News from PFLAG-Huntsville

(Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)

October is an important month for the LGBTQ community and its allies. During this time of year, we observe not only National LGBT History Month but also National Coming Out Day on October 11th and Spirit Day on October 16th. Spirit Day, which has been observed annually since 2010, is an initiative that encourages everyone to wear purple in a stand against bullying and to show support for LGBTQ youth.

Here at PFLAG-Huntsville, we are commemorating Spirit Day by supporting Free2Be as a community partner during the  5th Annual LGBTQ Youth Suicide & Bullying Awareness Candlelight Vigil. Join us at 6:00 pm on October 16th in Big Spring Park as we stand together with Free2Be and our local community to raise awareness for youth suicide prevention--and don't forget to wear purple!

Let's Get Ready, Let's Get Set, Let's Go Camping!!... or at least have some fun around a campfire ...

The campsite is ready and the date has been set. Our Third Annual Camp & Cook Out, sponsored by Interweave, is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th. There will be chatting, and singing, and cooking, and eating, and for some of us, sleeping! 

Like last year, we will have independently communal foil dinners--that is, the community (that's you) brings vegetables and other ingredients to share but then you make your own individual foil packet of food for the coals. Dinners go on the coals starting at 5pm so please bring your veggies up by then if possible. The veggie signup sheet is on the coffee bar at the back of the sanctuary.

We will try to get the same site as last year, Monte Sano State Park Primitive Tent Camp Site #20, but we will not know for sure until we camp. The gate code is also a last minute tid-bit; you can either get it from the park store (if they are open when you come), try to call Denise on her cell phone, or walk in and find us to get the code.

Everyone is invited. If you plan to stay the night let Denise Runnels (drrunnel@gmail.com; 256.509.4002) know. Denise R. is also the person to go to if you have any questions. More details on what to bring and to expect can also be found back with the signup sheet on the coffee bar.

Halloween Farewell Party! Friday, Oct. 24!

Ghosts & Goblins, Creatures & Critters, Kids & Adults--come one, come all to our all-church Halloween Party! Friday, Oct. 24th, 6:30-9:30 p.m. This will be our last Halloween Party in the Governors Drive church before our BIG MOVE to Broadmor! Let's make it a Farewell blast!

The Halloween Party is an all-ages party, for children and adults alike, sponsored by the Children and Youth RE Program. We'll have dancing, a cakewalk, and "best costume" contests. Favorite dance tunes for all generations will be provided by the Music Machine DJ. Fun for everyone!

Our next Social Justice Committee meeting is Sunday, October 26th at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome! We'll have bagels. Please let Tonia know if you need child care: (256) 882-9891.

In September, we collected 135 items for the HAP pantry. Great job--that's 4 months in a row we've met our food basket goal!

Adult RE is Getting Creative  

with SoulCollage®

Move from your linear language-based left brain into your creative image-based right brain... even if you have never done art or would not describe yourself as creative! Simply place and glue images you choose from hundreds available.

Jean DeVenney, a trained SoulCollage® facilitator from Portland, OR, led a workshop for Eliot Institute: UU Intergenerational Camp this summer. Now she is bringing her cache of images, cards, and tools for this creative workshop that will help us make the most of our UU source that is personal experience. We will meet Monday evening, October 27th, at 6:00 p.m. and create until 8:30 p.m.

Ask Denise Runnels (drrunnel@gmail.com) if you have any questions and if you need child care let Nancy Finley (finleyn@uah.edu) know at least one week in advance.

The newly polished floors in the fellowship hall and offices are shiny and bright, new ceiling tiles have started going up in the fellowship hall, and the lights are all working in the religious education wing. Now that much of the major contract work has been finished, we are busy with the many final touches needed to make our building ready for our move, which is in just a few weeks. Thanks to the volunteers who are showing up on Saturday workdays, the facility at Broadmor is really beginning to take shape. Fifteen volunteers showed up last Saturday, and others are coming throughout the week to help in any way they can. Some people are sending food for workers even when they can't stay; others help by taking care of the children or supporting in anyway they can. This is a real community effort.

Trying out our new, clean refrigerators at Broadmor!

Please join us. There is much to be done, and jobs for all skill levels. There is lots of painting to do, weeds to be pulled, bulletin boards to be hung, light bulbs to change, furniture to move, exit lights and ceiling tiles to be installed. The Renovation Committee has an evolving list of tasks that can be done individually or in a group. We will be working at Broadmor every Saturday and select weekdays in October until we move.

Additional information about upcoming tasks will be available at the work day this Saturday, October 11th, starting at 9:30 am and going until 1 or 2 pm. A signup list will also be available after the church service this Sunday. We need everyone's help to get our new church home ready to move in. We hope you will consider giving some of your time and effort towards completing these tasks!

--Nancy Finley, Renovations Co-chair 

At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, Oct. 5th, candles were shared with: 

Michael Scarborough: "My brother Philip is receiving hospice care and is not expected to live much longer."

Cheri Smith: "My joy is that my daughter Vicky is getting better, but I still have concerns for Molly. Monday and Tuesday are their birthdays."

Millicent Simmons: "I was in Salt Lake City last weekend for the wedding of my oldest daughter, Anne. The ceremony was lovely, given by an interfaith minister. There were hundreds of her friends there. It was good to have all of my children and their spouses together."

Michelle Clark: "Candle of hope that this Fall Break will bring respite from the stresses and worries of each of us, and enter everyone into a new season of peace and love."

Jack and Echo Long: "We just returned from a weeklong trip to Williamsburg, Virginia to visit Echo's daughter, Cinnamon. Trip and visit were great; driving was terrible. Next time we fly!"

Barbara Hitt, on behalf of all: "Mona Smith fell and broke her hip last week. She is in Crestwood hospital recovering from surgery. Please send positive and healing thoughts to her."

Rose Deverzley, on behalf of all: "In loving memory of all the beloveds who have been part of this church over the years, but who are no longer with us. Kathy Fisher and I counted at least 20 members and friends who we have lost over the last 15 to 20 years. May they always live in our hearts. Blessed be."

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.