The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville, AL 35810  
August 1, 2019
Vol. 19 Issue 31
In This Issue
Upcoming Events  

Sun. 8/4
Worship Service
Ana Schuber
10:45 a.m.

First Sunday Potluck
12:00 p.m.


Wed. 8/7
Soul Matters Small Group (Group B)
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.


Sun. 8/11
Worship Committee Meeting
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Social Justice Committee Meeting
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Worship Service
Annual Hymn Sing
10:45 a.m.


Wed. 8/14
Soul Matters Small Group (Group C)
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

UUkulele Fun Group
5:45 - 6:45 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal 7:00 - 8:45 p.m.


Sat. 8/17
Beyond Categorical
Thinking 
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

U Ukule le  
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.
Huntsville Assistance Program 
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 donations in the basket in the church foyer for the Huntsville Assistance Program. Please, no canned corn, beans, or peas! They are currently overloaded with those items.

Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee
 
UUCH Free Food Pantry 
UUCH's Free Food Pantry is installed in the parking lot and is now stocked. The Social Justice Committee will restock the pantry with non-perishables, as needed, and you can, too.

See the Social Justice Committee for more information on what items are in need.

Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee

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UUCH 2019-20
Board Members
 
President:  
John Schulz
 
 Vice President: 
Denise Runnels

Secretary:
Nick Wilbourn

Treasurer: 
David Bollinger 

Trustees: 
Ed Bernstein
Jack Long
Bryan Walls

 
Interim Minister:
The 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 John Schulz  via email no later than one week prior to the meeting (i.e. the Tuesday before)The next board meeting will be Tuesday, August 27 .  

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:  

John Schulz   

Editor:  

Nick Wilbourn 

 

Newsletter deadlines are each Monday at midnight.
Any committee with newsletter announcements should send submissions to news collator Amanda Schuber at
uuch@uuch.org.  

 

Office Hours:

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Monday - Wednesday - Friday 

Office Phone: 
256-534-0508
Office 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 p.m. 
Children's Religious Education held concurrently. Nursery available for ages 3 years and under.

 

For more info on any event, contact the church office.

 
Upcoming Service

Philanthropy in America
Ana Self Schuber
Sunday, August 4, 2019  
 
Philanthropy is one of the cornerstones of American life. This Sunday we will explore what it means to be a truly giving community and why. 
 
 
 Future Services
 August 11: Annual Summer Hymn Sing  
August 18: Rev. Keith Kron (Guest Speaker)
August 25: Ingathering / Water Communion
 
This week we will have fun with crafts, led by Ashley Creekmore, with help from  Amy Strickland. Our Mini Muusic Makers will continue this week with Sarah Korb and Kristen Smith. The Sunday supervisor is  Michelle Clark. 
 
For more information on the Summer CYRE program, please contact Harper Goodman, RE Assistant, or Steve Rittenberg, CYRE Chair.
Adult RE: Studying the Bible      
The first two sessions in our Studying the Bible series examined creation myths and Parables. The series will continue in August. 
 
This series offers a UU Adult Religious Education context where we will discuss sections of the Bible, with an eye on both its ancient and modern functions. While the Bible can be read for many different reasons, at least one reason is for the window it offers into the ancient world, a window that may also help us understand its role in modern society. 
 
Join us in the Adult RE Room on August 25 at 9:00 a.m. If you need childcare, please contact Adult RE chair Lynsie Lamitie at least one week before the event. Everyone is welcome. 
 
Sponsored by the Adult Religious Education Committee
First Sunday Potluck    
 
Please join us this Sunday, August 4, after the service for our monthly First Sunday Potluck Lunch.  
Have a new recipe you've been wanting to try or a summer-time favorite you'd like to share? Here's the perfect opportunity! Drop off your dish before the service, either on the tables set up in the corner of the Fellowship Hall or in the warming ovens in the kitchen. Please tell us about the food you are sharing by filling out one our handy tent cards. We are looking forward to breaking bread with you. 
    
Submitted by the Hospitality Committee 
BEYOND CATEGORICAL THINKING 
 
Workshop - Saturday, August 17
Worship Service - Sunday, August 18
 

 
"Will the new minister hear me? Will my concerns and needs be met? Will the minister understand what I'm living with? How will the community respond to our minister?" In answering these questions, a picture of the "ideal minister" (categorized by age, gender identity, nationality, physical or cognitive ability, race, sexual orientation, etc.) probably comes to mind. With this picture in place, it can be easy to unintentionally exclude ministers who fall into certain categories. At times, as we get caught up in comparing candidates to our "picture," and we can even forget what it is we hoped for in a minister.  
 
On the weekend of August 17 and 18, UUCH will participate in the Beyond Categorical Thinking program offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) for congregations involved in the search for a new minister.  
 
The UUCH Ministerial Search Committee invites all congregational leaders, members, and friends to participate in this workshop. Beyond Categorical Thinking is designed to promote inclusive thinking and help prevent unfair discrimination in the search process for a new minister. This program includes a three-hour BCT workshop and a Sunday morning service with a trained facilitator, Rev. Keith Kron, the Director of Transitions for the UUA. In the workshop, UUCH members will:
 
- Consider the hopes, expectations, and concerns they have for a new minister
- Learn more about the ministerial search process, and
- Explore how thinking categorically about people sometimes interferes with choosing the best candidate.  
 
The selection of a minister is important. Beyond Categorical Thinking is another opportunity for everyone in our congregation to be a part of that process. Everyone is welcome, and childcare will be provided. If you have questions, contact your Ministerial Search Committee.
 
Submitted by the Ministerial Search Committee
UUCH Board Report
July 23, 2019
 
The UUCH Board conducted its regularly scheduled meeting on July 23, 2019. This was the first meeting of the 2019-20 Board.
 
The Board discussed our hopes for our congregation for the upcoming year. Topics of discussion included hiring our new minister, focusing on continued growth, and developing our church's leaders and volunteers.
 
The recently appointed Communications Task Force reported on priorities related to launching our new church website. More information about our new website will be coming soon.
 
The Board approved a motion to allocate funds from Capital Reserves to cover the cost of replacing seats and backs of the chairs in the Fellowship Hall. The work of replacing the seats and backs will be completed in the near future.
 
The next Board meeting will be Thursday, August 27.
   
Submitted by the Board 
What's in a Name?   
 
Did you know that our weekly email newsletter has a name? Before we moved into our current building five years ago, our church was tucked away on a slope up the mountain, overlooking a beautiful vista of trees. It was that hilltop view that inspired our newsletter to be dubbed "The Overlook".  
 
The time has now come for us to rechristen our newsletter, so we are having a contest!  The office will accept name suggestions through the end of July, and we will have a vote at the August 4 potluck! So get creative, and send your name suggestions to Amanda Schuber by July 28!   
 
Submitted by the Church Office 
We Need Your Pictures!  
 
 
Have you taken some good snapshots during church services or events in the past year or so? We want to include a wide variety of photos on our new website from a unique perspective -- yours!  
 
Let's show prospective friends and members what UUs look like in action as we care, educate, worship, advocate, and answer the call of love. Please send images (with suggested captions) to our webmaster
 
NOTE: We will assume that you have the rights to your submitted photos and that photo releases are on file for any children pictured. Please confirm this before sending photos publishing faces younger than 18 years old.   
 
Submitted by the Communications Task Force  
UUCH Choir Fall Kickoff    
 
 
The music of the UUCH Choir is a huge part of our music ministry, and we are returning from our summer break!   
 
Feel the spirituality lifting us in song.  Whether you have music experience or will be having your very first musical experience, feel welcome to join us on Wednesday, August 14, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. in   the Music Room. We will meet to agree on a covenant and gather and update contact information.

This event will include a potluck of finger foods and beverages, a meet-and-greet of choir members and all of those who wish to be a part of our music ministry, and a time to share the performance calendar and the music we will learn for the fall season.
 
With notification, child care will be provided. Please contact our our Music Director,  Pam Siegler, with questions.  
 
Submitted by the Music Committee 
New Picture Directory     
 
SAVE THE DATE: October 22 and 23
 
Schedule your hair appointment, coordinate your wardrobe, and groom the dog. It's time to update our church picture directory! 

We will again work with Lifetouch Photography, and every sitting will include one FREE portrait, along with several new offers and discounts. Detailed information and sign-up slots will be announced in early fall, but put the dates on your calendar now, and start practicing your best camera smile. 
 
Submitted by the Membership Committee 
SoulCollage Group 
 
This fall we will be restarting our popular SoulCollage group. Based on the work of Seena Frost, SoulCollage is an easy, creative way to get in touch with your right brain, intuitive self. We will cut or tear out images from magazines and glue them on a card. The use of images (instead of language) helps us to connect with the parts of ourselves that can't be put into words. Each card is personal and unique because everyone chooses images that speak to them. More information will come soon. 
 
Submitted by the Adult Religious Education Committee 
Care List
votives
 
This Sunday, July 28, 2019,  at our Circle of Candles:
 
Miranda Durbin  lit a candle of sorrow: 
My oldest niece, Eliza, is about to get caught up in a potentially nasty custody situation. Please send love and light that she will end up in the best place for her.