Sunday Services
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This Week:
September 7, 2025 – Gathering the Waters and Beginning a New Congregational Year
Bring water to pour into the common bowl as you name the qualities and commitments you bring for the year ahead. We will commission the board and Interim Minister. We will offer blessings to the guides who will work with children and youth this year and the sermon will reflect on the urgency of helping the world by raising the next generation with UU values.
The choir will be back, and Rev. Alex will preach.
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Services This Month
September 7: Gathering the Waters and Beginning a New Congregational Year
Bring water to pour into the common bowl as you name the qualities and commitments you bring for the year ahead. We will commission the board and Interim Minister. We will offer blessings to the guides who will work with children and youth this year and the sermon will reflect on the urgency of helping the world by raising the next generation with UU values.
Choir will be back, and Rev. Alex will preach.
September 14: What’s Wrong and Is It Me?
This sermon will be an exploration of times in life we are trying to fix something…but the best change will come from looking at a bigger picture. Special reflections on the exciting new Mosaic curriculum this year.
Rev. Alex preaching.
September 21: This service will be full of love and creativity, and the topic and speaker are still being arranged.
September 28: Balance and Loving Embrace of Imbalance.
As the days and nights are nearly equal in length this week, we have a chance to reflect on the many meanings of balance.
Rev. Alex preaching and the band will play.
From the Minister
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September 7, 2025
Dear Friends:
I look forward to sharing the Gathering Water Ceremony this coming Sunday—whether you are on Zoom or in person. Each of us pouring water together is a very meaningful time to reflect on how each of us matter in the Fellowship and bring unique qualities. I continue to honor the many different ways that people are experiencing current shifts in Fellowship life. And so today I offer you this reading, which will be the opening words this coming Sunday. I hope you can take a moment now to savor them and feel how they land with you.
In peace,
Rev. AlexRiver Call
Between rocking the boat
and sitting down;
between stirring things up,
and peaceably going along,We find ourselves
here,
in community.Each called
from many different
journeys,
many different
life paths,
onto this river road.Some are here
because the rocking of
the boat
has been too much:
too much tumult,
too much uncertainty,
too much pain.Some are here with questions
about where the boat is going;
how best to steer it;
where this journey ends.Others are here
as lovers of the journey,
lovers of life itself.Here in front
beside
behindeach a passenger;
each a Captain;
doing the best we can.“Rest here, in your boat,
with me,” the river calls;
“Listen to how I flow,
the sound of life coursing all around you.”Let the current
hold you,
let the current
guide you;
the river that gently flows
through your soul,
whispers:
“Come, let us worship.”—Manish K. Mishra-Marzetti
This Week at UUFC
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Grounds Work Parties
There is lots to do outside at the UU and happily, cooler weather is at hand! Here are 3 opportunities to help get the UU grounds looking good and the pollinator garden off the ground (well, in the ground). Come help! Contact Joyce F. with questions.
Saturday, Sept 6, 3 – 5 PM
Friday, Sept 12, 9 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, Sept 21, 3 – 5 PM -
Kirtan with Eugene’s Sitaram Das, 9/5
Through chanting Sanskrit mantra, music, teachings, Q&A, and storytelling, this kirtan intends to awaken the Heart of Love. Sitaram Dass will be joined by Jeannette Kangas (tabla) and Clark Stacer (bass). Friday, September 5 at 7 PM in Room 7.
Sitaram Dass (he/him) spent several years serving his beloved teacher Ram Dass on Maui, where he was shown the path of Bhakti, the yoga of service and devotion to God. He is an author, teacher, kirtan singer, spiritual therapist, and lover of God. As the director of the Sacred Community Project, he works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices.
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Red Cross Blood Drive, 9/10
A blood drive will be hosted in our Social Hall from 9:30 am until 2:30 pm on Wednesday 9/10. You can sign up to donate on the American Red Cross Donate Blood website.
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Bringing Back Drop-In Choir! , 10/12
Sunday Morning, October 12th. Rehearsal at 9 AM
Come be a part of the music on Sunday morning!
Help lead the congregation in singing!
Learn a piece to sing with the choir during the service in one rehearsal!
All voices and skill levels welcome!
Please sign up if you plan to come:
If you forgot to sign up and still want to sing, just drop in anyway!
Questions? Email David at music@uucorvallis.org
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Dance Planet, 9/20
Dance Planet is back! Move in your own way to a rhythmic flow of music from around the world and across the decades. We’ll start with live warmup music from harpist Laura Zaerr and cellist Sabina Monn with rhythmic support from George Beekman. All three are members of Compass Rose. At 7:30 PM, DJ Geo will create a global music journey. Suggested donation: $5–15 (or more) – 100% of the proceeds are donated to local environmental organizations.
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Partner Church Team meeting, 9/14
The Partner Church Team is expanding its vision and embracing new goals to work for mutual benefit with partners around the world. There’s a place for you on our team!
The PCT wants to create awareness about partnerships with members and friends of UUFC and discuss transformational opportunities for learning and service.
Please join us on Sunday, September 14 at 11:45 AM in Room 7 of the RE wing. The timing couldn’t be better for you to join us as we prepare for a new church year!
Contact PCT lead, Heather E, for more information.
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Parking Lot Rummage Sale – Saturday, 9/20
We’ll be holding our annual Parking Lot Rummage Sale on September 20 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Do you have items you no longer need and want to get rid of? Will you kindly donate all the sale proceeds to UUFC?
Here’s what you do:
- Price your items (thrift store prices or less)
- Bring you items to our parking lot and sell them. Send buyers to the cashier with their items. You don’t have to collect any money
- At 2:00 PM take all unsold items home or deliver them to your favorite thrift store.
Tell your friends, neighbors, and OSU folks. The Rummage Sale is open for everyone to shop.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
• At 9:30 AM to bring tables and chairs from our building to the parking lot.
• At 2:00 PM to return tables and chairs to the building.
Announcements
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Join the Freeway Banner Brigade!
A small group of highly motivated UUs, spawned from the Democracy Action Team, are organizing to create the Freeway Banner Brigade. We will make large banners to display on I-5 overpasses in the Albany area, following the guidance of a Washington group that has been doing this for years. We just ordered our banner-making supplies, and are looking for volunteers to join us. Participate at whatever level you’d like—organizing, banner making, or show up to help hold the sign at our bannering events. We needs lots of sign holders! With this project, a small group of people can make a big impact. For more information or to volunteer, contact Jeanne Holmes.
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Outreach Offerings for September
Our Sunday Outreach offerings in September support Jackson Street Youth Services, who offer 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, they serve youth throughout Linn and Benton Counties. Read more about them at https://www.jacksonstreet.org/.
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Chalice Circle Sampler Pop-up this Fall
Want to experience what a Chalice Circle session is like? We’re trying a different format this year that will hopefully lower the barrier to make it easier for YOU to check out if joining a Chalice Circle is for you.
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 a Chalice Circle Pop-up Session offered this Fall. If you want to continue, we’ll help set up new groups that will continue through the upcoming liturgical year (through June). You’re also welcome to sign up if you’ve been in a group in the past or even if you’re already in a group! Come see what’s changed or just experience chalice with a different group of people.
Three sessions will be offered (2 hours each), and you can choose to attend 1, 2 or all 3 (different topic, different people but same format). Sign-ups are online via this Google Form (https://bit.ly/fall25chalice). The dates of each session are specified in the form.
Have more questions about chalice circles? Attend the next Inquirer Series featuring them on October 5, or read our FAQ at: https://uucorvallis.org/chalice-circles/.
Questions? Email: chalicecircles@uucorvallis.org
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Sign Up Now! – Men’s Retreat, 10/3-5
Time to register for the annual Men’s Retreat, this year at Camp Harlow near Eugene (only an hour’s drive from Corvallis). The retreat will be held from 5 PM Friday October 3 to 2 PM Sunday October 5. For those who identify as men, this is an opportunity to get to know each other and build connections with other men at UUFC. Our theme this year is “Sharing the Story of Your Life Journey.” Check out the flyer with details at this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f6YJIxzCbjXZdWaI45a5bDxtDZsJoCsv/view?usp=sharingRegister ONLINE at https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/mensretreatregistration2025.
More information: contact Alan Kirk.
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Greeters are Lemonaders!
Looking to increase your resilience during trying times?
OSU research suggests that cultivating a sense of openness and fun even though things may be challenging (lemonading) helps. There is no greater place to create a moment of joy than serving on the Greeter Team.
Don’t wait! Join the Greeter Team and experience the joy of providing valuable human connection to those seeking reassurance (especially newcomers).
Speak with anyone at the Greeter desk or contact the Team lead via this form for more information. Cheers!
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Register for Fall RE!
Parents and guardians, it’s to register your children for the new year of Sunday morning Religious Exploration!
CHILDREN WHO WERE REGISTERED AT ANY POINT LAST YEAR MUST STILL BE REGISTERED Anew BEFORE ATTENDING RE THIS YEAR.
Please read the following descriptions carefully and register each child for the appropriate space. We acknowledge that school grades are not a perfect proxy for age or development. Nonetheless, we find them useful for determining the most appropriate group for most children. If you feel your child would benefit from being in a different group than the one designated below, please reach out to the Director of Religious Exploration, Skyla King-Christison.
THE RAINBOW ROOM
This space is for new walkers through preschool. We may occasionally be able to accommodate infants if the caregiver-to-child ratio allows; however, your infant may be returned to you in the service if more children arrive and it can no longer be safely accommodated. Children in this space may be dropped off in Room 4 of the classroom wing no earlier than 9:50, and should be picked up before their guardians attend coffee hour.
Please register for the Rainbow Room HERE prior to dropping your child off.
SPIRIT PLAY
This space is designed to meet the approximate developmental needs of beloved children in grades K through three. Children in this space begin in the service with their families, and will depart for room 6c as a group after the time for all ages. Guardians should pick them up before attending coffee hour. This group may occasionally be on the playground, through 6c, at pickup time.
Please register for Spirit Play HERE prior to their first Sunday.
SEEKER SPACE
This space is designed to meet the approximate developmental needs of beloved children in grades four through six. Children in this space begin in the service with their families, and will depart for room 9 (upstairs) as a group after the time for all ages. This group will prioritize outdoor time and project-based exploration, so please ensure that they are dress for the weather all year round. This group must be picked up before attending coffee hour.
Please register for Seeker Space HERE prior to their first Sunday.
OPEN MINDS GROUP (OMG!)
This space is designed to meet the approximate developmental needs of beloved children in grades seven through twelve. Youth in this space will be released to come join the adults in the social hall. They do not need to be checked out by guardian, but they are not permitted to linger in the classroom wing unattended. Please discuss expectations with your youth prior to their attendance.
Please register youth for OMG! HERE before their first Sunday
If you have questions about any of our Sunday morning offerings for children and youth, don’t hesitate to contact the Director of Religious Exploration, Skyla King-Christison at dre@uucorvallis.org.
And don’t forget that we have a variety of Religious Exploration offerings for adults this year, and can often provide free childcare with appropriate notice. Check it out and get the whole family engaged in RE!
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Please register for the UUFC Women’s Retreat, 10/17 & 10/18
If you identify as a woman in a way that is significant for you, you are welcome to join us for our annual Women’s Retreat. It will be held at the UUFC on Friday night Oct. 17 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm and from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm on Saturday, Oct. 18. This year’s theme is “Right Here, Right Now: Peace through Practice”. We will share practices that may help you find peace in your center, peace in your connections, and peace in your community. The $55 fee for the retreat includes two meals on Saturday catered by Forks and Corks.
Please register using this form. https://uufc.breezechms.com/form/wr2025
Payment can be made online or by check to the UUFC with “Women’s Retreat” in the memo line.
Volunteers, suggestions, and questions are welcome at womensretreat@uucorvallis.org. Team facilitators are Heather Thomas, Kimi Mayo, and Priscilla Galasso. -
Update on Needs in our Community – Secure Housing and Food For All Justice Team
The passage of the Big Beautiful Bill has had a profound—and deeply challenging—impact on local Corvallis shelters. With funding significantly reduced, these vital organizations are struggling to meet the basic needs of those they serve. The loss of resources has been devastating, but the need has not gone away. In this difficult moment, volunteers have become more essential than ever. If you’re able to give your time, even a little, your support can help keep dignity, warmth, and safety within reach for our neighbors in need.
For more information on how you can help, you can visit the following web pages or contact the Secure Housing and Food for All Justice Team, Roberta Smith (https://uufc.breezechms.com/people/view/27347382).
Volunteering / Supporting Unity Shelter
Plan Ahead
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Bringing Back Drop-In Choir! , 10/12
Sunday Morning, October 12th. Rehearsal at 9 AM
Come be a part of the music on Sunday morning!
Help lead the congregation in singing!
Learn a piece to sing with the choir during the service in one rehearsal!
All voices and skill levels welcome!
Please sign up if you plan to come:
If you forgot to sign up and still want to sing, just drop in anyway!
Questions? Email David at music@uucorvallis.org
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Dance Planet, 9/20
Dance Planet is back! Move in your own way to a rhythmic flow of music from around the world and across the decades. We’ll start with live warmup music from harpist Laura Zaerr and cellist Sabina Monn with rhythmic support from George Beekman. All three are members of Compass Rose. At 7:30 PM, DJ Geo will create a global music journey. Suggested donation: $5–15 (or more) – 100% of the proceeds are donated to local environmental organizations.
-
Partner Church Team meeting, 9/14
The Partner Church Team is expanding its vision and embracing new goals to work for mutual benefit with partners around the world. There’s a place for you on our team!
The PCT wants to create awareness about partnerships with members and friends of UUFC and discuss transformational opportunities for learning and service.
Please join us on Sunday, September 14 at 11:45 AM in Room 7 of the RE wing. The timing couldn’t be better for you to join us as we prepare for a new church year!
Contact PCT lead, Heather E, for more information.
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Parking Lot Rummage Sale – Saturday, 9/20
We’ll be holding our annual Parking Lot Rummage Sale on September 20 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Do you have items you no longer need and want to get rid of? Will you kindly donate all the sale proceeds to UUFC?
Here’s what you do:
- Price your items (thrift store prices or less)
- Bring you items to our parking lot and sell them. Send buyers to the cashier with their items. You don’t have to collect any money
- At 2:00 PM take all unsold items home or deliver them to your favorite thrift store.
Tell your friends, neighbors, and OSU folks. The Rummage Sale is open for everyone to shop.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
• At 9:30 AM to bring tables and chairs from our building to the parking lot.
• At 2:00 PM to return tables and chairs to the building.