May's Count:
So Close!
96 Items!
Great Job!
 The Social Justice Committee's goal is to collect and donate 100 items per month for the food basket! 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).
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Share the Plate Yields Results!
Thanks to your generous donations,
our Share the Plate recipient for the 4th quarter, Meals On Wheels, received $603.50.
Our recipient for the next quarter (July, August, and September), will be the Community Free Clinic. Thanks for your continued support of this program!
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A Fair Bargain
Your Social Justice Committee is selling Fair Trade chocolate from Equal Exchange. There are a variety of yummy flavors, and the proceeds will be used to help fund social justice projects.
We now also have Fair Trade, Organic, "Kaffeeklatsch"
coffee for sale! These items will be available at the back of the sanctuary after Sunday services.
Remember, Fair Trade products help ensure that:
1) Unjust labor practices, such as child slavery, are not used.
2) Farmers and workers are paid fair wages and have a voice in the organization to which they sell their products.
3) Environmental sustainability is held as an important goal.
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Upcoming Services
Sunday June 16th, 2013
"A Celebration of Pride" The Reverend Alice Syltie and Interweave
In his declaration of June as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Pride month, President Obama pointed out that while much has been accomplished, we still have a long way to go. LGBT people face unique challenges, especially in today's world, as we see the Baby Boomer generation aging. Come hear about creative compassionate solutions to problems of displacement, and consider how we, as Unitarian Universalists, might contribute to a more just and loving society.
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This Sunday in Religious Education Summer RE continues at CAMP UU-BE-LONG: This week, Matt, Katie, and the kids will experiment with making seed balls. What are seed balls? A mixture of clay, soil, worm castings, and wildflower seeds that are molded into marble-sized balls, and then allowed to dry for a few days. Then toss them into an area that needs flowers and let nature do the rest! This could get messy. So, if your little one likes to dress up for church, please bring a smock, apron, or an old t-shirt for them to wear. We'll have extras in case you forget. Nursery care (ages 0-3) will be provided as usual. For more information, contact Becky Ellingwood, our RE Chair.
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Adult Religious Education:
Exploring Our UU Sources
Our Sixth Source: "Spiritual Teaching
of Earth-Centered Traditions"
Sunday, June 16th, 6:30 p.m.
 We continue this Sunday with the examination of our Sixth Source. Rev. Syltie and Carey Snowden are facilitating this class to explore "Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature." Earth based spirituality draws from pre-Christian and modern pagan religions, Native American spirituality, and our own transcendentalist forebears. In contemporary expression it pulls together threads from feminist theology and the environmental movement.
You do not have to have attended the first classes in order to benefit from this one. Everyone is welcome, and childcare will provided.
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Interweave Potluck & Game Night--
Friday, June 21st!
 UUCH's Interweave is an Outreach Group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) peoples and their friends and allies. On the 3rd Friday of each month, we hold a "Potluck and Game Night" to eat, play, and have a good time in a "safe zone" for the LGBTQ. We hope that our allies will come out and join in the fun so that we have a good mix of LGBTQ and A's participating. Everyone is Welcome.
This Month's Potluck/Game night will be held Friday, June 21st, from 6:30-9pm, here at the church.
Contact Denise Runnels or Morgan Justice for more information.
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Property Search Update
 The Board and the Property Sales and Purchase Committee (PSPC) continue to gather and assess information on the Highland United Methodist Church property. We will have another town hall meeting after the end of the "due diligence" period to provide updated information to the congregation. At that time we will be able to share some comprehensive information about the details of the inspection and the financial estimates for repairs and renovations.
In order to allow time to get quotes from multiple vendors, our "due diligence" period has been extended through June 28th. During this period, the PSPC is continuing to get quotes from various contractors to address the major items that were identified in the inspection report. Primary efforts are focused on replacement of the sanctuary HVAC system and repairs to the flat portions of the building roof (non-sanctuary).
The Finance committee continues to work on detailed financial projections for operating expenses if UUCH moved to the HUMC site.
In addition, The Board has commissioned a Renovation Committee to work with the PSPC to better understand and prioritize possible improvements to the HUMC property should the congregation decide to purchase this property. Brad Korb has agreed to chair this committee.
Watch the newsletter for future updates.
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UUCH Board Report, June 4th, 2013.
 Due to scheduling difficulties, the May meeting of the Board was delayed until June 4th. The Board hosted a conference call with UUA consultant Larry Wheeler on April 30th to discuss financial options and preparations for the possible purchase of the property on Broadmor.
One immediate task was the Capital Campaign Wrap-up led by Laurel Bollinger, which involved outreach to all current donators as well as a dinner and mailed information packet to all new members since the original campaign.
In addition, the Board and the PSPC met on three occasions (5/15, 5/28, and 6/3) to review both informal and formal property inspection results. The Board is working closely with the PSPC and the Finance Committee to facilitate this multi-faceted property purchase analysis--we applaud the efforts of the members of those committees!
The Board will be scheduling a Town Hall meeting to update the congregation on information gathered on this property. Additional visits to the property will be scheduled before a congregational meeting for the vote to proceed or not.
We are in the process of selecting delegates to represent UUCH at the upcoming General Assembly.
On behalf of the Tech Team, Denise Hunter-Gilbert has worked diligently to find a qualified company to revitalize our website; the Board allocated funds to hire the company that was recommended. The Internet is our main source of generating visitors. It is vital to have such a presence up and running in an efficient, effective, and pleasing manner.
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An Opportunity and Invitation from the Interfaith Mission Service
Dear Friends, I want to share this letter with you that I recently received from the Reverend Frank Broyles. If you are fairly new to UUCH, you may not realize that our congregation has been part of the cooperative of congregations that make up the Interfaith Mission Service (IMS), since its earliest days. Recently I served as the President of the Board of Directors of IMS. IMS is the one organization in town that operates with principles aligned with our own UU Principles.Over the years, much of our social justice work in the community has been coordinated through IMS initiatives.HELPline, Hope Place, CASA, First Stop, and Food Line are a few of the organizations started by IMS. The annual dinner is the one big fund raising event for IMS. I think it would be wonderful if we were present and visible as a supporting congregation. If you would like to support IMS in this way, let me know.If there are enough of us, I'll reserve a table in our name. --Rev. Syltie
FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OFFICE OF CHURCH AND COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
June 8, 2013
Area Congregational Leaders,
I write to you on behalf of Faith Presbyterian Church, an active participant in the cooperative of congregations known as Interfaith Mission Service.
No doubt you know something of the value of being a part of this cooperative as one of its participating congregations. One of the ways we at Faith realize its value is when we picture what the faith community and the broader community would be like WITHOUT this unique and "user-friendly" cooperative! Doing that helps us realize how engagement in the cooperative benefits us in many ways--including food ministries, the Day of Service and Unity, One Huntsville, Interfaith Dialogue, supporting education in faith and justice, the ability to better respond throughout the year to emerging projects and needs, and MORE!
Each year we give our congregational members an opportunity to celebrate this engagement, connect with others in the Cooperative, and learn more about the issues of the day by securing a table at the Annual Celebration and Awards Dinner. We will be doing that again at this year's celebration on Monday, June 24, 2012, from 5:30 P.M. till 8 P.M. at UAHuntsville University Center Exhibit Hall. WE CHALLENGE YOU TO CONSIDER DOING THE SAME. AND IF INVESTING IN A FULL TABLE IS BEYOND YOUR CAPACITY, CONSIDER SHARING ONE.
The Dinner story and how to secure a table can be found at http://j.mp/11mXuC3 and at http://www.interfaithmissionservice.org.
Here are some details:
Keynote speaker will be Activist-reporter Wendi C. Thomas, the metro columnist for Memphis' The Commercial Appeal. In 2008, Wendi founded Common Ground: Conversations on Race, Communities in Action in Memphis to bring people together in a safe place to have tough conversations about people of different races living together in the same city. The nonprofit organization leads neighborhood discussions, private sessions for Leadership classes and training meetings for public employees. It has also organized activities that help make the community better and also help bring people together across racial lines to work together and to have fun together. She will speak to "a deep longing for reconciliation between the races," the same longing that coincides with the goals of the Interfaith Mission Service, one of the South's oldest interfaith networks.
The banquet will also recognize the work in Huntsville of community leaders and volunteers who lead efforts to promote religious tolerance, social justice, and racial harmony and to care for the more vulnerable in North Alabama. Awards this year will go to Marilyn Evans, who spearheaded the organization of The Greene Street Market at the Church of the Nativity, Episcopal; to Bobby Bradley, founder and CEO of Village of Promise; to Dr. Keith Augustus Burton, the founding director of The Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations at Oakwood University; to Bhavani Kakani, president of Asha Kiran; and to Sue Duthie, the manager of FoodLine since 1996 and to Kathy Emerson, long-time volunteer.
You may choose between these three levels of sponsorship:
The Platinum Level:
$1,000 for a table of 8. For your donation, your congregation/company name will be listed as a Platinum Level Donor in the program, listed on the IMS website as a donor/supporter, and also a business card advertisement in the updated Showing Southern Hospitality publication, which is due to be published in the fall.
The Gold Level:
$500 for a table of 4. For your donation, your congregation/company name will be listed as a Gold Level Donor in the event program and listed on the Interfaith Mission Service website as a donor/supporter.
Individual Level:
$100 for an individual ticket. You will have 1 seat at a table.
I conclude with the challenge that comes from the Leadership Council of the Interfaith Mission Service: "We thank you for your past support and ask for your continued support. A lot of important work is done in Huntsville, Alabama. IMS is doing some of the most important. Help us move that work to greater levels of effectiveness."
Grace and Peace,
Frank Broyles
Faith Church Minister of Church and Community
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 Care List
In our Circle of Candles on June 9th, requests for candles came from:
"The member formerly known as Lisa Waldie" who announced that she is now (and will forever be) known as Lisa White.
Quinn and Denise Hunter-Gilbert who are joyful that they will be traveling to see friends and family across the US this summer, and sad that they will be away from their church family.
When you fill out a Circle of Candles form to be read during the service, please indicate on the form if you do not want your concern mentioned in this newsletter.
If you have pastoral care needs, please contact the Reverend Alice Syltie at revaluu@aol.com.
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UUCH 12-13 Board MembersPresident: Kevin Betts
V.P. Denise Hunter-Gilbert
Secretary: Bobby Hall
Treasurer: Matt Jordan
Trustees: Jerome Belcher, Nancy Finley, & Kathy Heath
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 Kevin Betts, no later than one week prior to the meeting, i.e. the Tuesday before.You may leave a copy of your request in his Mailbox at the church office, or contact him at
Next UUCH Board Meeting will be on July 2nd, 2013 at 7pm. Thanks for your cooperation!
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From the Overlook is a publication of
The Unitarian Universalist Church,
2222 Governor's Dr. Huntsville, AL 35801
Minister: The Reverend Alice Syltie
Board Pres: Kevin Betts
Editorial Board: Laurel Bollinger, Kathy Heath
Newsletter deadlines are each Monday at midnight!
Please send submissions to news collator Deedee Moore at uuch@uuch.org
Admin. Office Hours:
Monday 9am- 1pm; Thursday 9am-12pm ; Friday 10:30am-2pm
Office phone: 256.534-0508, email: uuch@uuch.org
Minister's Phone: 256.539-9607, email: revaluu@aol.com
Web: www.uuch.org
Sunday Services are held 10:45am to 12 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.
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