In This Issue
-Quick Links
-Happening Soon
-Upcoming Service
-Jack Long Service
-COVID Policy
-Fellowship Committee Book Discussion
-Join Our Team
-Adult RE Book Discussion
-Trunk or Treat
-LFP
-Donate with Text Message
-In Case You Missed It
-COVID-19 Relief Funds
-Upcoming Events
-Minister Info
-UUCH Board Members
-Church Info
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Happening Soon
Trunk or Treat
October 31, 1:30pm
ARE Book Discussion
Nov 7 & 14, 5pm
Fellowship Com. Book Discussion
Nov 18, 7pm
For ALL of the upcoming events, please click the "Check Events" button at the top of the newsletter or see the upcoming week's list near the end of the newsletter.
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"The Breath of the Ancestors"
Rev. Jaimie Dingus
10:45 AM, Sunday Oct. 31
The musician Ysaye Barnwell writes, “We are the breath of our Ancestors, we are the spirit of God." On this Remembrance Sunday, we explore what it means to cultivate relationships with those who came before us and those who will come after. We will also share a time of ritual and connection to remember those we have lost this year.
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UUCH Board Updated COVID Policy |
Information about the full COVID-19 policy can be found below. |
Fellowship Committee
Book Discussion
The Falling Woman: A Novel
Join the Fellowship Committee for its Zoom book discussion on November 18th at 7pm about the novel, "The Falling Woman" by Richard Farrell
Join us in the Zoom meeting here.
Registration is not required, but if you are coming, please drop us an email at srittenberg@gmail.com so we can plan for the group. Copies are available at the Huntsville Madison Library, both as a physical book and an electronic book. If you need assistance purchasing this book, please contact srittenberg@gmail.com or Rev. Jaimie Dingus at minister@uuch.org
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From the Pulpit
Dear UUCH
I wanted to write to you this week to say an enormous thank you to everyone who helped make Jack Long’s Memorial Service such a beautiful tribute to his life. Members of this congregation raked leaves, set up chairs, and provided snacks. You ushered, and offered masks, and tore down sound equipment. You made our space welcoming for Jack’s family and were so generous and willing to contribute. I can’t tell you how proud I was to be your minister this week.
And seeing you together, and seeing how possible it is to gather safely in-person has added to our church wide commitment to move towards multi-platform ministry. The UUCH Board met on Tuesday night to discuss recommendations from the Committee on Ministry Survey and to make changes in our covid policy. A new tier chart and very specific policy information is found at the top of the newsletter. But here’s the basics of what we know and what we can look forward to.
What we know:
- Based on our survey data, the vaccination rate at UUCH is at about 97%, and the number one accommodation people needed to feel safe gathering in person was masks when indoors in large groups.
- Based on Covid Act Now data Madison County is registering 12.3 New Cases per 100,000 people. This is remarkably low and an enormous improvement from where we were in July when we had to postpone our reopening plan.
What we are looking forward to:
- Given how feasible the outdoor memorial service was, I will be leading an outdoor in-person worship service at UUCH on Sunday, November 21st, weather permitting.
- Over the next month or so, we are loosening our policies so that committees, small groups, and others can do more in-person at church. And so that we can have all hands on deck, refreshing our space so that it is ready for in-person programming.
- Finally, our technology team is hard at work securing a contract to get our sanctuary set up to livestream in-person services to Zoom or YouTube. My hope is to have the livestream in place starting on Sunday December 5th. This means we may be able to start having the congregation join with us live as early as December 12th. All I wanted for Christmas this year was to celebrate it live with you all, and that very well may happen!
Friends, things are moving so quickly now. Let’s be calm and gentle with each other. Let’s practice that team spirit and immense generosity that we saw at Jack’s service. And let’s keep moving forward together in love.
Blessings,
Rev. Jaimie
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Have you heard?
We are in the search process of selecting a new Director of Religious Education and Office Administrator!
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Adult Religious Education
Book Discussion
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
Join UUCH Adult Religious Education on November 7th and Nov. 14th at 5:00 p.m. for a Zoom Discussion of Richard Rohl’s book, "Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.”
This intriguing book explores a fresh way of thinking about spirituality that grows throughout life. Father Rohr draws on Buddhism, Jungian thought, twelve step programs, and Christianity to propose that what looks like falling down can largely be experienced as "falling upward." Crisis, sorrows, sadness, pain, loss, and struggle are the elements of spiritual maturity that must be experienced in life in order to fully comprehend, contemplate, and appreciate the ups of the second half of life. When we break away from the norms and practices of our family and community, and leave our comfort zone and venture out, we can become a generative, developed person, seeing our life as more participative and joyful.
We will meet on two consecutive Sundays, November 7th and 14th, at 5 p.m. for a discussion of this inspiring book. Everyone is welcome. Brad Korb and Teri Thomas will facilitate. Registration is not required, but if you are coming, please drop us an email at Adult.RE@uuch.orgg so we can plan for the group. Adult RE has some copies of the book available for check out, if you would like to borrow one, just let us know via the email above.
To join the Zoom Meeting, log in at:
Books are available on loan from the office! Come by from 11-3 Tuesday-Thursday to pick yours up.
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Property Work/ Fun Day
Saturday, November 13, 9am- ?
Do you miss fellowship and comradery with other church members? We are all eager to resume gatherings at the church, especially now that the sanctuary renovation is completed. To ensure that the building and grounds are ready for our return, ongoing maintenance is needed, but that provides an opportunity to spend time with members and friends. We'll have a Property Work/Fun Day on Saturday, November 13, 2021 from 9am to ? Whether you can spend the entire morning or just an hour or so, your help is welcome!
Though some tasks require specific skills, such as replacing light fixtures or installing weatherseals, many require only a willingness to help, such as cleaning the courtyard or trimming shrubs. Whatever your experience or skill level, there is a task where your help is needed. See you on Saturday, November 13!
Note: Covid-19 precautions will be followed so we can socialize safely. Indoor tasks will be arranged so they can be performed by one to three people, to minimize direct contacts.
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CASA TEMP$ Workday
Satuday, November 6
Here’s an opportunity to help people in our community! UUCH will be participating again this year in the annual effort to winterize homes of local, low income senior citizens. The Care Assurance System for the Aging (CASA) Taking Energy Measures Personally equals Savings (TEMP$) program is an annual one-day event in which teams of volunteers weatherize the homes of CASA clients by putting plastic on windows, insulating pipes, caulking breaches, installing smoke detectors, replacing storm doors, and performing other small repairs. Similar to the past few years, we will be working on three homes of low-income seniors in neighborhoods near our church. These energy efficiency tasks will help these low-income senior citizens spend less on heating over the winter. This activity requires only a few hours of your time, but several people are needed to complete the three homes UUCH has committed to complete this year. Home-repair skills are not required, just the desire to help out. Materials are provided by CASA, and UUCH will have at least one experienced person at each home to help guide the activity. On Saturday, November 6th, we will gather at the church at 9 am, carpool to the homes, and we should be finished by 1 pm.
Please contact Brad Korb at Bradley.s.korb@gmail.com or 256-508-5263 if you are interested in participating or would like more information.
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Beep Beep! It's Halloween!
Calling all Ghouls, goblins, superheroes, literary characters, and oversized animals—UUCH is excited to announce a new version of our Halloween party: Trunk or Treat! On Sunday, October 31 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM, anyone with a car, truck, or expressive bicycle can decorate their vehicle for the specific purpose of entertaining the younger members of our church community (particularly those too young to fully participate in our 5th principle).
And, in the spirit of abundance that prevails during harvest time, we ask each participant to bring at least 1 can or other donation to the Little Free Food Pantry, in addition to traditional Halloween offerings.
Candy donations are accepted on campus during office hours from 11am- 3pm Tuesday- Thursday.
You can find additional information and safety guidelines here.
To register as a "Trunker" or "Treater" please click here or email the office at uuch@uuch.org!
Masks are required during this event, and extra masks are provided on-site.
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Little Food Pantry
The LFP needs your help. Please sign up on the signup genius. For newcomers to buying food for it, here are some suggestions:
Proteins: canned tuna, Vienna sausages, ham, mac & cheese, pintos, beanie weenies, spaghetti & meatballs, pb & j.
Other: canned veggies, pasta, cereal, grits, soups, pancake mix, bananas, onions, potatoes, cabbage, apples.
Use your imagination! And a HUGE thank you to all of you who’ve filled it month after month. The need is there.
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Submitted by the Social Justice Committee |
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Donating by Text or Online
Our e-giving partner, Vanco is migrating to a new mobile app: “Vanco Mobile.” After September 30, giving with the GivePlus+ app will no longer be supported. To continue giving with a mobile app, download the Vanco Mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to your mobile device and follow the instructions here. If you have already set up a login for GivePlus+, it will work on Vanco Mobile.
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By Text:
To give a plate offering to UUCH from your mobile device, text the amount (without dollar sign) to 833-559-0257, and follow the instructions. Text giving is by debit or credit card only.
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Online:
Like our other online and mobile giving options, this option is through Vanco, is secure, and has a good option for "plate" donations as well as "pledge" and "AHA".
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Submitted by the Finance Committee |
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"Be Subject To One Another"
Rev. Kimberley Debus
Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021
We regret that this week's service ran into some technical errors, and we are unable to provide a recording.
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COVID-19 Relief Funds Available
Funds are available for members of the congregation who have been negatively impacted financially by COVID-19.
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Care List
This Sunday at Our Circle of Candles:
Our congregation held a memorial service for the passing of long-time member, Jack Long on October 23rd at 1:00 pm. We continue to send prayers and concerns to his family and loved ones.
We apologize that this week our service ran into some technical difficulties with recording, and we are unable to list the Joys and Sorrows from all of our congregants.
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Upcoming Events
If you encounter a problem with a link, please check our Facebook page and website for possible updated information and links.
Worship Service
10:45 AM
Soul Circle (Group B)
7:00 PM
Choir Practice
7:00 PM
Trunk or Treat
October 31, 1:30pm- 3:30pm
UUCH Parking Lot
ARE Book Discussion
November 7 & 14, 5:00pm
Fellowship Committee Book Discussion
November 18, 7:00pm
CASA Workday
November 6, 9am
UUCH Parking Lot
Property Work/ Fun Day
November 13, 9 am - ?
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Minister
Rev. Jaimie Dingus
Office Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday by appointment.
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UUCH 2020-21
Board Members
President:
John Schulz
Vice President:
Nick Wilbourn
Secretary:
Nancy Finley
Treasurer:
Bob Locklear
Trustees:
Suzey Delacey
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 John Schulz via email no later than one week prior to the meeting (i.e. the Tuesday before). The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 26, 2021.
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Office Administrator
Demi VanderWerff, interim
Main Office Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
*Please email office if you need building access.
Phone:
256-534-0508
For more info on any event, contact the church office or visit our website.
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The Overlook is a publication of The Unitarian Universalist Church,
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville, AL 35810
Editor-in-Chief:
Laurel Bollinger
Copy Editor:
Demi VanderWerff
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PO Box 5545
Huntsville, AL 35814
(256) 534-0508
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