News

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sunday Service

  • This Week:

    November 2, 2025 – Wheel of the Year:  Samhain/Halloween

    Because of the power outage on Oct 26, we were unable to have Sunday Service.  So, on Nov 2, we will conduct the Samhain/Halloween service honoring ancestors.  We will continue with the plan to practice evacuating the building at the end of service.

    Diana Titus will coordinate this service

Services This Month

  • November 2: Wheel of the Year:  Samhain/Halloween

    Because of the power outage on Oct 26, we were unable to have Sunday Service.  So, on Nov 2, we will do the Samhain/Halloween service honoring ancestors.  We will continue with the plan to practice evacuating the building at the end of service.

    Diana Titus will coordinate this service

    November 9: Membership Sunday

    While Unitarian Universalism welcomes many ways of believing, we have agreements about membership in this congregation. The sermon will explore how commitment to a religious community can be rewarding and what mutual relationship looks like. New members will be publicly welcomed.

    Rev. Alex McGee will preach

    November 16: Desire in the Spiritual Life

    Throughout history, humans have expressed a sensual desire for the divine in such texts as Song of Solomon and the Bhagavad Gita. And, many spiritual autobiographies record longings of the hear. How can we be alert to the role of desire in our spiritual lives?

    Rev. Alex McGee will preach

    November 23

    Guest speaker Dr. Melissa Bird is an author of a childrens’ book about inclusive families and a lay preacher in the Episcopal tradition. She helps people connect to their best selves and spiritual wisdom during times of grief and change.

    Dr. Melissa Bird will preach

    November 30: The Many Meanings of Home and Food

    Gathering around the hearth and table this time of year may be in the picture books, and may be real for some of us. But what else is true about the how people in our community experience home and access to food? And how does the sacred show up in these physical necessities?

    Rev. Alex McGee will preach

From the Minister

  • Protecting What We Hold Dear:  Shared Responsibility for Safety

    From Rev. Alex McGee Oct 18, 2025

    Dear Fellowship:
    As we live out our values of caring, one way we show that is by caring for each other and our building in physical ways.  And part of that is to be prepared for events in which we might need to think quickly about safety.  

    In the next month, several events will occur at UUFC to help us strengthen our preparedness muscles.  Next weekend, staff and leaders who are responsible for others will spend a morning to train in fire safety and evacuation skills.  Then, on Sunday, November 2, at the end of worship, all present will all have an opportunity to practice evacuating the building.  This will help us see all the great work that has already been done to keep a safe egress, communicate between parents and RE guides, and signage for where to gather after evacuation.  Also, practicing evacuation can help us learn ways we could improve even more.  Next, the week after, staff and leaders will receive a three-hour Know Your Rights training and Human Rights Observer training, so that we can respond quickly and effectively if ICE comes to the building.  

    Finally, the Facilities Committee has been reviewing exterior locks and keys.  This is very important for the safety of those who work in the building — we need to provide a workplace that is as secure as possible, while still being welcoming.  Of course, the balance between having an open door and protecting against harm is a dynamic to hold with wise attention.   Toward that end, I ask that all members and friends remember to avoid propping the doors open, and if you must, to assign someone to watch the door.  Please give gentle reminders to those who have overlooked this.  

    If you are entrusted with a key code, please hold that in a covenant of accountability.  People who know the key code are responsible for the safety and well-being of the building and people in our community.   Not everyone needs a keycode: we provide times of welcome when the office is staffed from 10 – 12 noon on Tuesday through Friday so someone is here to let you in. 

    I invite all of us to reflect joyfully and thoughtfully about the many ways we steward this building and its safety.

    In peace,
    Rev. Alex

This Week at UUFC

Announcements

Plan Ahead

Text-Only Version

See past weekly announcements.

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

  • Invitation to Visit the Ancestor Tree through October

    In this tender season of remembrance, we are approaching our traditional Ancestor Tree with gentle intention and a small change. In an effort to care well for our grounds and to make this ritual more accessible to all, we’ve reimagined where and how we gather the names of those we carry in our hearts.

    You are invited to visit the table in the classroom wing, just outside the RE office, where you will find an altar box, paper leaves, and pencils. On a leaf, write the name of someone or something that has meant something and has died. A mentor, a teacher, a beloved pet, a family member, a forest, a river, a place that held you. Let this be a moment to name what matters. Add your leaf to the trees placed on either side of the altar box—our new Ancestor Trees.

    There, you will also find a basket of blessings for what was real and lost. You are welcome to take one. Read it there in a quiet moment, or tuck it into your pocket for a day when you need to remember that you are not alone. That love persists. That absence, though real, is never the full story.

    Please linger to read the names others have offered. Let yourself be moved by the web of connections among us—the invisible threads of people and places that have shaped the ones we now hold in Beloved Community. These names are echoes of resilience, tenderness, and transformation. They remind us that we are always standing on sacred ground.

    And as you reflect, consider this: What does it mean to become an ancestor? To live in such a way that one day, someone might speak your name with love and longing?

    This is not just a ritual of memory. It’s a quiet invitation to live with greater intention, greater courage, and greater tenderness, for those who came before, those who walk beside us now, and those who will follow.

    With you in the mystery,

    Skyla

More from the DRE

JUSTICE COUNCIL NEWS

  • Democracy Action Team, Tuesdays & Thursdays

    The DAT is proud to announce that letter writing is officially back! Join us in person on Tuesdays (in the UUFC library) and on Zoom (link HERE) on Thursdays – both at 5:30 pm. We’ll write to voters in Pennsylvania asking them to retain State Supreme… full post

    Democracy Action Team, Tuesdays & Thursdays

  • Join Rep. Val Hoyle’s Town Hall by Zoom, 10/7

    The Democracy Action Team will be watching the town hall with Rep. Hoyle at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, October 7 in the UUFC Library. The town hall will be followed by the regularly-scheduled Speaking of… full post

    Join Rep. Val Hoyle’s Town Hall by Zoom, 10/7

  • No Kings Protest, 10/18

    Join us on Saturday, October 18 at 12 PM at the Benton County Courthouse for the No Kings protest! A little worried about recent developments? What we know is that the only way out of… full post

    No Kings Protest, 10/18

  • Join the Signs of Solidarity team

    Members of the Democracy Action Team are collaborating with Benton County Indivisible and Standing Up for Racial Justice to place signs of solidarity supporting immigrants around Corvallis. If you would like to join this effort,… full post

    Join the Signs of Solidarity team

  • Secure Housing and Food for All meeting, 9/21

    The Secure Housing and Food for All team meets on September 21 in Room 7 @ 11:30 AM. We’ll discuss what is happening for unhoused folks. Join us to share what you know, ask questions and… full post

    Secure Housing and Food for All meeting, 9/21

  • Join the Freeway Banner Brigade!

    A small group of highly motivated UUs, spawned from the Democracy Action Team, are organizing to create the Freeway Banner Brigade. We will make large banners to display on I-5 overpasses in the Albany area,… full post

    Join the Freeway Banner Brigade!

  • Shuttle to the “Workers Over Billionaires” Rally, 9/1

    Consider attending the “Workers Over Billionaires” protest rally on 4th street, taking place from noon to 3 PM on September 1. Just before our Tuna Roast! Traveling to and from the protest (and parking nearby)… full post

    Shuttle to the “Workers Over Billionaires” Rally, 9/1

  • 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

Justice Outreach Offering

  • Our Outreach offerings in October support South Corvallis Food Bank, which is a shopping-style food pantry offering a 5-day supply of food to households every other week. Partnered with Linn-Benton Food Share & Oregon Food Bank, the Food Bank strives to increase food-security in our community through compassionate care.

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

WORSHIP COUNCIL NEWS

  • November 2, 2025 – Wheel of the Year:  Samhain/Halloween

    Because of the power outage on Oct 26, we were unable to have Sunday Service.  So, on Nov 2, we will conduct the Samhain/Halloween service honoring ancestors.  We will continue with the plan to practice… full post

  • November 2: Wheel of the Year:  Samhain/Halloween Because of the power outage on Oct 26, we were unable to have Sunday Service.  So, on Nov 2, we will do the Samhain/Halloween service honoring ancestors.  We… full post

  • October 26, 2025 – Wheel of the Year:  Samhain/Halloween

    Samhain shares the ancient spiritual practice of remembering and paying respects to the ancestors who have died. This Samhain observance will focus on Remembering and Honoring our Ancestors, and on Communicating with Spirits. Everyone is… full post

  • October 19, 2025 – Compassion as an Open Door

    Anger and indignation may well up for us as we read the news.  But spiritual teachers such as Howard Thurman have convincing arguments for why love is better for us and for everyone.  Can we… full post

  • October 12, 2025 – Joy as an Improbable Friend

    In these political times, joy may seem an impossible thing.  But world religions throughout time have named joy as a human experience that wells up again and again.  Let us explore how to honor it.… full post

  • Kirtan with Gina Sala and Friends, 10/10

    Featuring Jeanette Kangas (tabla), Johanna Beekman (vox), David Campbell (trumpet) & friends. Come feel your mind, body and heart relax and reconnect Friday, October 10, 7-8:30 PM in the UUFC’s Sanctuary as we immerse in… full post

    Kirtan with Gina Sala and Friends, 10/10

  • Mantra/Raga/Voice Workshop with Gina Sala, 10/11

    Come rest in loving vibrations and learn useful tools in voice, chant, refined mantra, raga and breath that will leave us feeling refreshed, renewed, grateful and filled within. We’ll be meeting in Room 7, 10… full post

    Mantra/Raga/Voice Workshop with Gina Sala, 10/11

  • Information Session on Being a Sunday Service Reader, 10/11

    Have you ever felt a calling to serve as a reader during Sunday Service? Please come learn more about this opportunity, October 11, Saturday, at 9:30 – 11 AM in the Sanctuary! You will have… full post

    Information Session on Being a Sunday Service Reader, 10/11

  • October 5: Learning to be a Neighbor in the Land of the People of the River Dave Eckert of the Canoe Family Project and the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition will speak about his experience building relationships… full post

  • October 5, 2025 – Learning to be a Neighbor in the Land of the People of the River

    Dave Eckert of the Canoe Family Project and the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition will speak about his experience building relationships with landcestral cultures, and how that has helped him to better understand and act in ways… full post

  • September 28, 2025 – Balance and Loving Embrace of Imbalance

    As the days and nights are nearly equal in length this week, we have a chance to reflect on the many meanings of balance. Rev. Alex will preach and the band will play. full post

  • Celebrating the Wonders of Faith, 10/5

    The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the Corvallis Interfaith Network and the Interfaith Kirtan Band are hosting the event “Celebrating the Wonders of Faith” on Sunday, October 5 at 3 PM in the Sanctuary and Social Hall.… full post

    Celebrating the Wonders of Faith, 10/5

  • September 21, 2025 – Jackson Street’s Continuum of Care for Homeless Youth

    Our guest speaker is Ben Martens, who serves as Community Engagement Coordinator at Jackson Street Youth Services, which offers youth a safe place to live and resources to work through crises and towards a brighter,… full post

  • September 14, 2025 – What’s Wrong and Is It Me?

    This sermon will be an exploration of times in life we are trying to fix something…but the best change will come from looking at a bigger picture.  Special reflections on the exciting new Mosaic curriculum… full post

  • Dance Planet, 9/20

    Dance Planet is back! Move in your own way to a rhythmic flow of music from around the world and across the decades. We’ll start with live warmup music from harpist Laura Zaerr and cellist… full post

    Dance Planet, 9/20

  • September 7, 2025 – Gathering the Waters and Beginning a New Congregational Year

    Bring water to pour into the common bowl as you name the qualities and commitments you bring for the year ahead. We will commission the board and Interim Minister. We will offer blessings to the… full post

  • No Service – August 31, 2025

    There is no worship service on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Instead, come join us at our annual Tuna Roast in Avery Park on Monday, September 1. full post

  • Kirtan with Eugene’s Sitaram Das, 9/5

    Through chanting Sanskrit mantra, music, teachings, Q&A, and storytelling, this kirtan intends to awaken the Heart of Love. Sitaram Dass will be joined by Jeannette Kangas (tabla) and Clark Stacer (bass). Friday, September 5 at… full post

    Kirtan with Eugene’s Sitaram Das, 9/5

  • September 7: Gathering the Waters and Beginning a New Congregational Year Bring water to pour into the common bowl as you name the qualities and commitments you bring for the year ahead.  We will commission… full post

  • Dignity of Work – August 24, 2025

    As we look ahead to Labor Day next week, let’s explore the many meanings of work and labor.  What do various spiritual traditions have to say?  What does our Unitarian Universalism have to do with… full post

Our Mission

Explore. Love. Act.

We gather as an inclusive religious community to search for meaning, build deep connections, and inspire action toward a better world for all.

Quick Links

This Week

Announcements

Plan Ahead

Connect Up