The Secure Housing and Food for All Justice Team is meeting this Sunday 1/21 at 11:30 in the Gallery of the sanctuary. (okay to bring in coffee).  Information about the Warming Centers open the past… full post

    Secure Housing and Food For All Meeting, 1/21

Justice Outreach Offering

  • Our Sunday Outreach offerings in August support Seeds for the Sol, a nonprofit, grassroots organization taking action now to remove the financial barriers to residential energy efficiency. Their neighbor-to-neighbor funding model mimics the natural cycles of planting, harvesting, and renewal, helping more households move toward net zero. This funding model addresses climate mitigation and adaptation, energy equity and outreach, and workforce development by making affordable housing more energy efficient.

Donations can be made in person on Sundays, or through the online collection basket.

WORSHIP COUNCIL NEWS

  • Mosaic Antiracism Workshop for Adults! Register by 9/1

    Registration is required HERE. WHAT: A fun and connecting communal exploration of radical inclusion through the lens of race and culture. WHEN: Monday evenings, 9/7 – 10/20 from 6:30-8PM WHERE: Room 7 @ uufc WHY:… full post

    Mosaic Antiracism Workshop for Adults! Register by 9/1

  • 2025-08-10 “Community Wealth Sharing has Positive Impact!”

    With the support of individuals, the City of Corvallis, the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, Seeds for the Sol has helped over 450 households experiencing low income to reduce their… full post

  • August 3 –  “Lughnasadh, AKA: Lammas” – Diana Titus and the Wheel of the Year Team August 10 – “Community Wealth Sharing has Positive Impact!” – Julie Williams August 17 – “Adjusting to the Moment” – Rev. Alex McGee August 24 – “Beginners… full post

  • 2025-08-03 “Lammas – A Ritual of Ripening and Release”

    Join us as we gather at the sacred threshold of Lammas, the festival of first harvest. In this season of fullness and change, we’ll pause to honor the fruits of our lives—what is ripening, what… full post

  • 2025-07-27 “Navigating These Waters”

    As we near the end of a year filled with threshold moments, cultural upheaval, and deep transformation, we gather to reflect on the journeys we’ve taken. Through brief stories offered by members of our community,… full post

  • 2025-07-20 “Change Happens”

    The world has gotten smaller and we’re affected more strongly than we have been before. The truth is we have always been connected and change has been a constant. It seems so accelerated now. What… full post

  • 7/13/2025 A Celebration of Shared Ministry

    We come to the end of a chapter in the life of the Fellowship – a chapter covering twelve years of ministry shared between us. Twelve years of immense change in the world, twelve years… full post

  • July 6 –   “Between Us”  Rev. Jill McAllister July 13 – Celebration of Shared Ministry      Rev. Jill McAllister July 20 – “Change Happens”  Rev. Leslie Chartier July 27 – “Navigating These Waters”      Chaplain Jesse Ford, Susan Sanford and others full post

  • “Between Us” 7/6/2025

    In the end, all the elements of a religious and spiritual life – the practices and beliefs, the things we learn, the ways in which we change, what we yearn for and need, and more… full post

  • “On Ministry” 6/29/25

    As we get closer to a ministerial transition – a major event in the life of the Fellowship – let’s consider what ministry is in the UU tradition, what roles a minister plays in congregational… full post

  • “Return To Love” 10 AM 6/22/25

    When we’re afraid, when we’re angry, when we are confused and wonder what to do, here’s a possibility.  Return to love.  Return to love again, and again and again.  The more we are willing to return to this… full post

  • “Trans Ancestors, Queer Descendants and a Liberating Present”   6/15/25

    UUFC’s Queerly Beloved group and Sexuality and Gender Diversity Justice Team host this Pride Month Sunday Service, and welcome guest preacher Rev. Lazarus Justice Jameson.  The service will include remembering some Fellowship history around LGBTQIA+ welcoming… full post

  • “Who We Choose To Become” 6/8

    What kind of identity do we choose to embrace to meet the moments that life, events and circumstances throw at us?  It is not just to know who we are but to decide who we… full post

  • Jun 1  “River of Life”  Skyla King-Christison and all Jun 8  “Who We Choose To Become”   Rev. Mwibutsawineza F. Ndagijimanayburundi Jun 15  “Trans Ancestors, Queer Descendants and a Liberating Present”   Rev. Lazarus Justice Jameson Jun 22   “Return to Love”   Rev. Jill McAllister… full post

  • “River of Life” 6/1/25

    The ‘regular’ church year – or the church year as it corresponds to the school year –  is drawing to a close.  Once again it is time to reflect on and celebrate the gifts and responsibilities of… full post

  • “Art Works: Reflections on the First Year of PRAx”     5/25

    Join us to welcome to the Fellowship Peter Betjemann, the Executive Director of PRAx at OSU. The new Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts aims to spotlight intersections between the arts and all… full post

  • “In the Middle of a Gloria” 5/18

    The UUFC choir, under the direction of Steven Evans-Renteria, presents a service of beautiful music with readings and contemplation, to nurture us inside and out.  With the added artistry of Lauren Servias at the piano and… full post

  • “Still Growing Up” 5/11

    Parenting (from mothers, fathers, siblings, others) is an important part of the process we call “growing up,” though it is only one part, and perhaps not always the most important part.  If we have received good… full post

  • Sunday Services This Month

    May 4    “Grateful For The Winding Road”                           Rev. Jill McAllister May 11    “Still Growing Up”                                                      Rev. Jill McAllister May 18   “In the Middle of a Gloria”        Steven Evans-Renteria, Lauren Servias, UUFC Choir May 25    “Art Works: Reflections on the… full post

  • “Grateful For The Winding Road” 5/4

    We sing this every Sunday: “We are here together in this holy moment, and we’re grateful for the winding road that brought us to this place.”   They are lovely words, and they are more important than… full post

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