The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville AL 35810  
January 4, 2018
Vol. 18 Issue 1
In This Issue
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
 
Sun. 1/7
CYRE Committee Meeting
9:15am -10:30am
Justice Room

Sunday Services
( Share The Plate)
10:45 a.m.
Sanctuary

First Sunday Potluck
Immediately following service
Fellowship Hall
 
Mon. 1/8   
Exploring SoulCollage®
6:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m
Fellowship Hall
 
Wed. 1/10
The UUkulele Fun Group
5:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

UUCH Choir Practice
7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Music Room

Fri. 1/12
Awareness Thru Movement Class
10:00 a.m.

Sat. 1/13
Trip to India: A Multi-Media Presentation & Dessert Buffet 
7:00 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
HAP Collection! 
 
 The Social Justice Committe e's goal is to collect at least 100 items during the month of January for the food pantry. THANK YOU for all of your continued generosity!   
 
Please put your nonperishable food items or personal care products donation in the basket in the church foyer for the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP).  
   
Thanks for all you do!  
COME SING A SONG WITH US

The UUCH choir practices on Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. in the Choir Room. Whether you know how to sing or would like to learn, we would love for you to join us!
The UUkulele  
Fun Group

The Ukulele Fun Group occurs every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. and is open to everyone, regardless of skill level.

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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
President@uuch.orgThe next UUCH Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 23rd.

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
uuch@uuch.org.  

 

Office Hours:

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  
Monday - Friday

 

Office phone: 256-534-0508
email:
uuch@uuch.org .

Minister's email: Minister@uuch.org.

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, January 7, 2018
 
New Beginnings
Reverend Alice Syltie and  
The Huntsville Feminist Chorus    
 
The Huntsville Feminist Chorus, directed by our UUCH Music Director, Pam Siegler, will present part of their Solstice program, "New Beginnings." The chorus will sing an eclectic array of songs that evoke questions and offer answers about the many ways renewal and fresh start opportunities are inherent in our lives. In this month of "Intention," there is no more fitting message than to be reminded that we can begin anytime we set our minds and hearts to our intention.
   
* On the first Sunday of each month, we Share the Plate during the offering, Share our Lunch with each other during Potluck, and Share our Bounty by filling the Food Basket! Please don't forget to bring non-perishable food and hygiene items for the food basket to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program.

All donations are welcome and appreciated! 
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This Sunday in Children and
Youth Religious Education (CYRE)
  
Welcome back from the holidays!
 
Peace, Justice, and Searchers groups will meet in their regular rooms. Transformers and YOUUTH groups will remain in the sanctuary for the special musical service with the Huntsville Feminist Chorus. We are so glad to have you back as we begin the new year together! 
   
Nursery care (ages 0-3) will be offered as usual.
 
If you haven't already, please register your child/youth for this year's CYRE program. For more information, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education, or Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair.
share
Share The Plate*
  square-plate-silverware.jpg
We Share the Plate* this month with New Futures, Inc. , a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 that is addressing the need in Hunt sville and Madison County for an organization that serves homeless, intact families. New Futures Inc. operates the Marilyn Mabry Family Lodge, a homeless shelter that allows families to remain together in a safe, family-friendly environment. They are the only homeless tr ansitional housing program in Madison County that accepts families with children up to 18 of both genders, single fathers with minor children, and single mothers with sons over age 10. By keeping families together, the Lodge will enhance the positive outcomes for all family members, and ultimately for the community of Madison County. 

New Futures' shelter is dormitory style, with private rooms and shared bathrooms and common areas. Through its transitional housing program, New Futures acts as a catalyst for homeless families to obtain skills, education, and successes to empower themselves and overcome extreme poverty to achieve independence. Services include a Shelter Program (90 day program including job prep and search assistance, and case management) and a Transitional Housing Program including Education Services (including GED certificate assistance), Job Placement, Job Coach/Resume Building Classes, Transportation, Counseling, and Daycare assistance. For more information, see their website.
 
*When we "Share the Plate," all cash collected on the first Sunday of each month in the quarter (January, February, and March), along with any checks noted as "Share the Plate," will be halved with New Futures, Inc.
 
All donations are welcome and appreciated!
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Potluck Sunday!

Please join us for a potluck immediately after the Sunday worship services. Bring a dish and let us
enjoy the warmth of the weather as we eat together. Fellowship is served along with potluck food. Get to know your fellow UUs!

--Hosted by your Hospitality Committee
Exploring SoulCollage®
Taking it to the Next Level
    
The process of SoulCollage® as presented by Seena B. Frost, is some serious fun.
 
SoulCollage ® - What is it?
...an intuitive process for creating an incredible deck of cards with deep personal meaning.
 
SoulCollage® - How?
...create personalized 5x8 cards by cutting and pasting images from magazines
 
SoulCollage® - Why?
...discover and remind yourself how c omplex, talented, versatile, and unique you are. Show yourself to others and connect with the larger spiritual dimensions that inspire you.
 
SoulCollage® - come to know your whole self.
 
This month we are taking it to the next level and exploring the tools offered by the SoulCollage® process for even broader, more complex insights; guidance for balancing the multiple facets of ourselves.
 
Denise Runnels and Nancy Finley will co-facilitate this Adult Religious Education workshop in the UUCH Fellowship Hall on Monday evening, January 8th, from 6:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m.
 
Check out soulcollage.com for more information about the SoulCollage® process we are following, or ask Denise (Adult.RE@uuch.org) for more information about the process and/or the workshop.
Awareness Thru Movement Class 
   
 
For a healthy New Year, join our Awareness Through Movement (ATM) class.
 
These classes focus on gentle movements 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! Classes, led by Sally Locklear, are drop-in with no experience necessary . 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 12th until further notice.  
 
For more information, contact Nancy Finley at Adult.RE@uuch.org. UUCH Adult Religious Education focuses on the whole spiritual person--mentally and physically.  
Join us!
Trip to India: 
A Multi-Media Presentation 
Saturday, January 13th

Barbara and Gary Hitt will be giving a multi-media presentation of their recent trip to India on Saturday, January 13th, at 7:00 p.m. in the UUCH Fellowship Hall. Gail and Howard Williams and Vickie and Malcolm Goodman will be hosting a dessert buffet with hot cobbler and  other delicious desserts, along with hot cider and coffee to warm you up! 
 
This was originally offered as a Service Auction item and is now presented for $25 for adults and $10 for teens 12 - 18, children 12 under free. Babysitting will be provided on request.  
 
It's not too late to sign up to spend an evening with friends enjoying the Hitt's adventures in India where they saw and photographed tigers, beautiful birds, exotic wildlife, and the Taj Mahal. They especially enjoyed being so warmly welcomed by the people as they traveled around India.  
 
Please contact the Hitts, the Williams, or the Goodmans if you would like to join us.  
Wonderful Wednesday Supper 
 
Our next Wonderful Wednesday Supper will be held on Wednesday, January 17th. We will be featuring yummy homemade soup. 
25th Annual Chili Cook-off and Open Mic Hot Time  
Saturday, January 20th

singing chili Who, me, win the coveted red ladle? Yes, you, on Saturday, January 20th!
 
Queen Fran Alexander won the 2017 "Best in Show" Coveted Red Ladle (blind tasting). Bring your hot talent, chili, and side dishes to this fun evening!
 
See the Fellowship Hall poster or online to register your chili, sign-up to decorate, and offer to bring your favorite chili side dish: cheese, sour cream, crackers, salads, cornbread or rolls, and desserts.
 
Open mic entertainment is an important part of the evening! Contact Susan Coddington (susan.coddington@rteamworks.com or 256-520-3940)  to be part of the show. 
 
Saturday set list:
9:00 a.m. Decorate and setup
4:30 p.m. Chili judges arrive  
5:00 p.m. Chili judging begins, doors open
5:30 p.m. Chili buffet opens
6:30 p.m. Hot talent at the hot mic
 
Admission is $5 each for those 12 and older; children 3-11 are $3 each; family max $20. (Free admission for Chili Chefs)
 
Master-minded by Fran Alexander, hosted by Hospitality
Unitarian Universalist  
Common Read
Sunday, January 21st
at 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.  
 
Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry , edited by Mitra Rahnema (Skinner House, 2017), is the first book to center the stories, analysis, and insights of Unitarian Universalist religious professionals of color . They explore how racial identity is made both visible and invisible in Unitarian Universalist communities. It is a joint project of the Committee for Anti-racism, Anti-oppression, and Multiculturalism of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA) and Skinner House Books.
 
Come join our local discussion of this exciting book. Brad Korb and Shiela Burrow will facilitate the conversation. Everyone is welcome; c offee and snacks will be available, so come early to enjoy. There will be several books available for loan in the Fellowship Hall for those who wish to borrow one.  
 
This discussion is sponsored by UUCH Adult Religious Education (RE). Contact Nancy Finley or Shiela Burrows for further information at AdultRE@uuch.com If you need childcare, please let Shiela or Nancy at least one week in advance. Hope to see you there.  
votives
Care List
 
This Sunday, December 31, 2017, at our Circle of Candles:
 
This Sunday The Reverend Alice lit a candle for all of the joys and sorrows that remain in our hearts yet unspoken.