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RE News
Pre-K/Elementary & YoUUth Group
The theme this month is The Gift of Liberating Love. This week our kids will explore how self-love pulls us towards accepting and being kind to ourselves. In our society, it can be easy to get stuck in the idea of perfectionism and the thought patterns of “I have to be perfect to be enough, to have value, or for people to like me.” Our faith reminds us that self-acceptance is like a magnet and pulls us back to a place of accepting ourselves, loving our imperfections, and, in doing so, creating space for us to love ourselves.
***CYRE Parents and Caregivers***
In an attempt to bring together and build our church community, CYRE and Adult RE are joining together to host a "Buddy Breakfast" on 2/25 @ 9:45 AM before the church service. We will be pairing up children and YoUUth with an adult for a pancake breakfast so that by the end, everyone will have an extra buddy at church! Kristen will be emailing google forms to parents for kids who would like to be at the breakfast and please feel free to email any questions to dre@uuch.org.
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Who: The Transforming Hearts Collective (facilitated by Rev. Jaimie and Kristen)
What: Transgender Inclusion in Congregations
When: 2/22/24 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Where: Fellowship Hall
UUCH is so excited to announce that the Board has approved the purchase of this course for the entire congregation and staff. There will be many upcoming opportunities to learn the material and engage in thoughtful discussion. Rev. Jaimie and Kristen will kick off the first workshop beginning 2/22 and continue on a weekly basis and will conclude on 3/28. We welcome anyone and while we would love it if you could attend all six, we realize the constraints of modern life. If you can only make it to one or a few, we still encourage you to join us whenever you can. We are happy to provide popcorn since it is a wonderful symbol of transformation! Please bring your own drinks or refreshments and we also ask that you be prepared to clean up after yourselves at the conclusion of the workshop. If you would like more information about the course, you can visit The Transforming Hearts Collective here.
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Share the Plate with North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless
During the first quarter of 2024, UUCH will be sharing our plate proceeds with the North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (NACH). All plate proceeds received from the Thursday before the first Sunday through the Saturday after the first Sunday will be split with NACH. In February, this includes plate donations received from February 1st through 10th.
NACH is dedicated to reducing and preventing homelessness in the Greater Huntsville Area. They achieve this through education and assistance provided to individuals at risk of homelessness. NACH's primary objective is to help unsheltered and at-risk populations in Madison County find housing and prevent homelessness.
NACH offers a range of essential services, including food provision, housing assistance, utility support, distribution of cold weather gear, and comprehensive case management for those seeking shelter in our community. Their committed case managers conduct daily housing assessments for homeless and at-risk clients. These assessments enable NACH to connect clients with emergency shelter, permanent housing, rental assistance, as well as access to food and clothing resources in our area.
Many NACH clients become part of the RISE (Restore, Invest, Support, Empower) case management program. Through RISE, clients receive both short-term and long-term case management, designed to support them on their journey to achieving permanent and sustainable housing.
Furthermore, NACH has introduced a new program called SHINE (Supportive Housing Integrated Network). SHINE is specifically tailored to assist clients who are grappling with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health issues. This program provides access to recovery housing, medical and mental health services, and integrated case management. The overarching goal of SHINE is to support clients in maintaining sobriety, securing employment, and ultimately attaining permanent housing.
Please consider giving generously to this important local organization.
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This Month's Fellowship Dinner - Viet House
Please join us this month for some great Vietnamese food!
Thursday, February 15 @ 5:30
Viet House
975 Airport Rd SW Suite B2,
Huntsville, AL 35802
Please bring a can for the Little Food Pantry
Sign up so we know how many to expect. SignUp Genius link here.
Money will never be a barrier to participating in Fellowship at UUCH. If you need financial assistance to participate, please contact Rev. Jaimie at minister@uuch.org.
Contact Sarah Rody at sarahsrody28@gmail.com or Steve Rittenberg at srittenberg@gmail.com if you have any questions or need assistance.
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UUA Annual Certification
Each January, UU congregations nationwide report specific data to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). The following UUCH information was reported to the UUA in January of 2024:
Current membership: 151
Average 2023 Sunday weekly total attendance (in-person & virtual): range=101-125
Average 2023 children/youth weekly attendance: 9
Current RE registration: 39
For the fiscal church year ended June 30, 2023:
Total pledge income: $234,803
Individual & family pledging units: 84
Total expenses: $242,840
Submitted by the Membership Committee
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UUCH Board Report
January 24, 2024
The UUCH Board met for its regularly scheduled meeting on January 24, 2024.
Rev. Jaimie reported that the Mission and Vision team are moving ahead on draft statements, and will be ready to share these with the congregation in this spring.
Matthew Bollinger from the Tech Team addressed the Board with a proposal to transfer from Zoom to YouTube for Sunday services. He listed some reasons why this would be a better platform for us, such as visibility to the community, better audio and video. There was a discussion about the pros and cons; and the Board agreed that we should move in this direction. It is important to make this a slow transition and keep the Zoom platform open for a while. The Team will be proactive in letting congregation members know that the Tech Team is available to help out with any transition needs.
In other business, the Board voted to insert a section in the Building Use Policy specifying rules concerning alcohol use at private events. They also voted to include new guidelines for rental charges on the Building Use Contract Form. These changes will be added to the UUCH Policy and Procedures Manual.
Due to a revision of the contract by Dajon Associates, the beam repair is going to cost the church around $10,000 more because material and labor costs have gone up since the original estimate. Fortunately, those costs will be offset by the interest received from the high-yield account in which we placed our funds for this project earlier last year. The Property Committee is in discussion with the contractors for the best negotiations to bring this repair to conclusion swiftly at minimum cost.
The next business meeting of the Board will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
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Wrapping up UUSC's Guest At Your Table Program
It is time to return your Guest At Your Table (GAYT) boxes!
Guest at Your Table is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's (UUSC’s) annual intergenerational program to raise support for and awareness about key human rights issues. Since UUSC works in more than 20 countries, with over 50 grassroots partners, there are thousands of individuals involved in and who benefit from the work that our members make possible. The Guest at Your Table program is an opportunity to celebrate grassroots partnership, support human rights, and learn about just four of these individuals, the “guests” in Guest at Your Table.
There are three ways you can submit your GAYT contributions:
1) Return your GAYT box to the church in the offering plate or to the table in the Fellowship Hall (make sure to fill out your information on the box side)
2) Put a check in a GAYT envelope (from the table in the Fellowship Hall) and mail directly to the UUSC
2) Make a donation to the UUSC via their website here.
If you have any questions, please email social.justice@uuch.org.
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Buddy Breakfast
Have you ever thought to yourself, "Who are these kids that come to the front for their stories each week and then disappear to classrooms?" Well, now is your chance to get to know one of these young people. ARE and CYRE are joining forces to pair an adult with a child to share a pancake breakfast on Sunday, February 25. A signup sheet will be in the fellowship hall. Spaces are limited for adults, so sign up soon if you want this opportunity. Registration closes on 2/18. Contact Teri Thomas (terit4u@yahoo.com) for any questions or to sign up virtually.
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Free Tax Service
Come and have your tax returns prepared for free! This free tax service is open to any income and any age. It is sponsored by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and the IRS. Visit www.seniorview.com>PROGRAMS>TAX AIDE to see tax sites in our area.
- Main Location: Studio 60 Senior Center, 2200 Drake Avenue, Huntsville
- Times: Mon – Thu, 8:30 – 3:30, Fri 8:30 – 11:30
- Dates: February 5 – April 11, 2024
- Appointment Process: Come in person to fill out a request for appointment, pick up a tax package for completing at your convenience. You will be called back ASAP with an appointment date and time.
For more info, please contact Khoe Tran, CPA, at kqtran1@yahoo.com
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Circle of Candles
David Patten lit a candle of Sorrow: "Darlene's Sister's Husband (Paul) is in the ICU on life support. Please keep him and his family in your prayers."
Bridgit and Paul DeMoor lit a candle of Joy: "For the wonderful service givven for Chris Edwards. It was simply fabulous! Thanks so much."
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Upcoming Events
Click the calendar to see all of our upcoming events!
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Little Food Pantry
The food pantry is a huge success, being utilized by numerous people!
If you are able to pick a day to re-stock the pantry, please do so, using the Sign-Up Genius link below.
There are also baskets in the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary entry foyer for food collection. The collected food will ultimately be used to fill the pantry on days not chosen on the sign-up genius.
Canned meats, soups, veggies, mac-and-cheese, bread, fruit, fresh veggies--all kinds of foods are welcome.
Thank you for being so generous. We are making a difference!
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Submitted by the Social Justice Committee | |
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Donate Online
via CDM+ Engage
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Online:
Like our other online and mobile giving options, this option is through CDM+ Engage, is secure, and has a good option for "plate" donations as well as "pledge".
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Submit to the Newsletter
Do you have news to include in the newsletter next week? Please submit your article to the newsletter through our request form no later than 10:00 am each Wednesday. Please make sure to complete a new request form each time you make a submission to the newsletter.
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Minister
Rev. Jaimie Dingus
Office Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday by appointment.
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UUCH 2023-24
Board Members
President:
Susan Coddington
Vice President:
Bryan Walls
Secretary:
Nancy Finley
Treasurer:
David Bollinger
Trustees:
Will Garrison
Darlene Patten
Cam Scales
Minister:
Rev. Jaimie Dingus
Do you have an agenda item for the Board?
The Board respectfully requests that all agenda items for the meeting be submitted to Board President Susan Coddington via email no later than one week prior to the meeting (i.e. the Tuesday before). The next board meeting will be announced as soon as possible.
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Office Administrator
Ryan Vidal Gonzales
Main Office Hours:
Mondays 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Tuesdays through Thursdays 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
or by appointment.
*Please call/email the office in advance if you need building access.
Phone:
256-534-0508
Email: uuch@uuch.org
For more info on any event, contact the church office or visit our website.
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UUCH News is a publication of The Unitarian Universalist Church,
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville, AL 35810
Editor-in-Chief:
Laurel Bollinger
Copy Editor:
Ryan Vidal Gonzales
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PO Box 5545
Huntsville, AL 35814
(256) 534-0508
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