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100?
UUCH Doubles Up!
Thanks to your generous donations, we took 228 items from the food basket to the Huntsville Assistance Program this month!
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).
HAP is an interfaith network of Madison County congregations providing volunteers, information, and financial resources to help those in need. HAP focuses on those who need temporary assistance. HAP provides not only food boxes but also assistance with rent/mortgage and utility bills.
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Drowning in
Plastic Bags?
The Knit Wits and the Social Justice Committee need your clean, dry,
plastic shopping bags to crochet plastic ground blankets for the homeless. It takes 700 bags to make one blanket, so BRING 'EM ON! Please place them in the box under the staircase in the foyer. Thank you!
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April 17-19th, 2015:
Save the Date for Annual Assemblies!
The 2015 joint Annual Assemblies will be held in Orlando (FLD), Montgomery (MSD), Greensboro (SED), and New Orleans (SWUUC). They will feature an important vote which will help define our future relationships, a joint keynote address from the Reverend Jeanne Pupke, programming, fellowship, singing, and fun!
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Fair Trade is Good for Everyone!
Your Social Justice Committee is once again selling Fair Trade chocolate varieties from Equal Exchange, including Cocoa powder!
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, and our congregation's purchase of Equal Exchange products supports the UUSC!
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Upcoming Services
Sunday, December 21st, 2014
"The Very Best Time of the Year!"
Our Annual Christmas Pageant!
The Reverend Alice Syltie and
Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education
 This musical, multi-generational service celebrates the spirit of the holiday season. The Children's and Youth Religious Education Program will present our own adaptation of Joyce Poley's service, "The Spirit of the Christmas Tree," retelling the story of the Nativity from a Unitarian Universalist perspective and inviting the congregation into reflection on its meaning for today. The service features special musical selections from the choir, congregational caroling, a Christmas pageant of all ages, and a surprise!
Thanks in advance to: RE Chair Jessica Zelaya, Choir Director Pam Siegler, the UUCH Choir, pianist Catherine Hall, Nick Wilbourn, Carey Snowden, and the "cast and crew of thousands" in the Christmas Pageant.
(Cast and Crew: please remember to arrive at church at 9:45 a.m. on the day of the pageant for a quick run-through! For more information, contact Erin Reid at (256) 694-6786 or eereid@hotmail.com.)
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This Sunday in RE
Children and youth will participate in the all-ages Christmas Pageant!
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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Winter Candlelight Service
Friday, December 19th, 2014
Music for centering at 6:45 p.m.;
Service begins at 7:00 p.m.
Take refuge from the commercialism of the season and enter a space of peace and wonder. Let music and poetry, a chorus of voices, and the wisdom of the ages nurture your spirit as we approach the Winter Solstice.
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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 will be held on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m., beginning January 3rd, 2015. For further information, contact Denise Runnels at denise.r.runnels@gmail.com. If you need childcare for this event, please contact Denise at least a week before the event.
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Chili Cook-off is COMING!
 Hear ye! Hear ye! Mark your calendars for the spiciest event of the season! The date has been set for this year's Chili Cook-off and Open-Mike night: this annual tradition of tantalizing taste buds will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24th! Start tweaking those recipes! If you would like to help behind the scenes, contact Audrey Fox ( audrey.fox@gmail.com, or 256.417.5197).
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 Care List
At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, Dec. 14th, candles were lit for:
Tonia Betts: "What an awesome job the church did in supporting the Alabama Hispanic Association yesterday! The Christmas party here was fabulous and very well attended. Thank you so much to everyone who donated, cooked, and worked here yesterday!"
Betsy Applegate: "Yesterday's joyful lunch cohosted with the Alabama Hispanic Association was for me one of my most proud days with UUCH. And, for me, it's validation of why we are here in our new home. Such possibilities!"
Angel Hundley: "Please light a Candle of Sorrow for my grandmother, Nelly Austin, who passed away yesterday."
Susan Coddington: "My dad is home from surgery. The cancer is aggressive and has reached his lymph nodes. He will be starting chemo in a few you weeks. Please continue sending healing thoughts."
A Candle of Joy from the Ministerial Intern Committee: "Our intern minister, Denise Gyauch, returns from Boston with the blessing of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee to continue pursuing her dream. She also has our blessing!"
Denise Gyauch: "A candle of Joy, last weekend I was in Boston, seeking fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist minister. I want you to know that I took one of our stones to my meeting with the committee at 24 Farnsworth, so you were there with me, and I brought the stone back home this morning. I am grateful to this congregation for your love and support."
Malcolm and Vickie Goodman: "Our son Karson graduated from the University of Montevallo Friday night--Magna cum Laude. His degree is in English, so he starts grad school in the fall!"
From the Care Committee:
- Kathy Fisher is recovering from rotator cuff surgery, but cannot drive or even ride in a car yet. Good news is that the surgeon says her piano playing will not be affected!
- Please light a candle of concern for church member, Dan Nisen, who is in failing health. Dan is a long time member of UUCH, but he has not been able to attend in a while because of health problems.
- Becky Ellingwood is out of the ICU and is making good progress with her recovery. She may be moved to rehab next week.
- Please light a candle for church member Malcolm Gillis who died December 2nd. Malcolm was an avid marathon runner, and he and Gary Hitt ran the Boston marathon together in 1981.
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 14-15 Board Members
President: Denise Hunter-Gilbert
Vice-President: Angel Hundley
Secretary: Bobby Hall
Treasurer: Jerome Belcher
Trustees: Becky Ellingwood, John Fox, & 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 Denise Hunter-Gilbert, no later than one week prior to the meeting, i.e. the Tuesday before. You may leave a copy of your request in her Mailbox at the church office, or contact her at UUCHBoardPresident@uuch.org.
Notice: Next UUCH Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 27th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Thanks for your cooperation!
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From the Overlook is a publication of
The Unitarian Universalist Church,
3921 Broadmor Rd. Huntsville, AL 35810
Minister: The Reverend Alice Syltie
Board President: Denise Hunter-Gilbert
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: 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. Mon-Tue-Thu-Fri.
For Wednesday access, please call in advance.
Office phone: 256.534-0508, email: uuch@uuch.org.
Minister's 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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