News from Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville

The Social Justice Committe e has a monthly goal to collect at least 100 items during each month 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 Calendar

UUCH Website

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Mid-South District

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, February 27th.

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.

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:
256-534-0508.

Upcoming Service

Sunday, February 4, 2018

"A Viking's Happiness"

The Reverend Julie Conrady

Happiness for many is elusive, often requiring great perseverance to achieve. Journey with us into traditions of world religions and the success of the Danish as we explore internal happiness for ourselves.

The Reverend Julie Conrady is Affiliated Community Minister of First Unitarian Church in Oklahoma City and a full time hospital chaplain at OU Medical Center and the Children's Hospital. She lives happily with her spouse, Josh, her toddler, Stark, two cats, and a dog.

* 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!

This Sunday in Children and

Youth Religious Education (C

YRE)

Younger CYRE groups will meet in their classrooms for lessons in the "Living Our Principles" curricula.

Transformers and YOUUTH will meet together in the YOUUTH room to continue planning the youth-led worship service on February 11th. All youth grades 6 to 12 are invited to participate!

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.

From Your Minister

February brings us the theme of Perseverance. In my opinion, this is an appropriate theme for a month of cold days and grey skies. For those suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, February can be a brutal month. When we think of persevering, we often think of digging in and hanging tough through difficult or challenging circumstances. What we often forget is the need for self care and recognizing what it takes to help us be our best selves.

David and I had decided at one point that every February we would go somewhere warm for a week. I really miss those vacations to the islands for soaking up sun and snorkeling along colorful reefs . Last week I was in the Tampa area for the Unitarian Universalist Ministers' Institute on Excellence in Ministry. Although it was a little chilly for Florida, I still managed to walk on the beach and take in a couple of beautiful sunsets.

This month, as we contemplate what does it means to be a people of perseverance, I invite you to consider what helps you replenish your own inner strength. How and with whom do you find the sustaining breath to carry on?

In Love and Hope,

The Reverend Alice

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:

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)
Send a check directly to UUSC, PO Box 808, Newark, NJ 07101-0808
Donate on-line at https://donate.uusc.org/checkout/donation?eid=75595

Thanks for your contributions!

Share The Plate*

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 enhances 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

EXTENDED!

Unitarian Universalist
Common Read

Sunday, February 4th

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 are 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 [email protected] If you need childcare, please let Shiela or Nancy at least one week in advance.

Everyone is invited to join us, even if you were not able to attend the first discussion.

Hope to see you there!

New UU Class

Starts February 11th

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 now for the Sunday mornings of February 11 th , 18 th , and 25 th for this chance to learn and share. Meet for coffee or tea at 9:00 a.m. in the Adult Religious Education classroom; discussion starts at 9:15 a.m. Pam Korb and Nick Wilbourn will facilitate the discussion.

Contact Nancy Finley ([email protected]) for further information. If you need childcare during this time, please contact Nancy at least a week before the class.

Make a Quilt in One Weekend

It's not too late to learn to make a quilt in one weekend. Shiela Burrows, Susan Coddington and Nancy Stetson are offering a quilting workshop on February 16th-19th.

This was originally offered as a Service Auction item and is still available for $75 per person. Each person will receive enough fabric to make a bed-sized quilt (80" X 90"), the use of all tools needed, and up to 20 hours of instruction. Each person must have their own sewing machine, a 1/4" foot, and neutral colored thread.

Please contact Shiela Burrows for more information if you would like to join us.

Remaining spaces are extremely limited!

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.

For more information, contact Nancy Finley at [email protected]. UUCH Adult Religious Education focuses on the whole spiritual person--mentally and physically. J oin us!

Care List

This Sunday, January 28, 2018, at our Circle of Candles:

Bryan Walls: a candle of sorrow; A candle for Clara Welch on the death of her father, Troy Bain Welch on January 17th.

Ruth Votava: a candle of sorrow; Ruth's husband, Nolan, passed away Friday, unexpectedly. His service is Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at Berryhill Funeral Home. Visitation is at 3:00 p.m. Ruth attended UUCH for years and in recent months has been coming more frequently.

Anonymous: a candle of sorrow and a candle of joy; Wishing Amanda Shuber a speedy recovery from the flu. Joyfully celebrating UU Service Auction fellowship at Diane Walls' pottery class and Tim and Susan Coddington's Spanish dinner.

Gail Williams: a candle of joy; UUCH hosted the monthly meeting of Faith in Action Alabama, Thursday, January 25th. The dinner and meeting went well. I was proud of our church. Thanks to all from our church who attended and provided the dinner.