News

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sunday Services

  • This Week:

    “Stories of Christmas” 12/22/24

    From the first story – the birth story – have come millennia of stories about the origins of Christmas, the meanings of Christmas, the challenges and questions and problems with Christmas. Of Christmases past and remembered, of Christmases better forgotten.
    To be human is to tell stories. What are the stories we can tell about Christmas today? In this service we’ll also welcome new members to the Fellowship, and share in the dedication of children.
    With Rev. Jill McAllister

    Christmas Eve Candlelight Services, Tuesday, 12/24/24

    5:30 PM, Family-Centered Service – A re-telling of the birth story, with songs and candles.
    9 PM, A quiet service of readings, carols, anthems and candles.

Services This Month

  • Dec. 1 “Be Not Afraid” Rev. Jill McAllister
    Dec. 8 “Yes, Joy” Committee on Ministry
    Dec. 15 “Wintering” UUFC Choir and Readers
    Dec. 16 Blue Holiday Vespers Susan Sanford and Rev. Leslie Chartier
    Dec. 20 Winter Solstice Service Rev. Jill McAllister
    Dec. 22 “Stories of Christmas” Rev. Jill McAllister
    Dec. 24 Christmas Eve -two services Rev. Jill McAllister
    Dec. 29 Holiday Brunch and Sharing Rev. Jill McAllister and all

From the Minister

  • Between Us

    Just in case you’ve wondered whether or not the Fellowship, or UUism, has done or is doing enough to make things better (or perhaps to change all the things that need to be changed in the world – as if we could) here’s a heartening report from the wider world. Perry Bacon Jr, an opinion writer for the Washington Post, recently wrote an article (Nov. 27, 2024) encouraging folks to stop doomscrolling and choose from a list of five more constructive actions. #2 on his list is this: “Join a Unitarian Universalist Congregation.” He writes:

    “If you’re part of a Christian, Muslim, Jewish or other religious group that meets regularly and engages politically, skip this. But there is a growing number of Americans, particularly on the left, who are religiously unaffiliated and not regularly congregating with people who share their values.

    They should consider the Unitarian Universalists. I recently started regularly attending a UU service in Louisville. It’s much more political than the Christian churches I have previously been a member of. That turned me off at first. Since politics is essentially my job, I try (usually unsuccessfully) to avoid discussions of elections and government in my off-hours. And I was leery of a church whose openly liberal values would clearly turn off Trump supporters and therefore ensure a congregation that didn’t include many Republicans.

    But before the election, church members engaged in politics in a practical way, encouraging congregants to go canvassing in opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment here to create a school vouchers program. (It failed.) So at least on Sundays, I was in a community of people working on a concrete, discrete local issue, as opposed to nervously speculating about Vice President Kamala Harris’s poll numbers.

    Post-election, I was relieved to be in a space where we openly discussed shared values and ideals we felt had been rejected by America in electing Trump, such as support of immigrants and LGBTQ+ people.”

    It’s encouraging to hear that our message and our approach are helpful! If you’ve been here awhile, doing exactly the work that Bacon describes, then take a moment to appreciate the fact that it does make a difference. (Share your appreciation with others). And if you are new to the Fellowship, perhaps looking for what Bacon describes, we welcome you! The world needs all of us, to keep these values and commitments alive and growing.

This Week at UUFC

Announcements

Plan Ahead

Text-Only Version

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.

22

Dec

Sunday Service

* 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

*Kitchen, Sanctuary, Social Hall, UUFC Zoom

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Sunday Service

Dec 22, 2024


start time: 10:00 AM

end time: 11:00 AM

location: Kitchen, Sanctuary, Social Hall, UUFC Zoom

description:

Sunday Worship Service in the sanctuary.

The service is also available on Zoom.  

Go to uucorvallis.org for the Zoom link and more information about worship.




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22

Dec

Men's Gathering

* 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM

*Room 9

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Men's Gathering

Dec 22, 2024


start time: 11:45 AM

end time: 1:15 PM

location: Room 9

description:

Men's Gathering

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22

Dec

9th Annual Christmas Sing-Along

* 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

*Sanctuary

info

9th Annual Christmas Sing-Along

Dec 22, 2024


start time: 4:00 PM

end time: 6:00 PM

location: Sanctuary

description:

Please join us for the 9th Annual Christmas Sing Along! All are invited to join in the singing and fun. There will be Christmas carols, stories, comfy pillows, and cookies!


Meet in the Fellowship Sanctuary on Sunday, December 22 at 4 PM!

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23

Dec

Buddhist meditation

* 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM

*Off Site

info

Buddhist meditation

Dec 23, 2024


start time: 3:30 PM

end time: 4:15 PM

location: Off Site

description:

Meditation, dharma teaching, and discussion.  Beginners welcome. 

Takes place at the Sangha Jewel Zen Center (next door) and on zoom

For more information and weekly zoom link, contact Mary Leigh Burke.

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24

Dec

Virtual Coffee Hour

* 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

*UUFC Zoom

info

Virtual Coffee Hour

Dec 24, 2024


start time: 1:30 PM

end time: 2:30 PM

location: UUFC Zoom

description:

Join us on Zoom for a weekly checking-in which includes sharing of joys and sorrows, plus the Compassion Prayer.

 

Contact: Mary Craven

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24

Dec

Christmas Eve Family Service

* 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

*Social Hall, Sanctuary

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Christmas Eve Family Service

Dec 24, 2024


start time: 5:30 PM

end time: 9:00 PM

location: Social Hall, Sanctuary

description: Family-Centered Christmas Eve Service

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24

Dec

Christmas Eve Meditative Service

* 9:00 PM - 9:30 PM

*Sanctuary, Social Hall

info

Christmas Eve Meditative Service

Dec 24, 2024


start time: 9:00 PM

end time: 9:30 PM

location: Sanctuary, Social Hall

description: Meditative Service from 9:00 - 9:30

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25

Dec

Mindful Awareness

* 7:00 PM - 7:45 PM

*6A

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Mindful Awareness

Dec 25, 2024


start time: 7:00 PM

end time: 7:45 PM

location: 6A

description: We gather together to build our attentional skills and to develop resources for resilience. There will be guided and independent practice portions, both suitable for beginner and experienced meditators.

more information

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27

Dec

Post Holiday Break

* 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

*Social Hall

info

Post Holiday Break

Dec 27, 2024


start time: 1:00 PM

end time: 4:00 PM

location: Social Hall

description:

Preregistration HERE is required to attend this event.

This time of year can be a lot for parents as we try to maintain all the rituals, magic, and meaning of the season. To honor all you do, we'd like to offer you a break! Drop off school-aged children in the social hall from 1-4 on December 27th. We'll have a thank you card writing workshop (with helpers for those who haven't mastered the pen yet), eat snacks, and settle in for a movie while you take a few hours to recover from the holiday hustle. To make the most of the thank you card workshop, please send your child with a list of specific people & gifts for which to offer thanks. 

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27

Dec

Stoic Art Journaling for 2025

* 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

*Social Hall

info

Stoic Art Journaling for 2025

Dec 27, 2024


start time: 6:00 PM

end time: 8:00 PM

location: Social Hall

description: Preregistration HERE is requested for this event!

We are living in strange times, and strange times call for more art and more dedication to doing our part to keep that arc of the moral universe bending toward justice!

At this gathering, we will look back on 2024 and forward to 2025 through a Stoic practice known for its capacity to galvanize hope. Then, each participant will create a mini art journal to document concrete actions they can take toward peace, justice, and self-care in the year ahead. No art skills needed!

Bring a snack to share, and I'll put the kettle on for tea.

All supplies will be provided, but you are more than welcome to bring your favorite scrapbook paper, pens, markers, stencils, etc.

Below is the style of pocket-sized art journal you will create, perfect for exploring bite-sized concepts. Yours will be completely unique and on a different topic from the ones pictured.   






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27

Dec

Community Kirtan

* 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

*Room 7

info

Community Kirtan

Dec 27, 2024


start time: 7:00 PM

end time: 8:30 PM

location: Room 7

description:

Setup at 6:30pm; teardown by 9pm.

Kirtan is a very simple & powerful way to meditate. It’s effortless & joyful; the music does the work for you as you flow with the melody & rhythm.

The chants are sung in Sanskrit, and these ancient chants contain powerful renewing & transformative energy that helps us reconnect with the Divinity that resides within all of us.

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28

Dec

Connect Up Hike

* 9:45 AM - 12:30 PM

*Off Site

info

Connect Up Hike

Dec 28, 2024


start time: 9:45 AM

end time: 12:30 PM

location: Off Site

description: Meet at Peavy Arboretum at 9:45, hike starts at 10:00. Loop trail is about 4 miles long. No dogs please. Priscilla Galasso leads. 

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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

  • You Can Help Our Families Engage!

    You’ve probably noticed that there are more and more families in our midst each week. Hooray! We love seeing faces of all ages in our sanctuary. With this uptick in family participation, we are experiencing a higher demand for childcare. At the same time, our list of able Grandfolks is dwindling due to illness and factors such as night driving.

    A parent’s ability to engage in small group ministry and special events plays a large role in determining whether the family unit as a whole can continue to participate in the life of the Fellowship. If you are an adult of any age who has been with the Fellowship for more than 6 months, please take a moment to consider whether you would be able to give even one hour a month to care for children so that parents can have that time to commit to their own spiritual enrichment.

    All Grandfolks will be interviewed, trained, and complete a background check before service.

    If you want to help families stay engaged, please contact Skyla at dre@uucorvallis.org for more information.

More from the DRE

JUSTICE COUNCIL NEWS

  • Pride Party 2024, 6/29

    5-7 PM, Social Hall Pride is a joyful celebration of all of the beautiful identities of our LGBTQ+ community. The UUFC Sexuality and Gender Diversity Justice Team invites all UUFC friends to join us for… full post

    Pride Party 2024, 6/29

  • 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

  • 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

  • Faith-based climate action this week, 1/7/2024

    Good News Climate-action Opportunities Of Note Save the Date Climate Action Opportunities: We track (row 25) the number of clicks on the respond link for each suggested climate-action opportunity. The climate-action opportunity tracking results (an… full post

    Faith-based climate action this week, 1/7/2024

  • From the “Secure Housing and Food for All” Team

    We hope you all had a joyful holiday season. Thank you very much for sharing your time and effort to help the people of Corvallis who are struggling each day to survive by donating warm… full post

    From the “Secure Housing and Food for All” Team

  • Justice Outreach Offering in January – NAACP

    For the month of January our Justice Outreach offering will benefit the Linn Benton NAACP. The NAACP works to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate… full post

    Justice Outreach Offering in January – NAACP

  • Queerly Beloved 1/21

    Sunday, January 21st at 4:00 pm in Room 7 We meet monthly on the 3rd Sunday in the afternoon. Join LGBTQ+ folx and allies for social gatherings centered on queer issues and themes. We understand… full post

    Queerly Beloved 1/21

  • From the “Secure Housing and Food for All” Team

    We hope you all had a joyful holiday season. Thank you very much for sharing your time and effort to help the people of Corvallis who are struggling each day to survive by donating warm… full post

    From the “Secure Housing and Food for All” Team

  • Justice Outreach Offering in January – NAACP

    For the month of January our Justice Outreach offering will benefit the Linn Benton NAACP. The NAACP works to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate… full post

Justice Outreach Offering

  • At least once a year our outreach offerings support Unity Shelter, a local non-profit organization which provides emergency shelter and supported transitional housing, plus wrap-around services, for people who are without safe shelter or housing. Unity Shelter programs include the Corvallis Men’s Shelter, the Hygiene Center, Room at the Inn and SafePlace. The Fellowship helped launch the collaborative project of providing shelters which later became Unity Shelter. Unity Shelter’s mission is to provide safe shelter through community care. The level of need around housing and shelter has not decreased in our community, and support continues to be crucial. Our outreach offering in December will support Unity Shelter.

    www.unityshelter.org


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

WORSHIP COUNCIL NEWS

  • “Stories of Christmas” 12/22/24

    From the first story – the birth story – have come millennia of stories about the origins of Christmas, the meanings of Christmas, the challenges and questions and problems with Christmas. Of Christmases past and… full post

  • “This Winter Season” 12/15/24

    Each season brings its gifts, and challenges. Here is the unique beauty of the Pacific Northwest in winter – green and fog and cold. Here are the holidays of light and joy. Here is the… full post

  • “And Also, Joy” 12/8/2024

    “We were made for joy and woe, and when this we rightly know, through the world we safely go” wrote William Blake. Join with the Fellowship Committee on Ministry this Sunday to consider this truth… full post

  • Blue Holidays Vesper Service, 12/16

    Are you feeling the tender ache of absence as the winter holidays approach? Or perhaps feeling lonely, anxious or depressed? Join us for an online Blue Holidays Vesper Service, followed by an optional time of… full post

    Blue Holidays Vesper Service, 12/16

  • Services in December

    Dec. 1 “Be Not Afraid” Rev. Jill McAllisterDec. 8 “Yes, Joy” Committee on MinistryDec. 15 “Wintering” UUFC Choir and ReadersDec. 16 Blue Holiday Vespers Susan Sanford and Rev. Leslie ChartierDec. 20 Winter Solstice Service Rev.… full post

  • “Be Not Afraid” 12/1/24

    We enter into the traditional “Christmas Season” in the Christian tradition, with the first Sunday in Advent, Dec. 1. Part of that story, of Mary the mother of Jesus, is a common teaching that is… full post

  • “Connection, Gratitude, and Responsibility” 11/24/2024

    The coming season is always a challenge, more and more each year. We find ourselves in-between in so many ways – between proclamations of peace and ongoing war, between holy days and (often mindless) accumulation,… full post

  • “Who Is My Neighbor?” 11/17/24

    One of the great teachings, of Jesus and others, is to try to love your neighbor as yourself. And as soon as it was taught, the questions began. Does that mean all my neighbors? Even… full post

  • “The Great Mystery” 11/10/24

    Let’s just say it has been an historic week. And we are still living. And we are wondering. And so much more. Many of us are devastated, are trying to make sense, are trying to… full post

  • Election Week Gatherings

    These are hard days for most of us, and yet we are still here, we are still connected. It is a time to center ourselves, to remember our sources of courage and strength, to  remember our… full post

  • “Shine Your Light” 11/3/24

    The future is a mystery, no matter how much we try to imagine it. How the week ahead will unfold is a mystery! It’s always good to help ourselves manage our fears and anxieties, to… full post

  • Sunday Services This Month

    Nov. 3 “Shine Your Light” Rev. Jill McAllisterNov. 10 “The Great Mystery” Rev. Jill McAllisterNov. 17 “Who Is My Neighbor” Rev. Jill McAllisterNov. 24 “Thanksgiving or Gratitude” Rev. Jill McAllister full post

  • Wheel of the Year: Samhain – From Generation to Generation 10/27/24

    The Wheel of the Year arrives at Samhain, which is closely related to Halloween. It is a time for honoring connections between the living and the dead, for telling stories which have lasted for generations.… full post

  • “When We Say ‘Community’” 9/20/24

    As Unitarian Universalists we are each free to believe what makes sense to us, and to keep learning and changing our minds as needed. Since folks aren’t attracted to this religious way for specific beliefs… full post

  • “Small Acts of Democracy” 9/13/24

    Our religious tradition set out on a unique path several hundred years ago by beginning to incorporate democratic principles. If, as according to a description of UUism from several generations ago, “our method is our… full post

  • “Rosh Hashanah, Entitlement, and Floods” 10/6/24

    Each Sunday during the pandemic lock-down, when we worshipped together online, I began each service with a short reflection on “where are we this week?” more or less. Here at the beginning of October, a… full post

  • Sunday Services This Month

    October 6 – “Rosh Hashanah, Entitlement, and Floods” Rev. Jill McAllisterOctober 13 – “Small Acts of Democracy” Rev. Jill McAllisterOctober 20 – “When We Say ‘Community” Rev. Jill McAllisterOctober 27 – “Wheel of the Year:… full post

  • “My Unitarianism” 9/29/25

    Our visiting Partner Church minister, Rev. Katalin Szasz-Cserey has served two village congregations in Transylvania – Bozod Korispatak and Firtosmartonos – for 23 years. She also teaches religion in a Unitarian High School in a… full post

  • “Our Transylvanian Roots” 9/22/24

    ‘Transylvania’ generally conjures images of werewolves and campy movies, but it’s a real and beautiful place with an incredible history, especially for Unitarians around the world. For it was in Transylvania (now part of Romania)… full post

  • “Ancestors, Descendants, and Us” 9/15/24

    “Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?” These words from the 19th century French artist Paul Gaugin provide the basis for our theme for this year – “Ancestors, Descendants and… full post

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