Sunday Services
-
This Week:
“Still Growing Up” 5/11
Parenting (from mothers, fathers, siblings, others) is an important part of the process we call “growing up,” though it is only one part, and perhaps not always the most important part. If we have received good enough parenting to have survived to adulthood, what are the further steps and sources for growing up? (It’s pretty clear that many so-called adults still have a long way to go… for example, most current US government leaders?) Let’s consider religious learning and growth as the next steps.
With Rev. Jill McAllister
PS – Come greet and welcome visitor Rev. Lynn Gardner, former UUFC member.
-
Services This Month
May 4 “Grateful For The Winding Road”
Rev. Jill McAllister
May 11 “Still Growing Up”
Rev. Jill McAllister
May 18 “In the Middle of a Gloria”
Steven Evans-Renteria, Lauren Servias, UUFC Choir
May 25 “Art Works: Reflections on the First Year of PRAx”
Guest: Peter Betjemann
From the Minister
-
To help one another….
My decision to retire from the ministry has set in motion a huge transition for me. I’ve worried about the fact that it has set in motion a huge transition for the Fellowship as well. I’ve worried, but I’ve also begun to be very encouraged by this time of change for all of us. The life of the Fellowship is a story in chapters – and new chapters are about to begin! For those of you who are relatively new, I can’t think of a better time to be part of this congregation and its movements and growth. For those of you who are not new, I have so much faith that making changes will be enlivening and inspiring for you as well.
As part of these movements, the Committee on Ministry and I invite all leaders of teams, councils, projects, tasks (and the Board) to gather together for the next Leadership Supper, which is scheduled for Thursday May 29 at 6 PM. Leadership Suppers have been happening here for more than 10 years, to help leaders remember and recognize that all the work we do, we do together. At the coming gathering, we’ll talk about how the transition affects all of us, and what we need to do to be able to manage it well by working together.
The familiar words of James Vila Blake can be our guide: “Love is the spirit of this church, and service is its law. This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.”
This Week at UUFC
-
UUFC Annual Meeting Agenda, 5/18
The Annual Meeting of the UUFC will be held on Sunday, May 18. Members may sign in following the service, and the meeting will commence at noon. All UUFC members are asked and encouraged to attend! The Annual Meeting is where members vote on Fellowship matters, such as election of the Board of Directors, affirming the annual budget, and changing the Bylaws. If you are a member of the Fellowship and want to participate in its democratic governance, this is the meeting to attend!
Here is the Agenda:
- Gathering / Chalice lighting / Confirmation of Quorum
- Council, Team and Staff Reports
- Building Project Update
- Financial Overview and Budget Affirmation
- Elections
- Bylaw Revisions
- Adjournment
Members may choose to attend the meeting on Zoom, rather than in person. In-person attendance is greatly preferred, as Zoom can fail in multiple ways. Zoom attendees will vote using the polling tool built into Zoom. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE USING ZOOM OR UNSURE IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE ZOOM POLLING TOOL, PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND IN PERSON.
Per the Fellowship Bylaws, one-fourth of current members must be present at the meeting to form a quorum. Motions pass on majority approval of those members present and voting, except for motions on ‘momentous issues’ as defined in Article III Section 5 of the Bylaws. Amending the Fellowship Bylaws is one such momentous issue, and will require a three-fourths majority of members present and voting to approve.
Some items that will be up for vote have already been announced. Read more about them through the links below.
Nominating Committee Slate for 2025-26: https://uucorvallis.org/nominating-committee-slate-for-2025-26/
Affirmative Nondiscrimination Statement: https://uucorvallis.org/updated-affirmative-nondiscrimination-statement/ -
Partner Church Team, 5/11
The Partner Church Team wants to foster long-term, mutually supportive relationships with Unitarian and UU communities worldwide, promote the exchange of people and ideas, deepen understanding of faith, and strengthen human rights and religious freedom.
Will you help us grow into that mission? Can you help us develop a mission that speaks to our values at UUFC?
Please join us on Sunday, May 11 at 12:00 in the north end of the Social Hall. We will discuss completion of our tasks for this church year and will make the ground ready to sew new seeds for the Team’s future.
Contact PCT lead, Heather E, for more information using this link.
-
LEGATO potluck, 5/14
Can we learn to transform and grow spiritually and ethically in a changing world? Let’s break bread together and see what develops.
The LEGATO potluck is Wednesday May 14 at 5:45 PM at the Fellowship. Come early if you can help set up tables.
Bring a dish to share (please identify all ingredients).
This is a Connect Up Event with the purpose of building community within the UUFC congregation.
-
Queerly Beloved, 5/11
Our next gathering will be Sunday, May 11th – 4-6 PM in the social hall at UUFC.
Christine will be hosting a Talent Show for our next QB meeting. But that doesn’t mean you have to be “talented”, just willing to share something. Some of the activities you can share include:
Read or recite a quotation, long or short
Sing a song
Play an instrument
Tell a story (true or not)
Read a poem (yours or someone else’s)
Act out a story
Tell jokes
Show us your craftwork
Magic tricks
Juggling
Riddlesor anything else that might be inspiring, interesting or amusing. Perform alone or in groups. Everybody’s got talents!
🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Queerly Beloved meets every Second Sunday! Join LGBTQ+ folx and allies for social gatherings centered on queer issues and themes. We understand the importance of queer community, and our goal is to provide a safe space where people can find that sense of belonging right here in Corvallis.
If you need childcare for smaller children, please contact the Grandfolks Squad here: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/8c8211 -
Screening of Farming While Black, 5/15
Join us for a screening of Farming While Black, an award-winning film about the rising generation of young black farmers, featuring Leah Penniman, author of the book, “Farming While Black.” Panel discussion following the showing.
Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 6:00 pm
Oregon State University LINC Building Rm 210 (near SW 26th & SW Jefferson)
Award winning Kontent Films feature length documentary
Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqMM2bKFiV8
Moderated panel:
Mark Decena, director / writer/ producer, Kontent Films
Charlotte Epps, Leticia Carson Legacy Project, and Reciprocity Garden
David Barron, Cross-eyed Cricket Farms and Friends Agriculture Co-opFree and free parking nearby
Co-sponsored by Benton County Master Gardener Association, Oregon State University Sustainability Double Degree Program; in collaboration with and support of Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener
-
Aging Successfully in Community Supper Potluck, 5/14
Join us for our last scheduled event of this church year on Wednesday, May 14, 2025
5-7 PM
C3 (Corvallis Community Center)
2601 NW Tyler Ave. CorvallisBring:
- Finger foods / easy-to-serve food for sharing
- Your own tableware (utensils & plate)
- What topics you’d like to see covered in the coming year
- Your ideas for social activities during the summer! You choose the activity, date & number of people. We can help get the word out.
We will provide beverages, conversation starters, & a review of the past year.
-
“Samurai in the Oregon Sky” Film Showing, 5/17
SATURDAY MAY 17, 10 AM
Friendship Force of Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley (https://www.fforegon.org/) and the UUFC Immigrant And Refugee Support Team (IRST) bring you the film “Samurai in the Oregon Sky.” This is an award winning film whose details can be found at https://www.samuraiintheoregonsky.com/.
The film tells the little-known story of Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita who conducted the only manned aerial bombings of the U.S. mainland during WWII, on the southern Oregon coast. Years later, he would meet and peacefully reconcile with the American civilians who lived in the area. It’s a testament to the power of face-to-face meetings.
The film maker Ilana Sol will be present and talk with audience members. Attendees can make donations. Any extra funds beyond those needed to cover Director Sol’s expenses will be donated for use by the IRST.
This film will be shown in the Sanctuary of the UUFC – 2945 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis OR 97330. All are welcomed.
-
UUFC Services Auction, 6/28
Our annual UUFC services auction will be in-person on Saturday, June 28. But please don’t worry if you can’t attend that day because we will also hold an online silent auction from June 16-23.
Why does UUFC have a Services Auction? Well, because…
- doing something for someone else makes you feel good
- your service or items will make someone happy
- there’s someone at UUFC who really needs your help
- it’s a great way to connect with others
- it’s fun and exciting to bid, and win
- it’s a great way to raise funds for UUFC
Please donate your service or item to our annual UUFC auction NOW because we need time to enter descriptions into our auction software.
-
A Call To Justice lecture, 5/29
A Call To Justice – The 2025 Collins Lecture from the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton, OR
Also online
Tickets are $25The lecture “will explore the duty and responsibility of faith leaders to protect the human rights of all people and what that looks like specifically for our LGBTQIA2S+ neighbors. Our guest speakers from the faith community will share their unique perspectives on LGBTQIA2S+ rights. Following a brief presentation from each speaker, they will engage in a facilitated question and answer session.”
For more information, and to reserve tickets, visit https://emoregon.org/event/2025-collins-lecture/.
-
Vineyard Mountain Connect Up Hike, 5/31
We will be climbing Vineyard Mountain from the Lewisburg Saddle along NW Sulphur Springs Rd. (Corvallis). To carpool, meet at the UUFC parking lot @9:30 AM. We will meet at the Lewisburg Saddle Trailhead at 9:45 AM, and we will start hiking @ 10:00 AM.
Starting at the Lewisburg Saddle, our route will include the Vineyard Mountain Trail and portions of Dave’s Trail and Nettleton Road (#500). Hike length is approx. 3.3 miles. Elevation Gain is approx. 530 feet
Please RSVP for this hike using the button below!
-
Leadership Supper, 5/29
All Fellowship leaders of teams, councils, tasks and events are invited to gather once more, on Thursday May 29 at the Fellowship, for coordination and collaboration, and especially to focus on leadership needs and tasks in the coming ministerial transition. A light supper will be provided, beginning at 6 PM. All leaders are needed – please join us!
-
UUA Common Read, 7/15, 7/29, 8/12, 8/26
Authentic Selves Workshop
Fifty allies and queer folks are needed to experience four successive workshop sessions centered around this year’s UU Common Read. Mark your calendars for the meetings (7/15, 7/29, 8/12 and 8/26, 6:30 to 8:00pm in the UUFC Sanctuary) and order the book: Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families. Tell us you plan to participate by registering here: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/a93a00
Announcements
-
The South Corvallis Food Bank needs help!
The South Corvallis Food Bank is feeling the loss of funding for food to provide to Corvallis/Benton County hungry neighbors. Below are lists of foods that are especially needed. You can bring food donations to the UUFC on Sundays. There are two baskets to the left as you enter Foyer. If you want to deliver to the Food Bank yourself we ask that you please put “UUFC” put in the ‘received from’ field on the receipt.
Can we aim for 100 to 500 pounds of food this month?
Thank you! from the Secure Housing and Food for All Justice Team.
Items needed:
High-Priority Items:
- Fresh fruits and produce
- instant side dishes (Rice-a-Roni, tuna helper, stuffing, etc.)
- dried beans
- canned tomato products
- condiments (salad dressing, mustard, mayo, ketchup, salsa, etc.)
- can openers.
Staple Foods:
- Oatmeal
- hearty canned soups
- vegetable oil
- peanut butter
- canned fruit
- gluten-free items
Personal Care:
- Feminine hygiene products
- tooth paste & toothbrushes
- shampoo & conditioner
- soap
- laundry detergent
- dish soap
- diapers (sizes 2-6)
- baby wipes.
Pet Supplies: Dog and cat food
The Food Bank cannot accept bulk or home-canned items, or items without labels.
The Food Bank is located in South Gate Plaza.
Address: 1800 SW 3rd St #110, Corvallis, OR 97333
Open Mondays and Wednesdays 1 – 3 PM, Thursdays 5 – 7 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM – 12 PM.
They could use more volunteers! -
Classroom Wing Painting Update
A huge THANK YOU! to the 30 volunteers who painted 8 classrooms and halls with 50 gallons of paint! We are making great progress right on schedule.
Phase 2 indoor painting will start in June after Gerding Construction Company moves out and all the new sprinkler pipes have been painted by a professional painter. We also will be stain-painting the exterior of the classroom wing as the weather warms up.
Check out the photos on the display in the Foyer and please sign up when the next round of help requests happen.
-
Outreach Offerings for May – Linn Benton Food Share
Linn Benton Food Share is the central food hub for a strong network of 68 local, non-profit agencies including emergency food box pantries, public meal sites, at-risk population programs and gleaning groups, which collectively distribute over 3 million pounds of food annually.
The food pantries in Alsea, Monroe and Philomath need a little boost since cuts to the USDA March 2025 affected 30%-40% of their food sources. Approximately 400 families, mostly children, are dependent on these pantries for their food sources.
-
May RE Newsletter
Greetings, Families!
This month’s newsletter contains some important information for parents about RE in the month and year ahead, so please read carefully!
UPCOMING EVENTS for FAMILIES
5/4 Summer Camp Registration Deadline, more info and registration HERE.
5/11 Final Family Breakfast of the year, Mother’s Day Edition, pre-register HERE.
5/15 Final Parent Peer Support Group of the year, 6:30-8PM
4/25 Parent Feedback and Q&A session, noon on back patio
5/1 River of Life Sunday with Stepping Stone Ceremony
UPCOMING EVENTS for YOUTH
5/11 and 5/25 4:30-7 OWL regular workshops
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.
At the Fellowship, it’s our cherished tradition to celebrate children and youth as they move into new age groups with a special Stepping Stone Ceremony. Each child will receive a gift, words of affirmation, and be honored by the congregation as they journey forward in the river of life.
This year’s celebration will be especially joyful! We’re adding a new age group to our Sunday programs, renaming some of our spaces, and—wonderfully—we have more children to honor than in recent years.
If your child is entering kindergarten, 5th, or 6th grade (or their equivalents), please complete this form to register them for the ceremony. We look forward to marking this milestone together in community.
May will be our last family breakfast of the year before we break for summer. It also happens to fall on Mother’s Day! Rather than moving the date, our gracious hosts, the Polinder family, plan to make it a extra special to honor all the moms. Please plan to join us for this beloved gathering, and help with our planning by registering HERE at least a few days before.
Family breakfast will resume in the fall!
We are excited for our children to explore our shared values through puppetry and folk tales with accomplished professional puppeteer, Linda Zittel! The last day to register for camp is May 4th and registration, as well as more detailed information, can be found HERE!
There are a lot of changes on the horizon, y’all! As we prepare to return to intergenerational services for the summer, and envision our return to the classroom wing in the fall, lots of decisions need to be made, and that means I want to hear from YOU about what has been working and what hasn’t, and what your dreams and concerns are for the return to normal Sunday morning RE, AND I want to answer your questions about our plans for room use, curriculum, and the general wellbeing of your children when they are in our care.
You are invited to bring your drinks and snacks to the benches on the back patio on Sunday, May 25th to spend coffee hour asking and sharing for the mutual benefit of all who are invested in our RE programs for children and youth. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas!
Last month was loaded with fun! Our youth went to the Hult Center to experience Hamilton live on stage and their excitement was absolutely contagious! And between our JETPIG Easter and Beltane Maypole, I can honestly say we made the most of the beautiful spring sunshine and blossoms! If you have ideas for enriching activities you’d like to see take place over the summer, I want to hear them!
Everything we are able to provide in RE is only possible because volunteers generously give their time to bring these events to life for others! Our values-driven Easter experience would not have been possible without the help of Priscilla Galasso, Anya Ballinger, and Adriel Molk, all committing to help out in the weeks leading up to the event. And then, on the day-of, our fabulous young people, Sabina Giordono and Kezi Hirsch, stepped in to fill a need to talk to kids about justice and Love.
Thank you to all of our volunteers who fill roles big and small. You are the beating heart of Fellowship life!
Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Fellowship librarians, Holley Lantz and Christine Robbins, and volunteer Eric Lantz, the children’s collection in the Rita McDonald Memorial Library has been digitally cataloged and is ready for check outs!
Children (and adults who read children’s books) can now apply for a library card with this form, and use our new digital checkout kiosk. Please allow 3 days for new accounts to be set up prior to attempting to check out.
We have many faith-specific adult books that cannot be found at the county library and we’d love to see more people making use of this resource. Feedback about the usability of the adult collection is most welcome!
Thanks so much for being part of what makes our Fellowship shine! Happy May, Y’all!
-
Updated Affirmative Nondiscrimination Statement!
Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on the proposed changes to Article II of our Bylaws! We have incorporated the feedback into the proposed change, which is included below. This proposed change to the Bylaws will be voted on by members at the Annual Meeting on May 18, 2025. A bylaw change such as this requires a 3/4 majority vote of the members in attendance at the meeting.
Existing Article II Membership:
The Fellowship offers membership to all people who support its purposes, principles, and programs.Proposed Article II Membership:
The Fellowship offers membership to all people who support its values, principles, mission, and programs.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, educational achievement, and socioeconomic level. We welcome all who accept our Congregational Covenant of Right Relations to share in the leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, responsibilities, blessings, and joys of our congregation’s life.
-
Nominating Committee Slate for 2025-26
The members of the current UUFC Nominating Committee are pleased to submit the following slate of nominees for the 2025-26 Fellowship Year:
UUFC NOMINEES FOR ELECTED POSITIONS 2025
(Terms are for one year unless otherwise noted)BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President – Carl English-Young
Secretary – Priscilla Galasso
Treasurer – Michael Hughes
Board – John Larsen (2 year)
Board – Betty Shelley (2 year)
Board – Carolyn Madsen (2 year)
Board – John Bailey (2 year)
Board – Sheryl Stuart (2 year)
Board – Bonnie Morihara (2nd year of 2-year term)PERSONNEL COMMITTEE CHAIR
Jamie PettsCOMMITTEE ON MINISTRY CHAIR
Mark AronFINANCIAL OVERSIGHT COUNCIL CHAIR
Scott Bruslind (3 year)2026 NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Kris Egan
Jim Good
Kimi Mayo
Heather Thomas
Board member (appointed by the Board)
Plan Ahead
-
UUFC Services Auction, 6/28
Our annual UUFC services auction will be in-person on Saturday, June 28. But please don’t worry if you can’t attend that day because we will also hold an online silent auction from June 16-23.
Why does UUFC have a Services Auction? Well, because…
- doing something for someone else makes you feel good
- your service or items will make someone happy
- there’s someone at UUFC who really needs your help
- it’s a great way to connect with others
- it’s fun and exciting to bid, and win
- it’s a great way to raise funds for UUFC
Please donate your service or item to our annual UUFC auction NOW because we need time to enter descriptions into our auction software.
-
A Call To Justice lecture, 5/29
A Call To Justice – The 2025 Collins Lecture from the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton, OR
Also online
Tickets are $25The lecture “will explore the duty and responsibility of faith leaders to protect the human rights of all people and what that looks like specifically for our LGBTQIA2S+ neighbors. Our guest speakers from the faith community will share their unique perspectives on LGBTQIA2S+ rights. Following a brief presentation from each speaker, they will engage in a facilitated question and answer session.”
For more information, and to reserve tickets, visit https://emoregon.org/event/2025-collins-lecture/.
-
Vineyard Mountain Connect Up Hike, 5/31
We will be climbing Vineyard Mountain from the Lewisburg Saddle along NW Sulphur Springs Rd. (Corvallis). To carpool, meet at the UUFC parking lot @9:30 AM. We will meet at the Lewisburg Saddle Trailhead at 9:45 AM, and we will start hiking @ 10:00 AM.
Starting at the Lewisburg Saddle, our route will include the Vineyard Mountain Trail and portions of Dave’s Trail and Nettleton Road (#500). Hike length is approx. 3.3 miles. Elevation Gain is approx. 530 feet
Please RSVP for this hike using the button below!
-
Leadership Supper, 5/29
All Fellowship leaders of teams, councils, tasks and events are invited to gather once more, on Thursday May 29 at the Fellowship, for coordination and collaboration, and especially to focus on leadership needs and tasks in the coming ministerial transition. A light supper will be provided, beginning at 6 PM. All leaders are needed – please join us!
-
UUA Common Read, 7/15, 7/29, 8/12, 8/26
Authentic Selves Workshop
Fifty allies and queer folks are needed to experience four successive workshop sessions centered around this year’s UU Common Read. Mark your calendars for the meetings (7/15, 7/29, 8/12 and 8/26, 6:30 to 8:00pm in the UUFC Sanctuary) and order the book: Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families. Tell us you plan to participate by registering here: https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/a93a00