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The Overlook

Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville
3921 Broadmor Rd, Huntsville AL 35810

January 1st, 2015

Vol. 15 Issue 01

In This Issue

BYOP

Helping Hands

Thanks for the Bags!

Fair Trade Sales

Upcoming Services

This Sunday in RE

Move in January!

Chili Cook Off!

We Share the Plate

Care List

This Sunday,

January 4th, 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 filling the Food Basket!

Please don't forget to bring non-perishable food and hygiene items for the food basket, to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program.

All donations are welcome and appreciated!

Here are some ideas for supplies that HAP needs: macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce;

dry beans and rice, boxes of cereal,

bars of soap, canned meat, peanut butter!

Thanks in advance!

This Sunday's Potluck: Bring Your Own Plate

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. 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. You may also want to remember to bring a bag for transporting home your dirty items!

The Church of the Helping Hands.

canned goods

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.

LIKE OUR PAGE!

SHARE OUR POSTS!

Thanks for the Bags! We're good.

The Knit Wits and the Social Justice Committee were collecting

plastic shopping bags to crochet plastic ground blankets for the homeless. It takes 700 bags to make one blanket, but thanks to you, we can stop collecting for now--we're full! Please save or recycle your excess until we call for them again! Thank you!

Fair Trade is Good for Everyone!

Your Social Justice Committee is once again selling Fair Trade chocolate varieties from Equal Exchange, including Cocoa powder!

EE Choc Bar

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!

Equal Exchange Logo

Quick Links...

UUCH Calendar
UUCH Website

UUA Website

Mid-South District

Upcoming Services

Sunday, January 4th, 2014

"Consider the Space Between the Stars"

The Reverend Alice Syltie and

the Huntsville Feminist Chorus

The Huntsville Feminist Chorus will sing selections from their winter Solstice program, "Consider the Space Between Stars." The theme's words come from a poem by Linda Pastan, which explores the space between things, like words on the page and stars in the sky. "Consider the Space Between Stars" is an invitation to reflect on the rich spiritual space that is open during this seasonal time of dark and light returning. The invitation to "consider" asks, "What, for you, is in the space? What in this space upholds and sustains you?" The songs suggest different possibilities: our prayers and wishes, love that buoys us, spirit, our connections to each other. Each of us is invited to contemplate our own answers.

Also this Sunday we Share the Plate with New Futures, Inc. To learn more about this program, see the article below.

This Sunday in RE

Welcome back! This Sunday kicks off our spring schedule of regular Children's and Youth RE sessions. Our theme continues to be, "Represent! Exploring and Articulating Our UU Faith." Children and youth will meet in their regular rooms.

We look forward to your presence!

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).

Awareness Through Movement on Saturday Mornings--Starting Jan. 3rd!

UUCH Adult Religious Education focuses on the whole spiritual person--mentally and physically. We have started another series of Awareness Through Movement� classes. 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 is 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.

Starting this Saturday, January 3rd, classes are being held on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m., continuing until further notice. For 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.

The Cook-off is Coming!

The 2015 UUCH Annual Chili Cook-off will be held on January 24th. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and judging begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 each for those 13 and older; Kids 3-12 are $3 each, with a family cap of $15. Admittance is free for contestants. Advance ticket purchase is not necessary.

Chili cooks, please pre-register by contacting Audrey Fox (audrey.fox@gmail.com, or 256.417.5197).

Entertainment is being organized by Susan Coddington.

Chili fixings, crackers, and little kid food will be provided. We are looking for volunteers to provide side dishes (cornbread, salads, rolls) and desserts. Please contact Audrey Fox or sign up via this website: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044ea9a62aa3fd0-2015.

Who will win the coveted Red Ladle???

We Share the Plate with New Futures, Inc.

STP logo

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: http://www.keepingfamiliestogethernf.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.

Care List

At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, Dec. 28th, candles were lit for:

Laurie Keller: "I'm happy to have my brother George visiting."

Anna Bertone: "Our family is moving to Maryland on January 9th. We are sad to leave this community, but excited to begin our next adventure."

David Stone: "Dan Nisen passed this week, at home, as he wished. Although Dan has not been able to attend church the last few years, he loved getting cards from the children at church and proudly displayed them on his refrigerator."

Pam Korb's father, Robert Parmer, passed away Saturday morning at the age of 76, after a four-month fight with cancer. He was surrounded by family--wife, brother, and all three of his children--when he died. The visitation and funeral were held on Monday at Lindsay Lane Baptist Church in Athens, AL.

Catherine Hall fell sick early Sunday morning and was unable to come to church--or play the piano! We missed you, Catherine, get well soon!

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.

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!

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.