This Saturday:
Liz Hurley
Ribbon Run
Run, UUs, RUN!
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
(or support those who do) to help beat breast cancer!
UUCH runners: please meet at the basketball court just west of the Finish Line and across from Huntsville Middle School. Let's meet at 7:30 and take a group photo. Tonia Betts will have packets for team members. If you need your packet before then or have questions, please contact her at (256) 882-9891.
It's not to late to join the team! Visit lizhurleyribbonrun.org. Click "Register Here" then "Join a Team" then enter "UUCH Ribbon Runners."
Go, Team UUCH!
|
Awareness Through Movement Skips a Week
The movement class will not be meeting on Saturday, October 17th, because many of our members will be walking in the Liz Hurley Ribbon Race.
We will resume meeting on the following Saturday. Newcomers are always welcome!
|
UUCH KnitWits
Set Schedule
Our UUCH Needlework group, the KnitWits, will be meeting in the Fellowship Hall from 6-8:00 p.m. on October 16th and again on November 20th. The KnitWits lend their talents to both Social Justice and Care Committee projects. Come join the fun, whether or not you know a "purl" from a "treble-crochet!" All are welcome!
|
We Can Do It!  Please continue to help fill the baskets in the foyer and fellowship hall with non-perishable food & hygiene items, which we donate to the Huntsville Assistance Program.
All donations are welcome and appreciated!
|
Wonderful Wednesday Suppers Start Oct. 21st!
Swing into fall and enjoy warm UUCH fellowship at the Wonderful Wednesday Supper on Wednesday, October 21st. Serving 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 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, Cherie Smith, & Jefflyn Weed.
|
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.
|
Social Justice Knows What We Need
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.
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Services
Sunday, October 18th, 2015
"Embracing Your Aliveness"The Reverend Alice Syltie
In the Parable of the Trapeze last Sunday, the writer referred to the bar he was reaching for as his "aliveness coming to get him." Taoist wisdom would ask us to be mindful, or present in this moment, as we walk the "Way." How do we accept the future, as it becomes the present, and find meaning and joy?
|
 This Sunday in RE
"Letting Go!" A Children's Chapel for all RE groups with songs, skits, stories, movement, and more. All ages will participate in this special interactive worship service during regular RE time in the RE area following the story for sharing in the main sanctuary. 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.
 Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education for Youth begins soon. There will be a mandatory meeting this Sunday, October 18th for parents who would like to enroll their youth in these classes. For more information, please see the article below.
|
From Your Minister
Dear Friends,
Sunday, Oct. 11th was National Coming Out Day, founded in 1988, on the one year anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. And on Sunday, Michael Scarborough brought with him from home a typed note to pass forward for the Circle of Candles, a time in our brief hour of worship when we share significant personal milestones of joy or sorrow. Unfortunately his note was overlooked in the basket. Since the note was about Coming Out on that particular day 24 years ago, and since I know that Michael came out at church during the Circle of Candles time, I especially regret that we missed the opportunity to celebrate this occasion with him.
Michael also noted that on Sunday he was celebrating 30 years as a member of the congregation. Being a steadfast, contributing member of a congregation for 30 years is definitely worthy of note and celebration. In addition to serving in numerous leadership positions over the years, Michael Scarborough chaired the Welcoming Congregation Committee at UUCH which led to the church earning recognition as a Welcoming Congregation in 1994.
Thank you Michael for living bravely and authentically, and for challenging UUCH to be a place where others are invited to do the same.
In Love and Hope,
Rev. Alice
|
Welcoming Diversity
Did You Know?--Laurel Bollinger, Board President
Please remember that the aisles need to be kept clear so that those with mobility impairments can reach the Fellowship Hall or the handicap-accessible bathrooms outside the sanctuary. We could be so much more welcoming if we just move conversations into the pews rather than clustering in the walkways after services! Thank you!
|
 UUCH Service Auction 2015!
It's time once again for the UUCH Service Auction that takes place this year on Saturday, November 14th! Donate your time, talent, or treasure, or come for the fellowship and to purchase your desired treasure during the silent or live auction. Donate a service, dinner party, unique handmade articles, or specialty foods.
Know a business that may consider donating? Discuss it with them and have them contact Bob Locklear at boblocklear@mac.com or 512-731-7726.
Have an item in mind you'd like to see at the auction? Send suggestions to Bob Locklear at boblocklear@mac.com and we'll list your request in the next newsletter.
There are 3 ways to donate:
1) Fill out the paper forms available in the Fellowship Hall and drop them in the Treasure Chest ,
2) send an email to Bob Locklear ( boblocklear@mac.com) with details about your contribution, or
Don't miss the food, friendship, and fun on Saturday, November 14th at 6:00 p.m. Childcare will be provided. Door prizes will also be given away throughout the evening--you must be present to win!
|
"New UU" Class Starts 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!Starting this Sunday morning (October 18th) and continuing on October 25th and November 1st, join us for this chance to learn and share. Meet for coffee, juice, and snacks at 9:00 a.m. in the Adult RE room located at the end of the Religious Education (South) wing; discussion starts at 9:15. Pam Korb and Bobby Hall will facilitate. Childcare will be provided for each class. Come even if you cannot attend all three sessions...handouts for any missed sessions will be available. Contact Pam Korb ( bradkorb@mindspring.com) for further info.
|
|
ARE Film Discussion--The Moral Matrix:
Breaking Out of Our Righteous Minds
 Food, film, fellowship--you will find it all on Wednesday, October 21st at UUCH! Following Hospitality's Wonderful Wednesday Supper, UUCH Adult Religious Education will present a short video featuring Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion.
Jonathan Haidt is a Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University with an academic specialization in the psychology of morality and the moral emotions. In his TEDTalk video, "The Moral Roots of Liberals and Conservatives" (18 minutes) he tries to help us understand more about the evolution of our moral roots. His hope is that we can learn to be more civil and open-minded, and develop some moral humility in our discussion of politics and religion
We will gather from 7:00-8:15 p.m. for a showing of the video and a discussion of these ideas and how they might relate to the principles of UU. This video is guaranteed to inspire a lively discussion and will hopefully challenge us to expand our thinking about our own moral righteousness. Nancy Finley, Ed Bernstein, and Denise Runnels will facilitate.
Childcare will be provided. Great spaghetti dinner before. What else could you need for a complete mid-week pause for your enlightened self? Contact Nancy Finley, finleyn@uah.edu for further information.
|
|
Campfire/Camp-out is October 24th!
 Save the Date! 4th Annual Campout & Campfire is Saturday, October 24th. As in previous years, there will be a communally prepared foil-dinner-in-the-coals meal, singing, and a lot of laughing! More information is coming soon, or you can ask Denise Runnels (drrunnel@gmail.com) for info.
|
|
Social Justice Meets Oct.25th
 The Social Justice Committee will meet Sunday, October 25th at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We will be discussing CASA TEMP$, the Alabama Hispanic Association Christmas dinner, and other fall projects. Everyone is welcome, and we'll have bagels. If you have questions or need child care, please contact Tonia at (256) 882-9891.
|
|
The Chalice Circle Experience--Oct. 25th
 The Themes of the Month are the collaborative product of a group of my Unitarian Universalist minister colleagues. The material was actually developed for use in small groups, such as our Chalice Circles. The idea caught on and now we see the benefit of deepening the exploration of topics through Worship, Music, and Religious Education. What started out as a group of about thirty-five of us sharing resources has now expanded to well over 100 congregations across the country. The Chalice Circle, or Small Group experience is deepened by the broader congregational focus on the themes.
Many of you have been asking about opportunities to join a Chalice Circle, and it is time now for us to expand the opportunity and fill the empty chairs. On Sunday, October 25th, following the worship service, the Chalice Circle experience will be open to all who would like to try it out. There will be no obligation to sign up for an ongoing group, although, my hope is that you will be interested enough to give it a try for the next few months.
So, Save the Date, and listen and watch for more details.
|
 Friday, October 30th! UUCH All-Church, All-Ages
Halloween Party!
Ghosts & Goblins, Creatures & Critters, Kids & Adults--come one, come all to our all-church Halloween Party! Friday, Oct. 30th, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
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!
Watch for sign-ups for bringing Halloween snacks, making spooooky cakes for the cakewalk, and helping with set-up and clean-up. For more information contact Jessica Zelaya, RE Chair (256.322.2210 or asuriai@yahoo.com).
|
|
Help Prepare Our Senior Citizens for Winter on November 7th
Your Social Justice Committee invites you to participate in a community service project with CASA (Care Assistance System for the Aging) in Madison County. For several years, UUCH has participated in the annual Taking Energy Measures Personally = $avings (TEMP$) program sponsored by CASA. The TEMP$ program is an annual one day  event in which teams of CASA volunteers weatherize the homes of clients by putting plastic on windows, insulating pipes, caulking breaches, installing smoke detectors, replacing storm doors, and performing other small repairs. Special skills are not required, but an interest in basic household type repairs and/or interest in interacting with seniors in our community are desired.
The TEMP$ program work day will be Saturday, November 7th, starting in the morning and lasting for 3 to 4 hours depending on the number of people who participate and the number of tasks to be done. UUCH usually sponsors two homes in the Huntsville/Madison County area.
Please contact Brad Korb at bradkorb@mindspring.com or 256-895-9303 if you have any questions or are interested in participating.
|
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.
|
 Care List
At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, October 11th, candles were lit for:
Michael Scarborough, a candle of joy: "Today I am celebrating 30 years as a member of this congregation, and 24 years out of the closet."
Amanda Schuber, a candle of gratitude: "Gratitude for all the kind concern and generous care, especially Michelle Clark for the chicken soup that I can't wait to eat. I'm doing well after surgery, and back to wedding planning."
Barbara Hitt, candles of joy and gratitude: "Joy for the nice visit I had with my 97-year-old mother in Wyoming, and gratitude for the folks who provided Care in my absence, especially Jefflyn Weed and Cheri Smith, who did massive amounts of meal preparation for our members needing care."
Paulette Bernstein, a candle of joy and sorrow: "My mother's broken arm has begun to heal. However, her health and my stepfather's overall health is declining."
Michelle and Glen Clark, a candle of joy: "Thank you all for the love and support for Michelle's surgery tomorrow. We are blessed to have such a fantastic community around us." (Haley drew a wonderful picture on the back of the Circle of Candles form!)
Sarah Kinley, a candle of sorrow: "Sorrow for our Kyla who drowned on 10.8.2002, and died on 10.24.02. She was two years old.
"A candle of joy for friend Linda running Chicago Marathon right now, and she just finished at 11:08!
"And a candle of joy for myself and Zilya and also the UUCH runners who are running the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run on Saturday. Good luck!"
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.
|
|
|
