Weeklies – Text Only

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS – text only

Sunday Services

  • This Week:

    “Making the Invisible Visible” – 8/11/24

    Our UUFC mission statement begins with “We gather as an inclusive religious community…” And we do our best to be welcoming to all who come. And, we still have lots to learn about what broad inclusion really means, and needs, and looks like. We’re at the beginning of a new collaboration with ARC of Benton County, and look forward to learning more today from ARC staff member Misha Marie and Board President John Gottchall, about the work of ARC, serving and supporting people with Developmental Disabilities.

    Please join us. The service will be indoors today. Following the Sunday Service, at 2 PM, please join in the Celebration of Life for Louise Ferrell. Those wishing to join online may do so by using the regular Sunday Service link.

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Services This Month

  • August 4 – Wheel of the Year – Lughnasadh / First Harvest

    August 11 – “Making the Invisible Visible” EDI team with ARC of Benton County

    August 18 – “A Larger View” Rev. Jill McAllister

    August 25 – “Can We Be Prepared?” Rev. Jill McAllister

    September 2 – No Sunday Service

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From the Minister

  • Daily Practice – A Reminder

    Several years ago, in the first summer of the pandemic, we were trying to cope with the realization of a long road ahead of us, the unknowns at at every turn, the fear and sadness. Together we were building a daily practice of centering and giving thanks. This passage, written one August morning, reminds me of the never-ending need for that practice:

    “How does a morning look and feel to you, where you are? And how do you know? Do you check a weather report first, or go outside? Do you gather resignation as you get out of bed, or catalogue current pains, or give thanks for a new day? Have you imagined or tried dedicating your first breaths to goodness or compassion?

    Or saying a morning prayer as the first thing? Daily practice is about orienting and turning to the day aiming toward love. It involves taking in — being present to – more than assumptions and judgements we carry from yesterday. Taking in the sky, the clouds and trees, the sunlight and shadows, birds, flowers, insects, the fact of the earth. Being present to the realities of human limitations, our own and others, while at the same time remembering the immensity of time and space of which each and every life is one small part. Acknowledging, remembering, the possibilities for love (which contains justice and compassion and joy.) Reverence is a good word to describe this process of remembering, orienting and turning.

    We begin in reverence for the day and for all it brings – everything welcome and not welcome, everything we think we know and all we do not. With thanks each breath that enters the body. With thanks for the hazy morning sky and the sun coming over the trees once more. With thanks for a chance to let love hold us and move through us for one more day.

    May we breathe in and breathe out and bow to the morning, and to Life.”

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This Week at UUFC

  • Memorial Services – An Important Part of Fellowship Life, 8/11

    Memorial Service Receptions give us opportunities not only to contribute to the receptions but also to visit with others—to build our relationships within the UUFC. Typical tasks associated with the reception include set-up and clean-up, contributing refreshments (some people simply contribute finger food), arranging it to serve, monitoring the refreshments, and attending the guest book if needed. We visit as we work and have a good time.

    Services are announced ahead of time in Weekly Newsletters and include an invitation for you contact Sandy Piper to participate.

    Questions? Contact Sandy.

    I’m always willing to talk to you about our memorial receptions. The service and reception for Louise Ferrell, a long-time UUFC member, is August 11 at 2:00. If you would like to help with this reception, please contact Sandy. It would be great to have new people join us.

    Contact Sandy Piper

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Announcements

  • UUFC History Project – Who’s Interested?

    Are you interested in stories about the Fellowship? About who first gathered, who built our buildings, how RE and justice work and music have been part of this congregation’s life? Do you ever try to imagine folks who came here before you – what brought them, what commitments they made, how they were supported in times of challenge and change? Do you know some of these stories because you are in them? Because the Fellowship has been part of your life, and you part of its life, for many years?

    Rev. Jill McAllister is looking for a few people who’d like to help with a UUFC history project in the coming year. Please contact her if you are interested in helping collect and edit some of the stories of the Fellowship. We have many stories to tell and to save, to pass on for those who come after us. We are making stories now, for the future.
    The project may include recording oral histories, interviewing folks, writing down memories, creating a journal, and more.

    Our theme for the coming year will be about past, present and future – ancestors, descendants and us. It will give us a chance to know more about our connectedness – what holds us together, what nurtures and strengthens us. In the midst of the stories of our lives, being created every day, it may inspire us to know more about where we come from and where we aim to be going.

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  • Sunday Outreach Offerings in August

    Our Sunday Outreach Offerings for the month of August will support Jackson Street Youth Services: “Helping Youth 24/7/365.” This local organization offers youth a safe place to live and resources to work through crises and towards a brighter, more stable future. Founded to fill a gap in housing for homeless youth, Jackson Street now serves youth throughout Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties. They rely on donations and partnerships in their continued commitment to help end youth homelessness.
    AND, until August 9, a special effort is underway to collect school supplies for youth. You can help by donating: Backpacks, Calculators, Flash Drives, Planners (dated and undated), Notebooks, Sketchbooks, Headphones

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  • Building Renovation Project Update

    We were hoping that construction on our classroom wing renovation project would begin in September, or maybe October. It looks like JANUARY is more realistic! The project team received a timetable last week from Gerding Builders, outlining the many, many pre-construction tasks still needing to be done, including several city permits, engineering decisions, final drawings, sub-contracting, and more. The schedules for permits plus the availability of contractors have the greatest effect on timing.

    So, we’ll keep going with our preparations for emptying the building, at a slightly relaxed pace. We’re only now becoming aware of the huge amount of work needed to install fire sprinklers in the building – involving installing a new pipe under the parking lot from the street to the RE wing, and building a small “house” to contain all of the connections from that pipe to the interior plumbing. This is what is needed in order for our building to meet current fire safety code!

    Thank-you to all who have already volunteered to help with a variety of tasks plus offered short-term storage for the contents of our building. We’ll keep going in making our plans, cleaning out rooms and closest, packing boxes, etc.
    This project is going to happen! Please stay tuned.

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Plan Ahead

  • UUFC August Hike, 8/24

    The August Fellowship hike will be to Cone Peak, near Tombstone Summit east of Sweet Home on Saturday, Aug 24, 2024. It is shifted from its normal last Saturday due to the popular Rummage Sale on the last Saturday this month.

    Contact Jim Wagner for more information.

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  • UUFC Queerly Beloved Game Day, 8/18

    Join with the Queerly Beloved social group for a fun afternoon of Mexican Train Dominoes on Sunday, August 18, at 4:00-6:00 pm.

    All LGBTQIA+ folks and allies welcome.

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  • UUFC Parking Lot Pop-up Rummage Sale, 8/31

    10:00 AM -1:00 PM in the UUFC Parking Lot


    You surely have unwanted items in your closets, drawers, cupboards, or garage that have been languishing there for too long. Put them to use by selling them at our annual UUFC parking lot rummage sale. Someone will be happy to have your unwanted items and the Fellowship will benefit from your donations.

    Get ready for the bargains at the UUFC PARKING LOT POP-UP RUMMAGE SALE – Saturday, August 31: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Public welcome.
    • Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. Gather items that you no longer need or want.
    • Price items and bring to our parking lot on 8/31 by 9:40 am.
    • Display and “sell” your items.
    • Send buyers with their purchases to central cashiers. All sales benefit UUFC.
    • At 1:00 take any unsold items back with you.

    It’s fun! It’s social! You will de-clutter your house and earn money for the Fellowship.

    Questions: Contact Bonnie Morihara

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  • Chalice Circle Sampler Series This September

    Registration is now open for the Fall Chalice Circle Sampler Series, starting this September. For details and dates and to sign up, please see the Chalice Circle Sampler Series Sign-Up Form.

    Chalice Circles are an opportunity to deepen your ties to others in this community. We do this by meeting on a regular basis with the same small group of people to share how we each navigate the journey of being human. This is done via thoughtfully designed “topics” that offer ideas and questions for reflection. Through authentic sharing and listening, we learn how to voice what deeply matters to us.

    Never been in a chalice group? “Test the waters” by signing up for the sampler series which will meet 4 times (once a week for the first 3 weeks plus a final session 2 weeks later). You’re under NO obligation to come to more than these sessions but our hope is that if this experience is something you find of value, you’ll continue with a longer term group that will meet twice monthly for the year.

    Any questions? Read our FAQ.

    Contact us at chalicecircles@uucorvallis.org, via phone or in person after a Sunday service.

    Shikha Ghosh Gottfried and Nancy Sowdon

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  • Fellowship Planning – Buildings and Grounds, 8/24 and 9/14

    In August we’ll begin a process of planning for the Fellowship — a visioning and prioritizing process, beginning with our grounds and buildings. Conversations around climate change, trees, energy use, building expansion and upkeep, the sustainability of the Fellowship as a community resource and more have led to a need for such a process, which will aim to help us prepare a 3-5 year comprehensive plan. If you are interested in this project – focusing first on our buildings and grounds – please plan now to join in one of two gatherings to share ideas – on either August 24, 9 – 11 AM or on September 14, 9-11 AM.

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  • Ice Cream Social, 8/25

    All ages are invited to join us for a cold treat on the Fellowship lawn on August 25th at 7 PM.

    Find out what’s coming up in RE for adults, families, children, and youth in the year ahead. Meet members of the RE Council and special teams. Catch up with old friends and maybe even meet your new Fellowship bestie over a cold treat!

    We’ll have gluten-free and vegan options available, as well as board games to share.

    While registration at this link is not mandatory, it would be super helpful as we made purchasing decisions for this gathering!

    See you there!

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  • August Youth Event, 8/25

    All Fellowship 7th-12th graders and their friends are invited to the annual youth river reunion, to collaborate as a team and connect deeply over some wild water fun. This event is the perfect time for our new youth to get to know their group and advisors for the year ahead, so we hope to see you there!

    More details can be found on the event registration page. Please register by August 11th.

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  • UUFC Men’s Retreat, 10/25-27

    The 20th Annual UUFC Men’s Retreat will be held this year from Friday, October 25 (5 PM) through Sunday, October 27 (1 PM). Details and registration will be available soon. The Men’s Retreat is an opportunity for those who identify as men to get to know other men at UUFC, give yourself a respite from the daily routines, and enjoy time for personal reflection. We’ll be at the Menucha Retreat Center overlooking the Columbia Gorge in Corbett (https://menucha.org). Through large and small groups, singing, time in nature, and play time in the evening, we’ll connect with one another in deep and meaningful ways.
    Our theme this year is: Building Authentic Connections

    Releasing shame and self-criticism.
    Being more emotionally present with others.
    Exercises in integrity and relationship.
    Enjoying one another and being courageously playful.

    Mark your calendar now. Registration will be open soon! Questions? Contact Alan Kirk (alan.r.kirk@gmail.com), Nick Houtman (houtman58@gmail.com), Jeff Martin (jeff.labrador@comcast.net), JF Benoist (jfb@jfbenoist.com).

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  • House Party Democracy Action Team, 8/18

    Plan Ahead! 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 (mizdclark@gmail.com) or Claire Montgomery (clairemtg@comcast.net).

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  • UUFC Family Camping, 9/5 to 9/8

    Come and join in fun and fellowship while camping at Cascadia State Park. Group Site ‘B’ has been reserved with a limit of 25 campers. Plans include group meals on Friday and Saturday evening, time for hiking, exploring, building community, and much more. Bring your own tent, personal gear, and food. Parking is very limited (6 cars and 2 RVs – no hook-ups) so carpools are encouraged. Come out for all or part of the event.

    The registration fee will be determined by the number of participants and as such will be determined closer to the event. Efforts are being made to keep the fee under $25 per person* (for the whole weekend!) and a family with children rate will apply.

    Register for Cascadia Campout

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Connect Up/Affinity Groups this Week

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