UUCH Chalice
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The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville  
May 15th, 2014
Vol. 14 Issue 23
In This Issue
Awareness Through Movement
The Magic 100
Get It While You Can!
Like us!
Upcoming Services
This Sunday in RE
Annual Meeting This Sunday!
Transition Team News
The String's the Thing
Witty Knitters!
Interweave @ Broadmor
Summer RE and YOU
Orders for Coffee
Broadmor Briefing
Care List
Awareness Through Movement on Saturday Mornings

 

UUCH Adult Religious Education focuses on the whole spiritual person--mentally and physically. We are starting another series of Awareness Through Movement� classes. Those who came to the first series found it very enjoyable, relaxing, and useful. The class focuses on gentle movement that can assist us in being more comfortable and pain-free in our everyday activities.  Come learn how to use the core of your body to improve movement, balance, and chronic pain.  

 

Everyone is welcome! This verbally guided Awareness Through Movement� class is for anyone who wants more ease and comfort in their movements. Class is drop-in, no experience necessary, and will be led by Sally Locklear. Wear comfortable, loose clothing, and bring a bath or beach towel to use as head support for comfort in side-lying.  

 

These classes are held on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m., and will run through June 7th.  

For further information, contact Nancy Finley at [email protected].  If you need childcare for this event, please contact Nancy at least a week before the event.
bags of food

 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.

Stock Up On Chocolate Before Summer Arrives!
EE Choc Bar
Your Social Justice Committee has Equal Exchange Fair Trade chocolate for sale in the back of the sanctuary each Sunday, but summer is coming--soon it will be too hot to ship. Better Stock Up!

With Fair Trade products, everyone wins!

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Upcoming Services

UUCH Chalice
Sunday, May 18th, 2014
 

"Whose Church is it Anyway?" 

The Reverend Alice Syltie, 

 

Last Sunday I delivered the Charge to the Minister at the Installation Service for the Reverend Fred Hammond, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tuscaloosa. The sermon was given by former UUA moderator Gini Courter, who reminded us that the church does not belong to us.  Such formal services are always an opportunity for reflection on the higher purpose we serve as ministers and congregations. 

 

As we approach the end of another church year, and prepare for the Annual Meeting and election of new officers, we will consider to whom the church belongs and offer thanks to those who have served the higher purpose. I hope all Board and Council members will be able to be present.

This Sunday in RE

 

Peace Room

We Are Many We Are One

"We Give Thanks for Our Year Together"

 

Justice Room

Holiday and Holy Days

"UU Day and Review"

 

Searchers Room

Building Bridges

"Wider and Stronger"

 

Over Achievers

Building Bridges

"Wider and Stronger"

 

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 [email protected]). 

UUCH Annual Congregational Meeting
Convenes This Sunday, May 18th! 

 

gavel The meeting will begin shortly after the close of the worship service.  Elections for new officers will be held, as well as discussion and approval of this year's budget.  A light lunch will be available, and childcare will be provided. Everyone is welcome, and Members especially are encouraged to attend--we need a quorum!

From Your Transition Team

 

rainbow chalice This will be a month of great opportunity for participation in UUCH Transition activities. The Transition Team has finished processing and categorizing over 10 single-spaced pages of comments from individuals in the congregation and from our standing committees. They are creative and hopeful ideas, and they reflect the profound commitment you all have to this church. They look at very practical questions like the timing and mechanism of the move and organizing and making ready the new facility. They also dig deeply into fundamental concerns for our ongoing identity and purpose--how we will create worshipful space, what it will mean to be a good neighbor in our new neighborhood, how we may welcome people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities, and what opportunities we may have to expand our mission in the new location.

 

We are now ready to return systematically to each committee, the Board, and Council to do some visioning together on these important issues and to organize our next action steps. Every part of our structure--technology, worship, music, office staff, RE, hospitality, etc.--all have things to define and enact. We encourage all of you on committees to make an effort to attend your meeting with the Transition Team, as you will be crucial in implementing the move and the programs in the new building. Each "vision and action" session will be held at the Broadmor location, and tasty refreshments will be provided. 

 

It is so important in a democratically structured church like UUCH that we seek constant opportunity for communication and meaningful input as we move ahead. Please continue to send your thoughts and questions to us at [email protected]

 

We are listening to you!

 

Transition Team Members

Rev. Alice Syltie, Chair, David Bollinger, Nancy Finley, Denise Gyauch, Lynsie Lamitie, Tim Miller, and Erin Reid

UUCH "Strings Group"  

Meets This Sunday 

 

Sponsored by the RE committee, this new group of Stringed Instrument players is going to start meeting on at least a monthly basis to play together. If you'd like to join us, our next meeting is this Sunday, May 18th, from noon til 12:20 p.m., downstairs in the adult RE room. Please contact Heather Kyemba [email protected] or Dan Nielsen  [email protected]  for details.

Knit Wits Meet This Friday, May 16th!

 

The Knit Wits, UUCH's Knitting Circle, is meeting at Jefflyn Weed's house on Friday, May 16th. Jefflyn says she will be "open for business" from 6:00 p.m. on, and will provide light refreshments, so feel free to come by when you can get there. The purpose of the aptly named Knit Wits (all very clever and witty people!) is to get together to knit/crochet Care shawls/throws/baby items to show our support for UUCH members facing difficult situations or celebrating a new family member. It is a very relaxed way to spend an evening chatting with like-minded folks, and you do NOT have to know how to knit or crochet to join us. We have members who give excellent and extremely patient help to newbies. If you plan to join us, please email Barbara Hitt at  [email protected] or Jefflyn Weed at  [email protected].  Either can give you directions to Jefflyn's home.

Interweave at Broadmor Property  

This Friday!

 

chalice w/rainbow flame Instead of our regular Friday potluck, this month Interweave will participate in a "paint and pizza party" at our wonderful new church property on Broadmor.  The UUCH Renovation Committee is organizing some small teams to help paint the RE wing, and we think it would be a fun way to socialize and to help prepare the building for our move.  Drinks, pizza, and all the painting supplies will be provided. Just show up in your painting clothes. Bring a friend; and spread the word about the different location of our gathering this month.

 

Interweave is an Outreach Group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) peoples and their friends and allies. We sponsor a "Potluck and Game Night" on the 3rd Friday of each month to ensure a "safe zone" for the LGBTQ, but EVERYONE that supports the LGBTQ community IS WELCOME. 

 

The gathering will be this Friday, May 16th, from 6:30-9:00 p.m., at 3921 Broadmor. Contact Nancy Finley (256.655-4533) for more information or directions.

Summer RE: We Want YOU!

 

In the summer months, the Children and Youth Religious Education Program takes a special turn from the regular fall and spring curricula. We invite UUCH members and friends to plan a class session for the children and youth. You'll be part of a teaching team as either the lead teacher or a helper, and we'll be sure to have a regular RE teacher there as support. Even children and youth can partner with an adult to lead a session!

 

We invite you to sign up to lead a session that shares a special talent, hobby, skills, or learning area of yours. Here are some topics to get your creative juices flowing: music, finger painting, scrapbooking, nature walks, gardening, yoga,  science, paper airplanes, drawing, Lego, origami, fossils, friendship bracelets, mythology, sidewalk chalk, pottery, cookie-making. The possibilities are limitless!!  We can benefit from your expertise, and you'll benefit too. This year, activities will include special craft projects to carry into the RE space in our new church! 

 

Leaders will prepare a topic/activity that is adaptable to children ages 4 to 12. Senior high youth are invited to participate as leaders and helpers, or to attend the regular worship service upstairs. Because of our exciting program growth, we'll need even more leaders and helpers this summer than before! So, don't be shy! We have room for the sharing of your gifts.    

 

There's nothing like spending time with the children and youth at our church. Their energy, creativity, and intelligence are contagious. And they benefit from interacting with caring adults who make an investment in them. This is what multi-generational community is all about!

 

For the next month, we'll have a poster standing in the church lobby where you can sign up for a summer Sunday session. Or, you can contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education, at [email protected]. What's a joy to you can be a joy to others. Come on down with the children to play!

Order Fair Trade Coffee for Social Justice

 

coffeecup

Fair Trade coffee will be available during the summer months by order only. If you would like to purchase Kaffeeklatsch coffee to benefit the Social Justice program, place your order on Sunday, and the coffee will be available the next Sunday. Please write your order on the notebook at the back of the sanctuary, specifying regular or decaf and indicating whether you want your coffee in whole bean or ground for drip, French Press, or espresso. Please see Kathy Heath or Tonia Betts if you have any questions. 
Broadmor Briefing

ModChalice

  

The RE Wing hallway has taken on a great new look! David Bollinger has finished spray painting the RE Wing hallway and three classrooms. While some touch up work is in progress, David and the many folks who helped prepare for the painting have made a significant difference in how the RE Wing looks! Many thanks to David and the many others who contributed their time and efforts!

 

The Renovation Committee continues to work with our architect and prospective general contractors to finalize the scope and contract for the sanctuary bathroom remodel, water supply plumbing replacement, and RE Wing window replacement.

 

Our HVAC installer, Hutchens Company, continues to make progress with the new sanctuary HVAC systems. They have been coordinating with our roofer, Finishing Solutions, to schedule activities on the roof where the new HVAC units will be placed while the roofers prepare to start their activity.

 

--Brad Korb, Renovations Chair
votives
Care List  

 

At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, May 11, candles were lit for: 

 

Jason & Christy Aycock: "Logan & Thomas have a great dance recital today and dance your heart out. We are proud!"

 

Jesse Moore: "Jesse has found a co-op position! Adtran will have him on in the fall semester."

 

Jefflyn & Bob Weed: "Our granddaughter, Quinn, was born yesterday!"

 

Carey Snowden: "My sister and brother-in-law had their 2nd child, Holden James Schrimsher. I have had a great time away taking care of their first, my niece."

 

Mari Hinckley: " A rose bush that was given to me 6 years ago for becoming a mother finally produced roses--just in time for Mothers' day."

 

Denise Hunter-Gilbert: "Cheryl Barr asked a candle to be lit for the loss of her family member, Michael. The family gathered in Texas this past week for a time of remembrance."

 

Heather Kyemba: "My father, the Reverend Chan Newton, died 3 years ago on May 11th. We remember him today."

 

If you have pastoral care needs, please contact the Reverend Alice Syltie at [email protected]. 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 [email protected].

UUCH 13-14 Board Members
President: 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 [email protected].

Notice: Next UUCH Board Meeting will be on
Tuesday, May 27th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be at our Governors Drive location. Thanks for your cooperation!

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
[email protected].  

 

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: [email protected].

Minister's Phone: 256.539-9607, email: [email protected].

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.