Save the Chocolate!
Your Social Justice Committee has been selling Fair Trade chocolate varieties from Equal Exchange, but sales are down!
Tonia Betts says she may not place anymore Chocolate orders unless sales pick up.
So, if you depend on UUCH Fair Trade sales for your
chocolate needs, it's time to buy some more!
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Upcoming Services
Sunday, February 1st, 2015
"'On Being a People of Faith
(without compromising our questions!)"
Denise Gyauch, Intern Minister
Our theme for the month of February is faith. Unitarian Universalists are sometimes skittish about this word, so let's explore what faith is (or can be) and how Unitarian Universalism calls us to live faithful lives and to grow in faith.
Plus we Share the Plate with New Futures, Inc. Please see the article below.
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This Sunday in RE
Peace Room
Chalice Children: "Helping Others"
Justice Room
Signs of Our UU Faith: "Signs of Welcome"
Searchers Room
Toolbox of Faith: "Listening: Stethoscope"
Over-Achievers Room
Preparing for youth-led service on February 15thNursery 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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"New UU" Class Begins This Sunday
 What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? Guided by the UU Tapestry of Faith Curriculum, this three-part series explores important themes in UU congregational life, such as worship, theology, history, covenant, faith development, social justice, and membership.
This program focuses on introducing newcomers to Unitarian Universalism, but those who have been at UUCH for a while will also be able to share and connect with others as we explore our own beliefs and how they intersect with the UU tradition.
Everyone is welcome! So mark your calendars now for the Sunday mornings of February 1st, 8th, & 15th in the Adult RE Classroom for this chance to learn and share. Meet for coffee or tea at 9:00 a.m.; discussion starts at 9:15. Nick Wilbourn and Nancy Finley will facilitate the discussion. Contact Nancy Finley (finleyn@uah.edu) for further info. If you need childcare, please contact Nancy at least a week before the event.
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SoulCollage®--Find Your Creative Self
Tumbled in a rich living collage, images constantly speak to us: in dreams, through art, and in our interpretation of the everyday world. Join us for an evening of imagery and inspiration as you start or continue building your own personal deck of evocative 5 x 8 cards, using the processes described in Senna B. Frosts' published works about 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 those available.
Many of you enjoyed this workshop in October, so Denise Runnels is again bringing a 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, Feb. 2nd at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, and create until 8:30 p.m. Ask Denise Runnels (drrunnel@gmail.com) if you have any questions!
And please bring some good scissors if you have them! Our supply is limited!
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 Social Justice News
Your Social Justice Committee will be meeting on Sunday morning, February 8th, at 9:30 a.m., in the Fellowship Hall. We'll be planning events and working on our bulletin board. We'll have bagels! Please call Tonia Betts (256.882.9891) if you have questions.
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 Yard Sale Set for April 24th!
The church is sponsoring its annual yard sale on April 24th, with a rain date being the following Saturday. Start emptying your drawers, garages, attics, and closets! Please make sure that clothes smell fresh as daisies and that donated items are not torn or broken. On the other hand, keep in mind that one person's junk is another's treasure! Contact Bonnie Herold (bherold51@gmail.com) with questions.
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Queen Fran is Crowned at the
2015 UUCH Annual Chili Cook-off
 A hungry and appreciative crowd turned out last Saturday night for this year's Chili Cook-off. Seventeen crockpots of yummy goodness were sampled by our Chili Judges: LaDawn Edwards, Natalie Lambert, and Monty Moore. After one last serenade from retiring King George Fletcher, the winners were announced:
Best Veggie: Conrad From-Brown
Best White: Jason Aycock
Best Mild: Fran Alexander
Best Medium: Jason Hundley
Best Hot: David Bollinger
After wresting assurances from the Judges that no money or influence changed hands in the "blind-sample" judging process, Host Fran Alexander announced the overall best-in-show winner to be: Fran Alexander! Fran accepted the robe and crown with humility and grace. All Hail the Queen!
Please see Audrey Fox's "Thank You" list in the Care List article below. Additionally, we add our thanks to the Chili Chefs for giving it their all, and to our talented friends who kept us entertained. Thanks especially to Tim Coddington for great sound engineering, to Steve Herold for recording us for posterity, and special Huzzahs to Audrey for ring-leading the whole shebang!
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Safe Space for Children and Youth
About Our UUCH Family Agreements Commitment
The UUCH Children and Youth Religious Education Program periodically updates the congregation on matters concerning the RE program and multi-generational community. In our spacious church, we have settled in wonderfully, fostering safe spaces and practices. Families who participate in the UUCH RE Program commit to the following guidelines for the safety and enjoyment of all participants:
- Treat each other with respect and kindness according to our UUCH Covenant.
- Make an effort to attend as regularly as we can.
- Check-in at the RE Welcome Area in the foyer and get our name tags.
- Supervise children and youth in the church facility and grounds when they are not in their planned activity. (All playground use will be supervised by a parent/guardian).
- Honor RE begin and end times and pick up children in the Peace, Justice, and Searchers room at noon.
- Respect off-limits areas to children, including the kitchen--except in special circumstances, and with supervision--storage and utility rooms, the balcony, and the attic.
Parental supervision is especially important at all-ages events, on the playground, and during social times when RE classes are not in session. The entire congregation plays a role in making a child-friendly and safe church. Thank you for your commitment to our all-ages community!
For more information about the RE program, please contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education, eereid@hotmail.com.
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Q. What is a Sexton?
You may have seen posted at church or in the bulletin that someone is named as the "Sexton" for this month. Traditionally, the Sexton is the person in a church who maintains the church buildings and/or grounds. In our church, the Sexton is the person who opens up the building on Sunday mornings and stays after the service to make sure the facility is closed appropriately. With the much larger facility that we have now, the role of the Sexton has become more important and we now have a written procedure for the Sexton to follow.
 The Sexton position rotates from one month to another throughout the year between Board and Council members. We have begun publicizing the Sexton's name each month so that you can know who will be opening and closing the facility on Sunday mornings. Should you have a need to come early or stay late on a particular Sunday, please contact the Sexton ahead of time so that he or she can plan accordingly. If you have any questions about the role of the Sexton, please contact Brad Korb, Property Co-Chair, at bradkorb@mindspring.com.
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 We Share the Plate*
with New Futures, Inc.
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, January 25th, candles were lit for:
Audrey Fox: "I would like to thank everyone for another wonderful Chili Cook-Off! Cheri Smith, Fran Alexander, Gail Williams, Diedre Moore, Betsy Applegate, Alice Dilbeck, Tonia Betts, Susan Coddington, and Jon Fox were instrumental in making the night a success. Congratulations to the winners. All hail the new Chili Queen, Fran Alexander!"
From Everyone, a Candle of Joy: "Becky Is Back!"
Becky Ellingwood & Family: "It is great to be back with our church family. Thank you so for everything you all have done for us. This is a wonderful caring community."
Anonymous: "Marriage Equality has come to Alabama!"
Nancy Finley: "Marriage equality in Alabama! In the last several months, Becky and I have learned how important this can be."
LaDawn Edwards: "My new home state of Alabama is going to allow marriage equality. It's cliché, but 'I never thought I would see the day.'"
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, February 24th, 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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