The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville AL 35810  
November 23, 2017
Vol. 17 Issue 47
In This Issue
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Thu. 11/23
Thanksgiving Day

Sun. 11/26
Church Services
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
 
Wed. 11/29
UUCH Choir Practice
7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Music Room
We collected 202 HAP items in October.   
 
That is one of the best month's ever!!!
 
The Social Justice Committe e's goal is to collect at least 100 items during the month of October for the food pantry. Please put your nonperishable food item or personal care product donation in the basket in the church foyer for the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP).  
   
Thanks for all you do!  
The UUkulele Fun Group 

The UUkulele Fun Group meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. All skill levels welcome!
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!

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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, November 28th.

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, November 26, 2017
 
" Huntsville's Civil Rights Struggle"
Sonnie W. Hereford IV  
 
My father, Sonnie W. Hereford III, grew up in North Alabama in the 30's and 40's and started his medical career in Huntsville in the 50's. He played a major role in the local Civil Rights movement, including a visit by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Over the years, there have been many successes in the Civil Rights movement -- and the struggle continues, as demonstrated by events of recent times.  
 
Mr. Hereford was born in East Chicago, Indiana, and in 1963 became the first black child to integrate the Alabama Public School system. He earned a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering at Notre Dame, and a Masters in Computer and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. Over the years, he has been on the Board of Directors and/or participated in fundraisers for several organizations and non-profits, such as United Way, United Cerebral Palsy, American Heart Association, Leukemia Society, American Cancer Society, and Big Brothers - Big Sisters. He currently works as an Enterprise Architect at Phacel, Inc. supporting the US Army Contracting Command.
This Sunday in Children and
Youth Religious Education (CYRE)
  
Creative Action Day! The Social Justice foodbasket Committee will lead children and youth in assembling meal packs for homeless outreach. 
 
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.

Guest at Your Table (GAYT) is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's (UUSC) annual intergenerational program to raise support for and awareness about UUSC's work to advance human rights around the globe. This year's theme, Small Change Is Big Change, celebrates the bravery, innovation, and reach of UUSC's grassroots partners. With your support, UUSC and our partners are not only responding to extraordinary challenges of today, we are also addressing root causes of injustice and building capacity to respond to future challenges.
 
The GAYT brochure describes four UUSC partners who can be the guests at your table. You are encouraged to set out a box at your table to represent one of these or another guest. Boxes and brochures are available in the Fellowship Hall. The GAYT program will run through the end of the year. We will collect the boxes in January.

Please contact Brad Korb at 256-895-9303 or [email protected] with any questions.
All-Ages Holiday Movie Night December 2nd, 2017
 
 
Join the UUCH YOUUTH group as we host our 2nd Annual UUCH All-Ages Holiday Movie Night! We will be showing a treasured holiday favorite in the Fellowship Hall as we share freshly baked cookies, hot cocoa, and mulled cider.  
 
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2nd, and the movie will start at 6:30 p.m.
 
Childcare will be provided.
Town Hall Meeting December 3rd
  gavel
A few weeks ago, we heard the Next Steps Task Force describe some of the options being considered for the next phase of our property renovations and that we would soon all get a chance to insert our opinions on where the priorities should be placed.  
 
On December 3rd (a potluck Sunday), we will receive information on the estimated cost of the projects and participate in a voting method to quantify our opinions. The task force will present a brief description of the options after we get our food and settle in. After eating, we will conduct a voting process in which we will each have a fixed budget for our choices.  
 
We need as broad a participation as possible, so all church members should try to be there. Meanwhile, there are paper descriptions of the projects on a table in the Fellowship Hall so that you can review them this Sunday to refresh your memory of the options under consideration.   
 
The Next Steps Task Force members are Tim Miller (chair), Lynsie Lamitie (Board representative), Reverend Syltie (presently on sabbatical leave), and Brad Korb. Board President, Laurel Bollinger, and Vice President, Denise Runnels, have also been involved in assembling the options.  Please contact any of us if you have questions or comments.  
 
Hope to see you on the 3rd!
It's Pageant Time!
Our UUCH Annual Christmas Pageant will be performed during the Worship Service on Sunday, December 17th! Children who participate in the pageant should:  
  • be at least 4 years old (we have parts for youth and adults too!)
  • be able to attend a short rehearsal during Religious Education (RE) on Sunday, December 10th
  • be able to arrive at church early (9:45 a.m.) on the day of the pageant (December 17th) for a quick run-through
  • be able to supply simple costume items (e.g., bath robes, etc.--no sewing or elaborate costuming required)
If you'd like to be part of this exciting production, please come to Religious Education (RE) on Sunday, December 3rd, for our Christmas Pageant Prep day and Casting of Parts. Parents should plan to come to the RE area and confirm children's participation following the service. You may also contact Erin Reid at (256) 694-6786 or [email protected].  
 
There are parts for Everyone!
Alabama Hispanic Association and UUCH Christmas Party Saturday, December 9th 
 
You can bring Christmas cheer to local Hispanic families. Alabama Hispanic Association (AHA) reaches out to selected families to provide a Christmas gift to children. UUCH provides a nice Christmas dinner and some of the gifts (from your donation gifts during the service).
Sign up online or on the Fellowship Hall poster.
 
So many ways to show your generosity in this community service event!
- Donate money to the UUCH youth for their  
  special shopping trip for some of the gifts
- Donate food (or money) for the lunch menu,  
  featuring turkey and ham
- Decorate Fellowship Hall (Friday)
 
- Food/kitchen setup (Friday)
- Serve and clean up
- Greet guests, especially if you speak a little  
  Spanish
 
Saturday: Volunteers 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 
Guests: 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Questions? Contact Betsy Applegate ([email protected]  ) or Gail Williams and Michele Clark ( [email protected] ).
 
There will be fewer guests this year (about 90) and only one meal sitting, so there's no need for additional space for play in the Religious Education wing.
 
You'll want to be part of this wonderful, heart-warming holiday event. You are giving a special gift to the Hispanic community and to yourself.
 
Co-sponsored by Social Justice, Hospitality, and the Alabama Hispanic Association.  
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 is one last 30 minute rehearsal after church starting at 12:15 p.m. on December 3rd. If you have any questions, please call, text, or email the Music Director, Pam Siegler (931-307-4994).
votives
Care List
 
This Sunday, November 19th, 2017, at our Circle of Candles:
 
Amanda Schuber, a candle of joy: Candle of thanks for the wonderful Worship Committee that always comes together and makes it happen. I'm extremely grateful for the partnership with John, Theresa, Nick, Lauren, Bobby, Pam, Erin, Lynsie, and Kathy. Thank you for all you do, including leading the Bread Communion.