Calendar of Events

February 24, 2023

Vol. 23 Issue 08

COVID Policy as of 10/25/2022

In This Issue



-COVID Policy


-Upcoming Service


-Nursery Care 


-Sunday Adult RE


-Children and Young Adult News


-Share the Spotlight


-Letter from Sandra


-Kite Festival


-Be a Steward


-Adult RE Sign Up


-Return of a Popular roup


-Circle of Candles


-Calendar of Events


-Little Food Pantry


-In Case You Missed It


-Donate Online or

by Text


-Amazon Smile


-Submit to the Newsletter


-Minister Info


-UUCH Board Members


-Church Info






Upcoming Service

Acts of Love

Reverend Jaimie Dingus

10:45 AM, Sunday, February 26, 2023


"And Service be its prayer." Each week we say that service to our community is the prayer of our congregation. Join us as members of UUCH reflect on their service to the community and we all recommit to the work of justice!

Worship Zoom Link

This Sunday Events Following Service


Coffee Hour

Fellowship Hall 


Choir Rehearsal

This Sunday, as we close our our month of "love," the UUCH Choir will present the song "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." We hope you will sing along! Choir will rehearse at 12:10 after the coffee hour.

Nursery Care

Nursery care will be available during the service
from 10:30-12:15.

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

Sunday Morning Adult Religious Education

Have you been wanting to meet with other congregants to discuss topics that will contribute to your intellectual, spiritual, and social self? I have heard from various people that this used to be a thriving EVERY Sunday morning activity. I am opening the ARE room on Sunday 2/26 at 9:15 a.m. for all who are interested. We will explore what YOU want. These meetings will be run by volunteers. If you can’t make this meeting but are willing to be in the rotation to host these Sunday meetings, please contact me, Teri Thomas adult.re@uuch.org


Sponsored by the Adult RE Committee

Children and Youth Education News


SOUL MATTERS - THE PATH OF LOVE


The many paths of love find the children and youth celebrating all the things they love! What did you love as a child or as a teen? I loved my bike as a child and I loved my car as a teen! It’s all about the wheels!



Soul Matters for February:

February 5th: Love for Self

February 12th: Love for Family and Friends

February 19th: Love for Community

February 26th: What Do You Really Looove?


Younger children (Preschool up to Grade 5)

Following the three-fold path of “Introduce It (Wonder Box),” “Tell It And Talk About It,” and “Explore It,” we take a more playful approach and celebrate the world of children. Children will often tell their friends or grownups about stuff that they LOOOOVE! A butterfly collection, a special song or book (Harry Potter 25 times), a game, a favorite food, etc. So, celebrate love and share the things they love together. Eva Reese and her big heart take the lead this Sunday.


Youth (6th - 12th grades)

In this session the Youth take a more playful approach and celebrate the world of adolescence, and all there is to love in that world. Youth will often tell their friends or adults about stuff that they LOOOOVE! A special song, a video game, a favorite food, etc. Here is their check-in question (I wonder how you would answer this): as a small child, what things did you love the most?


Spiritual guides for this Sunday are Andrew Warrington and Walt Walker.


YOUTH GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT!


Youth Programming Enhancement: Starting Sunday 5 March, the Youth Group will attend (and participate) in worship service as a Group. They will sit together with their Group Leaders, taking in the morning’s music, rituals and messages. Worship leaders will be reaching out to the youth to invite them to co-lead the service with readings, music, stories and preaching!


This approach to faith formation is derived from a recent model called The Web of Youth Ministry. This model of faith formation recognizes the interdependent web of church life that is foundational to faith formation as a Unitarian Universalist. These eight multigenerational aspects include justice making, pastoral care, beloved community, faith exploration, identity formation, covenantal leadership, spiritual development, and multigenerational relationships. In these newest models of faith formation, relationships are at the center. In the Youth Ministry model, the relationship with oneself is informed through the various relationships provided through church life. This model recognizes what many experience as “both/and.” We both need those transformational multigenerational connections AND we need to learn and grow with our own peer groups whether those groups are by age or by life experience.


Follow this link to learn more about youth ministry through spirituality and worship.


CHILDREN AND YOUTH SPIRITUAL LEADERS:

As many faith formation leaders point out, we learn best through experience. Ask Andrew Warrington about his experience! Here is the link for you to use to schedule dates for your own learning experiences with the children and youth:


In faith,

Sandra Greenfield (my pronouns are she/her)

RE Transition Consultant living on the tribal lands of the Cocheco in NH

sandra.l.greenfield@gmail.com


Sponsored by the Board

Share the Spotlight!


UUCH is a community of Shared Ministry, and we invite YOU to share the spotlight.


Have you ever admired or envied the person who reads announcements and gets the service going on Sundays? Have you ever wondered how EASY it is to do it? Do you want to practice your speaking in front of a loving audience without having to compose anything? Are you craving an opportunity to ring the bowl? Do you want to show off your new haircut?


Being a host for our worship services could be for you! You don’t have to be a member of any committee to try it. You can do it only one time, or you can continue to be part of the rotation. Whatever is right for you. It’s TOTALLY SCRIPTED! No worries, no need to ad lib. 


Contact Suzey Delacey at pseuzieq@gmail.com to get access to the spotlight.

Letter from Sandra


As I write this article, I am six days away from the end of my time with UUCH. I began working as your Interim DRE on the 1st of November and added the RE Transition Consulting at the end of November. On the first weekend of January, I spent Saturday with a wise and inspiring group of leaders in a day-long retreat followed by an all-ages worship service on Sunday. Throughout these months, I have learned much about our faith from your commitments and your visions. Thank you for your grace and kindness.


One of the goals of my time with you included support in your search for a new staff member, a goal that will likely be reached in March.


I will write one last newsletter article next week! The Board will receive my final report mid-March and I am sure you will hear more from them and from Rev. Jaimie.


I am glad to know you all and to have the chance to serve you and our denomination in deepening our Unitarian Universalist faith.



In faith,

Sandra Greenfield (my pronouns are she/her)

RE Transition Consultant living on the tribal lands of the Cocheco in NH

sandra.l.greenfield@gmail.com

Sponsored by the Board

Join UUCH at the Community Kite Festival

March 4, 2023, from 11am to 3pm at John Hunt Park.


The 11TH Annual Community Kite Festival, “SOARING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE,” is on March 4, 2023, from 11am to 3pm at John Hunt Park. It is free and open to the public. (See the flyer below.) UUCH is supporting this event by hosting an exhibit table along with many other organizations in our community, and by encouraging all our members and friends to attend the festival. It will be a fun day of kite flying, social justice networking, food trucks, music, and art activities for the entire family.


The Kite Festival was organized by AshaKiran in order to “foster inclusiveness, diversity, equity, and harmony across all ethnic and social backgrounds by bringing people together through kite flying and family friendly activities.” You can bring your own kite, purchase one there, or just sit on a blanket and watch.


The Festival includes an area for booth exhibits where local organizations can present information about their goals, and network with each other and the public. They call it a “social justice outreach event.”


The host organization for the event, AshaKiran, was started in 2006 to help foreign-born individuals experiencing crises such as human trafficking, sexual assault and domestic violence. Asha Kiran also focuses on working to overcome barriers such as language, cultural and/or religious stigmas.


How you can participate:

  • We need some people to help set up our exhibit table and staff it from 11 am to 3 pm (in 1 or 2 hour shifts).
  • We want everyone to come enjoy the festival – bring your family and friends. Wear your “Stand With Love” t-shirt if you have one.



If you would like to volunteer to help set up or staff the UUCH exhibit table, contact Nancy Finley at finleyn@uah.edu or Brad Korbat Bradley.s.korb@gmail.com . If you have any questions, just let us know. Hope to see you at the Kite Festival!


Sponsored by the Board

Our Shared Journey


What is “stewardship”? One definition (from Wikipedia) is this: “Stewardship is an ethical value that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources.” An important phrase here is “an ethical value.” In other words, how we take care of something reflects our values! In our case, that “something” includes all of the ministries that benefit us and the wider community, as well as our facility that we require for our communal gatherings and for administration.


Here are some opportunities for important volunteer engagement to support stewardship at UUCH:


First, we are currently seeking volunteers to host cottage meetings for the upcoming Annual Budget Drive. There will be a training session for that on February 25, although be reassured that you will not be asked to do the “selling” for the budget drive, but rather simply to host a good “listening room” meeting. We may need up to 20 households to host! Please consider signing up, and do so (soon!) on the Google document here. Email stewardship@uuch.org if you have any questions, and someone will be sure to get back to you quickly.


SAVE THE DATE! Our kick-off for our annual budget drive is Sunday, March 5 during our monthly potluck. We've planned fun activities for the whole family . . . and cake will be provided! Bring a dish to share and join the fun as we celebrate our spiritual home and share our dreams for the future! See Zena Tucker if you’d like to help with this fun event!


Finally, we are seeking leaders and helpers for the UUCH Yard Sale, which is scheduled for the last Saturday of April. Please email stewardship@uuch.org if you think you might be able to help


Sponsored by the Stewardship Committee

Adult RE sign up table


Have you notice the ARE signup table in the fellowship hall? Please make it part of your coffee hour routine to peruse our offerings for engagement in adult religious education.


Sponsored by the Adult RE Committee

SoulCollage Sunday Afternoons


Coming soon, we will be restarting our popular SoulCollage® group. Based on the work of Seena Frost, SoulCollage® is an easy, creative way to get in touch with your right brain, intuitive self. 


We will be using cut out images, our imaginations, a bit of glue, and some card stock to create a collaged card. Then by musing and journaling with this card, we can explore and express ourselves in ways we might not have thought possible. Finally, we will gather in a circle of community to share as each one feels comfortable.


All materials will be provided, but feel free to supplement by gathering images from magazines, online photo sharing websites, or bring photos of loved ones and pets.

Using images instead of language helps us to connect with the parts of ourselves that may be hidden from our everyday view. As we learn more about ourselves, we become able to recognize patterns in thought and action that no longer serve us. Each card is personal and unique because everyone chooses images that speak to them.


“The most original contribution to the battery of tools for deep self-exploration and psychology in years.” --Stanislavsky Geof, M.D. Ph.D. author of Psychology of the Future--Lessons from Modern Consciousness Research


Sponsored by the Adult RE Committee

Circle of Candles


John Sharp lit a candle of Sorrow: "My mother passed away February 7th. She was 88 and had an amazing life."


Tim and Theresa Miller lit a candle of Sorrow: "Love and comfort to our daughter, Allie, and here husband, Justin. Justin's mom passed away last week after a long illness, so our 4 grand children lost their Nana. Comfort and strength to them."


Upcoming Events
Click the calendar to see all of our upcoming events!
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!
Sign-Up Genius
Submitted by the Social Justice Committee

In Case You Missed It


We love when you can join us at Service but we know that life can throw curveballs! Click below to view the past 5 services:

02/19


02/12

02/05

01/29

01/22

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


When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to the UUCH. Support us every time you shop. Follow this link and search for Unitarian Church to choose us as your chosen organization.


If you have any questions about how to use the link, please contact Ryan Gonzales , Office Administrator, during office hours or send an email to the church office at uuch@uuch.org

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.

Minister
Rev. Jaimie Dingus

Office Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday by appointment.
Make an Appointment with the Minister

UUCH 2023-24

Board Members

 

 President:

Betsy Applegate

 

 Vice President:

Brad Korb


Secretary:

Nancy Finley


Treasurer: 

David Bollinger


Trustees: 

Will Garrison

Shalin Mody

Nancy Pettus


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 Betsy Applegate via email no later than one week prior to the meeting (i.e. the Tuesday before). The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 6:30 pm.

Office Administrator

Ryan Vidal Gonzales


Main Office Hours:

9:00 AM to 12:30 PM Monday; 9:30 PM to 1:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday


*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.

Contact the Office
Visit the UUCH Website

The Overlook 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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