Justice Outreach Fund is Seeking Proposals

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The Justice Outreach Fund (JOF) created in 2015 supports our Unitarian Universalist Values with an emphasis on creating a just and diverse multicultural Beloved Community where all thrive. To do this, the Fund awards small and large grants up to $10,000 to projects that are aimed at seeding and/or achieving social, economic, racial, and environmental justice.

The JOF Team is looking for projects that support one or more of the following three outcomes:

  1. Changing how people are thinking and talking about an issue.
  2. Engaging people and communities in civic action.
  3. Developing or changing public or corporate policy.

For more information, the JOF Team encourages you to visit our table in the Social Hall on the first Sunday of each month, visit our newly revised webpage, or email us at jofund@uucorvallis.org for more information.

Join the Choir, Wednesdays at 7 PM

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Embroider your life with song! The UUFC Choir meets every Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary and is open to anyone – whether you have musical experience or not. There is no audition.

We sing a variety of pieces – each with unique style, instrumentation, and cultural significance – which allows for diverse musical exploration and personal expression.

The Choir is a great way to be of service to our Fellowship community… and have FUN! Contact Director Steven Evans-Renteria for more information at this link.

Childcare is available!

Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.

LEGATO potluck, 4/8

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Come lend your voices to table talk about justice in our society. You might share song titles the choir and band could include in its repertoire. The potluck is Wednesday April 8 at 6:30 PM. Come early if you can help set up tables.

Bring a dish to share (please identify all ingredients), serving utensil (if needed), and your own plate, fork, and water. The kitchen will not be used. This is a low-impact meal.

This is a Connect Up Event with the purpose of building community within the UUFC congregation.

Childcare is available!

Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.

Sacred Chanting with Shantala and Friends, 4/11

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Shantala, the kirtan duo of Benjy and Heather Wertheimer, has over two decades of experience leading kirtan (sacred chanting), and have captivated audiences worldwide. Their music is a beautiful tapestry of exquisite vocals, Indian instrumentation, and Western influences, creating a loving and reverent atmosphere.

Saturday, April 11 at 7 PM in the Sanctuary.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Get tickets here.

Childcare is available!

Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.

Corvallis Politics 101 Workshop, 4/4

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Want to make local change happen? Considering running for office? Interested in learning more about how local politics works?

Join our Foundations of Corvallis Politics course on April 4th at 12pm at the UUFC.

No experience necessary. We’ll teach you how power and influence moves in the city, and how you can participate. This workshop will set the foundation for several tracks – whether you’re an advocate, potential candidate, or campaign support, this class is for you.

Tentative Schedule

  • 12pm-1pm lunch
  • 1pm-6pm workshops (with lots of breaks!)
  • 6pm-7pm optional networking session (Downtown)

Share Your Voice: Timeline for UUFC Elections and Annual Meeting 2026

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The UUFC Annual Meeting is coming up on Sunday, May 17, 2026 after worship service. Many things happen at our annual meeting, including voting on who will fill various leadership roles. For exact details, please read the UUFC Bylaws, shown at the bottom of this page.

Here is the timeline of events leading up to this year’s annual meeting.

The Annual Meeting on May 17 is also online. If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person, it will be available on Zoom using the same link as the Sunday Service, included below. You will also be able to vote using Zoom. The meeting will start after the service at approximately 11:30 am.

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/96231448170?pwd=cUoxaWxyei9wOTE5cVFVZ0t0Qk5KUT09

Agenda for the UUFC Annual Meeting

Come vote on many key items and celebrate our search for meaning, deep connections, and actions toward a better world for all, The meeting will be held shortly after the service on Sunday, May 17. We require a quorum of at least one-quarter of the membership. Sign-in sheets will be available before the service. Snacks will be available in the Social Hall. The meeting will be carried on Zoom and on-line voting will be available.
The agenda includes several important items:

  • Gathering, Chalice Lighting, and Confirmation of Quorum
  • Voting
    • Search Team (requires a vote of ¾ of members present)
    • Emerita Status Resolution (requires a vote of ¾ of members present)
    • Candidates for Office (simple majority)
  • Board, Council, Team and Staff Reports
  • Financial Overview and Vote (simple majority)

You can read more about the Annual Meeting here.

Matters Up For Vote

Elected Fellowship Lay Leaders

The Nominating Committee has presented a slate of candidates to fill the following roles:

  • Members of the Board of Directors
  • Members of the Nominating Committee
  • Chair of the Personnel Committee
  • Chair of the Financial Oversight Council

View the slate of candidates at https://uucorvallis.org/nominees-for-uufc-elected-positions-2026-27/.

Note that the Chair of the Committee on Ministry would normally also be elected at the Annual Meeting, but the work of the Committee on Ministry is paused during our time of Interim Ministry.

Ministerial Search Committee

The Board of Directors has presented a slate of candidates to serve as the Ministerial Search Committee, which will be tasked with conducting a search for our next settled minister.

View the nominees for our Ministerial Search Committee at https://uucorvallis.org/nominees-for-settled-minister-search-committee/.

Ways of Voting

Motions are passed by majority vote of those present, which is determined through a verbal Yea/Nay vote. Attendees on Zoom will vote using Zoom’s polling function.

Becoming a Voting Member

Voting at the Annual Meeting is only open to people who are signed, active members of the Fellowship. In other words, those who have signed the membership book and maintained active membership. See Bylaws Article II.

There is still time for new members to join before the Annual Meeting! Prospective members are required to attend three of the Inquirers Series sessions before signing the book: #1 Our Shared Values, #2 Transitions Q&A, #8 Membership 101 (or #9 UU Roots). These sessions will be offered before the Annual Meeting, on these dates:

  • Transitions Q&A: April 19 (swapped dates with Care & Support, which is now on May 10)
  • Membership 101: April 26
  • Our Shared Values: May 3

If you have already completed any of these sessions, you only need to attend the others. You do not need to repeat a session you’ve already attended, though you are welcome to!

The membership book will be available for signing after the Inquirers Series on May 10, for those who have completed the prerequisites. This will be the last opportunity to sign the membership book before the Annual Meeting. To learn more about membership at the UUFC, see our Path to Membership page.

UUFC Member Voting FAQ

This list of Frequently Asked Questions was prepared to help inform people about the votes that will occur at the Fellowship’s Annual Meeting. Please read these questions, and share this page with anyone who has questions about voting. If you have a voting question that isn’t answered here, please email it comms@uucorvallis.org.

Do I have to be a member to vote?
Yes, per the Fellowship’s Bylaws.

Does pledging make me a member?
No. But it is greatly appreciated!

How do I know if I’m a member?
Check the list of members that is currently available at the Board table in the Social Hall after Sunday worship service.
You can also ask by emailing comms@uucorvallis.org.

How does the Fellowship keep track of who the current members are?
Fellowship staff maintain a member database using Breeze Church Management Software.

Can I vote proxy?
No.

Can I vote with an absentee ballot?
No.

Can I vote on Zoom?
Yes.

Can I vote by phone?
No.

Can my friend / roommate / spouse / cat vote for me?
No.

How many of the Inquirers series do I have to take before I can become a member?
Three; specifically Sessions 1, 2, and 8 (or 9). For more information see Our path to Membership page.

Can I sign the book the morning of the congregational meeting? The day before? The week before?
Our Membership Coordinator is willing to meet with people to sign through May 13, but after that, the list of members will be in process to be prepared for the Annual Meeting.

If I was a member elsewhere, can the minister make an exception for me?
No.

I didn’t know I had to be a member. Can I vote anyway?
No.

I have been coming to the UUFC for a long time. Doesn’t that count?
Not for the purposes of voting on congregational matters, no.

I think I signed the book 20 years ago, but you all don’t have proof. Can I vote?
No. But ask about your membership status anyway, so existing records can still be checked.

UUFC Bylaws

The Path to Membership

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Is membership right for you?

We highly encourage all newcomers who are interested in membership to attend all sessions of the Inquirers Series, a series of classes offered every Sunday after worship in a 9-week rotation. The sessions are not just for newcomers and do not need to be completed in a specific order. Sessions take place from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM every Sunday in Room 7. 

Attending Our Shared Values (or UU Roots), Transitions Q&A, and Membership 101are required before requesting to become a member of the Fellowship. 

  1. Our Shared Values

  2. Transitions Q&A

  3. Building & Grounds Tour

  4. Lifespan Faith Formation

  5. Governance

  6. Care and Support

  7. Justice and Community Action

  8. Membership 101

  9. Our UU Roots and Q&A

While these sessions can be taken in any order, and generally do occur in the order listed, there are times when illness and travel necessitate scheduling changes. If you are trying to attend a specific session, you are highly encouraged to check the online calendar the evening before in case last minute changes have occured.

We introduce and welcome new members to the Fellowship during a Sunday morning service. New members will be offered the opportunity to participate but are not required to do so. A short biography to introduce each new member along with a headshot photo for the directory may be requested. More information will be shared during the Membership 101 class.

Final steps to membership

After attending the Inquirers Series, you become a member by signing the Membership Book. This signifies that you choose to align yourself with our mission and values, undertaking the rights and responsibilities of membership.

The Membership Welcome ceremony is offered each quarter; new members are invited to sign the Membership Book and be introduced to the congregation. You may also
arrange to sign the Membership Book in private with the Minister.

New members are invited and encouraged to make a pledge of financial and volunteer support to the Fellowship. This is what stewardship means. Detailed stewardship information is available on the UUFC website under the Donate button.

Seeking highly committed members

Generations of highly committed members have worked to create what you experience at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis today: a dynamic, liberal community of faith devoted to religious learning and growth and to justice, compassion, and peace.

Carefully consider the responsibilities of membership before you make the commitment. Members readily and generously give their time, talents, and financial resources to support the life and mission of the Fellowship. This spirit of generosity and commitment develops over time and is the result of active participation in our programs.

Membership represents a deeper connection to your faith community. Are you prepared to make this kind of commitment by becoming a member?

Why does membership matter?

Membership means taking your religious life seriously, participating in the life of the Fellowship, and supporting the Fellowship with time, talent, and resources according to your means.

Membership means being present and participating in this vital, dynamic congregation, joining hundreds of others as we work for justice, nurture freedom of thought and religious expression, advocate for the worth and dignity of every person, and dedicate ourselves to environmental stewardship.

Membership is required to participate in the governance of the Fellowship: electing and serving on the Board of Directors, who oversee policies and finances. Membership is also required to be eligible to vote at official congregational meetings. In addition, you’ll receive UUWorld, which is the journal of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

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.

Cooperative Egg Hunt

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We know many egg hunts are all about gathering as many eggs as you can, as fast as you can. Ours is a little different, and that difference really matters for your child’s experience. Please take a moment to look over the plan so you can help them understand what to expect: a cooperative, shared activity where every child gets one of each color and leaves with a full set of meaningful treasures. When children know ahead of time that this isn’t about collecting as many eggs as possible, they are much more likely to relax, enjoy the process, and feel proud of what they’ve gathered. Your guidance helps make the experience joyful and fair for everyone.

🌈 The Plan

This is a cooperative hunt, not a race.
Everyone helps make sure all children can collect one egg of each of the 7 colors.
Each color corresponds with a value, and each value has a station at one of the tables.

🥚 How It Works

  1. Find one egg of a new color

    • Only take an egg if you haven’t already had that color.

    • If you accidentally get one twice. It’s okay. Just put it back in the grass.

  2. Trade it in right away

    • Bring the one egg to the table that matches its color/value.

    • Trade the egg for a prize that helps you remember that value.

  3. Leave the egg behind

    • Eggs stay at the tables. Only prizes go home.

  4. Repeat

    • Go find a different color and trade it in, until you have visited all 7 value stations.

    • If you’ve found all you need, look around and see who needs help!

🎯 Important Guidelines

  • ✔️ One egg per color per child

  • ✔️ Trade each egg before finding another

  • ✔️ Collect one prize from each station (7 total)

  • ✔️ Most tables have two values, one has one value

  • ✔️ Things run more smoothly if everyone doesn’t go to the same table at the same time, so no need to go in order.

🚧 Safety & Boundaries

  • Stay inside the cones at all times

  • Parents, Guardians, and Grown-ups who brought participants are responsible for supervising their children

  • Volunteers are here to staff tables and answer questions, but their focus is not on monitoring safety boundaries

💛 Remember

We are sharing, helping, and making sure everyone gets what they need.

Take your time. Help each other. Have lots of fun!

Behind the Music: I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

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Growth and perspective are beautiful parts of any life – and of any community. Today’s piano selections all hold meaning that fit into this Sunday’s theme of spring cleaning and transformation. Growth sometimes asks us to let things go but it also invites us to look more closely at what can be deepened, reshaped, or carried forward.

Today’s service started with a solo piano version of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing as the prelude. While this classic hymn might have been familiar to anyone who has ever attended a Christian church, I wanted the melody to be in the ears and minds of those for whom it was new. Renowned church composer and arranger Joseph Martin created an ethereal arrangement that turns the musically square tune – referring to its very vertical sense of rhythm, like a slow march – into something flowing and flexible, letting us hear the song immediately before singing without getting tired of it. This hymn was composed in 1758, by Robert Robinson, whose teenage years were spent engaging in frivolities and debauchery. However, upon hearing a sermon on divine grace from preacher/orator George Whitefield (one of the fathers of the Methodist church), Robertson converted and became a pastor himself by the age of twenty-two. The original lyrics were explicitly Christian, but when creating a new Unitarian Universalist hymnal (which we now know as Singing the Living Tradition), the strong bones of this hymn were recognized, and once portions of the original lyrics were rewritten, a beautiful hybrid of traditional and new became part of the UU repertoire.

Turn! Turn! Turn! may be the only example I can think of of an unaltered Bible verse that’s been adapted into a wildly popular hit pop song. The Byrds’ performance of Pete Seeger’s composition became a chart topper in the middle of the Vietnam War and the formation of the 1960’s counterculture. Whether interpreted as a protest song or voicing the idea that change happens, it’s a catchy reminder that transformation unfolds within a larger rhythm. The form and layout of the music mirror the song’s meaning: the repetition of “To everything, turn, turn, turn…” creates a cyclical pattern, echoing the changing of seasons.

Turn! Turn! Turn! was originally meant to be an accompanied vocal solo today, but due to a cold – or perhaps the Willamette Valley’s allergy triggers! – it became a solo piano reflection instead. David Lanz’s rendition (performed here by the arranger) is a particularly lovely way to experience this old favorite.

Both Sides Now is universally loved for so many reasons: its poignant melody and harmonies, its poetic lyrics, and its themes of vulnerability, uncertainty, and perspective. What once seemed simple becomes more complicated upon closer inspection. Our views and beliefs evolve the more we learn. Earlier experiences are not erased, but broadened with greater understanding. When placed in the context of Rev. Alex’s sermon, it begs the questions “When is it time to let something go? And what are we holding on to – and why does it matter?”

The arrangement of Both Sides Now that I played today is from the 2021 film CODA [the acronym for Children of Deaf Adults – swept industry awards a few years ago with its moving portrayal of a gifted singer born to deaf parents. Any and all times that Joni Mitchell has sung Both Sides Now will always be the gold standard against which all other performances are measured against…but I challenge you to not tear up when watching this video of Emilia Jones singing and signing Both Sides Now for her deaf family during her conservatory audition. They can’t hear her gorgeous voice, but they can appreciate the deep meaning behind the words she sings, and understand the weight they carry as her character grows up.

I had a different postlude planned for today, but after the Time for All Ages included the messages that today was Palm Sunday and that being Unitarian Universalist and Christian (or any other religion) need not be mutually exclusive, I had two immediate thoughts. The first was that I would have to play “Hosanna” from Jesus Christ Superstar for the postlude, which was immediately followed by my asking myself question “the UUFC community will know this song…right?” Sometimes I play selections pulled from the musical theatre world that aren’t as well known, but I made a little bet with myself that if I played “Hosanna” today, it would be recognized. I was delighted to see a number of congregants gathered by the piano who not only were familiar with the song but who were joyfully singing along!