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 1st through January 10th.

AshaKiran’s mission is to educate, empathize, and empower the 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.

Thank You to Recent UUCH Greeters!

We appreciate the warm smiles and welcoming presence provided by the following people who served as UUCH Greeters at one or more worship services during October, November and December:

Betsy Applegate, Susan Coddington, Nancy Finley, Geri Franklin, Vickie Goodman, Pam Korb, Dan McKitrick, Darlene Patten, David Patten, Foster Perry, Vally Perry, Steve Rittenberg, Cam Scales, Nancy Stetson, Sarah Storm, Bob Weed, Gail Williams, and Carol Youkey

Thanks to each of these gracious volunteers for providing this simple yet important service to our church family!



Want to be a Greeter? Click HERE to sign up to greet on an upcoming Sunday, or contact membership@uuch.org.

Submitted by the Membership Committee

Move Your Body, Free Your Spirit: Ecstatic Dance at Unitarian Universalist Church

Ready to dance like nobody's watching? Join us for an evening of ecstatic dance. A judgment-free celebration where there's no choreography, no steps to learn, just pure spontaneous movement guided by your body's impulses. A live DJ will take you on an emotional journey from gentle awakening to euphoric release and back to peaceful grounding. Everyone is welcome: beginners, seasoned dancers, the curious, the cautious. Wear comfortable clothes that let you move freely, leave your expectations at the door, and bring your willingness to be vulnerable and connect. Doors open at 6:00PM with opening circle at 6:20PM, followed by embodiment practices, open dance, and a concluding circle before dismissal at 9:00PM. The space features a beverage table, cozy "squish zone," and community altar. Come ready to sweat, laugh, maybe cry, and definitely feel alive. Your body has been waiting for this.

Register online before hand here.

Help Care for Our Building

The Property Committee is building a list of members interested in helping care for our building and grounds. We’ve created a short online survey to learn about your skills, interests, and availability for property-related projects and work days. Whether you enjoy hands-on projects, planning, or occasional help, your input is valuable.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey here.

Thank you for helping us be good stewards of our shared space.

UUCH Endowment Committee

For generations, generous members of Unitarian Universalist Congregations have used their resources to plant the seeds of future growth and vitality. In 2013, members of our congregation contributed similarly to the creation of our Endowment Fund. And a few years after that, the fund was entrusted to the UUA Common Endowment fund, which works to help our resources grow while also modeling socially conscious investment practices. Today, our Endowment fund has grown to $30,000--an enduring testament to the vision and generosity of this community. Just as past generations have laid the foundation for the community we cherish today, you now have an opportunity to make a gift that will nurture our church family and support it for generations to come. Even a modest contribution helps ensure that our shared values continue to thrive.

For more information about leaving a legacy for the future of Unitarian Universalism, please contact our newly formed Endowment Committee at endowment.committee@uuch.org

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 4th : “American Teenager” book discussion on trans youth with the author, Nico Lang at 1:30PM at UUCH (Learn more here)
• January 12th : Alabama Arise Legislative Priorities Review at 6:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
• January 12th : UUA’s Side with Love January Gathering: Economic Non Cooperation at 7:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
• January 28th : UUA’s Side with Love Green Sanctuary 2030 Celebration at 6 pm 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.