Weeklies – Text Only

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS – text only

Sunday Services

  • This Week:

    “From the Pandemic to Here, and Beyond…”   3/23/25

    We have only begun to articulate what changed for us during the pandemic.  To begin to tell those stories is important, even as or perhaps especially because we are in the midst of more and more every day.  It has been like this before, and yet for us the world this way, right now, is new and hard.  Join us to consider: what did we lose, what did we gain, what did we learn, how are we different and what might that all mean for us now? 

    A note: the UUFC parking lot is under reconstruction now, as part of bringing new water lines into the building to support fire sprinklers.  Parking is a challenge!  Most of us will need to park on the streets this week.  Let’s leave the available spaces for those with the highest needs to be close. 

    And, for all who might still plan to join us – a Stewardship event will happen after the service, in the Sanctuary.  We’ll connect around our shared covenant, and what the Fellowship is called to be, now.  The Fellowship is all of us. You are needed, and you are invited.  

Services This Month

  • Mar. 2  “The Long Legacy of Liberal Religion: What’s It Worth Now?” Rev. Jill McAllister

    Mar. 9  “Keeping the Flame Alive”  Rev. Jill McAllister

    Mar. 16  “You are Invited”  Rev. Jill McAllister

    Mar. 23  “What Was Lost?”  Rev. Jill McAllister

    Mar. 30  “Can We Still Laugh?”  Rev. Jill McAllister

From the Minister

  • Here and Now

    I am more and more at a loss for what to say about where things are in our country.  The age-old needs for power and control, for creating enemies, the greed – these have been standard human activities forever.  A colleague related a story this week: in their congregation at joys and sorrows someone shared that it was “a good thing in the long run that the British Empire declined, but it is extremely hard to be living through the decline of THIS empire.”  We live among people for whom these are glory days – and that is extremely difficult. 

    I try to stay focused on the Fellowship, on our togetherness, our mission and goals, what we mean to each other and need from each other.  At the very least, we can, maybe for the first time, take our ideals and values very seriously, instead of as topics for casual conversation.  These ideals are worth keeping alive – that’s our work now.  Love and respect, inclusion and generosity, compassion and peace – there is more than enough to be dedicated to.  Do we know how to be dedicated?  

    Here’s a way.  Last week I noted this about our Stewardship events, which are happening now.  I’m sharing it again, because I’m afraid some folks missed it. “ I imagine a big, beautiful, wide and deep conversation – with several hundred people taking part!  (There are more than several hundred of us, you know.)  Will you enter in?  Will you be part of the wealth of resources we share?  Will you offer you time and perspectives, and your presence?  Here is the only thing you need to know in order to take part:  You are needed and you are invited.”

This Week at UUFC

  • Men’s Gathering Cancelled, 3/23

    The Men’s Gathering for this Sunday, March 23rd, has been cancelled.

  • Connect Up Hike 3/29

    We will meet @9:45 AM in the Beazell parking lot and start hiking @10:00 AM. If you would like to carpool from the UUFC parking lot, meet there at 9:15 AM.

    We will hike the Plunkett Creek Trail up to the South Meadow and back down. We’ll be on the lookout for trillium and other early spring wildflowers. There is a flat loop option as well. Please choose your own adventure to suit your ability. The distance of this up-and-back hike is approximately 2.5 miles. Elevation gain is approx. 650 feet. Dress for the weather and bring poles if you like.


    To reach Beazell Memorial Forest, head west from Philomath on Hwy 20. In 4 miles, at Wren, turn right on Hwy 223N to Kings Valley. Beazell is 5 miles north on the right.

  • Stewardship Gatherings, 3/23, 3/26, 3/30

    Our annual Stewardship Pledge Drive is coming soon. All Fellowship members and friends are invited to join in a Stewardship gathering, to talk together about how we all share in sustaining and nurturing the Fellowship. Mark your calendar for one of these events and RSVP with this form: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/28f825.

    Mon., March 17 – 7 PM – Dessert Gathering in the Sanctuary – New Members are especially invited
    Thurs., March 20 – 2 PM – Nancy Kyle’s house
    Sun., March 23 – Light Lunch after Sunday service – Sanctuary
    Wed., March 26 – Noon – Salad Bar Lunch – Sanctuary
    Sun., March 30 – Light Lunch after Sunday Service – Sanctuary

  • Justice Theatre: Major Barbara Performances, 3/28-3/29

    Ticket reservations are open for this year’s Justice Theatre staged reading of George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara on Friday and Saturday, March 28-29, at 7:30pm in the Sanctuary. This Victorian-era play is as witty as it is timely, and it will make you laugh and wince by turns. Come out and enjoy some theatre that will make you think while supporting a good cause—this year’s proceeds will go to support the work of local nonprofit Vina Moses Center.

    Tickets available. Pay what you can.

    Reserve Tickets

Announcements

  • Weekly men’s lunch group(s) starting up

    The ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) are looking for more men to start one or more new lunch groups. Each group will meet weekly as a social gathering to talk about whatever comes up. As the name implies, ROMEOs are predominantly older men and are inclined to discuss topics that interest older men.

    One or more YAMEO (Younger but-still-Available-for-lunch Men Eating Out) groups are also forming for men who aren’t retired but still have the flexibility to attend a weekly lunch. Conversation topics will probably differ from the ROMEOs and be of more interest to not-yet-old men.

    Attendance isn’t mandatory for all lunches, though there is certainly value in attending regularly! If you’re interested in joining one of these groups, contact Jed Irvine using the form linked below by March 30th and tell him which group interests you. Jed will set up a scheduling poll for each group to determine how many folks are available on which days, and thus how many new groups will form.

    Contact form: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/8b1ec9534943196692348281583519237151

  • Affirmative Nondiscrimination Statement!

    To update our Welcoming Congregation status, we need an affirmative nondiscrimination statement in our bylaws. The Sexuality and Gender Diversity Team proposed and the Board endorsed the following to the introduction to Article II. Membership:

    Existing:
    The Fellowship offers membership to all people who support its purposes, principles, and programs.

    Proposed:
    The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis is committed to establishing, supporting, and maintaining a welcoming congregation that lives up to its highest ideals, a place where all can thrive. We strive to be a congregation that affirms all persons, including but not limited to those embracing differences in racial and cultural identity or background, sexual orientation, gender and its expression, religious background, marital status, family structure, age, mental and physical health and ability, political affiliation, and educational and socioeconomic status. We welcome all who accept our Congregational Covenant to share in the leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, responsibilities, blessings, and joys of our congregation’s life.

    The Fellowship offers membership to all people who support its purposes, principles, values and programs.

    ——————————
    Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in between? E-mail comments for the board’s consideration to secretary@uucorvallis.org by April 13, 2025, and plan to attend the annual meeting on May 18, 2025. A bylaw change requires a 3/4 majority vote of the members in attendance at the meeting.

  • Website Update suggestion form is live!

    Website Update suggestion form is live!  You can now submit your suggestions and feedback for our upcoming website update using the form linked through the button below. If you have questions or need assistance with the form, please email comms@uucorvallis.org.

    Fill Out the Survey

    Thank you for helping us improve our communications!

    For more information on this project, see last week’s announcement.

  • UUA GA Delegates Needed

    The annual General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association will be held June 18-22, 2025 in Baltimore, MD and online. The UUFC is entitled to send seven delegates from the congregation as well as ministers and DREs. In addition to the Business Agenda that will address various issues of policy and action, the program includes enriching addresses, workshops, and musical offerings. To learn more, visit https://www.uua.org/ga/program/highlights.

    If you are interested in becoming a delegate, please contact Rev. Jill McAllister (minister@uucorvallis.org). Scholarships for registration fees and/or travel are available.

  • Outreach Offerings For March

    Our monthly outreach offerings in March will support the work of the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice, a state-wide collaboration of faith groups, which the Fellowship has partnered with for several years. IMIrJ’s mission is to accompany and equip communities and people of faith in Oregon to advance immigrant justice through the direct accompaniment of immigrants facing detention and deportation, policy advocacy at local, state, and national levels, and purposeful organizing. Through networks of relationships, we create a more just world for immigrants, migrants, and asylum seekers by taking immediate humanitarian action and long-term collective, intentional action. 

  • RE Newsletter for March

    Greetings, Families!

    It feels like spring has sprung and lots of fresh energy is popping up in Religious Exploration. Get your calendars ready, so you don’t miss any of the fun!

    UPCOMING EVENTS for FAMILIES

    3/9   Family Breakfast, 8:45-9:45, pre-register HERE by 3/5

    3/20  Parent Peer Support Group, 6:30-8PM 

    4/6 Seeds of Generosity Pitch Party, noon in the Foyer, pre-register HERE by 3/12

    UPCOMING EVENTS for YOUTH

    3/2, 3/16   OWL workshops

    3/14-16 Youth Coast Retreat, pre-register HERE by 3/2

    4/6 Youth Service at Heartland Humane 9:45 to noon, pre-register HERE by 3/28 

    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.

    /

    I genuinely hope that all of our families will choose to participate in this very cool program made possible by an endowment from the Bob Ozretich Memorial Fund. Children, youth, and families in any combination (teams, pairs, solo, whole family) will make a Shark-Tank style pitch for how they would spend $100 to generously benefit our local community, and then all partiers will vote on a winner, who will receive $100 cash to give in alignment with their pitch. Everyone who pitches will be entered into a drawing to win $50 in cash to give in a manner of their choosing, and everyone who attends will get a pizza and cake lunch in the social hall after the winners are announced. Please consider helping your child work on a pitch to make either as individuals or as a family, and then register each pitch they plan to make HERE so we know how much food to buy. You do not have to make pitch to participate.  Still use the registration link but indicate you will not be “pitching.”

    In preparation for this event, Russ Karrow will be sharing with the children and youth during RE on March 2nd about his experience with the local Power of 100 program that does a larger scale version of our Seeds of Generosity program. 

    We have the funds to offer three rounds of this pitch-party style giving program, so those who don’t win have two more chances, which we hope will foster the qualities of resilience and persistence in all who participate. Winners will be asked to share an account of their giving to inspire others to participate. 

    On February 28th, the youth worked collaboratively to design this year’s Earth Month t-shirt. I will be putting in orders for shirt for all youth on March 5th, so please email me your youth’s t-shirt size preference. I will make an effort to order for everyone, and if I don’t hear back from you, I will make a guess at sizing for your youth and err on the larger side. 

    On April 6th, youth should be dropped off at the Heartland Humane Society at 9:45 for a brief chalice lighting and service project. We will likely be doing some combination of cleaning, feeding, sorting donations of food, folding laundry, etc., and will end with socializing time, AKA playing with the pets! Youth will be delivered back to the Fellowship around 12:15. Please pre-register for this service project HERE by March 23rd.

    It’s that time of year again! The youth will be heading to the beautiful Wavecatcher Beach House right on the beach in Waldport for 2 nights of community building and worship. Youth will cook together, play together, and write their own worship service collaboratively before being delivered back to the Fellowship as the service lets out (or as close to it as can be managed) on Sunday morning. 

    Pre-registration is requested HERE no later than 3/2. If cost is an obstacle, please register anyway and we’ll cover the fee. This is the most anticipated and highly bonding gathering of the year, so we want everyone to be able to participate!

    We’ve had a lot of fun opportunities in RE over the past month! Weather allowed the younger children to go outside most Sundays, and a lot of our Bluey lessons included activities with balloons as we explored friendship, caretaking, and patience. Balloons are ALWAYS a hit! 

    Some of our youth traveled to Eugene for an overnight and participated in games, service and worship while we got to explore ways that other groups “do church.” And thanks to a generous gift from Joyce Marvel-Benoist, a small group of youth had a Splatter Party at SplatterBox in Albany and got super messy while making a piece of collaborative art for our new youth room when the classroom wing reopens. Thanks, Joyce!

    I was so impressed by our very own Raya and Mirielle during the overnight trip to Eugene! These two spent a substantial amount of time in the kitchen cooking for the burrito bar dinner and washing breakfast dishes in a commercial kitchen. They also helped decorate the social hall for Valentines Day and participated in some technological troubleshooting when the movie set-up wasn’t cooperating. At every turn, they were exercising their skills in community building and service! It was a proud day for Corvallis to be represented so beautifully while visiting a neighboring congregations.

    If you have any questions about what’s happening in RE, send them my way. And if, for some strange reason, you ever want to be removed from the monthly RE Newsletter list, let me know. Wishing you a joyful March!

Plan Ahead

  • Book Discussion, 4/14

    The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team invites you in exploring “Mountains Beyond Mountains” written by the award-winning literary journalist Tracy Kidder about the life and work of Dr. Paul Farmer. This is a not-to-be-missed story, especially for us today.


    Join the conversation 7:15 PM, Monday, April 14th when we’ll share our reading experiences and responses. Contact Elona Meyer using the Breeze form below for more details and the Zoom link.

    Contact Elona Meyer

  • UUFC Family Camping at Cascadia State Park, 6/19 – 6/22

    Come and join in fun and fellowship while camping at Cascadia State Park June 19 – 22, 2025. Group Site ‘A’ has been reserved with a limit of 25 campers. Plans include group meals on Friday and Saturday evening, time for hiking, exploring, building community, games, 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 for the whole weekend is $25 per person (a family with children rate will apply). A minimum of 12 adult registrations must be received by May 1st for this event to take place.

    Cascadia Camping Reservation

    If you have specific questions, please contact Julie Halter and Nancy Gill using this Breeze form.

  • Sign-Making Party, 3/30

    Sign-Making Party!
    Sunday, March 30, 1:30-3:00 PM
    Westminster House, McLean Room, 101 NW 23rd St, Corvallis.

    To make signs for the Hands Off Rally on April 5.

    We’ll make signs for the rally and for your yards and windows. Bring any supplies that you can share and lots of ideas for slogans! Let’s let the world know we’ve had enough! For more information, contact Claire Montgomery using this Breeze form.

    All are welcome! Submitted by the Democracy Action Team.

  • Hands Off Rally, 4/5

    Hands Off Rally
    Saturday, April 5, at noon
    Benton County Courthouse
    120 NW 4th St., Corvallis

    We want our government to govern democratically so let’s make our voices heard again and again. Our message: Defy Autocracy! Defend the rule of law! Oppose executive overreach! Many groups are collaborating to make this happen and make it BIG: Indivisible, 50501, Third Act, Women’s March, and more. Click HERE for the Corvallis event. This will be a peaceful protest.

    All are welcome. Bring signs!
    Submitted by the Democracy Action Team

  • Local Resources for Seniors, 4/2

    Please join the Aging Successfully in Community team for a presentation on local resources for seniors and people with disabilities.
    April 2, 3-4:30 PM
    UUFC Sanctuary

    Representatives from the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments will share information about Aging & Disability Resource Connection, Rideline, Options Counseling, and volunteering.

    They will provide a brief overview of services available, where to find more information, and share opportunities to volunteer.

  • Connect Up: Laughter Yoga – Breathe Deeply and Have Fun, 4/26

    Join Joyce Marvel-Benoist for Laughter Yoga: inclusive and accessible simple exercises to increase endorphins, connect with others, breathe more deeply and lighten up! This is not traditional yoga, but was named yoga by Dr. Madan Kataria of Mumbai, India. Joyce was trained and certified by Dr. Kataria. All ages welcome. Adaptations will be made for physical abilities. Wear comfy clothing, bring your water bottle ~ come as you are!

    Saturday, April 26, 2025 9:00 – 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary. RSVP using the Breeze form below.

    Breeze RSVP Form

  • Yoga for UUFCers, 4/13

    Three UU staff members with long interest and experience in yoga offer a workshop on the aims and benefits of yoga practice for these times. 2 – 4 PM, Sunday April 13, in the Sanctuary. Experience not required. With Jill McAllister, Jamie Petts and Skyla King-Christison.

  • World Religions for UU’s 4/27 – 6/9

    Many of you have asked for another offering of the World Religions class Jill McAllister has taught for Fellowship members and friends during her ministry here. She is happy to oblige! The class follows most of the syllabus used in her undergraduate religion course at OSU – without the quizzes and other projects. If you are truly interested in attending ten sessions – a few in person and most on Zoom; if you are able and willing to read most of two (paperback) books; and if you are willing and able to not only start but also finish the class, then this offering is for you. Here is a tentative schedule, which will be firmed up when at least 10 people sign up:

    Sunday, April 27: Afternoon, in person (first session)
    Monday, April 28: Evening, Zoom
    Monday, May 5: Evening, Zoom
    Monday, May 12: Evening, Zoom
    Monday, May 19: Evening, Zoom
    Monday, May 26: Evening, Zoom
    Sunday, June 1: Afternoon, in person
    Monday, June 2: Evening, Zoom
    Monday, June 9: Evening, Zoom

    Sign up using this Breeze form: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/wruu_2025. Contact Jill at minister@uucorvallis.org with questions.

  • UUFC Justice Renewal, 4/5

    UUFC justice teams, and all others who are interested, will gather on Saturday, April 5, 9 am to 12 noon to hear from community partners and share ideas in an event we are calling a Justice Renewal. We all face growing threats from several directions: an authoritarian federal government, homelessness, and climate change. In support of our Unitarian Universalist values, we will learn what our partners are doing and share our justice teams’ activities so we can develop strategies for increasing our impact.

    If you would like to participate and attend the lunch from 12 to 1, please email cat@uucorvallis.org by March 29.

  • Elevator Speeches, 4/8

    Do you trip over your words when someone asks you about your religion? Do you find it hard to articulate what UUs believe when you’re feeling on the spot? Well, struggle no more, my friend! There’s a workshop for that!

    Join Skyla for a 3-part workshop to help you clarify your thoughts on what UUism means to you. By the end of our time together, you’ll have a short, meaningful elevator speech in your pocket for the next time someone says, “You’re a Unitarian Universalist? What does that even mean?”

    April 8, 15, and 22nd from 6-7 PM in the social hall.

    Register with this form: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/3c115c6.

    Thank you for preregistering by April 1st.

Connect Up/Affinity Groups this Week