Start Reading!
Heads up everyone! The Adult RE committee is sponsoring a book discussion on the book Reason and Reverence: Religious Humanism for the 21st Century, by William R. Murry.
For anyone who may have difficulty getting the book, we have a few to lend. Look above the coffee bar at the back of the sanctuary for a book sign-out sheet. Anyone needing the help is welcome to borrow a copy of the book; please read and return within a reasonable time so that others have the opportunity to read it as well. Jon Fox and Nancy Finley will begin the discussion October 6th. More details will follow in future newsletters and announcements.
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 WE CAN REACH 100! Your Social Justice Committee asks that we bring non-perishable food and hygiene items for the food basket this Sunday, to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program. The basket is in the church foyer. Our Goal: 100 Food Items per month! |
Guiltless Pleasure
Fair Trade, Organic, "Kaffeeklatsch" coffee for sale! Bags of coffee are available at the back of the sanctuary after Sunday services.
Proceeds are used to help fund Social Justice projects--everybody wins!
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Upcoming Services
Sunday September 15th, 2013
"Good Churches Make Good Neighbors"
Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education
Unitarian Universalists affirm multiple sources of wisdom and spiritual tradition, as well as central principles that unite us in our diversity. What implications do our principles and sources have on our ability to reach out to people with different beliefs and practices than our own? This year our Children and Youth Religious Education Program, through our theme, "Good Churches Make Good Neighbors," will explore diverse religions of neighboring faiths and the tools for respectful, accepting interfaith interactions. As UUs we understand that a deeper Kinship than doctrine connects us with all people and joins us in our shared capacities for doing good in the world. DRE Erin Reid will explore some ways UUs of all ages can expand our abilities to be good interfaith neighbors. This service will also include a ceremony of dedication for RE leaders and volunteers as we begin our year together.
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This Sunday in Religious Education The Children and Youth RE program begins this Sunday! Children and youth will go to their age-based groups. With our theme "Good Churches Make Good Neighbors," groups will be starting exciting new curricula that explore faith diversity. The Peace Group will start "We Are Many, We Are One," Justice will start "Holidays and Holydays," and Searchers and Overachievers will start "Building Bridges." See the article below for more information and to register. Stay after the service for an all-church ice cream social! Childcare for ages 0-3 will be offered in the Nursery as usual. For more information, contact our Director of Religious Education, Erin Reid.
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This Saturday! All Ages are Invited to Help Prepare Our New Church Home!
It is time to start making the new church building our very own, using our very own sweat equity! We will be gathering on Saturday, September 14th to clean up the new church property. We will start at 9 AM, and will finish by 1 PM. We will mostly be clearing brush and cleaning out whatever is left in the building. It will be a fun fun time for all!
 Please bring these items if you have them:
Work gloves
Pruning shears
Wheelbarrows
Chain saws
Hand saws
Rakes
There will be jobs for every skill level--and a light lunch will be provided. Families are encouraged to participate with their children and youth for any amount of time, so our young ones too can begin to connect with our new home. Children will be under their families' supervision for volunteer activities. Childcare with space for rest and play will be provided all morning as needed.
For further information, please contact Property chair George Fletcher at fletcher35801@comcast.net.
See you there!
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"New UU Class" Continues This Sunday, September 15th  What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? Guided by the Tapestry of Faith Curriculum, we will offer a three-part series that explores important themes in UU congregational life--our worship and theology, history, covenant and polity, faith development, social justice, and membership. This program is particularly focused on introducing newcomers to Unitarian Universalism, but those of us who have been here for awhile will also be able to share and connect with others as we explore our own beliefs and how they intersect with the UU tradition. Everyone is welcome! Last week's class is not a prerequisite! The class continues for the next two Sunday mornings, September 15th and 22nd. Take advantage of this chance to learn and share. Meet for coffee or tea at 9:00 a.m.; discussion starts at 9:15. Pam Korb and Nancy Finley will facilitate the discussion. Contact Nancy Finley (finleyn@uah.edu) for further info. Childcare will be available for this event.
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UUCH Book Sale!
Two Days to Shop!
Friday, October 11th,
12pm-7pm!
Saturday, October 12th,
8 am-4 pm!
(Free admission)
There will be no pre-sales!
HUGE selection of used books, audio, video, magazines,
rare finds and old favorites--get there before the good ones get away!
What Can YOU Do To Help?
- Invite your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers (book sale flyers can be found on the name-tag table).
- Donate your books to this great cause (and get a tax deduction).
- Bring your books to church from Sunday, Sept. 15th through Sunday, Oct. 6th.
- Plan to stay after the Oct. 6th potluck for a book-sorting party!
Start Bringing Your Book Donations This Sunday!
Contact pamkorb@mindspring.com or uuch@uuch.org to volunteer to work a shift at the sale.
"When I get a little money I buy books and if any is left I buy food and clothes."--Desiderius Erasmus
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Families Please Register for a New Year in Children and Youth Religious Education
 Welcome back to the fall program of children and youth religious education at UUCH! If you haven't done so already, please register children and youth for this year's program by September 13th. Registration helps us plan for facilities, leadership, and safety needs. It also lets us be in touch with your family with special announcements and RE information. All participants in the RE program (ages infant to 18) should register each year even if you've registered before. Paper registration is available at the church, or you can register online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WS8LDNP 
Children, youth, and leaders will meet in their RE rooms beginning Sunday, September 15th. As usual, children and youth will begin the service upstairs with our full multi-generational congregation and will go downstairs to their classes after the Story for Sharing. The worship service will include a ceremony of dedication for our RE leaders. After church the RE Committee will host an RE Open House and Ice Cream Social. All are invited!
Our RE age-based groups for this year are: Nursery (for ages infant to 3, and staffed by experienced childcare providers); Peace (ages 4/Pre-K to grade 1); Justice (grades 2-4); Searchers (grades 5-7); and Over-Achievers (grades 8-12). There are many children and youth transitioning rooms this year, which is VERY exciting!
This year's theme is "Good Churches Make Good Neighbors."The curriculum offerings give children and youth, at age-appropriate levels, the opportunity to explore diverse religions of neighboring faiths and the tools for respectful, accepting interfaith interactions.
We are delighted to be using curricula that teaches faith diversity at all age levels. The Peace group will be using We Are Many We Are One by Colleen McDonald, which explores our own UU diversity, the diversity around us, and builds a sense of belonging. The Justice Group will be using Holidays and Holydays by Charlene Brotman and Barbara Marshman. Participants engage in the process of learning about the origins and meaning of holiday and holy day celebrations from diverse sources and places and find similarities between world religions and UU principles and sources. Both the Searchers and the Overachievers will be using the Tapestry of Faith series Building Bridges by Mary K. Isaacs. This world religions program deepens youths' understanding of the dynamic, fascinating, and varied world in which they live, builds understanding of religious diversity, finds connections with their own beliefs, and builds bridges among all of us.
We will be continuing our special way of welcoming children, youth, and families when you arrive at church at the RE Welcome Area as you enter the sanctuary. Visitors will be greeted and given information about the program and the activities for the day. Returning children and youth will come here to pick up their name tags and also get a big, warm welcome to church.
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Interweave Potluck and Game Night!
 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, Sept. 20th, from 6:30-9pm, here at the church.
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Interfaith Mission Service (IMS)
Day of Service and Unity
When: Saturday, September 21, 7:30 am-12:30 pm
Who: You! All ages are welcome--youth and children are encouraged to attend!
Where: Meet up at Faith Presbyterian Church, 5003 Airport Road, (at the corner of Airport Road and Whitesburg Drive).
What is the IMS Day of Service and Unity?
The Interfaith Mission Service is a Huntsville-based cooperative of congregations, including UUCH, which works to bridge religious, denominational, cultural, and racial differences.
The Day of Service and Unity was developed by IMS as a positive response to the tragedies of September 11, 2001.
It is a great opportunity for our congregation to join with other churches in a day of interfaith community service. The day begins with a yummy breakfast, then participants divide into groups to volunteer at various locations such as the Harris Home, the CASA garden, Operation Green Team, etc.
How Do You Get Involved?
If you plan to attend, please let Tonia Betts know (kevin.m.betts@saic.com or 256-882-9891) so we have a rough headcount. Of course, last minute additions are always welcome!
Why Should You Get Out of Bed at the Crack of Dawn on a Saturday Morning to Do This?
IMS does beautiful work to make Huntsville a more open-minded and tolerant place. Let's have a strong UUCH turn-out in support of this great organization and work!
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Broadmor Briefing
 The Renovation Committee is pleased to begin regular updates on our progress towards making the Broadmor facility into our new UUCH home. As you probably know, UUCH closed on the Broadmor facility on August 30th and the Renovation Committee quickly got to work including:
- Transferred utilities
- Changed the exterior locks
- Completed termite treatment and began regular pest control
- Requested bids from two HVAC engineering design firms
- Worked with two general contractors to obtain estimates
- Met some neighbors and the president of the Alabama Hispanic Association (tenant in the building)
- Scheduled routine lawn care service
- Performed quick inventory of furniture left on-site including ~20 tables, ~100 chairs, 2 pianos, organ, sound system, desks, bookshelves, etc.
- Planned a property work day for September 14th (see related article)
This is the start of several months of work before we move into the facility, but we are excited to begin the adventure!
--Brad Korb, Renovation Committee Chair
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Care List
 In our Circle of Candles on Sept. 8th,
a candle of concern was lit for the Sylties. The Care Committee asks that people please keep David and Rev. Alice Syltie in their thoughts and prayers as David continues to undergo treatment. The third round of bio chemotherapy created more serious side effects requiring a longer recovery period.
And the Care Committee in conjunction with the Social Justice Committee asks for help for a church member in need of food. Please bring the following items of food for the Food Basket over the next two weeks. The food will go directly to our church member instead of going to the Food Bank for a few weeks. Items needed are as follows: wheat bread, peanut butter, canned beans, chick peas, kidney beans, pinto beans, canned vegetables, canned fruit, mac and cheese, applesauce, soup, canned chicken, tuna, pasta and pasta sauce, prepared pudding, anything nutritious and non-perishable.
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. Barbara Hitt is Chair of the Care Committee, and may be reached at home, (256) 881.2531; on her cell, (256) 348.5845; or by email at bghitt1@comcast.net.
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UUCH 13-14 Board MembersPresident: Kevin Betts
V.P. Denise Hunter-Gilbert
Secretary: Bobby Hall
Treasurer: Jerome Belcher
Trustees: Nancy Finley, Kathy Heath, & Laurel Bollinger
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 September 24th, 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 10am- 1pm; Thursday 9:30am-12pm ; Friday
10am-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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