by

Hello dear congregants at UUFC:  What a week it has been in this world, with the extreme heat and more painful political news.  But that discomfort and pain is not the whole picture.  As we continue in our spiritual growth and grounding together, we have opportunities to find a soothing balm as well as deep courage.  Please continue to make time for the things that nourish you spiritually and connect you to others.  I was grateful for the coincidence that my sister was travelling through Oregon this week and I got to go hiking with her as we explored the mountains and waterfalls together.  Here is a photo!

In my second week at the Fellowship, I continue to observe generosity of time, talent, and treasure.  I see so many members getting great joy from doing their part in sustaining this spiritual community.  I was inspired to see the nearly 30 people who came on Wednesday evening to the training coordinated by the Democracy Action Team.  Folks left energized with ideas of the many ways to resist autocracy with focus on what is unique to this location in Oregon, to their unique abilities, and to this spiritual community.  

Next week will be my first board meeting and I will begin working with the board as they provide leadership to you all during this interim time. I will be leading worship with you here for the first time this coming Sunday, and I look forward to being with you there.

In joy and patience,

Rev. Alex McGee, Interim Minister

Adjusting to the Moment, August 17, 2025

by

Habits help a person get through life with ease, but sometimes those habits don’t serve us when we encounter new situations.  Many people are experiencing new situations in public safety, national economy, and also right here in the Fellowship.  What spiritual practices can guide us to be present and act skillfully – both as individuals and community?  
Rev. Alex McGee will preach.

Connect Up Hike, 8/30

by

We will hike the Takena Landing lollipop trail in Albany. Meet at the UUFC parking lot at 8:30 a.m. if you would like to carpool. We’ll gather at the trailhead under the bridge at 8:45 and begin hiking at 9:00. This 3.6 mile riverside hike in North Albany has little elevation gain. There are opportunities for wading and for agate hunting and blackberry picking.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM CORVALLIS: Take Highway 20 to North Albany. When you come to the stoplight/intersection with NW North Albany Rd, turn RIGHT into Takena Landing and proceed to the parking lot under the bridge.

RSVP here

Mosaic Antiracism Workshop for Adults! Register by 9/1

by

Registration is requested HERE.

WHAT: A fun and connecting communal exploration of radical inclusion through the lens of race and culture.

WHEN: Monday evenings, 9/8 – 10/20 from 6:30-8PM

WHERE: Room 7 @ uufc

WHY: Because the social and political landscape is ever-evolving, there will always be more to learn about how to be inclusive, and this will never be a topic we can check off the old to-do list and call it done. In 2020, the Commission on Institutional Change’s report, “Widening the Circle of Concern” (UUA), the commission recommended that we “hold conversations across generations about issues of inclusion, with the goal of recognizing the evolution in our Living Tradition and that spiritual development needs change over time.” Let’s answer that call in Corvallis!

More details:

Each session will include the following elements:

  • Opening: chalice lighting and check-in
  • Read: audio or video of a book or an article to explore together
  • Watch: video
  • Do: craft, game, or other activity
  • Close: chalice extinguishing words and other classroom rituals to close the circle
  • Take Home: suggested activity and/or conversation starter to encourage further faith development at home

We want to see a majority of our adults engaging with this material. We want to see teams and councils putting this learning to work in all we do in every corner of Fellowship life and beyond. We want to do whatever is needed to help you engage deeply, share bravely, and welcome wildly, so if you want to be included and can’t figure out how, or if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Skyla King-Christison at dre@uucorvallis.org .

PS Our children will be engaging with Mosaic across the year, too! Below are some pictures of our leaders of the children and youth programs getting ready for the juicy and community-building year ahead!

Grounds Work Party, 8/17

by

We have a big stash of cardboard piling up at the UU and time permitting, we can begin to cardboard and woodchip the Elmwood and Firwood areas near the street. This area of scraggly grass which is not a lawn is a drag to have to mow. Wood chips will reap big improvements both in aesthetics and ease of maintenance. Our mowing team volunteers will thank us!

Thank you for your attention and desire to help. We need many hands to make this effort sustainable! We hope to see you soon.

Labor Day Tuna Roast, 9/1

by
tuna roast

End the summer with a party! Specifically, a Tuna Roast on Labor Day from 4 – 7 PM at the Lions Shelter in Avery Park.

Since 1997; always on Labor Day, always at Avery Park, Lions Kitchen; a party for all UUFC members and friends, old and new. This event marks the beginning of the new church year and a welcome to our new interim minister Alex. It is a good place to bring kids as it is next to the swings, the old train, and the dinosaur bones. Teens can “hang out” or help with the barbecue. To cover costs we ask for a donation of $7.00 per adult and whatever you think is appropriate for your kids. Sliding scale because we want everyone to come, so no one will be turned away for lack of funds. This is about being in community, not a fund raiser. If there is any leftover money, Rev. Alex can direct it to an appropriate place.

We provide barbecued tuna, sweet corn on the cob, lemonade and sheet cakes. For vegetarians there will be veggie burgers and barbecued eggplant and zucchini. For picky kids there will be hot dogs. We ask you to bring your own plates and silverware and $$$.

A folding chair might be helpful. Especially, bring a potluck dish such as dessert, salad, bread, chips, dips, veggies, fruit, pickles, and lots more desserts.

This is a community event and it takes a community to run it, especially if you are able bodied and not herding little kids. We always need help setting up at 3:00 PM and cleaning up around 7:00 PM. We’re hoping that many people will take turns barbecuing. For these things just show up and jump in.

We do need someone to obtain the corn from WINCO, early arrivals can shuck the corn, and a couple of quiet people can cook it. We need a drink master, to make the lemonade and keep the jugs refilled. We need 2-3 people to help me prep the tuna on Monday morning. Finally we need someone to pick up seven rented tables at Special Occasions on Friday, and return them on Tuesday. If you have a truck with a bed long enough for 8-foot tables, that would be excellent. Otherwise we can borrow Lee Holt’s truck, but a driver is needed. Special occasions does all the loading and unloading so you don’t need to be muscular.

Contact Rich if you can help on these several jobs.

Unhoused Persons task force meeting, 8/17

by

A task force has been formed to address the impact of unhoused people living on the Fellowship’s grounds. This Unhoused Persons task force will be meeting after service on the first and third Sundays of each month. The next meeting will be in the Sanctuary on Sunday, August 17 at 11:40 AM.

The task force’s goal is to provide the Board of Directors with:

  1. A plan for the ongoing management of unhoused persons already residing on Fellowship grounds.
  2. Elements of a policy to guide management of future residents, either on the ground or in cars.

Parking Lot Garage Sale, 9/20

by

Do you have stuff you no longer need and want to get rid of? Are you willing to donate all the proceeds to UUFC? We’ll be holding our annual Parking Lot Garage Sale on Saturday, September 20 from 10 AM – 2 PM.

Here’s the procedure:

  1. Price your items (whole dollar thrift store prices or less)
  2. Bring your items to our parking lot and “sell” them, sending buyers to the cashier with their items. You don’t have to collect any money.
  3. At 2 PM take all unsold items home or deliver them to your favorite thrift store.

Kirtan With Girish, 8/17

by

Girish, an accomplished musician of many genres, former monk infused in spiritual practice, loving wordsmith linking lyrics and rhythm in a blissful musical event, sings traditional Sanskrit mantras with a modern, funky, yet deeply devotional twist. Accompanied by his amazing band, Girish invites his audience at his kirtan concert to participate by singing along, call and response chanting, and dancing. Girish has been recommended and featured in “O, The Oprah Magazine”, “Yoga Journal”, “Spirituality and Health Magazine”, “LA Yoga Magazine”, “Common Ground” and “Yogi Times.” Girish’s original music catalog of seven albums is popular in yoga studios and music festivals all over the world, and his “Music and Mantras” book was published in 2016.

by

Rev. Alex McGee began on August 1, 2025 serving as Interim Minister as our Fellowship enters our interim time, following the retirement of Rev. Jill McAllister. 

Greetings UUFC!

What a joy and honor it has been to spend the first week with you.  Thank you for your thoughtful welcomes in so many ways.  I see warmth and enthusiasm here.  Just in a few days I have observed the lovely shared worship leadership on Aug 3; the thoughtful caring of the Coordinating Council; the many hands painting, fixing, carrying, and beautifying the renovated wing.  I have met with the staff and am learning their talents.  

As I look ahead, I am excited to undertake the five tasks of interim ministry with you.  These five areas are a professional standard nationwide, across faith groups, for congregations during a transition time.  They are:

  • Reviewing history
  • Clarifying identity
  • Bolstering leadership
  • Strengthening connections locally and nationally
  • Looking to the future together

You will be seeing these show up in many opportunities throughout the life of the Fellowship.

What is moving in me in my daily prayer as I journey with you at this moment are three themes from our Universalist heritage:  Faith, Hope and Love.  These enhearten me as I honor the unknowns of this new-to-me place, the heartache of the national and international news, and the stories that each of you are holding.  Faith is something I understand from both my Christian and Yoga experience, as something that comes from beyond us to help us trust there is a wider meaning we cannot yet see.  Hope is something we choose so we can step forward.  And Love is a current that flows through us connecting us to others with compassion and joy.  I look forward to hearing from you all what is moving in you spiritually at this time.

—Namaste, Rev. Alex McGee

August 7, 2025