A series of 9 hour-long sessions designed especially for newcomers seeking more information about UUism and the Fellowship AND open to all others who are interested. Sessions take place every Sunday at 11:45 AM Room 8. Care and Support with Sandy Piper
Thinking About Year-End Gifts to Organizations You Appreciate?
‘Tis the season when people plan for the upcoming holidays, look back at the year that has passed, and ponder how they can make our world a better place in the year(s) to come. And yes, also begin thinking about the upcoming tax season. If in your pondering you are thinking about making year-end gifts to the organizations you appreciate/love and the UUFC is among those, thank you!
Year-end gifts to the UUFC can be made in many ways:
- Send a check to UUFC, 2945 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis OR 97330.
- Donate online using a debit, credit or ACH bank transfer. Go to the middle of the donation page and select yearend 2023 in the first drop down menu.
- If you have appreciated stock that is burning a hole in your holiday stocking, transfer stock to the UUFC Schwab account (82873024) using DTC # 0164 Code 40 (you can use these numbers in an online transfer or your broker will know what these are used for).
- If you are of an age where you need to make required minimum distributions from your retirement accounts, you can have a check written to the UUFC or send a message to office@uucorvallis.org and ask for the flyer on how to make such transfers. If you make these distributions directly to the UUFC, they won’t count as income for tax purposes.
- Unlike NPR, OPB or an assortment of other non-profits, we have not yet accepted vehicle donations, but if this is of interest to you, send an email to office@uucorvallis.org and your inquisitive finance team will see if we can figure out how to make this happen.
We thank you for your efforts to make our world a better place for all. May you and yours have a joyous holiday season.
Your UUFC Finance Council
Daily Practice: A Weekly Reminder 12/10/2023
Can you imagine that each season, as it arrives, brings with it a welcome? A welcome to the world as it is, in this particular season, at this particular time. Can you imagine being welcomed into winter, for example. What might it look like and feel like to know yourself welcomed by winter?
We could start with the soft grayness of the sky and hills, especially after rain – a softness which doesn’t move one to cover their eyes, but to quiet just a little and breathe in the fresh moistness. And the clouds – the variable and moving clouds, especially those that settle in to hug the fields and the valleys between the hills, like blankets. The darkness of course, with its invitations to rest, to reflect, to contemplate, to sleep, to keep covers on for longer each morning. And the stars – when the clouds part in the night sky, and stars can be seen even through the bare branches of trees. And here in this valley, at the edges of hills and woods, owls, who converse around the neighborhood as night begins and as morning begins as well. Don’t forget the cold – the breath of the north, the bringer of snow and ice and their unique expressions of beauty.
Can we allow ourselves to feel this welcome, to be welcomed, a few times a day, and to understand the welcome as generosity – the generosity of the turning earth, of the waxing and waning seasons. A generosity of variety, of breadth and depth of life, of life beyond our expectations. And if we can imagine this welcoming generosity, then might we ourselves become part of the welcome, part of the generosity, as a practice of understanding what we are part of? The season offers us all of this. All that’s needed from us is to enter in, with gratitude. May we feel the welcome of winter as a season of generosity, and may we respond with generous hearts and minds to spread the welcome to all who are in need of it.
“A Season of Generosity” 12/10/2023
There are plenty of ads, jingles, mailings, and conversations encouraging us to give at this time of year. But how is the giving of gifts related to generosity of spirit, a generous open heart and open mind, a generous respect for the basic needs of all? Perhaps instead of focusing on giving we should be contemplating deep and broad generosity, beginning with this season.
with Rev. Jill McAllister
Sunday Readings – You Asked
Folks often ask for the source of readings and comments in the Sunday services and sermons. Here are some from recent Sundays:
November 26 – Revs. Monica Jacobson-Tennessen and Jill McAllister – “Disguised As Our Life”
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Becoming Kin by Patty Krawec.
December 3 – Rev. Jill McAllister — “In Need of Awe”
Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation (can.org) from Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent, and Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life” by Dacher Keltner
Lockbox Code Schedule and Request to be Informed of Change
The annual schedule for the lockbox code change has now been set: Feb. 15, May 15, Aug. 15, Nov. 1.If you currently have the lockbox code for your Team, Taskforce, or for some other reason to enter the building outside of open building hours and want to be on the quarterly email list to receive the updated code, please fill out the “Request to be Informed of Lockbox Code Change” form.
Faith-based climate action this week
Volunteers are needed to help plant trees in the islands of the Crystal Lake/Willamette Park parking lot. Sat 20 Jan, 10:00 AM to noon. To volunteer, email michael..hughes1951@gmail.com,
Subject Tree planting.
Visit the Climate Action Team page