Weeklies – Text Only

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS – text only

Sunday Services

Sunday Worship Service: Rabbi Phil Bressler, guest speaker

May 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Unitarian Universalism honors wisdom from many world traditions, and today we are honored to welcome Rabbi Phil Bressler, from Beit Am.


Services This Month

Sunday Worship Service: Rabbi Phil Bressler, guest speaker

May 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Unitarian Universalism honors wisdom from many world traditions, and today we are honored to welcome Rabbi Phil Bressler, from Beit Am.


From the Minister

  • From the Minister, May 15, 2026

    Dear UUFC Congregation:

    Wow!  One year ago this month I was reading all about your congregation, from afar.  I examined statistics about your history, your membership, your RE program, and financial matters.  I looked at how many ministers have served you, how the building was built, and milestones important in your congregational life.  I tried to imagine being with you all in role of Interim Minister.  How lucky I was then, to get to interview with the Interim Search committee, who were warm, friendly, organized, and clear.  I then spent many, many more hours, researching Corvallis as a place to live.

    This kind of imagining is powerful.  Because you all set a vision, and I was open to a vision, our paths were able to meet and align.  

    Please ponder this kind of power.  Please consider the kind of careful preparation that creates a solid, factual foundation, from which the winds of the universe can blow to attract positive energy.

    Perhaps there is an area of your life right now where you would like to “get your house in order” and take stock of who you are.  

    With care and wonder,

    Rev. Alex

This Week at UUFC

  • CANCELLED: NeuroDivergence and Mental Health Support Group, 5/17

    This week we are cancelling NeuroDivergence and Mental Health Support Group due to the Fellowship’s annual membership meeting. Groups will continue, going forward, on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at 8:30 AM.

  • UUFC Online Auction Opens, 5/17

    The online portion of the Fellowship’s annual fundraising auction is opening for bidding on Sunday, May 17 at 1 PM! Peruse the lots donated by our community, and bid on the ones you desire straight from your computer. The online auction focuses on goods and services, while the live auction (happening June 6!) will focus on experiences.

    The online auction can be found at this link: https://2026UUFCOnlineServicesAuction.charityauction.bid. You can view the auction lots before bidding opens on Sunday, May 17 at 1 PM.

  • UUFC Annual Meeting, 5/17

    Agenda for the UUFC Annual Meeting

    Come vote on many key items and celebrate our search for meaning, deep connections, and actions toward a better world for all, The meeting will be held shortly after the service on Sunday, May 17. We require a quorum of at least one-quarter of the membership. Sign-in sheets will be available before the service. Snacks will be available in the Social Hall. The meeting will be carried on Zoom and on-line voting will be available.
    The agenda includes several important items:

    • Gathering, Chalice Lighting, and Confirmation of Quorum
    • Voting
      • Search Team (requires a vote of ¾ of members present)
      • Emerita Status Resolution (requires a vote of ¾ of members present)
      • Candidates for Office (simple majority)
    • Board, Council, Team and Staff Reports
    • Financial Overview and Vote (simple majority)

    You can read more about the Annual Meeting here.

  • Invitation to Ordination of Karishma Gottfried, 5/16

    Fellowship member Karishma Gottfried invites you to attend her ordination to Unitarian Universalist ministry on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 2 PM (Eastern time) in New York City! Those willing to travel are welcome to attend in person. The service will also be streamed online. See more details and RSVP at this link: https://partiful.com/e/r8mVpRCktdr0daerWzIU?.

    Karishma Neva Gottfried grew up in the Fellowship with her sister, Malika, and her parents, Shikha and Herky Gottfried, and was active throughout high school in religious exploration classes, district youth conferences, and denominational service. Although she moved away from Corvallis to Boston in 2019 to attend Wellesley College, and then to New York to study at Union Theological Seminary, she still considers UUFC her home congregation and visits whenever she is home.

    To prepare for ordination, Karishma attended three years of graduate school, did a one year internship, passed the screening of a review board, and engaged in professional & counseling reflection about ministerial formation.
    Here’s an article about ordination from the UU World: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/how-become-unitarian-universalist-minister-requirements-ordination.

    The UUFC will get to celebrate with her in-person on August 16, 2026 at a reception after worship. She will be the guest preacher that day.

Announcements

  • View and Vote: Online Participation in Annual Meeting

    The Annual Meeting on May 17 is also online. If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person, it will be available on Zoom using the same link as the Sunday Service, included below. You will also be able to vote using Zoom. The meeting will start after the service at approximately 11:30 am.

    Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/96231448170?pwd=cUoxaWxyei9wOTE5cVFVZ0t0Qk5KUT09

  • Outreach Offerings for May

    The May Monthly Outreach Offering is to Casa Latinos Unidos.  This organization is committed to strengthening the Latinx communities in Linn and Benton Counties through programs that support people in meeting basic needs, build resilience and capacity through education and leadership development, and celebrate cultures. They are all first and second generation immigrants with a deep sense of identification with the people who have immigrated to the area from Latin American countries, bringing their traditions and dreams to build a new life in a new country.

    Read more at https://casalatinosunidos.org/.

  • Attend UUA General Assembly 2026

    GA2026 is happening soon!  June 14 – 16 and 19 – 21
    Act quickly to serve as a delegate and save on registration fees!

    General Assembly 2026 (GA2026), the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is coming up soon in June! This year, due to the increased costs of travel, the event will be online. Registration is open currently. Registration fees increase on May 1

     “Meet the Moment: Together Everywhere” will unfold in two parts with a midweek pause. From Sunday, June 14 to Tuesday, June 16, delegates will engage in fully virtual General Sessions focused on the business of our national association. Our delegates will represent the UUFC on these policy matters. The preliminary business agenda is now available. To view, go to:

    https://www.uua.org › files › 2026-03 › ga2026_tentative_agenda_03012026.pdf

    For delegates who wish to take part only in the business sessions and not in GA programming, a business-only registration option will be available in May for $175. This option provides access to the Delegate Participation Platform only and does not include live programming, on-demand viewing, the EduCenter, or networking features in the Whova app. 

    After a two-day pause, GA2026 resumes Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21 with worship, featured speakers, and “Meet the Moment: Together Everywhere” themed programs. Eight Satellite Sites scattered across the country will host a local welcome, song, and chalice lighting, as well as livestream GA content, offer space for afternoon discussion groups, and host the Sunday Morning worship livestream. Fortunately, one of the Satellite Sites is hosted by our neighbor, the UU Congregation of Salem, OR (see below).

    REGISTRATION: Everyone participating in GA, whether joining a community gathering, watch party, or attending a UUA-hosted site, must be registered for General Assembly. Registration rates for adults are $350 through the end of April and $450 if registering May – June. Satellite site admissions, which may be added to the GA registrations, are a non-refundable $25, and are subject to local capacity. UUFC delegates can obtain help with registration fees as needed by contacting Board president, Carl English-Young. (President@uucorvallis.org)

    Those interested in serving as UUFC delegates should contact Rev. Alex McGee. With 317 members, our congregation is certified to appoint seven delegates to the annual business meeting. Delegates are selected based on the following: 

    • Prior attendance at the GA, with preference given to those who are attending for the first or second time.  
    • Prior participation in GA and/or UUFC affairs, with preference given to those who are experienced participants with a depth of knowledge of UU and UUFC history and practice. 
    • Those whose activities and viewpoints, in the views of Board members, are best aligned with those of the majority of members of the UUFC, while also allowing for a diversity and balance of perspectives.  
    • The demonstrated capacity of the nominees for respectful and congenial interactions with other UUFC members.   See UUFC Policy 2.8.1 for complete details. 

    General Assembly Satellite Site at the UU Congregation of Salem, OR

    ~An Invitation from our neighbors at the UU Congregation of Salem ~

    We welcome UUs to join us in Oregon’s capital city of Salem, in the heart of the Willamette Valley, for General Assembly gatherings. This opportunity for connection, conversation, and relationship-building will take place amid the beauty of June in our area. We’ll gather in our sanctuary, with its distinctive flaming chalice-stained glass window and newly upgraded video wall. There will be opportunities to share coffee, tea, and conversation in our spacious fellowship hall and to join in small group conversations to meet the moment together.

  • UUFC Group Camping Opportunities

    group camping at cascadia

    Save the Dates: Cascadia County Park, June 25 – 28, 2026
    Moonshine Park (near Siletz), September 10 – 13, 2026

    Come and join in fun and fellowship while camping with fellow UUFC members and friends! Plans include time for hiking, exploring, crafts, building community, happy hour, and much more. Bring your own tent, personal gear, and food. Parking is very limited (6 cars and 2 RVs – no hook-ups) at Cascadia and 8 vehicles (including RVs) at Moonshine Park, so carpools are encouraged. Come out for all or part of the event.

    Links to the camps:
    Cascadia County Park: https://www.linncountyor.gov/parksrec/park/cascadia-county-park
    Moonshine Park: https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/1060/Moonshine-Park

    Registration fees: $30 per person for each weekend (4days/3nights); family rates are available and will be detailed on the registration form

    Registration is now open for the Cascadia Campout (June 25 – 29, 2026). Please click on the following link: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/Camping2026

    If you have specific questions, please contact Julie Halter and Nancy Gill by filling out this form.

Plan Ahead

  • Save the Date for the 2026 Women’s Retreat!

    This year’s retreat will be October 2-4 at Camp Harlow in Eugene. More information and a registration link will be available soon. The cost per person will be about $250 (includes housing and meals – final amount be published soon). Partial and full scholarships will be available as well as assistance for overnight caregivers. Requests for financial assistance will be kept confidential. Due to the off-site nature of this year’s event, pre-registration will be required. Please send questions to womensretreat@uucorvallis.org.

  • Volunteers Needed for UUFC Auction, 6/6

    The UUFC fundraising auction on June 6 is one of the largest Fellowship events of the year! It takes many hands to make it happen, and we need yours. Volunteers will receive dinner for free as thanks for their service! View the available roles in the signup form by clicking the button below.

    Note that this form is for expressing interest in roles. The auction organizers will assign roles based on how many people express interest for which jobs. You can choose which roles you like, or you can say you’re open for anything! Each person will be assigned a single role, unless they check the box indicating they’re open to filling multiple sequential roles through the event.

  • Grounds Work Parties in May

    Three upcoming opportunities to help care for our UU Grounds:

    • Saturday, May 9  9 AM – 12 PM
    • Friday, May 15   2 – 5 PM
    • Saturday, May 30  9 AM – 12 PM 

    We have mulch and wood chips to keep our grounds looking beautiful, but they need our help to go from unsightly piles to well-cared-for beds.  There are also opportunities for weed pulling, and that’s a great way to get fresh air and sunshine and see immediate results!  Please come share the work – and the satisfaction of a job well done together!      

  • Music Sharing Night, 6/29

    June 29th, 7-9 PM in the Sanctuary

    Do you want to share your music with others in the Fellowship? Sign up to perform at the Music Sharing. Sign ups will be available in June. Watch the weekly announcements for details on how to sign up.

    Do you like to sing or play music, but the thought of performing causes you a feeling of terror or dread? This is understandable. But you should know that we’ve had many people make their musical debut at these Music Sharing Nights. People who have never sung outside of their car or the shower took the leap and stood in front of a supportive group of people from the community cheering them on to make their first public performance. This could be you!

    But if you don’t want to perform, you don’t have to. There will be no pressure whatsoever – just come and enjoy the music and cheer on all the fantastic musicians in our community! 

  • UUFC Auction, 6/6

    The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis Presents

    The 2026 Services Auction & Dinner

    Saturday, June 6th from 5:30 to 8:30 PM

    Philomath Scout Lodge 

    660 Clemens Mill Road, Philomath OR, 97370 

    Catered dinner, drinks, live music, raffle, mystery goodie bags, and live/silent auction offerings

    Members, friends, & family are invited!
    Shuttle service available to and from the Fellowship

    RSVP by clicking the button below – registration is required to bid!

    Paying for dinner is separate! This year our meal is professionally catered!
    Please buy tickets for dinner by clicking the button below.

    Sign up here to volunteer at the event – volunteers eat free!

    Online Auction

    Online auction opens May 17th at 1PM and closes May 31st at 5PM

    Auction Donations

    Click here to donate items or services to the auction

    Don’t have items or services to donate?  Won’t be able to attend the auction but want to help? Fill out the form below to donate funds via Breeze.

    Breeze donations will be used to purchase items for the auction or to offset event costs

    Photos of the Philomath Scout Lodge

  • Sacred Sound Practices For Challenging Times, 5/30

    Are you feeling stressed out by the state of the world?
    Join devotional musician Kavita Kat Macmillan for this introduction to the subtle energies of
    Sacred Sound to soothe your nervous system, to ground & to connect with your voice!
    No experience necessary.

    Saturday, May 30, 1 – 2:30 PM, in Room 7.

    Tickets are $33 in advance, $40 dollars at the door.

    More information and tickets are available at https://ticketstripe.com/sacredsoundcorvallis.

    Childcare is available!

    Free childcare can usually be arranged for any Fellowship event by using this link 1-2 weeks prior to the event.