Weekly Announcements (Printable)

Sunday Services

This Week:
April 12, 2026 – When Our Ideals are Challenged
When we work hard to make this world more just, but seem to face betrayal and despair instead, what can we do? Alex will bring lessons from Unitarian and Universalist forebears as well as current activist theologians. Renewed inner spirituality, sharing our lessons, and resting may surprise us on our way.
Rev. Alexandra McGee will preach. Special guest musician Nancy Snowden will play cello.

Services This Month:
April 19, 2026 – Caring for Moral Health
As people of conscience, how can we relate to the people who serve in our military, knowing the complex moral issues that they face? Guest speaker Logan Isaac brings his background as a veteran, theologian, and ethicist.
Logan Isaac will speak
April 26, 2026 – What’s Your Agenda
Having a personal or professional agenda is often considered a negative thing in Unitarian Universalism. Yet, not having purpose can cause anguish. We begin wonder what we are doing here. Today we unwrap our agendas in a life well lived.
Guest speaker Rev. Mitra Rahnema is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist and graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry. She has offered ministry to congregations in Missouri, Michigan, and California. Mitra is editor of the 2017 book and UUA Common Read, “Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry.” She is dedicated to building vibrant and engaged anti-oppressive communities. Mitra lives in Portland, OR.

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
- CANCELLED: Sejiki at the Sangha Jewel Zen Center
  Our neighbors at the Sangha Jewel Zen Center were planning a Sejiki event on Sunday, October 25, but have had to cancel it. They have asked that we share this cancellation with our congregation in case anyone here was planning to attend.
- Costumes, Trick-or-Treat, and Voting! 10/25
  This Sunday, October 25, we’re inviting kids AND grown-ups to come to church in costume for a morning of Halloween fun!
  After the service, our fabulous UUFC teams will be waiting at their decorated tables with treats, activities, and opportunities to learn a little more about the people and groups who make our congregation such a wonderful place to get involved.
  But this year, there’s a twist…
  THE GOLDEN PUMPKIN IS BACK! 🎃
  After a mysterious (okay, accidental) disappearance during the Great Building Clean-Out of 2024, our legendary Golden Pumpkin Award is making its triumphant return!
  And this year, YOU get to decide who wins!
  As you visit the tables, check out the decorations, enjoy the activities, collect your treats, and decide which team has earned your vote. Everyone, kids and grown-ups alike, will have the opportunity to cast a ballot for their favorite table!
  The winning team will receive the coveted Golden Pumpkin trophy, a year of glorious bragging rights, and the extraordinary privilege of adding ONE RANDOM OBJECT to the trophy, where it will remain forever (or until the glue gives out).
  We’re bringing back the dream of a ridiculous tradition, with a trophy that gets bigger, sillier, and more spectacular every year.
  Here’s what you need to know:
  When: Sunday, October 25, beginning 10 minutes after the service.
  Where: On the back patio, weather permitting. (in the classroom wing if there’s rain)
  What to wear: Costumes are enthusiastically encouraged for ALL AGES! Silly, spooky, spectacular, or simple. Come as you are, or as someone (or something!) else.
  What to bring: Your Halloween spirit, something to collect treats in (paper bags will be available outside the RE office door in case you forget), and your very best voting judgment!
  Whether you’re five or ninety-five, your vote counts in this supremely important congregational election.
  We can’t wait to see your costumes, celebrate our teams, and discover who will claim the Golden Pumpkin!
  Let the trick-or-treating (and democracy!) begin! 🎃
- Settled Minister Search: Focus Groups
  The Settled Minister Search Committee is hosting multiple focus groups! Read below to see what’s coming up.
  We’d like to welcome anyone who identifies as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) to participate in a BIPOC centered Focus Group for our settled minister search process. This Focus Group is specifically aimed to amplify voices of those whose perspectives may not be as prevalent in this community. It’s also a unique opportunity to come together as BIPOC and gather! Shikha Ghosh Gottfried will be facilitating these discussions.
  Please register at least 24 hours in advance so that we can plan accordingly: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/search_bipoc
  Tuesday 10/27 @ 7pm via Zoom
  Sunday 11/1 @ 11:45am in UUFC Library
  Focus Groups for folks in leadership roles – board members current and past, council leads and members, RE guides, affinity group leadership – are happening October 22 and 29 at 1:45 PM. To register, contact Molly Curry and Gary Barnes.
  A Focus Group for RE parents is happening November 1 at 11:45 AM. To register, contact to Rachel Houtman.
  A Focus Group for Care and Support is happening October 27 at 6:30 PM.
- Oregon UU Voices for Justice 2026 Conference, 11/14
  Raising Our Voices Together: How UUs Can Take Action In These Times
  It is easy to despair when the social progress of the past 50 years is unilaterally rolled back. All hope is not lost; by acting collectively and peacefully we can do what we can’t do individually. Understanding what gives us hope and what we can do to address today’s social justice challenges will form the foundation of our actions.
  Join us on Saturday, November 14^th from 9:30 to 3 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem, 5090 Center St. NE, Salem, OR, and online where we gather to Build Resilient Relationships Among People and Congregations
  You can register here until 11:30 pm on Thursday, November 12^th. Virtual attendees will be sent a Zoom link on Friday, November 13^th.
  What to expect:
  - A warm welcome, begin the day with light food, coffee, and a chance to connect.
  - A UU values-based program.
  - A slideshow during breaks showing congregations’ social justice activities.
  - Opportunities to reflect, share experiences, collaborate, and form meaningful connections.
  - An opportunity to relax after the conference and enjoy each other’s company over light snacks and refreshing beverages.
  Conference program
  Finding our grounding
  - What gives you hope?
  - How are you coping with the changes coming at us?
  - How do you apply UU values to shape your social justice work?
  - What UU foundations strengthen your persistence and resilience?
  How can we work together?
  - What barriers do you experience personally/congregationally in your SJ work?
  - How can Voices amplify your social justice actions?
  What did we hear today; what can we do next?
- Safety Week November 1 – 8
  UUFC Safety Team presents our first ever Safety Week November 1 to 8, with an educational focus for the whole congregation. Our new Safety Pamphlet will be sent to all congregation members and available as a hard copy at the Welcome Desk. There will be hands-on demonstrations of safety equipment during social hour. We will hold our annual All-Fellowship evacuation drill at the end of worship service on November 8. Be safe, everyone!
- Thrive, 10/29
  Join the Immigrant and Refugee Support Team at a fundraiser for our partners, Corvallis for Refugees. CFR works closely with us to put on our International Flavors and Friends dinners. Thrive will take place at 7:00, Thursday, October 29 at CH2M Hill Alumni Center. Come and meet local immigrants and folks working to help them.
- Outreach Offerings for October
  Our October Justice Outreach offering will support Unity Shelter. Unity Shelter was founded in January 2020 as an umbrella organization for Room at the Inn, SafePlace, and Corvallis Men’s Shelter. They continue to grow programs and operations to meet the growing demand for shelter, respite, resource navigation, and community.
  To learn more about their work, visit the Unity Shelter website.
- October RE Newsletter
  NOTE: The RE Newsletter that appears in the weekly announcements is slightly modified from the version sent directly to RE families. This year, we are making every effort not to share children’s faces on the public web, regardless of photo release status, and we do not publicly post dates and locations for youth events that take place outside of regular Sunday programming.
  If you’re a parent or guardian of a child in RE, please check your inbox for the details you’ll need to help your child get where they want to be and to see your children’s adorable faces in action! If you’re a Fellowship member or friend, or a parent wondering whether UUFC might be what your family is looking for in a religious community, read on and enjoy this slightly abbreviated vision of RE.
  “There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.”
  — Marshall McLuhan
  Greetings, Families!
  We have officially launched into a new year of Religious Exploration, and I am so excited about what we are building together!
  This year’s theme is Faith Gamified: Never Quest Alone, and we’ve already been on some epic quests together! Our kids aren’t just dropping into a different lesson each Sunday. They’re building relationships, developing shared language and practices, and in some of our groups, following quests that continue from one week to the next.
  That means there are a few new things to know about how RE works this year, along with plenty of opportunities to eat together, play together, learn together, and generally make the Fellowship feel more like a village.
  So grab your calendar, and read on!
  OCTOBER EVENTS:
  10/11 Family Breakfast is BACK! Register HERE each month, as able.
  10/18 Child Dedications during the service
  DATE UPON REQUEST Cluster-wide Youth Overnight. Registration is required.
  10/25 Fellowship Trick or Treat for All Ages, after the service
  PLAN AHEAD:
  DATE UPON REQUEST OMG! Religious Field Study: Paganism. Registration for travel is required.
  FAMILY BREAKFAST IS BACK!
  Beginning in October, Family Breakfast returns on the second Sunday of each month!
  Come to the social hall before the service for pancakes, bacon, coffee, and a chance to spend some unhurried time with other UUFC families. Bring something to share if that brings you joy and you are able, or simply bring yourselves. There is always enough.
  One of our goals this year is to help children build relationships at the Fellowship that extend beyond their individual classrooms, and Family Breakfast is one of the easiest ways to help that happen. Register HERE, if you can, but show up even if you didn’t get around to registering.
  Second Sundays | 8:50 AM | Social Hall
  Our next opportunity for Child Dedication will be during worship on October 18.
  Child dedication is our congregation’s ritual of welcoming and blessing children within the Fellowship and affirming the community’s commitment to accompany them as they grow.
  If your family has a child (or three) you would like dedicated to the care of our congregation, or you’d like to learn more about what dedication means at UUFC, reach out to Skyla at dre@uucorvallis.org by October 11th.
  Please note that this isn’t only for babies! Children of all ages, who wish to be ceremonially dedicated are most welcome to participate.
  OMG! YOUTH OVERNIGHT, DATE UPON REQUEST
  Our 7th–12th graders are invited to spend the night at the Fellowship with youth from other congregations around the Willamette Valley! This is our longest running post-covid youth gathering, and it happens right here in Corvallis every year.
  We’ll gather in evening for pizza, games, covenant-making, a trip to a fun local haunt, candlelight worship, and probably considerably less sleep than the adults involved would prefer. The next day, we’ll engage in some worship and learning and have some seasonal fun before everyone heads home around noon.
  Dates and useful info have been withheld and are available to any parent whose child would like to attend. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, so ask Skyla for more details SOON!
  TEAMS AND COUNCILS TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THE FELLOWSHIP, OCTOBER 25
  Come to church in costume!
  After the service, children and families are invited to trick-or-treat through UUFC’s Teams & Councils, collecting goodies while your whole family gets to know some of the people and groups who make our Fellowship awesome!
  It’s candy, yes. But it’s also a sneaky little intergenerational relationship-building scheme. And who knows? You might find the group you’ve been dreaming of joining and didn’t even know existed.
  Costumes for children and grown-ups are highly encouraged. This event is for EVERYONE!
  PARENT CONNECTION IS GETTING MORE CASUAL
  Our beloved monthly Parent Connection Dinner is transforming into something considerably easier to fit into actual parent life: a UUFC Parents WhatsApp group.
  Think of it as a low-pressure place to ask a question, share a resource, make plans for a park meetup, say does anyone else’s kid do this?!, offer up outgrown rain boots, or simply stay connected to the other adults raising kids in this community.
  No monthly meeting. No childcare arrangements. No obligation to participate in every conversation. Just another little thread connecting our village.
  Join the UUFC Parent WhatsApp group by using the link in the email sent to parents, or by talking to Skyla on a Sunday if you’re a new parent at UUFC!
  New year, new adventures and a few new logistics!
  Each age group has its own space, rhythm, and way of exploring this year. Here are the big things to know:
  Wayfarer’s Cache: We know that kids can’t be here every single week of the year. We have a variety of family arrangements, circulating viruses, and fluctuating energy levels on a Sunday morning. BUT we’re dedicated to delivering the depth of Religious Exploration that can only happen when experiences build week to week.
  Enter, the Wayfarer’s Cache! On the table outside of the RE Office (or somewhere in that vicinity, when the table is needed for other things) you’ll find printed Home Quests for our children and youth who occasionally quest elsewhere. These summarize what happened in each age group and are written to be engaging at the dinner table or while waiting in traffic. Parents who occasionally come without their children can grab home quests while you’re here. If all of you missed, email Skyla for a digital copy. This is not meant to feel like homework! It’s a quick, hopefully fun way to minimize the impact of absences while still taking our explorations on a deep dive, with a side benefit of family spiritual engagement!
  Junior Worship Associates and Chalice Lighting Families:
  Many of you signed up to be a chalice lighting family or for your children to be the Jr. Worship Associate and light the lanterns for us on a Sunday morning. THANK YOU!
  And if you’re in an overwheming moment (who isn’t right now?), you might suddenly be wondering whether you signed up, and if so, what dates you signed up for. Not to worry! I’ve got you covered! Everyone who signed up during the Great REspawn will receive an automated reminder 3 days before your scheduled service. If the day arrives and you think, “oops! We’re totally out of town on Sunday!” or “There’s no way we’re going to be fever-free by Sunday!” just send me a text and let me know. We’ll get you for a future round. And if you’re a planner who forgot to put it into your calendar, reach out! I’m happy to tell you when you’re scheudled!
  If you could do me a favor and click that blue RSVP button in the reminder text/email, it would be so appreciated! That helps me relax on Sunday morning and know that you know you’re on the schedule.
  If you haven’t signed up yet, I’ll be reaching out soon. And we only have Jr. Worship Associates scheduled through November, so I’ll be asking for another round of sign ups soon!
  Religious Field Studies for OMG!: This year’s youth programming involves leaving the comfort of our familiar space and learning about other faith traditions on their home turf. To make it less scary, we get to go together! If you’ve ever wondered about another faith, but been intimidated to ask questions or just show up alone, this is a magical opportunity!
  It will, however, require some additional logistics for us at the Fellowship and for you as a family unit. These field studies will take place just about monthly, and I will add a link to the next month’s registration in each RE Newsletter, as well as in a text to parents and guardians. We ask that you register your youth at least a week prior to the field study to help us plan for transportation that complies with our Safe Congregations Policies. Occasionally, travel will take us a good distance because little ole Corvallis doesn’t have formal communities for all the different traditions we will explore.
  We’re kicking things off with our most approachable field study, a visit to the woods with a familiar face, practicing Pagan Rachel Kohler, who some of you know as your former DRE and others know through theater at the Majestic! Go ahead and register for that first Religious Field Study using the link in the emailed version of this newsletter!
  We’ve added lots more information for families to the website, so go check out the “Learning” tab in the menu and find more information about things like our safety policies, our resources for families, and more!
  AN IMPORTANT NOTE FROM YOUR SEARCH COMMITTEE!
  Hello RE families, the Ministerial Search Committee needs your help. Our Congregational Survey is one of the opportunities members AND friends of the congregation have to weigh in and be heard regarding our search process. Please fill it out here: https://forms.gle/cRfurPUXLKyXq4vE7. It should take about 10-15 minutes and if you have the time, your kids and youth can fill it out too! Also, please keep your eyes peeled for an announcement about a Cottage Meeting focusing on parents and guardians.
  Thank you!
  The MSC
  I promise we had parental approval for this!
  Kylee is always such a joyful helper around the Fellowship! Most recently, she showed up to help set up for the ice cream social, which is an event that called for the temporary return of the social hall disco ball, if you ask me! What’s party music without a disco ball? Could I reach the disco ball hook? Nope. Was there a ladder close by? Also, nope. Thankfully, Kylee was not at all opposed to being hoisted on my shoulders after her mom gave permission, and all was well in Disco Town!
  She did do other, more ordinary helping like hanging signs, holding doors, and being a welcoming presence. She even walked a child back to their parent for care after the fell down. What a fabulous example of our values in action!
  Thank you, Kylee, for always being a ready help to those in need!
  RIDICULOUS FUN HAS ALREADY BEEN HAPPENING!
  We had so much fun with those of you who were able to come to the Great REspawn! 40 gallons of slime were sprayed and dumped on heads and, well, how often do you get the chance to clobber your minister with hot pink slime? I dare say few have had such an opportunity!
  And we enjoyed seeing some of you at the ice cream social for games and a little too much sugar!
  Kids who attended these events have already acucmulated power-up stickers on their avatar sheets to commemorate the fun!
  If you missed the Great REspawn, you might have no idea what I’m talking about when I say power-up stickers or avatar sheets! If you would like a parent orientation packet to help you get the lay of the land in RE this year, let me know!
  A NOTE FROM SKYLA
  We’re doing some exciting curriculum work this year, but the most important thing we’re building is community.
  Children develop a sense of belonging when they know who will be in the room, when someone notices they’ve arrived, when they have inside jokes and shared stories, when adults outside their immediate family know their names, and when Fellowship begins to feel like their place rather than somewhere their parents bring them.
  So when you can, come!
  We know families have sports and illnesses and multihousehold schedules and vacations and exhausting weeks when getting everyone into pants is victory enough. This isn’t a plea for perfect attendance.
  It’s simply an invitation to think of showing up as part of your child’s faith formation. Relationships need repetition.
  And when you can’t come? Grab a home quest and have the fun together, as a family!
  YOU never quest alone. We’ll keep your place by the fire until we see you again in RE!
  Be well, Y’all!
  ~Skyla
  Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration
- Settled Minister Search: Break Barriers, Build Beliefs Workshop (B4), 10/24
  The deadline to register for the B4 workshop and submit a B4 survey is Oct. 19!
  The Search Committee wants to know your perceptions of what “a minister” might be, and we need help to explore any congregational bias – conscious or unconscious. What if the best minister for our future comes in a surprising package? Will we be ready and open to possibilities that are unlike anything we’ve encountered before?
  To address this, the UUA has developed an important diagnostic and educational tool for us called Break Barriers, Build Beliefs (B4). We’ll be hosting a B4 workshop on Saturday, October 24 from 9:00am – 2:30pm at the Fellowship. All are invited to attend in person. We promise to feed you! Rev. Eric Kaminetzky of the UUA will be facilitating the workshop and preaching the following day. Please fill out our congregation’s B4 survey and register to attend by Oct. 19. Here’s the survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UUCorvallis. This survey will not be shared outside the Search Committee. And here’s the registration link: uufc.breezechms.com/form/search_b4_26.
  There’s a future for the UUFC, and we’re about to step into it and make history! Come in person to the workshop to engage with the vision. Fill out the B4 survey to help us prepare for the engagement. Thank you!
- Invitation to Visit the Ancestor Tree Until 11/1
  You are invited to visit the table in the classroom wing, just outside the RE office, where you will find baskets of paper leaves and pens. On a leaf, write the name of someone or something that has meant something and has died. A mentor, a teacher, a beloved pet, a family member, a forest, a river, a place that held you. Let this be a moment to name what matters. Add your leaf to the trees placed on either side of the altar box—our Ancestor Trees.
  You will also find a basket of scrolls with a blessing for what was real and lost. You are welcome to take one. Read it there in a quiet moment, or tuck it into your pocket for a day when you need to remember that you are not alone. That love persists. That absence, though real, is never the full story.
  Please linger to read the names others have offered. Let yourself be moved by the web of connections among us—the invisible threads of people and places that have shaped the ones we now hold in Beloved Community. These names are echoes of resilience, tenderness, and transformation. They remind us that we are always standing on sacred ground.
  And as you reflect, consider this: What does it mean to become an ancestor? To live in such a way that one day, someone might speak your name with love and longing?
  This is not just a ritual of memory. It’s a quiet invitation to live with greater intention, greater courage, and greater tenderness, for those who came before, those who walk beside us now, and those who will follow.
  Our trees will remain up until we read the names offered there in the service on November 1st.
  With you in the mystery,
  Skyla