The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville AL 35810  
March 16, 2017
Vol. 17 Issue 11
In This Issue
bags of food
We collected 124 items for HAP in February.
 
THANKS!
The Social
Justice Committe e's goal is to collect and donate 100 items per month. CAN you pick up an extra CANNED good, nonperishable food item, or personal care product next time you are out shopping? Please do, and put it in the basket in the church foyer to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP). Suggested donations:  
macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce, dry beans and rice, boxes of cereal, bars of soap, canned meat, and peanut butter!

Thanks in advance!


ARE YOU MAKING YOUR PLANS?
General Assembly 2017 
June 21-25, 2017
New Orleans, Louisiana
NOW IS THE TIME to begin planning your trip to our UUA's General Assembly! Important dates and programming updates may be found here:  http://www.uua.org/ga.
CLICK HERE to receive updates about General Assembly from the GA2017 New Orleans Local Arrangements Chair
This is close enough to drive from Huntsville! 

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March's Theme: Risk
     Upcoming Services
      
     Sunday, March 19th, 2017  
                                         
"Searching for Truth & Meaning:  
Story, Science, and other Risky Ways of Knowing."   

Reverend Denise Gyauch

At the literal center of our Unitarian Universalist Principles is an insistence on the importance of the search for truth and meaning. We will explore some of the ways we human beings know what we know (and how we sometimes don't know what we think we know!) and consider the characteristics of the free and responsible pursuit of knowledge and understanding.          
This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education

It's a Creative Service Day! Children and youth will assemble meal packs for homeless outreach with the Social Justice Committee.

For information or to register a child, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education (DRE) at [email protected] or Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair, at [email protected].
Last chance! Please sign up now for the ABD
Fellowship Dinner!

Please help UUCH "tend the flame" by signing up now to attend the Annual Budget Drive (ABD) Fellowship Dinner. The dinner will will be held at Weatherly Heights Baptist Church on Saturday, March 25th, at 6:00 p.m. We have over 100 adults and 20 children currently signed up for the event. During this evening of good food, music, and fellowship, we will also each receive and complete our ABD Pledge form for the coming church fiscal year.
     
If you have not already done so, please click here   to sign up online. We are trying to get a final headcount to our caterer by the end of this week.

If you cannot attend the dinner, we will contact you separately to arrange a personal meeting to complete your ABD Pledge form.
 
Thank you! 
        
Kevin Betts (ABD Chair)
Glen Clark (ABD Co-Chair)
  Are You Ready to Become a Memb er?
 
If you've been attending UUCH long eno ugh to know that th is churc h community feels like your spiritual home, you may be ready to take the next step and become a member. On Sunday, April 9th, we will welcome new members as they "sign the book" and officially join our church.
 
If you are ready to become a member or wo uld like to find out more about the process, please contact Pam Korb at   [email protected] .
 
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP

Because we are a democratic community, members are collectively vested with responsibility for the congregation. Members may vote at all congregational meetings, be elected to the governing Board, be appointed as committee chairs, and participate in all activities of the congregation.
Because we are a covenanted congregation, members have certain responsibilities to the congregation and to each other. These responsibilities are best fulfilled by:
  • Regular attendance at worship. Weekly worship cements the bonds of community, and keeps our attention directed to our highest values, while nurturing our spirits.
  • Voting at congregational meetings. Responsible participation includes imagining the needs of the entire congregation, rather than focusing only on one's own needs or desires. Consider how issues affect all members of the congregation, as well as potential members and others in the world outside the congregation.
  • Making financial contributions. Not only does this provide for the support of the congregation, but it also serves as a spiritual discipline.
  • Contributing time and talent. Congregations succeed because their members find ways to give of themselves, whether through singing, financial management, educating children, sharing their passion for social justice, organizing, cooking, greeting, maintaining the building and grounds--the list of tasks goes on and on. Finding ways to give back that nurture your own soul helps support your personal growth along with the growth of our congregation.
  • Spiritual growth and development. Working deliberately at your own spiritual development is a gift to yourself, to the congregation, and to the larger world.
Social Justice Meeting  justice scales
Sunday, March 19 at 9:30 am
 
Please join us for our next Social Justice Committee meeting.  We will be discussing Spring projects and setting up for the homeless meal pack the RE kids and youth are working on.  Childcare will be provided, and we'll have bagels. 
Questions?  Tonia at (256) 882-9891 or  
[email protected].
AHA Tutoring Sessions Cancelled

The tutoring sessions planned in March and April with the Alabama Hispanic Coalition have been cancelled for the time being. Thank you if you were planning to volunteer.

Sponsored by the Alabama Hispanic Association in cooperation with your Social Justice Committee.
Opportunity for Spiritual Growth
(Our Third Principle )

UAH Women and Gender Studies is sponsoring a series of events on women and spirituality that emphasizes interfaith connections in our community. Both our Director of Religious Education, Erin Reid, and our Chair of Adult Religious Education, Nancy Finley, are on the organizing committee, and we thought UUCH members might be interested in attending some of these events:

It's that time of year again!

The time when you're ready and willing to clean out your closets, your drawers, your attics, and your garages. Toward that end, we'll be hosting the Annual UUCH Yard Sale at the church on Saturday, May 20th, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Mark the date, gather your goods (after making sure they're clean, stain-free, and intact), and start delivering them to the church where they'll be stored in the north wing. By early May, I'll ask for help in sorting and displaying. Finally, I'll urge you to sign up and help on May 20th. We haven't set up anything yet, but it's likely we'll be able to pick up large items the week of the yard sale. If you have questions, e-mail Bonnie Herold at [email protected] or text/call (256) 289-1374.
Board Report for February 28th, 2017

Your UUCH Board of Trustees met on February 28th.
Topics of discussion included:
  • Proposed a policy on usage of the Church by members for events and classes.
  • Made preparations to present plans for capital improvements and growth at the Annual Congregational Meeting.
Ed Bernstein, Secretary
UUCH Board of Trustees
votives
Care List
 
This Sunday,  March 12th, 2017  
at our Circle of Candles:

Jo Broussard and Jeanne deFrance lit a candle of sorrow: Grandson D. Owens returns to his home in Dayton, Ohio for Spring Break and to mourn the death of his friend, a gunshot victim.

Michelle Clark lit a candle of joy: Vincent and I are solo this morning because Haley is competing in the second day of the State Chess Tournament. Please send thoughts of good luck and focus.

Maria Coble lit a candle of sorrow: This week Lucas Payne, the father of 2 of my students, was murdered. He was 36 years old. They need comfort. Another candle of sorrow: This week, John Parker, the husband of my friend, died. His daughter is 14. They need comfort and healing on their grief journey. It was rather unexpected. A candle of joy: My sister, Anna, is moving to Madison, AL from China.

Rondi Kelton lit a candle of joy: My daughter, Rachel, is home from college for Spring Break!

Torin Kyemba lit a candle: Yesterday we went to the Saint Patrick's Day Parade. It was a lot of fun going there. I wasn't expecting to get so much candy and necklaces. Eventually, we got cold and walked back slow to get more gifts. Then, we went to the library and laid out our candy!  
UUCH 16-17 Board Members
 
President: Laurel Bollinger 
Vice-President: Denise Runnels  
Secretary: Ed Bernstein           
Treasurer: Greg Howard   
Trustees: Susan Coddington, Kathy Heath,
   and Lynsie Lamitie 
 
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, March 28th, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. Thanks for your cooperation!

From 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: Laurel Bollinger, 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.