News from UUCH

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April 30, 2026

Vol. 26 Issue 18

Upcoming Service

Celebration Through Song

Lori Larson

10:45AM, May 03, 2026

This Sunday is the UUCH Choir’s annual all-music Sunday. Instead of a sermon, music will be the message. With solos and ensembles, anthems and readings, we will joyfully sing together, sharing how by making music we lift one another up. Join us at 10:45AM on May 3rd to celebrate our singers and instrumentalists who regularly dedicate their talents and artistry in the service of their church!

This Sunday Events

First Sunday Potluck

May Day potluck is coming up Sunday. Bring your best and brightest culinary delights to share. Just bring your dietary wonders, comfort food, or accompaniments to the kitchen before service and the food will be kept hot, cold, or let be, as needed. We appreciate all your wonderful efforts for our monthly sit down and break bread together, catching up on our lives over wonderful food.

Music News

This Sunday the choir will present CELEBRATION THROUGH SONG. In this all-music service, we will celebrate the musicians of UUCH! We hope you can join us as we sing, play, and lift one another up through music!

Final Call for Evaluations

Please remember to fill out evaluations for Rev. Jaimie and for members of staff by the end of the day, Thursday April 30th! Your Board will be collating the feedback for Rev. Jaimie and Rev. Jaimie will use the feedback on staff. We thank those who have already responded and encourage everyone else to do so as soon as possible!

Survey for Feedback on Rev. Jaimie

Survey for Feedback on Church Staff

Remember, this is your opportunity to offer kind, constructive, and honest feedback to the people who work hard each week to keep our church moving forward. Surveys are confidential but not anonymous. Please reach out to Rev. Jaimie Simon (minister@uuch.org) or Board President Laurel Bollinger (president@uuch.org) with questions or concerns.

Children and Youth Religious Education (CYRE) News

This month's theme is Awakening Curiosity. And all month long, we will explore how awakening our curiosity is a bridge to “other worlds.” This week, we begin by exploring how curiosity is a bridge to a more just world. As we do that, we will have a little fun with Star Wars Day (May 4th) as well as learn more about our UU Value of Justice.

First Friday May

Your invited to First Friday May! This will be our last First Friday for the 2025-2026 year. We will resume in September. As always this is a chance to get together in community and have some fun! And best of all, parents don't have to cook! As usual, food and drinks are provided, so bring yourself and (if you wish) a side or sweet treat to share.

UUCH Fellowship Hall

5/1/2026 5:00PM—8:00PM

RSVP here.

Property Team Request

It is grass mowing season again. Please remember to pick up all toys and candy wrappers off of the grass and leave toys only on the mulched areas. We have a good arrangement with our grass mowing company because they move fast with big mowers. They are not responsible for picking up trash and toys.

Thank You!

Your Property Team

Nursery Care

Nursery care is available during the service from 10:30AM–12:15PM.

Little ones can be signed in and out upon arrival and departure in the RE wing.

Share the Plate with ShowerUp

During the second quarter of 2026, UUCH is sharing our plate proceeds with ShowerUp. All plate proceeds received from the Thursday before the first Sunday through the Saturday after the first Sunday will be split with ShowerUp. In May, this includes plate donations received from April 30th through May 9th.

ShowerUp’s mission is to build community, elevate dignity, ignite hope, and demonstrate God’s love through mobile showers, laundry, and personal care for those in need. ShowerUp believes that everyone is human. Those experiencing homelessness oftentimes get treated as less than human, and ShowerUp wants to tear down that misconception.

ShowerUp serves those experiencing homelessness, those who are newly into housing, those who are in shelters, and those who are affected by disasters by providing mobile showers, laundry, hygiene resources, and personal care. It is their goal to Shower Grace, Hope, and Love with everyone.

Please consider giving generously to this important local organization.

Thank You to Property Day Volunteers

The following fabulous volunteers came out to make the day a great success:

Steve Schneefuss, LaDawn Edwards, Zach Morgan, Melodie Brier, Wayne Schroer, Bob Wilson, Sherri Headrick, Gail Williams, Kendra Kamph, Kip Shepherd, Wallace Johnston, Bryan Walls, Khoe Tran, Barbara Hitt, and Gary Hitt.

Barbara and Gary provided us with a fabulous lunch of salad and baked potato bar with all the wonderful stuff that you could ever want to pile on a baked potato.

With Friday prep efforts, Saturday's big crew and some Monday completion activities, we accomplished a great deal, including:

Replaced 4 old fluorescent lights in the Fellowship Hall with new energy-efficient LED lights.
Replaced 6 old fluorescent lights in the Adult RE room with new energy-efficient LED lights.
Stripped down the old fixtures for safe and proper environmental disposal.
Changed out the kitchen water filter.
Prepared the patio garden automatic watering system for spring.
Cut and hauled a large amount of invasive privet hedge that was shading the vegetable garden.
Painted the food pantry storage cabinet.
Planted green pole beans in the free food pantry garden
Applied UV and waterproof treatment to the patio umbrellas.
Repaired and safety-inspected the kids' play structure, including wasp removal.
Installed new seating and another shade umbrella in the patio garden.
Assembled the new dedicated leaf blower.
Pressure washed the entrance walkways, including under the refrigerator, and cleaned the refrigerator coils
Planted the chain link fence length with passion flower vine plants
Repaired the rainbow bead art in the patio garden
Cleaned the patio surface including pulling weeds
Tech team installed the patio doorbell camera.

College Team Food Drive a Success!

The College Team food drive for our Little Food Pantry (LFP) was a success! Supporters of “Other” teams (non-SEC) donated the most food items (total of 58 items). Overall, a total of 188 food items were donated over the 6 weeks of the competition! Many thanks to all who contributed!

You are encouraged to continue donating food for our LFP and/or signing up to stock the LFP via the link in the separate newsletter article. If you have any questions about the LFP, please email Brad at social.justice@uuch.org.

Neighbor Pods—Follow-up Session on May 3rd

If you're interested in joining a UU-friendly support group for everyday interests and an economy of small favors, please do come on by to this follow-up session about the UUCH Neighbor Pods initiative to learn more. We'll meet for ~45min at 12:45PM on May 3rd in the Adult Religious Education (ARE) room. This will be a general explainer, Q&A, and general support.

ARE Discussion Postponed

To not split people between Adult RE and the Neighbor Pod Activity this Sunday, Geri Franklin has graciously agreed to postpone her session on Ageism till August.

May Fellowship Dinner

Our May Fellowship Dinner will be at Viet Cusine, 210 Jordan Lane, Huntsville, AL 35805

When: Thursday, May 21st at 5:30PM

Location: 210 Jordan Lane, Huntsville 35805

Please sign up here so we know how many people to expect.

Money will never be a barrier to participating in Fellowship at UUCH. If you need financial assistance to participate, please contact Rev. Jamie at Minister@UUCH.org.

Contact Steve Rittenberg at Srittenberg@gmail.com or Becky Ellingwood at beckyel22@gmail.com for more information.

See you on May 21st! Don't forget the Alabama Primary Election is May 19.

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.

May 1st: May Day Strong’s Workers Over Billionaires from 10:00AM to 6:00PM at Butler Green (Learn more here)
May 1st: UU Immigration Solidarity Session at 1:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
May 5th: UU the Vote’s Freedom Demands We Organize at 7:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
May 11th: UUA’s Side with Love Monthly Gathering at 7:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
May 15th: UU Immigration Solidarity Session at 1:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
May 18th: Side With Love’s Undermining Pillars of Support: 4th Amendment Wedge Strategy Training at 5:30PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
May 28th: Interfaith Alliance’s Choose Love, Not ICE Campaign Briefing at 6:00PM via Zoom (Sign up here)
May 30th: Huntsville Green Team’s Edmonton Heights Community Cleanup Day at 9:00AM at James Crawford Park (Learn more here)

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

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

Provide a meal for unhoused people (https://firststoporg.galaxydigital.com/)
Donate urgently needed items (https://firststop.org/category/needs-list/)
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.

Circle of Candles

Sandy Moore lit a candle of Sorrow: "Sunday morning I had breakfast at Panera's. I mentioned to the person who took my order that she seemed to be by herself. She just started pouring out to me that her father is in the ICU at Huntsville Hospital, with multiple life-threatening issues, and that she does not know what to do. Please keep this person who must work on Sunday morning despite deep personal concerns on your mind."

Laura Ballew lit a candle of Joy: "This weekend we celebrated Janey turning 4 years old. We were thankful the rain held off and enjoyed fun in the sun!"

Susan Coddington lit a candle of Joy: "Happy to announce the birth of our grandchild, Henry. Our son Raine and his wife Kayden welcomed Henry this week. Both mom and baby are healthy and our family is super excited."

Will Garrison lit a candle of Joy: "Grateful for 10 wonderful years of marriage to my wonderful Emily. Can't believe anyone would put up with me that long!"

Heather Kyemba lit a candle of Joy: "My daughter graduates from the University of Alabama this Friday, May 1st! We are bringing pizza and cake this Sunday to celebrate."

The Congregation lit a candle of Joy: "It is our practice each month to light a candle of joy to honor a fellow Unitarian Universalist Church in our Southern Region. This past Sunday, we joyfully lit a candle for our friends at the Our Home Universalist Unitarian Church of Ellisville, Mississippi. We send them our positive thoughts and good wishes; and are grateful for their presence in our wider UU community of faith, hope, friendship, and love."

Upcoming Events

Click the calendar to see all of our upcoming events!

Little Food Pantry

Many of our neighbors and many unhoused people visit our LFP frequently. Consider buying a few extra cans of soup or veggies to contribute! For suggestions of what to donate (and what not to donate), check out this list: Pantry Food Items. Remember that many families don’t have the experience or the equipment to handle dried beans (dry lentils in particular tend not to be taken!), and that the unhoused particularly benefit from cans that don’t require can openers. See the link above for fridge options! A little help from us can go a long way. Please, if you can fill up the pantry or fridge, note your name in the SignUpGenius so we can maximize efficiency while still feeding people. Also, you can bring non-perishables to church; there are baskets available. A big thank you to all who contribute!

Donate Online

via CDM+ Engage

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".

Donate

COVID Policy as of 10/25/2022

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 10:00AM each Wednesday. Please make sure to complete a new request form each time you make a submission to the newsletter.

Minister

Rev. Jaimie Simon

Office Hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday by appointment.

Calendar: https://calendly.com/rev-jaimie-dingus

Email: minister@uuch.org

Make an Appointment with the Minister

UUCH 2025-26

Board Members

President:

Laurel Bollinger

Vice President:

Darlene Patten

Secretary:

Steve Rittenberg

Treasurer:

Khoe Tran

Trustees:

Vickie Goodman

Lynsie Lamitie

Foster Perry

Minister:

Rev. Jaimie Simon

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 Laurel Bollinger via email no later than one week prior to the meeting (i.e. the Wednesday before). The next Board meeting is May 27th.