WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS – text only
Sunday Services
Sunday Worship Service: The Fellowship Movement
August 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM
As Unitarian Universalism moved west, it began to take on a different form. Instead of meetinghouses in the center of New England towns, small groups of people began gathering in living rooms, school buildings, and borrowed spaces, building communities rooted in shared commitment, care, and imagination. This is the history of the Fellowship Movement—and the life it continues to have in places like Corvallis, where that work of community-building remains steady and ongoing.
Guest Minister: Reverend Karishma Neva Gottfried is a newly ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, serving the Community Church of New York as Minister for Youth & Young Adults. But long before that, she was a baby dedicated, a child coming of age, and youth bridging in the UU Fellowship of Corvallis. Rev. Karishma returns to us for her first service after ordination (where Rev. Jill McAllister gave the charge to “begin again in love”) to share a little of what she’s learned from her time studying Unitarian Universalism and UU congregations as UUFC prepares to call a new minister.
Services This Month
Sunday Worship Service: The Fellowship Movement
August 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM
As Unitarian Universalism moved west, it began to take on a different form. Instead of meetinghouses in the center of New England towns, small groups of people began gathering in living rooms, school buildings, and borrowed spaces, building communities rooted in shared commitment, care, and imagination. This is the history of the Fellowship Movement—and the life it continues to have in places like Corvallis, where that work of community-building remains steady and ongoing.
Guest Minister: Reverend Karishma Neva Gottfried is a newly ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, serving the Community Church of New York as Minister for Youth & Young Adults. But long before that, she was a baby dedicated, a child coming of age, and youth bridging in the UU Fellowship of Corvallis. Rev. Karishma returns to us for her first service after ordination (where Rev. Jill McAllister gave the charge to “begin again in love”) to share a little of what she’s learned from her time studying Unitarian Universalism and UU congregations as UUFC prepares to call a new minister.
From the Minister
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Strength of the Coordinating Council
by Rev. Alex McGee
August 7, 2026Dear Congregation:
This month the Board and I sat down and reviewed how the interim time is going. Among the many observations, here is one that some people might not know about: One of the emerging leadership groups in the congregation is the Coordinating Council. This Council has always existed, but since I am new to the congregation, I have turned to them with curiosity about what they see as the best way to coordinate teams and procedures. They are living into responsibility in a fresh way.
These five Council Chairs are Finance, Religious Exploration, Facilities, Connections, and Justice (Worship Council currently doesn’t have a Chair). Once a month, they have rich discussions about use of space, how to make calendaring accessible, sharing information about budgets, lines of information flow, how to coordinate efforts across teams, and other issues. I am excited and endeared every month to see them grapple with things that are not clear at first but can find new ways.
Each Team is part of a Council. Each Team lead has a link to a Council Chair. When the Team Leads communicate concerns and opportunities to the Council Chair, those can be passed along for creative solutions at the Coordinating Council. I love seeing how the many perspectives in the room all enrich the Fellowship.
I hope you will connect with your Team Lead about connecting with your Council Chair so that the lines of communication can flow as well as possible. If you want to learn more, take a look here: https://uucorvallis.org/about/#organizational_structure.
Shared ministry means that not everyone gets what they want all the time, but that we all try to help each other create the Fellowship for the highest good of all.
With care,
Rev. Alex
Announcements
This Week at UUFC
Online Joys & Sorrows
Join us on Zoom for a weekly checking-in which includes sharing of joys and sorrows, plus the Metta Prayer.
Contact: Mary Craven.
Nerd Girls Science Sharing
Meets second Saturdays, 10:45 in the Library
Women and non-binary persons are invited to come and share science news articles or books. No science background is required. You do not have to bring anything except a desire to learn and a healthy curiosity. Topics depend on what people bring to share and requests from the group – they range from astronomy to zoology and everything in between.
Inquirers Series: Justice & Community Action
This is a session in our Inquirers Series of classes, which you can read more about on our Path to Membership page.
Kathy K will share about the many small groups that are working toward a more just future here at UUFC, as well as other ways you can get connected with small groups for shared interests and fun.
Mindful Awareness
I’m Patti White, a UU member since 2012. I’m a Mindfulness Coach in a system called Unified Mindfulness and since 2019 I have been leading a meditation practice group associated with the UUFC. We are on Zoom now. Come check us out. Our practice is suitable for you whether you are a beginner and curious about mindfulness meditation or whether you are have had a long experience with the practice.
We meet each Wednesday from 7 PM to 7:50 PM. The group currently meets on Zoom. The room opens at 6:40 PM for casual socializing.
To be added to the group list, please fill out this form.
Online Joys & Sorrows
Join us on Zoom for a weekly checking-in which includes sharing of joys and sorrows, plus the Metta Prayer.
Contact: Mary Craven.
Adopt-a-Highway Litter Pickup
Saturday, August 15, 2026. Meet in the BiMart parking lot at 8:45 AM. BiMart is at 1555 SW 53rd St, Corvallis, OR 97333.
We need 8 volunteers work in pairs to clean up along the shoulders of Philomath Blvd. From 53rd (BiMart parking lot) to the bridge at the Philomath city line. ODOT provides vests, pickers and bags. Wear sturdy shoes and weather appropriate clothing, water in the summer heat.
This event needs help! See ways to contribute and sign up using this form: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/UUFC_Highway_26
Sponsored by the Adopt-a-Highway team.
Plan Ahead
International Flavors
The event is a partnership between the UUFC and Corvallis for Refugees. Two new-neighbor families will prepare and offer for sale (typically $15) meals from their home countries, for eat-in or carry-out. Meals will be purchased from the families; this is NOT a UUFC fundraiser.
Annual Labor Day Tuna Roast
Celebrate the end of the summer and the beginning of the new church year. Since 1997, always on Labor Day, always at Avery Park at the Lions Kitchen. This is a party for all UUFC members and friends, old and new. It is a good place to bring kids as it is next to the swings, the old train, and the dinosaur bones. Teens can “hang out”, or help with the barbecue. To cover costs we ask for a donation of $7.00 per adult and whatever you think is appropriate for your kids. Sliding scale because we want everyone to come, so no one will be turned away for lack of funds. It’s all bout building community.
We provide barbecued tuna, sweet corn on the cob, sheet cake, and lemonade. For vegetarians there will be veggie burgers and grilled eggplant and zucchini. For picky kids there will be hotdogs. This is a potluck so bring salad, bread, chips, dips, veggies, fruit, pickles, and lots more desserts. We ask you to bring your own plates and silverware and donation money. A folding chair is helpful.
There is plenty of need for volunteers, from set-up starting at 3:00, to clean-up after 7:00. Also, corn shucking, corn steaming, barbecuing, lemonade, etc. Show up and jump in.
This event needs help! See ways to contribute and sign up using this form: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/UUFC_Tuna_Volunteer_26
Annual UUFC Parking Lot Garage Sale
This is the annual UUFC Parking Lot Garage Sale. UUFC congregants donate unwanted items in good condition, pre-price them in whole dollar amounts at thrift store prices, bring them to the UUFC parking lot on 9/12 and display them on tables. Shoppers take items them wish to buy to a central cashier and pay for them with cash or credit cards. All proceeds go to UUFC. At 1:00 PM people who have tables set up take all unsold items home or to a thrift store
This event needs help! Contact Bonnie Morihara to sign up.
Harvest Festival
Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins! Get your pumpkin and support immigrants in our community.
This event needs help! See ways to contribute and sign up using this form: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/UUFC_Harvest_Volunteer_26