The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis
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 Sabina Monn with rhythmic support from George Beekman. All three are members of Compass Rose. At 7:30 PM, DJ Geo will create a global music journey. Suggested donation: $5–15 (or more) – 100% of the proceeds are donated to local environmental organizations.
Our Sunday Outreach offerings in September support Jackson Street Youth Services, who offer youth a safe place to live and resources to work through crises and towards a brighter, more stable future. Founded to fill a gap in housing for homeless youth, they serve youth throughout Linn and Benton Counties. Read more about them at https://www.jacksonstreet.org/.
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 guides who will work with children and youth this year and the sermon will reflect on the urgency of helping the world by raising the next generation with UU values.
The choir will be back, and Rev. Alex will preach.
We’ll be holding our annual Parking Lot Rummage Sale on September 20 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Do you have items you no longer need and want to get rid of? Will you kindly donate all the sale proceeds to UUFC?
Here’s what you do:
Tell your friends, neighbors, and OSU folks. The Rummage Sale is open for everyone to shop.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
• At 9:30 AM to bring tables and chairs from our building to the parking lot.
• At 2:00 PM to return tables and chairs to the building.
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.
After the Tuna Roast, this Monday, September 1st, join friends of the Secure Food and Housing Justice Team at TAP TALK: SHARE THE LOVE 2 at Corvallis Common Fields.
From 5:30pm – 7:30pm Meet 4 local organizations working to create a better future: South Corvallis Food Bank, Corvallis Housing First, Friends of Outdoor School, and Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center. Join us for a FREE public event with presentations and info on how to get involved, fun activities, and ways to support their missions.
If you can’t make it while our Justice Team is there, you can still visit and learn about these wonderful local organizations! Enjoy yummy food and drink anytime between noon and 9 pm, and Common Fields will donate 10% of sales to the groups.
All are welcome to participate, connect with community members, and be a part of the solution!
At Common Fields, 545 SW 3rd St
Contact: 500WSCorvallis@gmail.com
Sponsor: 500 Women Scientists Corvallis
Hi Fellowship!
Look at this photo of my office door in the fresh new Religious Exploration wing of the building! How wonderful that all the effort for renovations and fix-up have borne fruit and are ready to welcome youth on September 7. I am grateful to the crew who worked on signage so I have a bulletin board outside the door of the office I use. Perhaps in the photo you can see it is Room 1 – right inside the doors of the RE wing, which are to the right of the parking lot door.
Most important, this photo shows that on my door I have taped a copy of the congregational covenant. Can you see that green piece of paper? The Fellowship covenanted to this in May 2023, and it reminds us of love, respect, listening, celebrating differences, clarifying misunderstandings, and returning to covenant. I have it on the door of my office to remind myself and all who enter here of how we agree to relate together.
One of the reasons I am attracted to Interim Ministry is because it is journeying with people during times of change. And change has so many aspects: excitement, uncertainty, grief, creativity, exhaustion and many more feelings. In fact, there are as many feelings as there are people reading this message. My goal is to honor all those truths, offer compassion for the discomfort, and help you stay true to your deepest values as you navigate this time. Please offer yourself and others spacious compassion and curiosity as this new chapter in the life of the Fellowship is unfolding.
In peace,
Rev. Alex
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 7 PM in Room 7.
Sitaram Dass (he/him) spent several years serving his beloved teacher Ram Dass on Maui, where he was shown the path of Bhakti, the yoga of service and devotion to God. He is an author, teacher, kirtan singer, spiritual therapist, and lover of God. As the director of the Sacred Community Project, he works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices.
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) is an obstacle for many people. To alleviate that problem some kind people at the Fellowship are offering a shuttle service to the protest. Those who would like to use this service should show up at the UUFC parking lot to get rides to and from the front of the Corvallis Library. We will be available, as needed, to pick up at half-hour intervals, leaving UUFC at 12:00, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, and 2:00; and doing return trips from the Library at 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, and 3:00.
Another good option is to take advantage of the CTS buses if one of their routes runs close to your home. All routes start and stop from the Downtown Transit Center, which is just a block from 4th Street. Check their routes and schedules at: https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/cts/page/bus-routes, or plan your personal route at: https://apps.corvallisoregon.gov/cts/tripplanner.html.
For any who are interested in using the shuttle service, please contact Jack Elder by email, phone, or text, and give him your name and the times you would like get rides in both directions.
We could also use a few more volunteer drivers. With more drivers, each individual will need to drive fewer trips, and can spend more time at the protest!
Want to experience what a Chalice Circle session is like? We’re trying a different format this year that will hopefully lower the barrier to make it easier for YOU to check out if joining a Chalice Circle is for you.
Chalice Circles are an opportunity to deepen your ties to others in this community. We do this by meeting on a regular basis with the same small group of people to share how we each navigate the journey of being human. This is done via thoughtfully designed “topics” that offer ideas and questions for reflection. Through authentic sharing and listening, we learn how to voice what deeply matters to us.
Never been in a chalice group? “Test the waters” by signing up for a Chalice Circle Pop-up Session offered this Fall. If you want to continue, we’ll help set up new groups that will continue through the upcoming liturgical year (through June). You’re also welcome to sign up if you’ve been in a group in the past or even if you’re already in a group! Come see what’s changed or just experience chalice with a different group of people.
Three sessions will be offered (2 hours each), and you can choose to attend 1, 2 or all 3 (different topic, different people but same format). Sign-ups are online via this Google Form (https://bit.ly/fall25chalice). The dates of each session are specified in the form.
Have more questions about chalice circles? Attend the next Inquirer Series featuring them on October 5, or read our FAQ at: https://uucorvallis.org/connection/#chalice_circle_groups.
Questions? Email: chalicecircles@uucorvallis.org