The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville AL 35810  
December 7, 2017
Vol. 17 Issue 49
In This Issue
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Thu. 12/7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
 
Sat. 12/9
Alabama Hispanic Association and UUCH Christmas Party
9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.  
(Volunteers
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
(Guests)
 
Sun. 12/10
Church Services
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
 
"Talk to the Board"
Sunday 
(immediately following the church service)   
 
YoUUth Group  
12:30pm - 3:30pm
 
Wed. 12/13
The UUkulele Fun Group
5:45 - 6:45 p.m.

UUCH Choir Practice
7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Music Room
Chili Cook-Off
January 20th, 2017
singing chili  
SAVE THE DATE! 
We Can Do It,
AGAIN!
canned goods  
Last month, we surpassed our goal and had the largest collection ever! The Social Justice Committe e's goal is to collect at least 100 items during the month of November 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!  
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!

SHARE OUR POSTS!
Quick Links...
Join Our Mailing List
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, December 10, 2017
 
" Baha'i Faith and Persecution of the Baha'i Women in Iran "
Ruhi Hiebert    
 
Baha'i Faith recognizes the unity of God and of His Prophets. It teaches that the fundamental purpose of religion is to promote concord and harmony. Persecution of the Baha'is started from the beginning of the Faith, but in 1979 got worse.  
I was in prison twice and ten of my friends were executed on one night only because they refused to recant their Faith. Their stories are very inspiring.
This Sunday in Children and
Youth Religious Education (CYRE)
  Christmas Pageant Rehearsal. We will learn the story, practice our parts, and sing some traditional carols. Parts are still available for all ages (4 and older)! Email Erin Reid to express interest.
 
Parents/guardians should plan to come to the Religious Education (RE) area following the service to confirm children's participation. More information is in the article below.
 
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.
retutn 
Alabama Hispanic Association and UUCH Christmas Party
 
THIS 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 to help.
 
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 (hospitality@uuch.org  ) or Gail Williams and Michele Clark ( socialjustice@uuch.org ).
 
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.  
"Talk to the Board" Sunday, December 10th, 2017

gavel
It is always important to promote healthy communication between the leadership and all members of our church community. As Reverend Sytlie is on sabbatical and is planning her retirement next year, it is especially important that we strengthen our commitment to being available to the congregation. Over the next few months, our Board, our Leadership Council, and Reverend Syltie will be working on the many issues that relate to this transition. The Board recognizes that members of the congregation may have questions.
 
  In keeping with our goal of open communication, some Board Members will be available once a month after Sunday services to talk to members about any concerns about the church. These "Talk to the Board" meetings will be informal, with no agenda but to provide a forum by which we can make sure we are hearing the congregation. The December "Talk to the Board" meeting will be held this Sunday, December 10th, in the Board Room (in the RE wing) immediately following the church service. Everyone is welcome to attend. 
The UUkulele Fun Group
 
 The Ukulele Fun Group occurs every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 5:45. Our next gathering is Wednesday, December 13th, and is open to everyone, regardless of skill level! 
pagent
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, and
  • 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) this Sunday, December 10th, for our Christmas Pageant rehearsal day. 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 dre@uuch.org.  
 
There are parts for Everyone!
Wonderful Wednesday Supper 
 
Wonderful Wednesday Supper will not be held in December. Join us again on Wednesday, January 17th, when we're featuring yummy homemade soup. 
UUCH Board Report  
 
The UUCH Board met on November 28, 2017, for their regularly scheduled Board Meeting.
The Board is consulting with representatives from the UUA District Office to help prepare us for transition issues related to Rev. Alice's retirement. There will be a need for much planning for the upcoming year. 
 
In other business, we are exploring options for new accounting software and discussed full staffing of volunteer committees. The general policy on limiting independent fundraisers at the church was reiterated.
 
Due to the holidays, the regularly scheduled December Board meeting will not be held. The next Board meeting will be held on January 23, 2018.
 
The next "Talk to the Board" for interested members of the congregation will be December 10th, 2017, immediately following the Sunday service.

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 bradkorb@mindspring.com with any questions.
votives
Care List
 
This Sunday, December 3rd, 2017, at our Circle of Candles:
 
Fran Alexander, a candle of joy: On a cold winter's morn many, many, many years ago . . . well, not SO many years ago, a baby girl was born. Happy Birthday to me! How blessed I am to share it with my dear friends in this church.