All who identify as men are welcome to join our gatherings on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month beginning at 11:45 AM, in Room 9, upstairs in the classroom wing.
“Can We Be Prepared?” 8/25/24
The unexpected is completely common, and we try to prepared for a variety of possible events – earthquakes, fires, ice storms, tsunamis, power outages, births and deaths, new love and break-ups, aging and related losses, political upheaval(?) and so much more. Statistics (what might happen) and logistics (possible responses) are something, but not everything and maybe not even the most important. What does it mean to be prepared?
Between Us
So much of our time and energy, whether we are aware of it or not, goes into finding our footing, so to speak, or trying to find balance – mostly emotional or spiritual balance, though sometimes (especially as we age) our physical balance as well. The world we live in is so good at challenging our sense of balance – our sense of stability and even of trustworthiness. Too often we react as if the world is doing this to us personally – trying to make our own lives difficult. Usually however, Life, and the world, are simply doing what they do – being immensely complex arrangements between life and death, love and hate, beginnings and endings.
Humans have many ways of dealing with these realities! (That’s an understatement.) Religious beliefs and practices are often involved, as are power dynamics and ways of dealing with fear, and lots of other things. Not that most of us name these dynamics in ourselves – especially our ways of dealing with fear.
At the heart of spiritual searching, and sometimes of spiritual practice, is the need to respond to the presence of fear. For myself in this practice, sometimes I think I am learning and growing, and sometimes I’m pretty sure I’m mostly fooling myself. Because of this I have a sense that working together to address fears is very helpful. The political landscape in our country is part of the way the world is going, and it certainly adds to our challenges of trying to find and maintain balance in the presence of fear. For the next few weeks, I’m looking forward to talking about these challenges with all of you, as we make our way toward an election season which will need the best we have to give.
See you Sunday — Jill (PS: Ask me about my theory that tendencies toward authoritarianism around the world are closely related to un-articulated fears about climate change.)
Oregon UU Voices for Justice – Annual Meeting, 10/5
9:15 AM – 3:15 PM at UUFC
All Fellowship members and friends are invited to join in the annual meeting of Oregon UU Voices for Justice – a state-wide UU collaborative – hosted at the Fellowship on Saturday Oct. 5 from 9:15 – 3:15. The theme is Saving Democracy: We Are the Majority. Sessions will include shared work on Environmental Justice, Human Rights and Economic Equality. Register online at https://bit.ly/2024UUV4JAnnualMeeting
Calling All Crafters & Artists (Holiday Fair Planning Meeting), 8/25
Our UUFC Holiday Fair is coming December 7. If you’d like to be part of the planning, please join in our next meeting on Sunday, August 25, after the Sunday service. Do you enjoy jewelry making, calligraphy, quilling, ceramics, woodworking, making greeting cards, knitting, crocheting, quilting, painting, photography, glass making, etc.? Turn your hobby into cash for yourself and UUFC, and joy for the buyers who love getting hand-crafted items for themselves or as gifts. UUFC retains 25% of the selling price and you get the rest. Do you have limited inventory? Then share a table with another UUFC crafter. Start creating now.
Tom & Isabel Prusinski are coordinating artists/vendors. Please let them know you wish to participate. Contact Tom and Isabel
Queerly Beloved Game Day, 8/18
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the Social Hall
Do you love to play Mexican Train Dominoes? Or maybe you’ve never played before and it sounds like fun.
Join the Queerly Beloved social group as we snack, chat, maybe sing, and play on Sunday afternoon, August 18 from 4:00 to 6:00 in the Social Hall. Bring snacks to share if you wish. All kind souls are welcome!
UUFC Merch Store
Check out the UUFC Merch Store for tee-shirts, hats, coffee cups, backpacks, umbrellas, and more! Support our Fellowship with great gifts for yourself and your loved ones. Find it under the “about” tab on the UUFC website.
House Party Democracy House Party, 8/18
Join the Democracy Action Team for a fun, casual gathering where we will talk about ranked choice voting and learn how we can encourage our neighbors to vote YES on the critical ballot measure in November. You’ll even have a chance to try out ranked choice voting with a mock election.
DATE: August 18
TIME: 11:45 am, following the UUFC Fellowship Service
PLACE: UUFC Sanctuary (near the door to the Fellowship Hall). For more information, contact Deborah Clark.