UUCH Chalice
The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville AL 35810  
December 17th, 2015
Vol. 15 Issue 51
In This Issue
Let's Thank Them!
 
As you start out to do your holiday shopping, please remember to support and thank our Service Auction business sponsors:  
Pizzelle's Confections, Kaffeeklatsch,
and Connie Ulrich Design!

Food Basket!
canned goods
It's the holiday season, and we're all busy, but while you are rushing around, 
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!
Hospitality Helpers!
 
Here's an easy way to become more involved in your service at UUCH. You can be a Hospitality Helper! One way Hospitality Helpers participate is to sign up for a monthly First Sunday Potluck to work with Hospitality Committee members on the Potluck after church service. Call or email Hospitality Chair Betsy Applegate if you'd like to help!

Save the Date!singing chili
The UUCH Annual Chili Cook-Off is happening on January 16th, 2016!  More details soon!  

Coming in January: Let's Read This Book Together

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. UUCH Adult RE will host a book study on this in January, but you can order the book now from the UUA Bookstore!
ARE also has a few copies to lend: See Nancy Finley ([email protected])  for details. For more about the Common Read program, see the website.

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Upcoming Services
UUCH Chalice
Sunday, December 20th, 2015
 
 
"Would You Like to Hold the Baby"
Our Annual Christmas Pageant! 
The Reverend Alice Syltie,  
Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education, 
Pam Siegler, Choir Director 

The Children's and Youth Religious Education program presents Joyce Poley's "Would You Like to Hold the Baby," retelling the Nativity Story from a Unitarian Universalist perspective and inviting the congregation into reflection on its meaning for today. This musical, multi-generational service features the UUCH Choir, congregational singing, a Christmas pageant of all ages, and a surprise!

Thanks in advance to the UUCH Choir, pianist Catherine Hall, RE Chair Jessica Zelaya, Carey Snowden, Mari Hinckley, and the "cast and crew of thousands" in the Christmas Pageant.

(Cast and Crew: Please remember to arrive at church by 9:45 a.m. on Sunday for a quick run-through! We will meet in the sanctuary. For more information, contact Erin Reid at 256-694-6786 or [email protected]).
This Sunday in RE

It's the Christmas Pageant!

All children and youth are invited to participate in the sanctuary service.

If you didn't get a part and would still like one, please contact Erin Reid at [email protected].
 
Childcare (infant to 3 years old) will be offered as usual in the Nursery.

Questions about Religious Education at UUCH may be directed to Erin Reid, our Director of Religious Education (DRE) (256.694.6786 or [email protected]) or Jessica Zelaya, RE Chair (256.322.2210 or [email protected]). Register online for the UUCH Children and Youth RE Program at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WS8LDNP. 
Winter Candlelight Service
Friday, December 18th, 2015
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.
Thanks from Hospitality!
 
Thank you to the many, many people who helped in so many ways to support the memorial and repast for Anne G. Rutledge. It was greatly appreciated by the family. Virtually everyone that I called agreed to help in some way. At first, it seemed impossible to handle the memorial and repast a the same time as the Alabama Hispanic Association dinner, but many loving hands make light work, and I am so proud of my church! And thanks to Paul Weiland's suggestion, we took excess food to the Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen!
--Betsy Applegate, Hospitality Chair
Thanks for Buying SJ Holiday Coffee  

Thanks to everyone who took advantage of the Social
Justice Committee's first year of offering specially blended coffees by The Kaffeeklatsch (Winter Solstice and Chalice) for purchase as holiday gifts! We hope you enjoyed the samples provided during potluck and fellowship 
--and the discovery that we have our own Coffee Goddess! With more than 25 pounds of coffee sold, we consider our first event a grinding success! We look forward to planning a second annual special coffee blend holiday sales event in 2016.
-- UUCH Social Justice Committee
votives Care List 
 
At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, December 13th, candles were lit for:

Tonia Betts
, a candle of joy: "Thank you so much to everyone who contributed time, energy, food, and money to make the Alabama Hispanic Association Christmas dinner such a success. We provided gifts for about 30 children and dinner for 200 folks. And thank you to everyone for pulling together to do this on the same day as Anne's funeral. It is inspiring to see what we can do, and it is fun to work with y'all!"
 
Lynsie Lamitie, a candle of joy: "Thank you all for the continuing love and support of my family. My parents are both now home in Alabama. My dad has decided not to continue his cancer treatment, but all recent tests look good. He is thrilled to be home, and I am elated to have them on my side of the country."
 
Barbara and Gary Hitt, a candle of concern: "Please light a candle for Barbara who will be having rotator cuff surgery tomorrow morning, and for Gary who will be taking care of her. If Barbara looks a little strange next time you see her, that is because Gary will be doing her hair and make-up!"
 
Kathy Fisher, a candle of gratitude: "Today is the 28th anniversary of Daddy's death, also on a Sunday. His life informs my every day. And I'm so grateful I can play Christmas music this year!"
      
If you have pastoral care needs, please contact the
Reverend Alice Syltie at [email protected]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 [email protected].
UUCH 15-16 Board Members

 

President: Laurel Bollinger 

Vice-President: Angel Hundley 

Secretary: Ed Bernstein           

Treasurer: Jerome Belcher   

Trustees: Millicent Simmons, Jon 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 [email protected].

The next UUCH Board Meeting will be held
on Tuesday, January 26th, 2016 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
[email protected].  

 

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: [email protected].

Minister's email: [email protected].

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.