“From the Pandemic to Here, and Beyond…”   3/23/25

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We have only begun to articulate what changed for us during the pandemic.  To begin to tell those stories is important, even as or perhaps especially because we are in the midst of more and more every day.  It has been like this before, and yet for us the world this way, right now, is new and hard.  Join us to consider: what did we lose, what did we gain, what did we learn, how are we different and what might that all mean for us now? 

A note: the UUFC parking lot is under reconstruction now, as part of bringing new water lines into the building to support fire sprinklers.  Parking is a challenge!  Most of us will need to park on the streets this week.  Let’s leave the available spaces for those with the highest needs to be close. 

And, for all who might still plan to join us – a Stewardship event will happen after the service, in the Sanctuary.  We’ll connect around our shared covenant, and what the Fellowship is called to be, now.  The Fellowship is all of us. You are needed, and you are invited.  

Will you enter in?

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I can’t imagine a better time to be part of the UU Fellowship of Corvallis.  It is a time of immense change, which means it is also a time of great potential and possibility. It is a generational shift in the midst of a political shift in the context of changes on the earth – and more! I often think of a song we sing on Sundays:  “What we need is here.” It reminds me that between us we have the courage, experience, skills, curiosity, expertise, creativity and faith we need to nurture and sustain this religious community into new ways of being– as did those who came before us. 

This month there are opportunities for everyone to join into conversations about these changes, with and for each other.  Five events are planned as part of the annual Stewardship pledge drive – you can find the schedule and registration link in these weekly announcements. I imagine a big, beautiful, wide and deep conversation – with several hundred people taking part!  (There are more than several hundred of us, you know.)  Will you enter in?  Will you be part of the wealth of resources we share?  Will you offer your time and perspectives, and your presence?  Here is the only thing you need to know in order to take part:  You are needed and you are invited. 

“You Are Invited” 3/16/25

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Where do we come from?  Among other things, from a long line of people who constituted, nurtured, and maintained a liberal religious community, from generation to generation.  “Community” is what so many people mention first when talking about the Fellowship.  Real community – real connections, trust and respect between real persons – does not happen automatically, and cannot merely be provided.  Real community is built and maintained one relationship at a time, day by day, year by year.  You can only find it if you are able and willing to enter in.  So we begin again every week with this:  You are invited!

With Rev. Jill McAllister

Website Update suggestion form is live!

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Website Update suggestion form is live!  You can now submit your suggestions and feedback for our upcoming website update using the form linked through the button below. If you have questions or need assistance with the form, please email comms@uucorvallis.org.

Fill Out the Survey

Thank you for helping us improve our communications!

For more information on this project, see last week’s announcement.

UUA GA Delegates Needed

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The annual General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association will be held June 18-22, 2025 in Baltimore, MD and online. The UUFC is entitled to send seven delegates from the congregation as well as ministers and DREs. In addition to the Business Agenda that will address various issues of policy and action, the program includes enriching addresses, workshops, and musical offerings. To learn more, visit https://www.uua.org/ga/program/highlights.

If you are interested in becoming a delegate, please contact Rev. Jill McAllister (minister@uucorvallis.org). Scholarships for registration fees and/or travel are available.

Connect Up Hike 3/29

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We will meet @9:45 AM in the Beazell parking lot and start hiking @10:00 AM. If you would like to carpool from the UUFC parking lot, meet there at 9:15 AM.

We will hike the Plunkett Creek Trail up to the South Meadow and back down. We’ll be on the lookout for trillium and other early spring wildflowers. There is a flat loop option as well. Please choose your own adventure to suit your ability. The distance of this up-and-back hike is approximately 2.5 miles. Elevation gain is approx. 650 feet. Dress for the weather and bring poles if you like.


To reach Beazell Memorial Forest, head west from Philomath on Hwy 20. In 4 miles, at Wren, turn right on Hwy 223N to Kings Valley. Beazell is 5 miles north on the right.

Seeking New Fellowship Administrator

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The Fellowship is seeking a new Director of Finance and Operations. This is the major administrative staff position, with responsibilities for much of the day-to-day financial management, plus supervision of administrative staff, contractors and volunteers. It is a ¾ time position with benefits. If you are interested in learning more, contact Rev. Jill McAllister, minister@uucorvallis.org.

Yet Another Change!

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It is with sadness, joy and gratitude that I share the following announcement: our beloved Church Operations Manager Jamie Petts will soon be leaving her position at the Fellowship to take a different job. She wasn’t looking for this change, but was offered a great opportunity. I’m so happy for her! I’m very sad that she’ll be leaving us – but on the other hand, she’ll only be leaving the staff, not the Fellowship. And I am full of gratitude for our time together and her work here – her steadiness, generosity, creativity, flexibility, expertise, good humor and so much more! I hope you’ll join me in congratulating and appreciating her. We’ll celebrate with her at the end of March.

With this announcement, we are posting the position and beginning to take applications. The job now includes much of the day-to-day financial management of the Fellowship, in addition to administration. If you are interested, or have questions, please let me know at minister@uucorvallis.org.

Change. Change. Change. So much change. Once again we will gather together, help each other, and keep moving forward. It’s still just one step at a time, one day at a time. We’ve got this.

Interim Minister Search News

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The interim minister search team– Rachel Houtman, Michael Molk, Laurie Reed and Sheryl Stuart– kicked off efforts on February 24, 2025. The team is excited to assemble the materials needed to inform potential candidates for interim ministry of our history, mission, current justice and outreach efforts, challenges, and what we can offer. Our goal is to submit this information through the UUA’s interim search portal on April 10, to give those in search plenty of opportunity to consider joining our shared ministry.

Here are the key dates for the interim minister search:

April 10: UUFC information complete and submitted to the transitional search portal
April 10-May 4: Applicants review our information and decide if they would like to join us
May 4: The UUFC search team receives 2-6 candidate names and begins reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and ranking them–while the candidates do the same for us.
May 20: Candidate selection announced to the Fellowship
May 20: Contract finalized
August 1: Interim Minister begins work

If for some reason the first try goes awry, a 2nd round is available–but we are being optimistic!

World Religions for UU’s 4/27 – 6/9

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Many of you have asked for another offering of the World Religions class Jill McAllister has taught for Fellowship members and friends during her ministry here. She is happy to oblige! The class follows most of the syllabus used in her undergraduate religion course at OSU – without the quizzes and other projects. If you are truly interested in attending ten sessions – a few in person and most on Zoom; if you are able and willing to read most of two (paperback) books; and if you are willing and able to not only start but also finish the class, then this offering is for you. Here is a tentative schedule, which will be firmed up when at least 10 people sign up:

Sunday, April 27: Afternoon, in person (first session)
Monday, April 28: Evening, Zoom
Monday, May 5: Evening, Zoom
Monday, May 12: Evening, Zoom
Monday, May 19: Evening, Zoom
Monday, May 26: Evening, Zoom
Sunday, June 1: Afternoon, in person
Monday, June 2: Evening, Zoom
Monday, June 9: Evening, Zoom

Sign up using this Breeze form: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/wruu_2025. Contact Jill at minister@uucorvallis.org with questions.