The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville AL 35810  
January 19, 2017
Vol. 17 Issue 3
In This Issue

95
Items Collected In December!
 

The Social Justice Committee's goal is to collect and donate 100 items per month. CAN you pick up an extra CANNED good, nonperishable food item, or personal care product next time you are out shopping? Please do, and put it in the basket in the church foyer to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP).  Suggested donations:
macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce, dry beans and rice, boxes of cereal, bars of soap, canned meat, and peanut butter!

Thanks in advance!
Soul Circles are Forming!
 Don't forget--Soul Circles are forming! We are bringing small groups into the Soul Matters shared thematic ministry alongside our Worship and Religious Education ministries. Our "Soul Circles" will meet monthly. Each month, prior to meeting.
 
If you would like to join a Soul Circle please contact John Czachurski at [email protected]

Movement Class Now on Friday!
Our Awareness Through Movement® classes focus on gentle movement that can assist us in being more comfortable and pain-free in our everyday activities.
Come learn how to use the core of your body to improve movement, balance, and chronic pain. 
Everyone is welcome! Class is drop-in, no experience necessary,  and is led by Sally Locklear. Wear comfortable, loose clothing, and bring a bath or beach towel to use as head support for comfort in side-lying.
ATM is held on Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. , starting January 13th until further notice.
For more information, contact Adult RE chair Nancy Finley at
 [email protected]. UUCH Adult Religious Education focuses on the  whole spiritual person--mentally and physically. Join us!


Do You Have Trouble Hearing During Worship Services?
UUCH has purchased a number of devices to help hard-of-hearing members of the congregation listen to services. Need one? Just ask the greeter Sunday as you come in and return the device after the service!

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January's Theme: Prophecy
Upcoming Services

Sunday, January 22th, 2017 

"Voices of Prophecy and Resistance"
    
In this month when we consider what it means to be a Community of Prophecy, we are also invited to support Standing on the Side of Love with 30 Days of Love. Our Unitarian Universalist living tradition of wisdom and spirituality draws from a number of sources, including words and deeds of prophetic women and men that challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love. Throughout our liberal religious history, we have affirmed the vision and prophetic voices of women and men involved in resistance movements for racial, economic, and gender justice.  What can we learn from them that will inspire us today? 
  
The Reverend Alice Syltie  
This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education 
 
We continue our "Storysharing" curricula based on our Soul Matters monthly worship theme of PROPHECY. Children and youth will explore some of our "Prophetic Practice."
   
Nursery care (ages 0-3) will be provided as usual. 
Register for the UUCH Children and Youth Religious Education program by going to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WS8LDNP. Paper registration forms are also available at the church.
For more information, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education (DRE) at [email protected] or Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair, at [email protected].
Time to Return Guest at Your Table Boxes

Now that we are through the holidays, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) Guest at Your Table program is wrapping up and it is time to return your Guest at Your Table boxes!

There are three ways you can return your contribution to the UUSC:
  1. Bring your box to church and place it in the basket in the Fellowship Hall (cash or check; if cash, provide the information on the side of the box)
  2. Send a check directly to UUSC at UUSC, PO Box 808, Newark, NJ 07101-0808
  3. Donate on-line at https://donate.uusc.org/checkout/donation?eid=75595
Thanks for your contributions!

Brad Korb, UUSC Local Representative 

Building Your Own Theology    

It's not too late!
Join us even if you missed the first two sessions.
 

Do Unitarian Universalists get to believe anything they want? Can they keep the easy stuff and ignore "religion" when it gets hard?  We as UUs profess a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.  This means while we all covenant to affirm and promote our 7 principles we do not all follow the same path to that truth and meaning. Though Unitarian Universalism is its own theology, it encompasses many personal theologies we each have as individuals.  Our UU community is where we carry out the process of building our personal theology.

Join Adult Religious Education facilitators Shiela Burrows and Denise Runnels as we walk through UU Richard Gilbert ' s "Introduction to Building Your Own Theology." This workshop will "provide some tools for building a theology based on the materials of individual life experiences."   Gilbert ' s program is "designed to provide a systematic, disciplined, and communal approach to the process." As he says "we have gathered together not to believe alike, but, to love alike, to live religiously together."

We will meet Sunday evenings in January beginning January 8th. This four week workshop will meet each Sunday through January 29th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you need childcare, please let Denise or Nancy Finley know at least one week in advance,  [email protected].

Hosted by your Adult Religious Education Committee 
weathered-movie-reel.jpg
UUCH Family Movie Night

January 21, 2017 at 6:15 p.m. 

Come join the UUCH Children's and Youth RE Committee for an entertaining night of snacks and a movie!

CAN YOU GUESS THE FILM? The chickens on the farm are in danger when their owners decide to transfer the farm's focus from egg production to chicken pot pie production. Will the plucky American rooster be able to help the chickens escape before they end up in the freezer section of the grocery store? Find out in this fun animated film for any age!

Please bring your favorite movie snack to share. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with the movie starting at 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by your UUCH Children and Youth Religious Education Committee.
justice scales
Social Justice Meeting 

Our next Social Justice Meeting will be Sunday, January 22nd at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring your ideas for spring and summer projects. We'll have bagels, and if you need childcare, please contact Tonia at (256) 882-9891 or [email protected].  

Everyone is welcome!

UUCH Annual Chili Cook-Off is
Saturday, February 4!
Who Will Win the Coveted Red Ladle? singing chili
 
Who will win coveted red ladle on Saturday, February 4? It could be you! Queen Shiela Burrows won the 2016 Best in Show Coveted Red Ladle with her first entry. First-timers Emily Garrison and Alice Dilbeck won in their categories.

Bring your chili, side dishes, and hot talent to this fun evening!

Sign up on the Fellowship Hall poster or online
( http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044ea9a62aa3fd0-2017 )
to register your chili and to bring your favorite chili side dish: cheese, sour cream, crackers, salads, cornbread or rolls, and desserts.

Open mike entertainment is an important part of the evening! If you'd like to be part of the show, contact Susan Coddington (
[email protected] ) or call 256-520-3490 .

For others, doors open at 5:00 p.m. and eating begins at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 each for those 12 and older; children 3-11 are $3 each; with a family cap of $15. Free admission for Chili Chefs! 
 
Hosted by your Hospitality Committee
Great Opportunity to Help a Child

Volunteer to Tutor or Share Your Interests with Alabama  Hispanic Association (AHA) Children.

This is just a one time commitment (or more, if you wish!)
AHA needs YOU to help out with their English and math tutoring program. Each Saturday morning from 2/25 to 4/15 in the Fellowship Hall the sessions will run as follows:
  • 9:30 to 10:15 English
  • 10:15 to 10:30 snack
  • 10:30 to 11:00 math 
  • 11:00 to 11:30 special activity presented by volunteer (i.e. gardening, craft, game, etc.)
Each Saturday, AHA needs 5 tutors for English and math (not necessarily the same 5 for both subjects) and 1 person to share a hobby, craft, etc. with the kids in the special activity. Ten children, ranging from elementary to high school, are participating.

You do not need to speak Spanish, and several other tutors, some from AHA, will be present in the Fellowship Hall with you. You do not need to be a teacher to do this, just to have patience and enthusiasm.

To sign up, follow this link to Sign up Genius http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0949abaf2aa0f58-tutoring, or contact Tonia Betts at (256) 882-9891.
Thank you!

Sponsored by the Alabama Hispanic Association in cooperation with your Social Justice Committee.  
ARE YOU MAKING YOUR PLANS?

General Assembly 2017
June 21-25, 2017
New Orleans, Louisiana

NOW IS THE TIME to begin planning your trip to our UUA's General Assembly! Important dates and programming updates may be found here: http://www.uua.org/ga. This is close enough to drive from Huntsville! 
Looking for It? Check Lost & Found 
 
Where is that blue jacket? The car keys with my fob? My pink tam and scarf? My lettuce keeper? In the Lost & Found, of course! There are several youth jackets, work gloves, stuffed animals, earrings, rings, lots of eyeglasses, and more. Take a look. After several more weeks, it will all be donated.
The first Southern Region Chalice Lighters  

The first Southern Region Chalice Lighters call is to support extending the Pledge to End Racism program from First UU Church of Richmond to all interested congregations in the Southern Region. This program is designed using a leadership development model so participants gain skills and develop competence in not only talking about racism, but in facilitating discussions about race, and then working together to organize Living the Pledge workshops for people throughout their community.

Donations may be made electronically at this link: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/hf_xDmMfUCEnqR5K-h0Ogg or snail mailed, payable to First UU Church of Richmond, with a memo "Chalice Lighters," mailed to First UU Church of Richmond, 1000 Blanton Ave., Richmond, VA 23221

This Chalice Lighter call will end on March 6th.
votives
Care List
 
At our Circle of Candles on Sunday,  January 15th, 2017:

A candle for Yesterday. Those close to Catherine told stories. Catherine threw a wide net and touched many lives, near and far. For the thousands of children that were touched, let them give a shout out to Catherine. You made a difference for each of us!
 
Amanda Schuber, A candle of joy for my Wanda who will celebrate her 38th birthday on Thursday. Also, a candle of joy for after many years of an extremely strained relationship, my grandmother and I enjoyed an evening together with laughter and joy. I'm hopeful for the future.

Mari Hinckley, Big thank you to everyone who helped with Catherine's service. It was beautiful!
 
Maria Coble, Please pray for Cathyrn Vetter who is in ICU with two blood clots on her lungs. She is the cousin of Sara and Lisa Beth Coble.

Pete Cossaboon, A candle of joy for getting guardianship of my brother Tommy, who has been approved for group home placement.

If you have pastoral care needs, please contact the Reverend Alice Syltie at [email protected]Barbara Hitt is Chair of the Care Committee, and may be reached at home, (256) 881.2531; on her cell, (256) 348.5845; or by email at [email protected].
UUCH 16-17 Board Members

 

President: Laurel Bollinger 

Vice-President: Denise Runnels  

Secretary: Ed Bernstein           

Treasurer: Greg Howard   

Trustees: Susan Coddington, Kathy Heath,

   and Lynsie Lamitie 

 

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, no later than one week prior to the meeting, i.e. the Tuesday before. You may leave a copy of your request in her Mailbox at the church office, or contact her at [email protected].

The next UUCH Board Meeting will be held
on Tuesday, January 24th, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. Thanks for your cooperation!

From the Overlook is a publication of

The Unitarian Universalist Church,

3921 Broadmor Rd. Huntsville, AL 35810

Minister: The Reverend Alice Syltie

Board President: Laurel Bollinger  

Editorial Board: Laurel Bollinger, Kathy Heath 

 

Newsletter deadlines are each Monday at midnight.
Please send submissions to news collator Willette Battle at
[email protected].  

 

Office Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mon-Fri.

Office phone: 256.534-0508, email: [email protected] .

Minister's email: [email protected].

Website: www.uuch.org 

 

Sunday Services are held 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 noon;  

Children's Religious Education held concurrently.   

Nursery available for age 3 years and under.

For further info on any event, call the church office:
256. 534-0508.