ICE Out Protest on Saturday!

UUCH members will be participating in the “Demand the End to ICE Brutality” non-violent protest this Saturday, January 31st, from 10:00AM to Noon. We will be meeting at UUCH at 9:15AM so we can carpool to the event. If you want to meet us at the protest, we will probably gather on the ramp at the front of the UAB Medical Clinic on Governors Drive. The protest will line both sides of Governors Drive between Harvard and Gallatin.

The weather forecast is for below-freezing weather, so please dress appropriately! Contact Brad at social.justice@uuch.org with any questions. See you Saturday!

Share the Plate with AshaKiran

During the first quarter of 2026, UUCH is sharing our plate proceeds with the AshaKiran. All plate proceeds received from the Thursday before the first Sunday through the Saturday after the first Sunday will be split with AshaKiran. In January, this includes plate donations received from January 29th through February 6th.

AshaKiran’s mission is to educate, empathize, and empower those who are foreign-born and persons from diverse communities by providing free, nonsectarian, culturally and linguistically sensitive services specific to the needs of survivors of domestic violence/intimate partner violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and trauma across the State of Alabama. 

The AshaKiran vision is to be “A Ray of Hope” towards building a healthy and harmonious community by recognizing the intersectionality of victims of trauma and addressing those specific needs through direct services, community education, and outreach initiatives. 

For more information about AshaKiran, please visit https://www.ashakiranonline.org/. Please consider giving generously to this important local organization.

Worship Readers Needed

Rev. Jaimie is looking for several volunteers to serve as readers during the service on February 8th. This service will retell some of our most treasured UU stories of love and justice and hopefully root us in our courage for the work ahead. If you are interested in helping to tell these stories reach out to Rev. Jaimie at minister@uuch.org by Wednesday, February 4th.

Spotlight on Volunteers

Our heartfelt thanks to our volunteers! The work they do is love in motion. Last week the Spotlight featured a new congregant, Geri Franklin, who has found connection and community as she begins her volunteer service here at UUCH.

This week the Spotlight is on Tim Miller, a long-time member who began his service decades ago. Tim continues to make a difference through his generous giving of his time and talents. Here is his volunteer journey:

How long have you been a UUCH member?

Theresa and I have been members for nearly 43 years. On the first day we attended, they were scheduling photographs for the directory. We were encouraged to sign up, with the membership chair saying, “Who knows? You might be around for a while.”

What volunteer roles have you taken on here?

In approximately chronological order, I have been Membership chair, VP, president, choir member, choir director, pledge committee and later chair, organizer of open mic or other social event music, stewardship chair, ministerial search committee, pulpit host, coordinator/performer of special music for worship, pulpit host coordinator. Other committee membership over the years: worship, music, property, care, finance, hospitality, renovation , bylaws. What I have not done: Board secretary or treasurer.

How has volunteering enriched your life?

This volunteer work has benefited me in so many ways:

• Making stronger connections among other church attendees/members
• Developing stronger leadership skills that I have used at work and elsewhere 
• Getting a strong feeling of satisfaction that I am serving my church family
• Having fun making music

Our Beloved Community thrives because of the time, energy, and love that volunteers like Tim and Geri bring to it. Whether you're a long time member or recently joined, you can make a difference in the life of your church. Your talents and presence matter. If you're inspired, email our Vice President, Darlene Patten, at vice.president@uuch.org to learn how you can get involved! 

Vegetarian/Vegan Potluck

The February Vegetarian/Vegan Potluck will be held on Sunday, February 15th at 5:30PM in the Church Fellowship Hall. First-time attendees are not expected to bring anything. Those who have attended before are invited to bring a plant-based dish to share. Beverages will be provided. We’ll have a special guest speaker for this meeting, which is certain to be interesting and enlightening. All are welcome, so feel free to invite your friends. If you have questions or would like more information, contact Cam at 256-783-9485 or camrme@aol.com.

UUSC’s Guest At Your Table Concludes

We are wrapping up our participation in the annual Guest At Your Table (GAYT) program sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). The GAYT program has introduced generations of Unitarian Universalists to grassroots partners working for justice around the world with our support. Amid so much strife and upheaval in the world, it can be challenging to remember that justice is cultivated by many hands over many years. What may seem like a small or insignificant act of love and commitment today can grow, with time and care, into a mighty force for change.

Now that we have hosted our “guests,” it is time to return our boxes and donations to the UUSC. You can do this in one of 3 ways:

• Return your box to UUCH. There is a table/basket in the Fellowship Hall in which to return your box. Make sure to fill out the label on the side of the box so you get credit for your contribution.
• Mail a check directly to UUSC at:

Guest at Your Table – UUSC

P.O. Box 808

Newark, NJ .7101-0808

• Make an on-line donation to UUSC at uusc.org/givetoguest

If you have any questions, please email Brad at social.justice@uuch.org

2025 UUCH Year in Photos

The annual photo slideshow of UUCH activities is ready for your enjoyment! Click here to view.

Grab your favorite beverage and sit back for this 4min 45 second presentation of UUCH in action in 2025. 

If watching on your phone, one may tap the screen to see the slide control at the bottom. If using your computer, one may use the space bar, home, page up, page down and end buttons to control the show. All of these controls will allow you to watch the slideshow at your own pace. 

Contact Zena at zena.tucker@uuch.org if you have any questions. Enjoy!

Neighbor Pods Sign-up

The Neighbor Pods initiative is kicking off in earnest! If you'd like to offer or request a ride, a social check-in, address a safety concern, etc within group of UUCH community members who happen to be a few miles from you, please respond on the Google form! Within a few weeks we'll have a list of where folks are and how to get in touch with each other.

Neighbor Pod Info Form here.

New UU Classes Start February 22nd!

New UU Class series at UUCH

Sundays, February 22nd, March 1st, and March 8th  

9:00AM—10:30AM

What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? Newcomers and long-time members alike are invited to participate in the upcoming New UU classes. The 3-class series will be held before church on February 22nd, March 1st, and March 8th from 9:00AM—10:30AM in the Adult Religious Education classroom at UUCH, located at the back of the Religious Education wing. 

These classes are a great way to get to know others while learning about Unitarian Universalism and our local congregation. The classes are for sharing and learning, with no expectation that attendees will subsequently join UUCH. However, if you may want to become a member of UUCH in the future, attendance at New UU Classes is strongly encouraged.

Nancy Finley and Pam Korb will facilitate the discussions. Childcare will be provided. The first two sessions will cover UU beliefs and theology, while the third will introduce specifics about our local congregation. Each class deals with different topics, so attending all classes is ideal. However, if your schedule only allows you to attend one or two, we can provide materials for the missed class or meet with you separately to talk about the missed information.

Contact membership@uuch.org to let us know you plan to attend or for more information.

Fire Extinguisher Training

The UUCH Safety Committee is gathering names of interested persons who want to get some fun, practical fire extinguisher training under their belt! We are working with Huntsville FD to gather additional details and we need to provide an approximate number of participants. Please fill out a Google interest form by February 8th, including preliminary information and answering just a few questions, found here if you would like to attend this training! 

FREE TAX SERVICE

Get your tax returns prepared for free!

This tax service is free to those who need it. It is sponsored by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and the IRS, offered at 8 locations in Madison County.

Main Location: Studio 60 Senior Center, 2200 Drake Avenue, Huntsville, 35805

Times: Monday– Thursday, 8:30AM–4:00PM, Friday 8:30AM–11:30PM

Dates: February 2nd– April 15th, 2026

Appointment Process: Come in person to fill out a request for appointment and pick up a tax package for completion at your convenience. You will be called back ASAP with an appointment date and time. You can request a late March or early April appointment if waiting on tax documents.

For more info, please contact Khoe Tran, IRS Certified Tax Preparer, at

kqtran1@yahoo.com

Upcoming Social Justice Events

Your participation is needed! Below is a list of local social justice events sponsored by groups that UUCH and/or our members support.

• January 31st: Indivisible’s “Demand End to ICE Brutality” protest on Governors Drive from 10:00AM—Noon (We’ll meet at UUCH at 9:15AM to carpool; see Brad Korb for more info. Dress for the cold!)
• February 8th: UUCH Social Justice Committee meeting at 9:30AM in the Youth RE room (see Brad Korb for more info)
• February 9th: UUA’s Side with Love Gathering via Zoom at 7:00PM (Sign up here)
• February 11th: SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) Action Hour at 7:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here; website surj.org)
• February 17th: SURJ Phone Bank about ICE at 5:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
• February 19th: UU Solidarity Initiative on Immigration at 3:30PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
• February 19th: SURJ Phone Bank about ICE at 5:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
• February 25th: SURJ Action Hour at 7:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)

Here are some standing opportunities to get engaged with local organizations:

• Food Bank of North Alabama: https://www.foodbanknorthal.org/volunteer/
• First Stop:

1. Provide a meal for unhoused people (https://firststoporg.galaxydigital.com/)
2. Donate urgently needed items (https://firststop.org/category/needs-list/)
3. Other volunteer opportunities (https://firststop.org/ways-to-volunteer/)

• ShowerUp (showers for unhoused people): https://app.initlive.com/web-admin/app/#/join-party?k=aagp6mlprpk46k
• Land Trust of North Alabama: https://landtrustnal.org/support/volunteer/

For more information about a particular event or to list an event, please email social.justice@uuch.org.