This Sunday, March 2nd, is a Sharing Sunday!
On the first Sunday of each month, we Share the Plate during the offering, Share our Lunch with each other during Potluck and Share our Bounty by bringing Food Items for the Food Basket! Your Social Justice Committee asks that we bring non-perishable food items for the food basket this Sunday, to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program. The basket is in the sanctuary, near the coffee counter at the back. Our Goal: 100 Food Items per month! Food items are welcome at any time, but we're making a special effort to bring items on the first Sunday of each month; we will share food with the larger community as we share with our Church friends and families.
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 This Sunday's Potluck: Bring Your Own In a move to a more environmentally sustainable world, our Social Justice committee has suggested that we Bring Our Own non-disposable plates, cups, etc. to our monthly Sunday Potlucks. You may also want to remember to bring a bag for transporting home your dirty items! We'll continue to provide disposables for those who need them. (In addition to being "green," bringing your own plates also saves the church money to help fulfill other goals!) |
Please Contribute for Creative Service Sunday  The Social Justice Committee and Religious Education Program will be holding a creative service Sunday in March where children and youth will assemble meal and hygiene packs for distribution in the community. Needed items include individual servings of canned fruit, cracker packs, pudding cups, juice boxes, canned meat (Vienna sausage), travel-sized hygiene products, and gallon-sized Ziplock bags. This will be an ongoing collection through March 16th. Thanks!
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Manna House Prom Dress Drive  Clean out your closets, help the Manna House, and make a teen's prom dream come true!
Last year Great Labels Boutique in Madison raised over $2,000 for Manna House through its Prom Dress Drive. Any and all formal wear, dress shoes and accessories are accepted. The girls will be able to buy dresses for just $10 at Great Labels starting March 15th.
Please help Manna House provide Easter dinner for more than 2,000 people as you give your gently used dresses a new life.
For more information contact LaDawn Edwards at 319-431-7461 or sapphirestar@live.com
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We CAN Reach 100!
The Social Justice Committee'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).
To read more about the Huntsville Assistance Program, please visit their website.
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Why Pay More?
This Sunday, your Social Justice Committee will have Equal Exchange Fair Trade chocolate for sale in the back of the sanctuary.
We also have
Fair Trade, Organic, "Kaffeeklatsch" coffee for sale!
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.
Plus, proceeds are used to help fund Social Justice projects!
With Fair Trade products, everyone wins!
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Upcoming Services
Sunday, March 2nd, 2014
"Blessing the Monster: Thoughts on Vulnerability, Change, and Being at Home"
Denise Gyauch, Intern Minister
As we enter the month of March, the world around us starts its fitful transition from winter to spring, with tender green growing things venturing to peek out of the ground and beyond their buds. As a congregation, we're thinking about our move to a new neighborhood, and the financial resources we want to muster to support our growth as a joy-filled, justice-making, welcoming community. All around, it's a time of hope and promise but also of risk and vulnerability. What spiritual resources can we muster to support our growth in this season?
This Sunday we Share the Plate with New Futures, Inc. Please see the article below for more details.
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This Sunday in Religious Education
Peace Group
We Are Many, We Are One
"We Can Be Angry Without Hurting Others"
Justice Group
Holidays and Holydays
"Mardi Gras"
Searchers Group
Building Bridges
"Christianity, Part 2"
Over-Achievers Group
Building Bridges
"Christianity, Part 2"
Nursery care (ages 0-3) will be provided as usual.
For more information, contact Erin Reid, our Director of Religious Education (DRE) (256.694.6786 or eereid@hotmail.com).
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What:
Annual Budget Drive Kickoff Dinner
When:
March 8th, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Where:
Weatherly Heights Baptist Church,
1306 Cannstatt Drive, Huntsville
Why:
To share a delicious, catered meal in fellowship!
For any Cancellations or Additions, please call Bonnie Herold at (256) 289-1374
Join us for this evening of fellowship and fun!
March 8th! Save the Date!
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Adult RE "Sources" Series:
Writing as Spiritual Practice
 In March, Adult Religious Education will continue the examination of our Six UU Sources with a focus on the first source, "the direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life." We will explore direct experience through creative writing as a form of personal spiritual practice. The emphasis is on writing as a vehicle for deepening one's connection with life. Through language, sensory image, voice, rhythm, and the ability to notice the quirky details of existence, writing--and the deep self--can come alive! All sessions will include opportunities for writing--and for sharing, if you choose. You do not have to have any previous writing experience to participate in this series, just a willingness to play!
Erin Reid and Anna Weber will facilitate this series. Anna Weber teaches poetry and creative writing at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Erin Reid is the Director of Religious Education at UUCH and recently completed her MFA in Creative Writing. Anna is a poet, and Erin concentrates on fiction. We will meet Sundays March 9th, 16th, and 30th at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Please contact Erin Reid at least one week before the discussion if you need childcare (eereid@hotmail.com).
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Welcome to Our Newest Members!
 On Sunday, February 23rd, the members of UUCH welcomed several new members into covenant with us during a brief ceremony. Pictured above are the new members who joined on Sunday (left to right): Jennifer Lyon, Amanda Schuber and Wanda Snoddy (with children Addie and Brayden), Cheryl Barr, and Clara Welch.
We appreciate the commitment that our new members have made to support our church community with their gifts of time, financial support, talents, and themselves, as we all work together to fulfill the mission of this church.
The UUCH covenant that members make with each other is as follows:
We, as members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville, covenant to work together to create a supportive, affirming, sustaining community that inspires and challenges each of us to become our best selves.
To further our goal of creating such an intentional community, we promise each other to:
- Affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every member of our community, valuing our differences and supporting each other in a free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- Listen to one another with the intent of understanding, and speak to one another with respect and kindness, so that all may be heard;
- Recognize that forming an intentional community may at times require us to place the needs of the community above our own needs;
- Foster caring relationships by assuming the best intent in others, disagreeing in love, and empowering one another to speak for ourselves;
- Affirm the work of the church to the best of our abilities, valuing the work of others, and supporting those who voluntarily accept leadership roles in the church;
- Promote an environment where all people feel safe, both physically and emotionally;
- Use the energy and support we thus create to bring our vision of justice, equity and compassion in human relations into our wider community, our nation, and our world.
Welcome, New Members!
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Broadmor Briefing
 Renovation activities continue, with the general contractor replacing grates to improve the drainage in the courtyard area, as well as preparing for exterior painting. The Renovation Committee met with a potential roofer and with several fire protection companies to get additional estimates for replacement of the non-sanctuary roofs and fire protection equipment, respectively. In addition, we have been in contact with potential HVAC contractors and two companies visited the facility to obtain additional details after reviewing our bid package. Five volunteers recently performed prep work for the HVAC contractor and cleaned up some tree damage from the snow storms. Many thanks to George Fletcher, Brad Korb, Tom Meier, Paul Wieland, and Nick Wilbourn for spending their Saturday morning working at the Broadmor facility.
--Brad Korb, Renovations Chair
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We Share the Plate* with New Futures
 New Futures, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded in 1990, addressing the need in Huntsville and Madison County for an organization that serves homeless, intact families. New Futures Inc. operates the Marilyn Mabry Family Lodge, a homeless shelter that allows families to remain together in a safe, family-friendly environment. They are the only homeless transitional housing program in Madison County that accepts families with children up to 18 of both genders, single fathers with minor children, and single mothers with sons over age 10. By keeping families together, the Lodge will enhance the positive outcomes for all family members, and ultimately for the community of Madison County.
 New Futures' shelter is dormitory style, with private rooms and shared bathrooms and common areas. Through its transitional housing program, New Futures acts as a catalyst for homeless families to obtain skills, education, and successes to empower themselves and overcome extreme poverty to achieve independence. Services include a Shelter Program--90 day program, job prep, job search assistance, case management; and a Transitional Housing Program--including Education Services (including GED, Certificate & assistance), Job Placement, Job Coach/Resume Building Classes, Transportation, Counseling, and Daycare assistance. For more information, see their website: newfuturesriseabove.org
*When we "Share the Plate," all cash collected on the first Sunday of each month in the quarter (January, February, and March), along with any checks noted as "Share the Plate," will be halved with New Futures, Inc.
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 Care List
At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, February 23rd, candles were lit for:
Alexander Stark (age 10): "Losing my Marshmallow and Ziggy." (He is very sad over having to give way his guinea pigs because his brother's asthma was severely affected by them.)
Kathy Fisher: "Joyous Happy Birthday to Joshua, my grandson who turns 10 on Wednesday."
Mari Hinckley: "My first show as creative director was Friday at Partners and was a huge success!!!"
Theresa Miller: "I can't believe that this will be the last day to sing in the choir under the direction of my wonderful, talented daughter, Vanessa (Mantis)."
Care Chair Barbara Hitt is traveling for a few months. If you need assistance from the care committee, please call Millicent Simmons (256.551.0366) or Nancy Stetson (256.650.6116).
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UUCH 13-14 Board MembersPresident: Kevin Betts
Vice-President: 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
Notice: Next UUCH Board Meeting will be on Thursday, March 20th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. The Board will be meeting at our new church building at 3921 Broadmor Road. 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 President: 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 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; Thursday 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; Friday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
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 10:45 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.
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