The Overlook

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

October 1st, 2015

Vol. 15 Issue 40

In This Issue

Sharing Sunday

Ribbon Run Oct. 17!

UUA Common Read

ATM Each Saturday

Fair Trade

Upcoming Services

This Sunday in RE

Welcoming Diversity

SoulCollage® on Monday

R U a New UU?

OWL Parents Meeting

Wednesday Suppers!

Time for the Service Auction!

Go Team UUCH!

We Share the Plate

Care List

This Sunday, October 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!

Liz Hurley
Ribbon Run

Join the UUCH Team!

Social Justice Committee reminds us: When you exercise for a good cause, everybody wins!

The Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5K is Saturday, October 17th at 8:00 a.m. Meet up with other UUCHers at Huntsville Middle School to walk or run to help beat breast cancer!

To join the team, visit lizhurleyribbonrun.org. Click "Register Here" then "Join a Team" then enter "UUCH Ribbon Runners." Or, you can contact Jefflyn Weed or Tonia Betts (256) 882-9891.

This is a fun event--hope to see you there!

UUA Common Read: Just Mercy

The UUA's 2015-2016 Common Read is Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Author Bryan Stevenson advocates for those wrongfully trapped by the U.S. criminal justice system, including poor people, people of color, women, and children. The book speaks to justice, mercy, and compassion, timeless and important concerns for people of faith. UUCH Adult RE will host a book study on this in January, but you can order the book now from the UUA Bookstore! For more about this program, see the website.

Awareness Through Movement, Every Saturday!

Everyone is welcome! This Feldenkrais group class is designed to improve self-awareness and mobility. The class will be verbally guided through gentle movement sequences. These new movement patterns will enable you to move with greater ease and fluidity.

This Adult RE class is drop-in, no experience necessary, and will be led by Sally Locklear. Wear comfortable, loose clothing, and bring a bath towel to use as a head support. Classes will be held on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. until further notice.

For further information, contact Nancy Finley at finleyn@uah.edu. If you need childcare for this event, please contact Nancy at least a week before the event.

Social Justice Knows What We Need

coffeecup

Chocolate and coffee...mmmm mmm good! If you are a coffee connoisseur, the Social Justice Committee invites you to visit the coffee table in the Fellowship Hall--where delicious Fair Trade chocolate is sold--to order your Certified Fair Trade and Organic coffee from the Kaffeeklatsch. All profits go in support of our Social Justice efforts.

EE Choc Bar

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Quick Links...

UUCH Calendar
UUCH Website

UUA Website

Mid-South District

Upcoming Services

Sunday, October 4th, 2015

"The Artist is Present"

The Reverend Carlton Elliott Smith
Reverend Alice Syltie, Worship Leader

Often we think of art as something that is done by those particular people over there, who are painting or dancing or writing or acting or sculpting... but what if the creativity and imagination we admire in others is also available to each of us, all the time? What would it be like to live in a world full of conscious artists?

Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith is one of seven Congregational Life Staff serving our UUA Southern Region. He is based out of the Greater Memphis area and is the primary UUA contact for our congregations in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Pensacola, Florida. This month marks the 20th anniversary of his ordination into Unitarian Universalist ministry.

Also this Sunday we Share the Plate with First Stop, Inc. For more about First Stop, please see the article below.

This Sunday in RE

It's Creative Service Sunday! All ages will participate in a surprise activity in service of the congregation. (Hint: There will be lots of color and movement.) Youth will have a special role as activity co-leaders; no prep required! Come ready for some fun!

For more information, contact Erin Reid, our Director of Religious Education (DRE) (256.694.6786 or eereid@hotmail.com) or Jessica Zelaya, RE Chair (256.322.2210 or asuriai@yahoo.com). Register online for the UUCH Children and Youth RE Program at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WS8LDNP. Paper registration forms are also available at the church.

Welcoming Diversity

Did You Know?

--Laurel Bollinger, Board President

Let's remain mindful of differing abilities at our potlucks. Individuals in wheelchairs or who need support with walking often need a second person to accompany them through the food line to carry their plates. We should encourage such individuals to go through the line early (along with anyone who needs extra time for other reasons, from carrying infants to difficulty standing or walking), so we can all enjoy our meals together. And those kind people helping them? Let's just wave them to the front of the line once they finish their first trip through, so they can get their food and join the party!

Adult RE SoulCollage� Workshop
This Coming Monday

We had a great turn out last month for the kickoff to this season's SoulCollage� workshops. More and more people are discovering the unexpected (sometimes expected) power of free flowing images within the framework of process.

This Adult RE experience exercises, in a safe, affirming space, the creative aspects of personality many logic-oriented people often neglect. The resulting cards are not only beautiful, but offer profound insight to our own inner depths.

The only skill needed is the ability to use scissors. That's it, just cut and paste images from the hundreds we've pulled from magazines to your 5" x 8" card. The great part about the process is it encourages you not to think critically about what you are creating while you are creating it. Rather let your intuition guide you. That takes the pressure off of us less artistic types.

Veteran card makers, bring the cards you've made to date. Newcomers, come prepared to be surprised at what you find.

Denise Runnels and Nancy Finley will co-facilitate the workshop. We will meet in the UUCH fellowship hall Monday evening, October 5th, at 6:00 p.m. and create until 8:30 p.m. Check out soulcollage.com for more information about the SoulCollage� process we are following, developed by Seena B. Frost. Or ask Denise (drrunnel@gmail.com) for more information about the process and / or the workshop.

"New UU" Class Starts October 18th

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 October 18th, 25th, and November 1st for this chance to learn and share. Meet for coffee or tea at 9:00 a.m.; discussion starts at 9:15. Pam Korb and Bobby Hall will facilitate the discussion. Contact Pam Korb (bradkorb@mindspring.com ) for further info. If you need childcare during these classes, please contact Pam at least a week before the event.

OWL Parent Meeting, Sunday, Oct. 18th

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education for Youth

The RE program is planning two OWL classes to begin this fall for grades 7-9 (ages 12-15) and grades 10-12 (ages 15-17). OWL classes will begin November 8th. (Watch for more information on OWL for grades 5-6 and for adults in the spring). OWL offers a beautiful curriculum in keeping with UU values for building holistic identity and sexuality awareness in young people. OWL fosters authenticity, safety, comprehensive understanding, self-worth, and, in general, provides the tools a young person needs to make healthy choices about relationships and sexuality. Each class will be led by a committed team of trained facilitators.

A mandatory parent orientation meeting will be held following the church service on Sunday, October 18th for parents/guardians of young people who wish to participate in the program, or who are considering participation. We will take a good look at the curriculum's values, topics, format, and schedule. The parent meeting will be held in the fellowship hall starting around 12:45 p.m. Lunch will be provided by the RE Committee, with the actual meeting beginning at 1:00 and ending by 4:00. Childcare will be provided in the RE area. This meeting is for parents and guardians only.� Youth must have signed permission from all parents/legal guardians to participate in OWL.

OWL class size and the number of families we can accommodate at the orientation are limited. Please RSVP to DRE Erin Reid at eereid@hotmail.com by October 11th.

Read more about OWL at http://www.uua.org/re/owl/.

Wonderful Wednesday Suppers!

Swing into fall and enjoy warm UUCH fellowship at the Wonderful Wednesday Supper on Wednesday, October 21st. Serving from 5:30- 7:00 p.m., the menu includes homemade spaghetti sauce (turkey & vegetarian), spaghetti noodles (wheat & gluten free), garlic bread, tossed salad and dessert.

Family-friendly pricing: ages 6 and younger are free, ages 7-12 are $2, age 13 and older are $5. Family maximum: $15.

Childcare and creative children's activities will be offered at 6:30 p.m. for families staying to attend Adult RE or choir activities. Do yourself and your family a favor! It couldn't be easier so don't try to resist, just come join the fun!

Hosted by your UUCH Hospitality Committee: Betsy Applegate, Fran Alexander, Audrey Fox, Lydia Goodman, Kathy Heath, Cheri Smith, & Jefflyn Weed.

Time, Talent, and Treasure:
UUCH Service Auction 2015

Get ready for a trip to the islands where the food and drink flow and the time and talent of our congregation will be up for auction. The UUCH Service Auction takes place on Saturday, November 14th. Don't let the pirates that will surely be present beat you to the silent auction items--or outbid you in the live auction! Items auctioned in past years have included a variety of special dinners and events as well as unique handmade articles, specialty foods, and other tangible items. Give your time and talent and leave with fantastic treasures!

The boat makes shore at 6:00 p.m. with a silent auction and a fabulous buffet with your favorite beverages. The live auction follows focusing on popular items in a fast-paced, fun-filled, frenzy! Watch out for sharks circling your favorite silent auction items!

We need your help. In the past, people have donated gourmet dinners, backyard picnics, wine-tasting parties, card parties, music lessons, garden design, computer repair, and a long list of other unique services. Items such as handmade foods, clothing, pottery, jewelry, and other goods also make excellent contributions. Show your creative or giving side!

To sign up your talent or treasure contribution:
1) Fill out the forms available beginning this week in the Fellowship Hall,
2) Send an email to Service Auction Captain Bob Locklear (boblocklear@mac.com) with details about your contribution, OR
3) fill in an online form at http://communityauctionservices.com/register/uuch.

So mark your calendar to cast off Saturday, November 14th for a fun filled evening in the islands. Childcare will be provided. Door prizes will also be given away throughout the evening--you must be present to win!

Good exercise, a good cause, and a good time at the NAMI Walk: Go Team UUCH!

We Share the Plate* with First Stop, Inc.

First Stop, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation established in 2001 to reduce the number of homeless persons in Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama communities.

First Stop's overarching goal is to promote the overall rehabilitation of homeless citizens in Huntsville and Madison County communities. That includes facilitating their transition from the "street" into permanent housing and assisting with their reintroduction to their workforce.

First Stop provides its homeless clients with life-management-skills training and seminars to enhance their personal well-being. Individualized case management is the most critical element to our long-term solution in promoting continued stability and growth--insuring physical and mental health monitoring, referral to proper health care, and access to available social service benefits. Since our incorporation, we have maintained a 90-percent retention rate among clients placed in permanent housing.

First Stop's efforts are funded through federal, state and local grants, planned outreach/fundraising efforts, generous contributions from organizations, and gifts from interested individuals.

More information is available on their web site www.firststop.org .

*When we "Share the Plate," all cash collected on the first Sunday of each month in the quarter (October, November, and December), along with any checks noted as "Share the Plate," will be halved with First Stop, Inc.

(Thanks to your generous donations, we sent a check to last quarter's recipient, Meals on Wheels, for $919.00!)

Care List

At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, September 27th, candles were lit for:

John Jeter, a candle of joy: "A few weeks ago I discovered a nodule in a lymph gland. After Cat Scans, imaging, ultrasound, and biopsy, the nodule was found to be non-cancerous."

Gail Williams, a candle of joy: "The congregation of UUCH wants to wish Ilene Sparks a happy 94th birthday. We love and honor you!"

Ilene Sparks, a candle of joy: "Last Tuesday, I became 94 years old, and have been honored by many phone calls, greeting cards, gifts, Facebook greetings, and hugs. And a trip to North Carolina with dear friend Gail Williams driving. We went to The Mountain (marvelous), to the Biltmore Estates, the Smokies and more. It was fantastic! Thanks to all!"

Eleanor Schweinsberg, a candle of joy: "I wish to thank all those who supported the NAMI walk yesterday. John Schweinsberg took the most laps (7) around the track, after walking earlier in the morning. Not bad for someone who turned 73 on Friday. Our youngest participant was one-year-old Wren Betts."

Kathy Fisher, a candle of sorrow: "Comforting thoughts to Rose Deverzley, who's kitty died this past week. And to me, as my own cat declines. "

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 15-16 Board Members

President: Laurel Bollinger

Vice-President: Angel Hundley

Secretary: Ed Bernstein

Treasurer: Jerome Belcher

Trustees: Millicent Simmons, John Fox, & Denise Runnels

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 Laurel Bollinger, 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.

The next UUCH Board Meeting will be held Tuesday, October 27th, 2015 at 6:30 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: Laurel Bollinger

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.