“Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?” These words from the 19th century French artist Paul Gaugin provide the basis for our theme for this year – “Ancestors, Descendants and Us.” The theme is an invitation to consider the most basic religious question – How Shall We Live?- from new perspectives, both together and as individuals. Join us as we begin our exploration of this invitation.
RE “Spirit Play” Sessions for Children and Youth begin today; in the service we’ll send our children and their guides off to begin their new sessions with love and gratitude.
Daily Practice – A Weekly Reminder
One of the most beautiful things about morning, about waking up, is that the conversation begins anew. What I mean is we can begin a new conversation with life every day. It’s quite easy to wake up and simply continue yesterday’s conversation, tired and worn out though it was when we went to sleep. Why be dragged down by yesterday’s attempts to get everything right (did we?) when we can begin again today in a new way, with a chance to move around what got in our way yesterday?
The point of the conversation remains the same, I think. We are here to learn. We are here to learn to love – which means to live with compassion, respect and justice. Which means to live in harmony with all other life. Which means to outgrow self-centeredness, and fear, which means to recognize our own woundedness and brokenness, which means to feel the life of our bodies and all other bodies, and so much more. Every day is a new beginning, bringing challenges and possibilities. We can begrudge and judge the day, the years, the life we’ve been given – that’s not hard. Or we can accept the gift of being welcomed into each and every day. Once again, a new day is waiting to welcome you. May you feel the breath which is given and, with gratitude, enter in.
Partner Church Hungarian Dinner – All Are Invited! 9/27
On Friday, Sept. 27, at 6 PM, during the visit of our Partner Church minister, Rev. Katalin Szasz-Cserey, all are invited to a Fellowship Dinner featuring “traditional” Transylvanian Hungarian foods. Tickets will be $10 for adults, $6 for children under 12. Come meet new friends and old, learn more about our long partnership, enjoy a great meal and pictures of Transylvania.
Leadership Supper. 9/20
Our first Leadership Supper of the year, this coming Friday, is for all leaders of teams, councils, projects, events and the Board. We’ll focus on Council structure and communication, facilitation, and coordination of work and events. All leaders are needed and welcome. Please plan to attend. Supper provided by the Committee on Ministry and friends.
UUFC Choir – Join us this week!
The Fellowship choir meets once a week (Wednesday nights from 7:00-9:00) to prepare music which enhances our Sunday services throughout the year. We embrace a wide range of music from this wide web of life, — as old as the 1300s and as recently composed as this year and many things in between.
The choir typically sings in Sunday services twice a month. If you or someone you know would like to join a group of singers searching for beauty and wisdom in life through music, join us! ALL are welcome in the UUFC choir.
Happy Practicing and I hope to see you on any Wednesday at 7:00PM.
Steven Evans-Renteria, Choir Leader
Buildings and Grounds Planning – Session 2, 9/14
Many thanks to all who participated in the first session of this planning process, which aims to create a 3-5 year plan for our Fellowship Buildings and Grounds. The second session will take place on Saturday Sept. 14, from 9-11AM. Attend again, attend for the first time, or send an email to Jill McAllister with your ideas and hopes for our campus, to be incorporated into a strategic plan.
If you have ideas or opinions, now is the time to share them!
All are welcome.
From the Minister
For the past eleven years we have worked with an annual theme as a way of focusing our attention and energy amidst the many activities of the Fellowship. Themes have included Love, Courage, Deepening, Faithfulness, Building A New Way, and more. In the coming year, our focus will be “Ancestors, Descendants, and Us.” It is inspired by a song in our hymnal, based on words of the artist Paul Gaugin: Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?” In the life of the Fellowship and in our individual lives, these are timely questions.
“Where do we come from?” refers to our histories – who were the people and what were the ideas and events which shaped the evolution of Unitarianism, and of the Fellowship. What were their dreams and challenges, their successes and failures, and how have those affected the lives we live now? And for our individual lives – what have we inherited and how have we been shaped by what we have inherited from our own ancestors?
“Where are we going?” refers to the future, which we do not know but which we are shaping through our present lives. Where do we hope to go? What kind of world do we want for the generations who will follow us? Are these ideas and ideals realistic, possible? How might they come into being?
Both of these questions inform and affect our lives in the present moment. What do we still need to learn about our histories that can help us make good choices for our present lives, so that our present lives can help shape the futures we aim for? What kinds of ancestors do we hope to be, and what is required of us now for that to come true?
In this church year we will be telling and listening to many stories, we will be encouraging one another to live up to our ideals, and we will be working together to envision a future worth striving for. Our religious values play a very big part in all of this work. I invite you to begin your reflections now and I encourage you to enter into the conversations: Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?
Emma’s Revolution UUFC Concert, 9/21
UU Singer/ Songwriters Sandy O and Pat Humphries are returning to the Fellowship for an evening of both new and beloved songs about justice, compassion and right relations. Sandy and Pat are favorites of many UU congregations and General Assemblies.
Tickets are $18 in advance and $22 at the door. Please join us, and invite your friends!
Neighborhood Planters Kiosk Installed
The UUFC Climate Action Team encourages gardening to provide local food, shade, and carbon sequestration. Information on local gardening, food, and community will appear in the new Neighborhood Planters Kiosk next to the Circle Blvd sidewalk area shared with the Sangha Jewel Zen Center. The colorful kiosks are a collaborative project of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition Food Action Team, Benton County Master Gardeners, Corvallis Evening Gardening Club, and City of Corvallis Civic Beautification and Urban Forestry group and are provided at no cost. The info will be changed on a mostly weekly basis by the Climate Action Team.
(Photo: Dianne Roth viewing info in the kiosk window)
Sip & Snack SPRINGHILL CELLARS, 9/8
Join UU friends for an afternoon at Springhill Cellars Winery on Sunday September 8, 2024.
We will leave from the UU parking lot at 11:45 for the 20-minute drive out to 2920 NW Scenic Drive in North Albany (take Hwy 20 toward Albany, look for Scenic Drive after you pass Hyak Park). We typically stay a couple hours.
Bring finger food to share with the group (if you bring food that requires cutting or scooping, then bring necessary utensils). Heather will provide paper plates and napkins. You might also want to bring water.
Those with the Visit Corvallis WINE PASSPORT, you will have a free tasting flight.
It’s a fun, relaxed way to get to know some UU’s better. Hope you can join us.
Please contact Heather if you’d like to attend.