Hands Off Rally, 4/5

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Hands Off Rally
Saturday, April 5, at noon
Benton County Courthouse
120 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 rule of law! Oppose executive overreach! Many groups are collaborating to make this happen and make it BIG: Indivisible, 50501, Third Act, Women’s March, and more. Click HERE for the Corvallis event. This will be a peaceful protest.

For more information, contact Claire Montgomery and Karen Josephson using this Breeze form.

All are welcome. Bring signs!
Submitted by the Democracy Action Team

Sign-Making Party, 3/30

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Sign-Making Party!
Sunday, March 30, 1:30-3:00 PM
Westminster 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 and windows. Bring any supplies that you can share and lots of ideas for slogans! Let’s let the world know we’ve had enough! For more information, contact Claire Montgomery and Karen Josephson using this Breeze form.

All are welcome! Submitted by the Democracy Action Team.

Weekly men’s lunch group(s) starting up

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The ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) are looking for more men to start one or more new lunch groups. Each group will meet weekly as a social gathering to talk about whatever comes up. As the name implies, ROMEOs are predominantly older men and are inclined to discuss topics that interest older men.

One or more YAMEO (Younger but-still-Available-for-lunch Men Eating Out) groups are also forming for men who aren’t retired but still have the flexibility to attend a weekly lunch. Conversation topics will probably differ from the ROMEOs and be of more interest to not-yet-old men.

Attendance isn’t mandatory for all lunches, though there is certainly value in attending regularly! If you’re interested in joining one of these groups, contact Jed Irvine using the form linked below by March 30th and tell him which group interests you. Jed will set up a scheduling poll for each group to determine how many folks are available on which days, and thus how many new groups will form.

Contact form: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/8b1ec9534943196692348281583519237151

Here and Now

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I am more and more at a loss for what to say about where things are in our country.  The age-old needs for power and control, for creating enemies, the greed – these have been standard human activities forever.  A colleague related a story this week: in their congregation at joys and sorrows someone shared that it was “a good thing in the long run that the British Empire declined, but it is extremely hard to be living through the decline of THIS empire.”  We live among people for whom these are glory days – and that is extremely difficult. 

I try to stay focused on the Fellowship, on our togetherness, our mission and goals, what we mean to each other and need from each other.  At the very least, we can, maybe for the first time, take our ideals and values very seriously, instead of as topics for casual conversation.  These ideals are worth keeping alive – that’s our work now.  Love and respect, inclusion and generosity, compassion and peace – there is more than enough to be dedicated to.  Do we know how to be dedicated?  

Here’s a way.  Last week I noted this about our Stewardship events, which are happening now.  I’m sharing it again, because I’m afraid some folks missed it. “ 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 you 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.”

“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.