The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville AL 35810  
October 19, 2017
Vol. 17 Issue 42
In This Issue
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Thu. 10/19
Essential Spirituality
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Adult RE Room

Fri. 10/20:
Awareness Thru Movement  
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Adult RE Room

Sat. 10/21:
Ribbon Run!
8:00 am  
at the corner of Lowe Avenue and Adams Street
 
6th Annual Come Out,  
Cook Out, and Camp Out!
5:00 p.m  
Monte Sano State Park 
 
Sun. 10/22:
Church Services
10:45 p.m.
Sanctuary

Give Us Hope rehearsal
12:15-12:45 p.m.

Hindsight, Humor, and Hope: Who, Me, An Elder?
12:15-1:45 p.m.
Adult RE Room
 
Wed. 10/25:
UUCH Choir Practice
7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Music Room

Thu. 10/26:
Faith in Action Alabama HUB meeting
5:15-7:15 p.m.
Madison Christian Church

Essential Spirituality 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Adult RE Room   
 
Fri. 10/27:
Halloween Party
6:30 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
"Over the Rainbow"
UUCH Service Auction 2017
The UUCH Service Auction takes place Saturday, November 4th, at 6:00 p.m. We need your donations to make this annual event a success.
Donation deadline is October 30th. Please inform us of your donation and intent to participate before our calling tree effort begins. There have been very few items donated so far. Let's make this the event that it has historically been! The food, fun, and fellowship are not to be missed!
 
Want to volunteer during the auction? We need table monitors, spotters, and runners as well as people to help with setup and cleanup. If you can volunteer to help, please send an email to
Remember, there are 3 ways to donate.
To sign up your talent or other contribution:
1) Fill out the forms available in the Fellowship Hall;
2) Send an email to [email protected] with details about your contribution; or 
3) Fill in an online form
 
The forms and email also let us know you are coming and pre-register you as a bidder. Check out during the night of the auction is based on the order by which you register, so make sure you register early!
 
We will once again offer you an opportunity to win a lovely quilt during a raffle. The lucky winner will be able to select one quilt from several options. You can view the selections the winner will choose from in the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10. See  David Bollinger or Shiela Burrows after the service this Sunday to purchase your raffle tickets.
 
Childcare will be provided. Door prizes will also be given away throughout the evening - you must be present to win.
RE youth will be collecting donations today and for the next month for presents for the Hispanic youth to be given at the Annual Hispanic Christmas Dinner.
 
Mark your calendars for the annual  
CASA Work Day   
Saturday,  
November 4th 
More info to follow

Social Justice Team
 
September HAP   Count total was 102!  
The Social Justice Committe e's goal is to collect at least 100 items during the month of October for the food pantry. CAN you pick up an extra CANNED good, nonperishable food item, or personal care product next time you are out shopping? Please put your donation in the basket in the church foyer to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP).  
Thanks for all you do!  
COME SING A SONG WITH US

The UUCH choir practices on Wednesdays at 7:15pm in the choir room. Whether you know how to sing or would like to learn, we would love for you to join us!
Awareness Through Movement
    Fridays at 10:00 a.m.
Our "Feldenkrais Method of A w areness Through Movement" class continues each Friday.  This series of lessons focuses on improving balance and breathing by improving the use of the muscles that support the hips and low back. These lessons use small, gentle movement, imagination, and sensing. Mats will be provided, but feel free to bring anything you might need to make yourself comfortable lying on the floor. If you are unable to lie on the floor, please let us know and we will make an accommodation for you.
This Adult RE class is drop-in, no experience necessary.  The class will be led by Sally Locklear. Everyone is welcome. We will meet each Friday at 10:00 a.m.
For further information, contact Adult RE chair, Nancy Finley . If you need childcare for this event, please contact Nancy at least a week before the event.

UUCH Adult Religious Education focuses on the whole spiritual person--mentally and physically, so come join us!


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UUCH 17-18   
Board Members
 
President:
Laurel Bollinger

Vice-President: 
Denise Runnels

Secretary:
Nancy Finley

Treasurer: 
Greg Howard

Trustees: 
Susan Coddington
Kathy Heath

Lynsie Lamitie


Ex Officio:
Reverend Alice Syltie


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 phone her at home or send a copy of your request to
[email protected]The next UUCH Board Meeting will be held on
Tuesday, October 24th. 

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:  

Susan Coddington 

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.

 
Upcoming Service

Sunday, October 22nd, 2017
 
"The Art of Happiness"
Reverend Dr. Julie Kain
   
We look to our religious community and spiritual practices to help us be our best selves. Can they also help us in our personal quest for happiness?
 
Reverend Dr. Julie Kain has been serving as minister with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola since 2006. Part of her ministry in the larger community has included being board chair of the Northwest Florida chapter of PFLAG, the sponsor of A Safe Port, an LGBTQ counseling center. She lived previously in California and North Carolina. Her personal and professional interests include cultural and religious diversity, music, nature and traveling.
 
This Sunday in Children and
Youth Religious Education 
  
RE groups will meet to continue our exploration of "Living Our Principles."
 
If you haven't already, please be sure to register your child/youth for this year's CYRE program. You can register here.  
 
For more information, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education or Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair.    
Standing on the Side of Love
T-shirts
 
If you would like to have your own yellow Standing on the Side of Love t-shirts, this is your chance. The Social Justice Committee will have shirts available this Sunday for $10. These shirts are even more special than the previous versions. They have our church name on the back.  
 
If you already have a Standing on the Side of Love t-shirt, you can have the name of our church printed on the back for only $1. So bring your older shirt to church.
 
--Social Justice Committee 
Ghosts & Goblins, Creatures & Critters, Kids & Adults--come one, come all to our all-church Halloween Party! Friday, October 27th, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. 
 
The Halloween Party is an all-ages party, for children and adults alike, sponsored by the Children and Youth RE Program. We'll have dancing, a cakewalk, and other surprises. Favorite dance tunes for all generations will be provided by the Music Machine DJ. Fun for everyone! 
 
A sign-up poster for the party can be found in the Fellowship Hall after the church service or sign up online.
Song and Chants for Unity and Protest Teach-in 5:00-6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 29th

UUCH will host this opportunity to learn songs and chants for unity and protest gatherings. Song leaders from AshaKiran, Faith in Action, Temple B'nai Sholom, the Alabama Hispanic Organization, as well as our own Pam Siegler will teach short, easy to remember music the community can use as we show up for social justice and unity.
 Next Steps Task Force Check-In  
 
Town Hall Meeting  
on Sunday, October 29th

The Next Steps Task Force, consisting of Lynsie Lamitie  (Board Trustee), Brad Korb  (Property Committee), Rev. Syltie (now on sabbatical) and Tim Miller (chair), has been tasked with facilitating the congregation's decision-making process on how to utilize the funds we received from selling the Governors Drive property. At the last Annual Meeting we were tasked with making a couple of property improvements (new water line and parking lot lights), and with obtaining proposals and cost estimates from an architect on possible improvements to the building. Some of those improvements, largely related to accessibility, were listed at that meeting. We have been working with our architect to evaluate those and other tasks that may be included in the next phase of renovations. Some of the major areas of interest are to redesign the sanctuary front area to accommodate wheel chairs and to permit more flexibility for different kinds of presentations; to expand the fellowship hall; and to create accessible, gender-neutral restrooms. As we work to determine what our next steps should be, we would like to get feedback from the congregation and inform you of the potential options we've received from the architect.

Please join us for a brief town hall meeting immediately following the service on October 29th.  The task force will present the information we've gathered from the architect and solicit feedback from the congregation.  Based on this feedback, the NSTF will put together more concrete plans and at the December 3rd meeting , we will ask the congregation to vote on how to prioritize our next steps .

Your input is important to us as we move forward in the planning process. We want to make sure your voice is heard.
It's Ribbon Run Week!
   
Onlin pink awareness ribbone Ribbon Run registration is now closed, but you can still register in person this week! Registration will be at Fleet Feet Thursday (October 19th) and Friday (October 20th) from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We hope you can join us THIS SATURDAY as we run and walk to benefit the Huntsville Hospital Breast Center!
 
Thank you to everyone who has already registered and made donations ! 

Team UUCH will meet Saturday morning before the run/walk at 7:30am at the Huntsville Junior High School basketball court.

Start Stretching now!   Go UUCH Go!

Ribbon Run Course Map
 
The 5K begins at 8:00am at the corner of Lowe Avenue and Adams Street and ends at Huntsville Junior High School. Several Huntsville Hospital parking garages will be open. Hospital staff will be on site to help communicate which garages are full. The City of Huntsville will also have specific garages open for race-day parking. Visit Huntsville Public Parking for more information and an interactive map.

For questions, contact Becky Ellingwood.
6th Annual Come Out,
Cook Out, and Camp Out!
October 21st 

 
Interweave's annual evening of fun, camping, and cooking out on the fire will be this Saturday, October 21st. Join us beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Monte Sano State Park at our primitive camp site.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and join us for food, fellowship, and campfire singing. If you'd like to bring some food or other supplies, please sign up Sunday in the fellowship hall or online .  

Please note: you do not have to camp out overnight. You're welcome to drop by and stay for us as long as you'd like Saturday night!
 
For more information or if you have questions, contact Nick Wilbourn or Denise Runnels.
Calling All Children kids singing
Interested in singing a special song with the choir? The choir will be singing Give Us Hope on December 10th. This song has a special part for a group of children. If you have children (ages 7+) who would enjoy this experience, we invite you to sign them up. There will be four 30 minute rehearsals after church starting at 12:15 p.m. on October 22nd, November 5th, November 19th, and December 3rd. If you have any questions, please call, text, or email the Music Director, Pam Siegler (931-307-4994).
Adult RE Program
  
HINDSIGHT, HUMOR, AND
HOPE: WHO, ME, AN ELDER?
Sunday, October 22nd
12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
 
It's not too late to join our "Elderhood" class! This UUA "Tapestry of Faith" program is intended to help us design our later years into a time of discernment, soul stretching, and new life possibilities. We explore together ways to live this stage of life with meaning and intention, and ponder deep questions such as, Who am I now? How comfortable am I with my mortality? What are my challenges and joys?
 
While this program is open to anyone, it is particularly intended for anyone over the age of fifty-five. First time visitors are welcome. Our final session will be this Sunday, October 22nd, right after church services (12:15 p.m. until around 2:00 p.m.). We will eat together first, so bring a sack lunch. Drinks will be provided.
 
The class is facilitated by Dee Dee Moore and Nancy Finley. If you have questions about this class, contact Nancy. If you need childcare, please contact Nancy at least a week before the class. 
Are You Ready to  
Become a Member?
 
If you've been attending UUCH long enough to know that this church community feels like your spiritual home, you may be ready to take the next step and become a member. On Sunday, November 5th, we will welcome new members as they "sign the book" and officially join our church.
 
If you are ready to become a member or would like to find out more about the process, please contact Pam Korb by October 29th .

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP
 
Because we are a democratic community, members are collectively vested with responsibility for the congregation. Members may vote at all congregational meetings, be elected to the governing Board, be appointed as committee chairs, and participate in all activities of the congregation.
 
Because we are a covenanted congregation, members have certain responsibilities to the congregation and to each other. These responsibilities are best fulfilled by:
  • Regular attendance at worship
  • Voting at congregational meetings
  • Making financial contributions
  • Contributing time and talent
  • Spiritual growth and development
Essential Spirituality, The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind
 
Every Thursday evening through November 16th at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Join UUCH Adult Religious Education as we read, discuss, and explore some exercises in Essential Spirituality - The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind by Dr. Roger Walsh, M.D., PhD. Based on over twenty years of research, Essential Spirituality shows how we can apply the seven practices central to all the world's major religions in our daily lives to cultivate kindness, love, joy, peace, vision, wisdom, and generosity. Dr. Walsh, who is both a spiritual practitioner and an award-winning scientist, believes that each of the major spiritual traditions has both a common goal and seven common practices to reach that goal. Essential Spirituality integrates the spiritual principles of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism into what Walsh believes is one truly rewarding way of life in which kindness, love, joy, peace, vision, wisdom, and generosity become an ever growing part of everything you do. Come join us as we discover how his views might be consistent with our principles as Unitarian Universalists.
 
We have four copies of the book available for loan and they can be signed out in the Fellowship Hall or by contacting Shiela Burrows . The book is also readily available on-line to purchase. We will continue to meet each Thursday evening from October 19th through November 16th in the Adult RE Room from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you need childcare, please contact Shiela Burrows or Nancy Finley at least one week before the event.
Everyone is welcome!
votives
Care List
 
This Sunday, October 15th, 2017, at our Circle of Candles:
 
Kate Watkins, a candle of joy: Sharing joy after celebrating my 60th birthday yesterday at Monte Sano Cabin 12! Feeling blessed to see so many friends come to celebrate with me. Special thanks to Lynda Lamitie for making my birthday weekend so much fun. 
 
Tommy Schrimsher and Mitzi Woody
a candle of joy: Tommy's son, Evan, has gotten his first "professional" job! 
 
Pete Cossaboon, a candle of sorrow and joy: A sorrow for the passing of my mother, Patricia Ellen Langley, in June of this year. She died lonely and regretful. May she know that her sons do love and honor her and may I know that she did the very best that she could. In her honor, I intend to start The Ellen Fund to eradicate regret and help others live a life full and with purpose. A joy for my brother, Tommy Cossaboon, who has been in the hospital for over a week. His fever is gone, his infection seems to be responding to treatment, and he is again his normal, joyful self. May his bladder again be in perfect working order and that he may be able to return soon to his group home where his loving friends wait for him.