The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville, AL 35810  
August 16, 2018
Vol. 18 Issue 33
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
 
Sun. 8/19
New UU Class  
9:00 a.m. 
ARE Room  
 
Sunday Services
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Sanctuary

UUCH T-Shirts For Sale!  
 

Wed. 8/22
UUkulele Fun Group
5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.


Thu. 8/23
Faith in Action Alabama Hub Meeting
5:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Fellowship Hall

UUCH Choir
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
 

Sun. 8/26 
Social Justice Meeting
9:00 a.m.

New UU Class 
9:30 a.m.
ARE Room
 
Sunday Services
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Sanctuary
Huntsville Assistance Program 
Collected for the donations to the Huntsville Assistance Program were 230 articles of food, plus 28 cat food cans.
Thank you all, and keep up the good work!
 
The Social Justice Committee has a goal to collect at least 100 items each month for the food pantry.
 
Please put your nonperishable food items or personal care products donation in the basket in the church foyer for the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP).  
   
THANK YOU for your continued generosity! 
UUkulele Fun Group
The UUkulele Fun Group is open to everyone, regardless of skill level.
 
The group meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.
UUCH Choir
kids singing
The UUCH choir practices on Wednesdays in the Music Room. Our start time has changed to 7:00 p.m. Whether you know how to sing or would like to learn, we would love for you to join us! If you plan to attend but cannot, or if you have other inquiries, please contact Pam Sielger at 931-307-4994 or email [email protected].

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UUCH 18-19
Board Members
 
President:  
Susan Coddington  
 
Vice-President: 
John Schulz

Secretary:
Nancy Finley

Treasurer: 
David Bollinger 

Trustees: 
Ed Bernstein
Theresa Miller

Nick Wilbourn


Interim Minister:
Rev. Edward L. Brock

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 Susan Coddington  no later than one week prior to the meeting (i.e. the Tuesday before). You may text or call her or send a copy of your request to
[email protected]. The next UUCH Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 28.

The Overlook is a publication of The Unitarian Universalist Church, 3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville, AL 35810


Interim Minister:
 

The Rev. Edward L. Brock

Board President:  

Susan Coddington    

Editorial Board:  

Kathy Heath
Nick Wilbourn 

 

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.  
Monday-Friday

 

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 at 256-534-0508.

 
Upcoming Service

Sunday, August 19, 2018
        
"Where Do We Come From?  
(And how do our stories about it shape who we are?)
 
  Laurel Bollinger
 
From ancient peoples' storytelling to modern tools such as AncestryDNA, we have long been fascinated with origin stories. Who made us and why? But the stories may tell us more about ourselves than about our actual origins -- and maybe that's what they're really for.  From the mythic to the modern, let's think about how describing our origins shapes our present and our future. 
This Sunday in Children and
Youth Religious Education (C Y RE)  
 
Summer Religious Education continues with Nature Craft, led by Tom Meier and Ashley Creekmore, with Sarah Korb and
UUCH Girl Scouts
assisting.
 
For more information, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education, or Steve Rittenberg, CYRE Chair.
New UU Class
  August 19  and 26
 
What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? Guided by the Tapestry of Faith Curriculum, we will offer a three-part series that explores important themes in UU congregational life: our worship and theology, history, covenant and polity, faith development, social justice, and membership. This program is particularly focused on introducing newcomers to Unitarian Universalism, but those of us who have been here for a while will also be able to share and connect with others as we explore our own beliefs and how they intersect with the UU tradition. Everyone is welcome!
 
Mark your calendars for the Sunday mornings of August 19 and 26 for this chance to learn and share. Meet for coffee or tea at 9:00 a.m. Discussion starts at 9:15. Nancy Finley and Bobby Hall will facilitate the discussion. Contact Nancy Finley at  [email protected]
for more information. Even if you didn't attend the first session, please join us on the 19th and 26th.  
 
Childcare will be provided.
UUCH T-Shirts for Sale!
 
The Social Justice and Care Committees will be taking orders for UUCH t-shirts in the Fellowship Hall after the Sunday service. We are sticking with the traditional yellow shirt color because we have made a name for ourselves as the "yellow shirt people" when we show up en masse at various gatherings around town to show our support for justice, equality, science, and other worthy causes.  
 
UUCH member Frank Davies is making the shirts for us at his store, Logos Screen Printing, at 3806 Governors Drive. Thanks, Frank! 
 
The shirts will sell for $10 for adults and $8 for children. Sizes are S, M, L, XL, and XXL for adults, and S, M, L, and XL in youth sizes. (An XL youth is the same size as an S adult.) Payment can be made by cash (exact change is appreciated) or check when you place your order. Make out your check to UUCH, and note "t-shirt" on the memo line.
 
Order yours now!
SOCIAL JUSTICE: News & Updates
 
The next Social Justice Committee meeting is Sunday, August 26, at 9:30 a.m. New and old ideas and ongoing business will be discussed. Everyone is welcome. Please come!

Faith in Action AL will hold its monthly Hub Meeting at our church on Thursday, August 23, from 5:15 - 7:30 p.m. Part of the meeting will be training and preparation for voter engagement and updates on changes FIAA will be making. A light dinner will be served. All are welcome.

Plastic bottle caps with screw tops are being collected through September. Please count your donated tops, and secure them in a bag with the number collected included. Otherwise, thousands will have to be counted by someone. 

Submitted by the Social Justice Committee
 
Join a Small Group Now 
UU Small Groups are a way to feel truly enga ged in our church, to deepen connections with o thers in our spiritual community, and to enha n ce o ur personal journeys to wisdom and meaningful lives. We currently have three groups run ning at UUCH, and this fall we are reorganizing t o encourage more people to participate in the program. Those who have participated often say it is the most m eaningful thing they do at our church!
 
What are "Soul Matters" Small Groups?

"Soul Matters" is a UUA program that offers a distinctive, small-group curriculum. Like other small-group programs, its central goal is to foster circles of trust and deep listening. Soul Matters small groups, however, are not a stand-alone program. They are designed as a companion program to a congregation's worship and religious education ministries. Congregations using Soul Matters have monthly themes, such as compassion, forgiveness, or truth, which are integrated into all aspects of the church. Being a part of a small group allows you to go deeper in the themes that are being discussed in worship or in religious education curriculum.
 
What do you do in a Soul Matters Group?
 
Each month, participants are given packets that contain resources for individual exploration that include questions, exercises, readings, music, and videos on the theme, and individuals can choose how they want to engage with the topic before meeting with the group. Participants then come to the group to discuss the theme. You take it at your own pace; there is not a lot of required reading, but there are plenty of materials to engage you through the month. You spend as much or as little time as you wish with the materials before the meeting.
 
Groups typically meet once a month at the same time, and meetings are usually 90 minutes long. The format is designed to make sure that everyone who wishes to speak is heard and that we listen to one another without debate, judgement, or interruption. Questions provide opportunities for the group to explore the theme together.
 
Trained facilitators will guide the group through the format and help to make sure that the environment is a welcoming and moderated space for all to share and learn.  
 
How can I join a group?
 
In the next few weeks, we are reorganizing the groups for fall. If you are interested in participating, please contact Nancy Finley at [email protected] with times you are available. Currently, we have groups that meet on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m., and Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. If those times slots are not available for you, we may still be able to find a group for you. New groups will be formed based on interest and scheduling needs. We hope to have all groups up and running sometime in September. If you have any questions, talk to Nancy or to any of our other current facilitators: Lynsie Lamitie, Susan Coddington, Jon Fox, and Pam Korb. They will be happy to discuss the program with you.  
Girl Scouts at UUCH

We are living the Girl Scout way at UUCH and looking for friends to join us! Girl Scouts at UUCH meet biweekly to enjoy adventures, friendship, and fun together. We are recruiting girls and helpers for the 2018-19 school year.

Please stop by our table in the Fellowship Hall after Sunday services in August to learn more about our troop! Or contact Harper Goodman for more info at [email protected].
Faith In Action

We are moving full speed ahead with our voter engagement planning. If you would like to be on any of the teams, please let Bobbie Ratliff know. Please note that he may not be able to get back to you until August 15.

Teams are
1. Congregation Outreach 
2. Phone-banking
3. Administration
4. Canvassing
5. Voter Registration/Voter Rights Restoration
6. Voter Education
7. Administrative
 
Here's what's coming down the pike:
 
1. August 13, Huntsville Public Library, Room D: Leadership Council Meeting (If you would like to serve on this council and have been actively working with FIAA for at least 3 months, please let me know. I would like to meet with you and see about bringing you on board.)
 
2. August 23, Unitarian Universalist Church: Huntsville Monthly Training -- A good part of this training will be preparation for voter engagement and updates on other radical changes FIAA will be making. 
 
3. August 26, First SDA Church: Voter Rights Restoration Clinic and Welcome Home Celebration for returning citizens. More info to follow.

PLEASE NOTE: During the month of August, we have research actions being scheduled with the police chief, sheriffs, and mayor. If you are serious about change and building power, why not join one of the research meetings? Not quite sure what a research action is? One of our leaders would be happy to sit with you and explain.

4. September 2/Mid-September: Voter Engagement Launch -- What Ideas would you like to share to kick off our very first leader-led Voter Engagement Campaign?
 
Where? What? Why? How? Let's talk about it! We  would love to hear from you!

Watch a recap of news media coverage of the Healthy Community in Unity prayer vigil here  
 
In peace, justice, and solidarity,
 
Stephanie R. Strong, M.A.
Community Organizer
Cell: 256.701.7395 
2018 UUCH BOOK SALE

Sign-up sheets for volunteering for the book sale can be found on the "What's New at UUCH" bulletin board.
 
Dates and times for the sale are:
 
Friday, September 28
11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, September 29
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
 
Sunday, September 30
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Please contact Dan McKitrick at [email protected] or by text at 256-426-6906 for more information. Pickup of books from your home will resume in late August.  
 
To date, we have presorted over 100 boxes of fiction and nonfiction books in anticipation of the sale. To facilitate ongoing sorting efforts by the Book Sale Committee, please make use of the used book collection table and tub in the sanctuary vestibule when you bring in donations. Whole boxes of books may be placed on the floor beneath the sorting tables in the north wing exterior hallway.  
votives
Care List
 
This Sunday, August 12, 2018,  
at our Circle of Candles:
 
Howard Williams lit a candle of joy: Our friend, James De Forrest, is on the mend after having major surgery.
 
Rachael Scheib lit a candle of sorrow: My mother, Mae Smith, lost her oldest best friend last Monday due to stroke. Please send your thoughts to my mother. Even though a crowd of 500 came to services for her friend, she does not feel closure but the pain of the loss.
 
John and Jessica Schulz lit a candle of sorrow: We are sorry that we lost our adorable beagle, Pennylane. She led a long, happy life and was a sweet, loving companion.   
 
Correction: 
On Sunday, August 5, 2018, Kathy Fisher lit a candle of sorrow: August 7th was the second anniversary of the death of my mentor and dear friend, Don Watters, a dear soul.