Humans all over the world use chanting for worship, mental health, enlightenment, peace, and prosperity. Our group, sponsored by the Adult RE program, meets on the last Sunday of each month, and new chanters are always welcome. Come up and meet with Deedee Moore, Theresa Miller, and other voices to see why this practice has become universal, and find out what chants, if any, appeal to you.

Our next gathering is this coming Sunday Morning, November 24th, 9:15 a.m. We chant for about an hour. If you already have a chant that is especially meaningful for you, we'd love to share it. Also feel free to bring drums & percussive instruments--it helps us keep a rhythm going! Contact Deedee Moore, at the church office, for more info: uuch@uuch.org.

The Annual Christmas Pageant will be performed during the Worship Service on Sunday, December 15th, 2013. Children who participate in the pageant should:

• be at least 4 years old (we have parts for adults too!)
• be able to attend a short rehearsal during RE on Sunday, December 8th
• be able to arrive at church early (10:00 a.m.) on the day of the pageant (Dec. 15th) for a quick run-through
• be able to supply simple costume items (e.g., bath robes, etc.--no sewing or elaborate costuming required). NOTE: We have some cloth robes, both colorful and white, that were recently added to our costume collection, which might be useful for angels, magi, or shepherds!

For further information, contact Erin Reid at (256) 694-6786 or eereid@hotmail.com. THERE ARE PARTS FOR EVERYONE!

The Southeast Clergy Cooperative, of which I am a part, is helping organize this City-Wide event.  If you would like to be part of the combined choir, they will gather to practice at 4:15pm that Sunday.  Bill Hovik, Director of Music Ministry at Faith Presbyterian, will be directing the choir.  The song will be the John Rutter version of "For the Beauty of the Earth."  If you have questions about the choir, you can contact Bill at whovik@presby.org.  All are welcome to attend and support the effort to bring people together across the many divides that separate us.   Hope to see some UUCH folks there.    --Rev. Alice

Sunday, November 24th at 5:30 p.m.

Hosted by Faith Presbyterian Church,  

The Service will be followed by a reception where all bursting with grateful hearts can gather.

Organized by the Southeast Huntsville Clergy Cooperative

Co-sponsored by the City of Huntsville  

With the Support of Area Congregations, Ministers and Cooperatives.

Led by Area Public Officials and Religious Representatives

Offering a Tapestry of Music, Readings, Reflections, Prayers, and Litanies which Reflect our Diversity and Unity.   

The Wonder Of It All:  Gratitude and Generosity.

"For we are drawn together and are now ready to be knit together by a common stake in these United States and in our cherished community."

RATHER THAN REMAIN APART WE COME TOGETHER!

We seek in our joint Thanksgiving a fusion of stubborn creative differences.

We celebrate wisdom, justice, and generosity, all at the core of our heritage and our common hope.

We stand ready to meet the challenge before all of us--to find common ways to jointly contribute from our own life to the good of all.

We declare our gratitude for being entrusted and called to serve as good stewards of the earth, this land, and this home called Huntsville. 

Join us as we celebrate the spiritual and cultural realities of gratitude and generosity and our common national heritage of being a thankful people ...  

and crown God's good with love endured, from sea to shining sea.

On December 3rd, the Alabama Kidney Foundation volunteers will stuff Holiday stockings for over 1,000 dialysis patients who live in N. Alabama. For some this is their only holiday present.   

Travel size dental supplies--toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss

Travel size toiletries--shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc.

Candy canes, peppermints, and Tootsie rolls.  

Pens, post-it notes, magnets, stress balls, etc.   

Items can brought to the church by December 1st and deposited in the container in the foyer. Social Justice co-chair Gail Williams will make sure our donations get to the assembly site. All donations will be appreciated!

The Adult RE "Sources Series" to examine our Six UU Sources continues in December with our source that draws from Christian teachings. Our previous sources workshops have been very interesting with lively discussion, and you are encouraged to join us even if you have missed these earlier workshops. We will base this discussion on Zealot, by Reza Aslan, a book exploring the historical Jesus through both biblical and extra-biblical sources. Aslan presents the historical Jesus as a political radical executed for sedition, whose apocalyptic vision centered on social justice and equality. The book has received both high praise and high criticism, depending upon the reviewer--let's see what it has to say to Unitarian Universalists!

You can find both print and eBook versions of the book at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, or if you are unable to get a copy for yourself we will have a few on the coffee bar at the back of the sanctuary that can be checked out. Of course, we should have ample talking points even if you can't get the book read before the discussion.  Dr. Laurel Bollinger and Denise Runnels will facilitate this discussion.  Dr. Bollinger has taught courses at the graduate level in the Bible as Literature, and looks forward to this conversation! We will meet Sundays December 8th and 15th at 6pm. Please contact Nancy Finley at least one week before the discussion if you need childcare.

UUCH kicked off our participation in the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's (UUSC) Guest at Your Table program this past Sunday. The Guest at Your Table program is an annual tradition in which congregation members learn about several people with whom UUSC is working. This year, the UUSC is featuring people who have empowered others to realize their human rights. These people are your "guests" and we ask you to share your blessings with them to support our shared mission. By welcoming a "guest at your table," you are helping nurture a spirit of gratitude and the UU values of justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. Guest at Your Table fosters understanding and awareness of UUSC's human rights work and our shared belief in social justice.

You can learn about human rights leaders empowering others through the Stories of Hope booklet that was distributed this past Sunday. If you missed getting a copy of this on Sunday, additional copies are available at church. Consider reading or discussing a story when enjoying meals with family and friends. These stories will connect you to real people who are involved in the daily struggle for human rights. Telling the stories of their hopes, dreams, and achievements is a meaningful way to bring these special guests into your home.

Make a regular practice of giving contributions to your "guests," perhaps at mealtimes or other household gatherings. At the end of December, you can 1) return your donations to UUCH, 2) mail your donations to UUSC using the envelopes provided at church, or 3) donate online at  https://guest.uusc.org/uuch . If your final gift totals $100 or more, it will be eligible to be matched dollar for dollar through a grant from the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, N.Y., doubling the impact of your efforts!

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is guided by the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the principles of Unitarian Univer­salism, which uphold the inherent worth and dignity of all people. UUSC strengthens workers' rights; pro­tects the right to safe, affordable water; defends civil liberties and democratic processes; and preserves the rights of people overlooked in times of disaster and armed conflict. UUSC is an independent human rights organization and receives no financial support from the UUA or the federal government.

Broadmor Briefing

The Renovation Committee is meeting this week with the Aesthetics Team and our architect, Greg Kamback, to discuss the three consulting tasks that Mr. Kamback will be performing for us. Those three tasks are to make recommendations on  

1) a facility-wide color palette, 2) flooring types/colors in various area of the facility, and 3) improvements to the foyer to make it more welcoming.

--Brad Korb, Renovation Committee Chair

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

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.