Printable Weeklies

Weekly Announcements (Printable)

Sunday Services

  • This Week:

    February 22, 2026 – Shelter and Community Care

    For several decades, Corvallis has grappled with challenges of what it means to have safe housing for all and shelter accessible to those in need. This UU Fellowship has played a role in many ways. Come reflect on the history of the congregation’s collaboration with Unity Shelter, current local issues, and what might be possible in the future.

    Shawn Collins, Executive Director of Unity Shelter, will be our guest speaker. Shawn got his first look at the realities of homelessness and poverty in the Willamette Valley through his volunteer experiences at the South Corvallis Food Bank. After leaving HP in 2016, Shawn worked at United Way of Benton & Lincoln Counties, as the Program Manager for the Housing Opportunities Action Council (HOAC) through 2019. He was instrumental in securing the site that would become the Corvallis Men’s Shelter in 2017.

  • Services This Month:

    March 1: Inspiration from our Partner Church in Transylvania

    Last Fall, several members of UUFC went to visit our Partner Church in Transylvania. Today they will share information, illumination, and inspiration: history of partner churches at UUFC; how they observed resilience in action; how Unitarianism there reflects Christian roots; and rituals that were transformative.

    Janet Throop, Linda Bruslind, Scott Bruslind, and Patricia Parcells will speak.

From the Minister

  • Between Us (December 2023)

    December arrives, with its unique forms of busy-ness and expectations, and I invite you to give yourself time to contemplate this season from as many perspectives as you can. To contemplate means to observe deeply, with focused attention. Perhaps what I’m suggesting is something different – not merely to think about in order to categorize, but to feel – to know by feeling. Maybe ponder is a better word than contemplate. What is this season, for you? What makes a difference? Winter, darkness, lights, Christmas, Solstice, rain or snow, fog, solitude, celebrations, rest?

    It is a season of holidays / holy days – each with particular insights to offer – Hannukah, Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Divali, and others. It is a season on this particular part of the earth – of rain and fog, sometimes of cold and ice, of geese and owls, of bare trees and mud, of creeks full and running fast. It is sadly, still, a season of struggle and strife, here and in so many other places. Of all these insights and occurrences, what nurtures you? What is hard for you? What helps you remember what you are part of?

    There’s lots of talk about giving, of course – especially from those who depend on this season to make as much money as they can. “Give our things” they say, and we too easily believe that consumerism is a source of happiness. We know the limits of that habit. What if we could make this a season of generosity more than just of “giving”?

    Events and Activities

    News and Announcements

    • Remember, the Snacks Support a Cause!

      The Kitchen team donates an assortment of sweet and savory refreshments, including gluten-free and vegan choices, for our enjoyment at the social hour following Sunday worship. These items are purchased and prepared by the team to encourage donations to the Outreach Offering. Collection baskets are always found at the ends of the refreshments table. The next time you’re eyeing something tasty on the table, consider putting a donation in the basket first to show how much you appreciate having that treat ready and waiting for you!

    • And then there was one (person needed on the lawn mowing crew)

      Your UUFC lawn mowing team needs one more person to complete our eight-person team for 2026. We have quiet (relatively) state-of-the-art electric lawn mowers and associated lawn trimmers and blowers. You can listen to the radio or your favorite podcast while you mow. While mowing takes time (1-2 hours, once per month on your own schedule), it is a pleasant workout experience (1.5 to 2 mi of walking). The UUFC lawns are divided into front and back sections. We need a mower for the front section – less lawn but more maneuvering. If you have interest, please contact the team lead by filling out this form and we can arrange to talk further about this opportunity to be a member of the UUFC’s elite mowing team – a future summer Olympic sport? Thanks for your consideration!

    • Info On Recent Phishing Attacks

      Within the past few days there have been multiple attempts by thieves to steal the UUFC’s membership directory and/or the credentials necessary to access our Breeze site. These types of attacks are not new, and are not unique to our Fellowship. But the frequency of these attacks is increasing, and it’s always worth reviewing active security risks. Membership information for religious institutions is extremely valuable for thieves, as it contains many forms of contact information that can be used in further scams. Below is more information about these types of attacks so you know what to be looking out for.

      The attempts took the form of email messages requesting assistance accessing our membership directory and claiming that the sender could not currently log into Breeze. Some emails also asked for credentials with which to login to Breeze. These messages were sent from email addresses configured to impersonate people at the Fellowship by displaying the name of a Fellowship leader or Staff member in the ‘From:’ field. The actual email addresses used to send the messages do not belong to anyone at the Fellowship, and the person whose name was used can do nothing to prevent this.

      If you receive a request like this, do not reply to it or send any information. Instead, please forward it to comms@uucorvallis.org and then delete the original email message.

      Thank you for working to keep the Fellowship safe.

    • Nominations for 2026-27

      The Nominating Committee is looking for members to help serve and lead our congregation in the coming year (2026-27). Your service is especially important at this time of transition, and we seek a diversity of ages, backgrounds and perspectives. Nominate yourself using this form or suggest others for positions as a Director, the Personnel Committee Chair, or next year’s Nominating Committee. You can learn more about each role through the links above or ask one of the members of the Nominating Committee: Kris Egan (Chair), John Bailey, Steve Strauss, Heather Thomas, and Jim Good. Duties and time commitments are outlined for each; childcare is always available for meetings and special functions.

    • Office Volunteer Needed: Be the Welcoming Heart of Our Fellowship!

      Are you a friendly, organized, and engaged member of our community looking to make a meaningful impact? The Fellowship needs your help to ensure our office runs smoothly and all who visit feel welcomed and informed!

      This isn’t just about administrative tasks; it’s about being the welcoming presence and a key information hub for our diverse and vibrant fellowship.

      We are seeking someone who is:

      • Personable: A warm, friendly, and approachable demeanor to greet everyone who comes through our doors, making them feel instantly part of our community.
      • Timely & Dependable: Punctuality and reliability are key to keeping our operations running smoothly. We value your commitment and will respect your time.
      • Knowledgeable: You will quickly become the “go-to” person for the latest happenings, events, and general information about the fellowship. An interest in staying informed is essential!

      What You’ll Gain:

      • The chance to use your skills for a cause you care about and directly impact our fellowship’s mission
      • Opportunities to meet new people and expand your social network within the community
      • A positive and supportive environment where your contributions are genuinely appreciated and valued
      • Valuable experience in a dynamic office setting

      Key Responsibilities:

      • Greeting members and visitors with a welcoming smile, directing inquiries
      • Providing information on upcoming events, programs, and fellowship activities
      • Offering general administrative support (e.g., filing, data entry, organizing materials)

      Time Commitment is every Tuesday from 10 am – 12 pm at the Fellowship.

      Please contact Cameron McGrath at comms@uucorvallis.org and Reverend Alex at rev.alex.mcgee@uucorvallis.org if you are interested in learning more.

      Join us and be at the heart of our vibrant community!

    • Join a Chalice Circle

      A new Chalice Circle is forming beginning in March. They will meet 2 Saturdays a month at 3 PM. Anyone interested in joining this circle please contact chalicecircles@uucorvallis.org.

    • RE Newsletter for February

      “Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.” ― Henry David

      Thoreau Greetings, Families! The shortest month with the longest shadows has arrived, and our hearts are tender from all we’ve been holding. Let us re-center love this month, not in the glittery, greeting-card way, but in the steady, courageous way that shows up when the world needs us most. And because everything is easier as a village, I invite you to pull out your calendars and make note of these opportunities to gather in love and learning!

      UPCOMING EVENTS:
      2/8 Family Breakfast @ 8:45 (register HERE and bring a dish if you are able)
      2/8 Eliot Family Camp Q&A session after RE pickup in the sanctuary
      2/12 Parent Connection Dinner @ 6:30 (register HERE, one time only, to get reminders) 

      PLAN AHEAD4/17-19 Youth Coast Retreat (register HERE!) 

      More information about our events can be found below, and info for all events can be found at uucorvallis.org by clicking “News” in the menu bar and then selecting “RE Council” from the drop-down menu.  

      Big news! Our Endowment team has money to give as scholarships to get families to Eliot Institute’s Family Camp! We’re excited to use these funds in service of getting more families to this formative and inspiring gathering, so please don’t hesitate to apply! To help you decide if Eliot would be right for you (spoiler, it would be!), Linda Hardison will be showing an informational video and answering all your burning Eliot questions after you pickup your children from RE on February 8th. Please consider attending if you’re at all curious about family camping opportunities in a UUI context!

      The annual Youth Coast Retreat is around the corner, and you don’t want to miss the fun! Your early registration will give us time get a rental van reservation if we need one again this year, so please check your calendars and register promptly if you are able. Youth will be staying at our usual place in Waldport, with a back door that opens right onto the beach. This is a relaxed, 2-night bonding weekend, where the youth will play collaborative games, cook together, spend time in nature, and co-create their own worship experience before coming home. I have it on Edna’s good authority that it’s the best thing they do all year. More details are in the registration link!

      These are tricky times for everyone, but perhaps especially for parents who are navigating how much to shield and/or engage with our children about the things that are going on in the world. For that reason, I’ve added a page to our Family Faith Formation Toolkit with resources for parents during these challenging times. I hope you find some useful ideas there. If you have found resources useful that you’d like me to add to the list, please let me know! We’re all in this together!

      In January, we spent time exploring ways we feel safe and loved, and ways to help others feel cared for. Our Spirit Play kiddos each got their own box to sit inside of, with a light and a welcome mat, and they decorated the insides with things that make them feel safe and loved, and were invited to take them home as a place to hang out whenever they want to be surrounded by things that give them the warm-fuzzies. Both our Spirit Play and Seeker Space groups built a “community of care” using our giant tinker toys. They had to come up with things that help people feel seen and cared for, and label each of the supports with one of those attributes to build a home for their community of care. If they needed more support, they had to come up with more attributes of a caring community. I read things like love, time, money, and family, among many other things that go into creating a community of care. The Seeker Space structure is still intact on the mezzanine, so pop upstairs, climb inside, and see what kind of things our kids decided are necessary for a welcoming community. It’s sure to give you a case of the heart-swells!

      Occasionally, I become aware that there is a young person who really wants to attend a thing and it got scheduled for a date that they already have an obligation, or a weekend that they’re at their other parent’s house, and it really stinks! Some parents have offered me copies of their kids’ sports schedules, performance dates, and custody rhythms, and I refer to them every single time I plan an event like a service project or a retreat. It’s also great to have because we want to show up for our kids and cheer them on when they have a special event! So consider this an invitation to share, only to the extent that feels right for your family, any blackout dates on your child’s calendar (We’ve already paid for camp that week!) or events that they’d enjoy some extra support for (They would love some more fans at the basketball tournament!) and I’ll share them with the adults who directly support them in their RE spaces and refer to them before selecting dates for major events. I can’t always accommodate everyone’s schedule, but I use what I’m given to choose dates that work for as many kids as possible. 

      The family that serves together… builds beloved community! The Curry-Grant household is loaded with cheerful volunteers! Both Kevin and Molly serve on separate weeks in our Seeker Space. They bring calm, kind, and steadying energy to a group that can be more than a little boisterous! And Edna? She’s quick to volunteer in formal roles, when asked, but what stands out to me is the way I can always count on her to make new kids feel like they really belong. On more than one occasion, I’ve said, “Hey, Edna! We’re going to have a new kid today,” and she’s on it! I’ll see her giving a building tour, showing new kids where the snacks are, and introducing them to the other youth. Edna has the spiritual gift of hospitality! Big thanks to this family that oozes with volunteerism! We are so grateful for all you bring to our community!

      There’s been so much goodness in RE in the last month, it’s hard to capture it all in pictures! One thing I want to make sure you notice, though, is that second picture. This is Pheobe, and she’s our newest childcare staff member, filling in primarily in Spirit Play when Niana is away at volleyball tournaments, but she’ll also be in the Rainbow Room from time to time when we need a sub. Phoebe has completed the child development class at the high school and is first aid and CPR certified. Most importantly, she’s got a heart for working with children!  We’re lucky to have her on the team! While we’re talking about our amazing childcare providers, I want to remind all parents that we can often provide free childcare for UUFC events, given enough notice. Parents can fill out THIS FORM any time you need to request childcare for a Fellowship gathering, and I’ll do my best to assemble a care team from our fabulous pool of background-checked volunteers and youth childcare staff! I’m wishing you hope and love this month! And as always, if you need to chat, I’m just an email or a phone call away.

    • Outreach Offerings for February

      Our February Justice Outreach Offering will support the Linn Benton NAACP. The NAACP works to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

      Learn more at the Linn Benton NAACP Website.

      How to donate to the monthly Outreach Offering

      Each month, the Fellowship gathers donations for a certain charitable cause. These are our Outreach Offerings. You can contribute to this month’s offering in a few ways:

      1. Give to the Sunday collection basket
      2. Donate online
      3. Donate to the refreshments during the social hour

      The Kitchen team donates an assortment of sweet and savory refreshments, including gluten-free and vegan choices, for our enjoyment at the social hour following Sunday worship. These items are purchased and prepared by the team to encourage donations to the Outreach Offering. Collection baskets are always found at the ends of the refreshments table. The next time you’re eyeing something tasty on the table, consider putting a donation in the basket first to show how much you appreciate having that treat ready and waiting for you!

    • 2025-2026 Pledge Drive Feedback Survey

      We are collecting feedback on the 2025-2026 pledge drive! Fill out the survey to share your thoughts by clicking the button below.

      Survey

      Your feedback will used to make improvements in how we communicate about pledging, record key pledging information, and share the importance of pledging with the congregation. Survey responses are anonymous so please share what is on your mind and how we can make this process better in the coming years. Contact Rachel McGrath (who is helping to support the stewardship team) with any questions regarding the survey.