We enter into February, a month dedicated to love and to Black History, both of which are beautiful opportunities for daily practice. We enter into this particular February, in which both love and Black History are in danger, and at stake.
For Black History month, I begin by choosing two or three books to read, and I receive a daily lesson in Black history from an online newsletter called Anti-Racism Daily. For a month dedicated to love, I begin with a framework provided by Cornel West – his phrase that “Justice is what love looks like in public,” and I review my justice –related commitments and activities, aiming to help myself be accountable to my ideals, by reviewing and renewing those commitments, or making changes. These activities are closely related. I ask myself whether or not, and how, what I learn helps me change the way I live.
The religious life is not merely an intellectual exercise, not limited to discussion of religious, theological or political ideas. It is not simply a way to be with other people in a shallow or pseudo community. It is a daily practice of turning ever-more closely to living in right relations, which requires learning more about the truths of our own minds and thoughts, more about the truths of our relatedness to all others, more about the truths of how we are part of Life. It begins again each and every day, with awareness of the gifts of life and breath. It begins again each and every day as we undertake to learn one more thing than we know, which could move us closer to peace, to compassion, to justice. It begins every morning, as sunlight unfolds and spreads. As each day is given may we choose to be present, intentional and committed to learning and growing, that our lives may be a blessing.
EDI, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion justice team invites you! Love a good adventure story you just can’t put down? While engrossed in the events unfolding in “James,” by Percival Everett, you’ll explore the many risks facing James and Huck who somehow muster the courage to prevail in a perilous time of our shared history. It’s a compelling tale! Cozy up in comfort and join the conversation, 7 PM, Monday, February 10th when we’ll share our experiences and responses reading “James.”
PERSISTENCE IS POWER — Come to the 2025 NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet! NAACP is a local powerhouse continuing to do all they can for equity and inclusion in our community. The theme of this year’s Freedom Fund Banquet is “Persistence is Power.” Keynote Speaker: Winner of the National President’s Award, Sheley Seacrest, president of the King County NAACP in Seattle When: Feb. 22nd, No-host bar 5 PM/Appetizers; 6-9 PM Program with speakers and music Where: CH2M Hill Alumni Center, OSU Campus, Corvallis Details and registration: Freedom Fund Webpage; Linn Benton NAACP Branch #1118
Mitzi Loftus is a Unitarian Universalist, a member of the UU Fellowship in Ashland, Oregon. She is coming to Corvallis to give a lecture on February 28 at 10:30 am. See link below: Mitsuko “Mitzi” Asai was not yet ten years old in the spring of 1942 when President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 sent 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry—about two-thirds of them US citizens—from their homes on the West Coast to inland prison camps. Mitzi and most of her family, who operated a fruit orchard in Hood River, Oregon, were incarcerated in California and Wyoming for most of World War II. Her talk about her family’s experience will illuminate the personal side of a dark chapter in US history. It’s the remarkable story of a transformation from thorns into blossoms, pain into healing.
This lecture will include American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. Tickets are $5.
Is it time to start clearing your clutter? Are you thinking about downsizing but don’t know where to start? Join us on March 5 to explore common obstacles, discuss practical steps to reducing clutter and thriving with less.
Presented by the Aging Successfully in Community Team and professional organizer Christine Arundell.
From Fellowship member Mike Jager: I’m looking for a studio, one bedroom apartment, yurt, cabin, or cottage to rent, or lease on a long-term basis. If you have, or know anyone with a place that is available please reach out to Mike. Thanks
The Corvallis Albany Branch of the NAACP works to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination, with a focus on our local Benton and Linn county communities.
Find out more about the work of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team, EDI and their collaboration with the NAACP in a display in the foyer this month. Find out more about all of our UUFC Justice Teams on the bulletin board on the north end of the social hall.
Permits have been approved! A second, final, round of asbestos abatement was finished. New discoveries continue as floors and walls are opened. With regard to securing the building to the foundation (presently the building simply sits on the foundation) in some places less work will need to be done, in other places the work plan needs to be reconfigured. The internet cable has been replaced by Xfinity after two days with no internet in the building– all is up and running now.
For me, Black History Month is a time for intentionality, for reflection, for learning. I consider it to be a responsibility – not an option. I am dedicated to the creation and sustaining of an anti-racist multi-cultural society, even though I don’t always know what that means for me or what the next steps are. Like the song says – “One more step, we will take one more step….” I hope you’ll join me. With Rev. Jill McAllister
There is so much positive energy in RE these days. Can you feel it? Read on so that you don’t miss any of the good stuff!
UPCOMING EVENTS for FAMILIES
2/9 Family Breakfast, 8:45-9:45
2/20 Parent Peer Support Group, 6:30-8PM
3/16 Seeds of Generosity pitches from children, youth, and Families, noon
6/1 River of Life Sunday with children’s performance and rituals
UPCOMING EVENTS for YOUTH
2/2, 2/16 OWL regular workshops
2/15-16 Eugene youth overnight and Non-romantic Ball
3/14-16 Coast Retreat
More information about our events can be found below, and info for all RE events can be found at uucorvallis.org by clicking “News” in the menu bar and then selecting “RE Council” from the drop down menu.
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Our friends in Eugene have invited us to an overnight at their place. Come check out how other UUs “do church” and have fun helping with the non-romantic Valentine Ball. There will be food, opportunities for service, dancing, and midnight worship. Register directly with Eugene HERE by February 5th and don’t forget to email me and let me know you’re registered so that I can arrange for sufficient transportation.
Due to the joyful increase in attendance at the monthly RE Family Breakfast, (last month saw 30 participants!) our gracious hosts, the Polinders, kindly request that parents fill out THIS registration form each month a few days before the breakfast. If you forget, please do come anyway. All are always welcome! Registering simply allows us to be better stewards of the RE budget by helping us prepare adequate amounts of food without over-purchasing. We are grateful for your support as this warm gathering continues to grow!
Thanks to a generous endowment from the Bob Ozretich Memorial Fund and the creative minds on the UUFC Endowment team, we will soon launch a year-long program to cultivate a spirit of generosity in our children and youth.
The Seeds of Generosity program will involve 3 rounds of guest speakers sharing during Sunday morning RE about their experiences with generosity, and a pitch party at which families will enjoy food and drinks while children and youth make pitches for how they would spend $100 to make a difference in our community. Attendees of the pitch party will vote on who gets that round’s $100, and everyone who pitches goes into a drawing to win $50 to spend generously toward community betterment.
More details about the program will come home from RE with your child in late February, but for now, mark your calendars for our first Seeds of Generosity Pitch Party, after the service on March 16th and plan to be there to help us develop a culture of generosity!
I know it’s a long way off, but a LOT of preparation goes into our River of Life Sunday at the end of each church year. In order to pull off something meaningful for our children and youth, we need your help.
First, this year, we’re aiming to have the Spirit Play children offer a very short performance of the JETPIG song we’ve been using to learn the UU shared values. It would be so helpful if parents went ahead and made a plan to be in attendance on June 1st AND listened to the JETPIG song at home or in the car once in a while to help the children gain confidence with the words and motions.
Second, each year we honor children who are transitioning between classrooms with a stepping stone ritual on River of Life Sunday. If your child will falls into any of the following groups, please email me!
1. A new walker — meaning they’ll be planning to be join Chalice Children in the nursery in September.
2. Going into 3rd grade in September. We *may* have the capacity to split into 2 different elementary spaces when the classroom reopens, and if we do, we’ll be stepping the older kids into their own space! 🤞
3. Going into 6th grade AND planning to step into youth group. Because there is a wide range of development in 6th grade, we invite families to decide whether their 6th graders attend youth group (middle and high schoolers) or remain in the upper elementary group.
The Fellowship depends on community members like Russ Anderson and Brian Egan, who arrived with their tools and smiles bright and early just about every day for weeks last month so that our building would be ready in time for official construction to begin. We’re lucky to have their knowledge and skill so freely given! If you see them in the social hall, don’t forget to thank them for their service. They are two of the many volunteers who keep this place moving forward!
If you have any questions about what’s happening in RE, send them my way. And if you’re someone who enjoys being out of the loop, and you want to be removed from the monthly RE Newsletter list, let me know. Wishing you a love-filled February!
