In addition to Fair Trade chocolate from Equal Exchange, Your Social Justice Committee also sells Certified Fair Trade and Organic coffee from the Kaffeeklatsch!
Order yours in the Fellowship Hall after Sunday morning services!

Awareness Through Movement!

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 is led by Sally Locklear. Wear comfortable, loose clothing, and bring a bath towel to use as a head support. Classes are 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.

This Year's UU General Assembly

UUGA will be held June 22nd-26th in Columbus Ohio!

This year's theme is "Heart land: Where Faiths Connect." For further information, visit the GA website at www.uua.org/ga

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Upcoming Services

Sunday, April 3rd, 2016

"Good vs. Evil:
Pro-Future or Anti-Future?"

The Reverend Michael Dowd

Our legacy is determined by how we impact the larger community, and the future, for good or ill. Rev. Michael Dowd's sermon will highlight a science-based (ecological and evolutionary) understanding of good and evil for the 21st century.

Since April 2002, Michael and his wife (UU science writer Connie Barlow) have lived entirely on the road, delivering talks at more than 400 UU congregations, summer camps, and minister retreats, as well as for other religious and secular groups. Their work was featured as the cover story of our national membership magazine, UU World, in the spring of 2006. Their ministry has also been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, and Discover Magazine, and Michael has appeared on television nationally on CNN and ABC News.

Rev. Dowd will also be speaking Sunday afternoon, at 1:30 p.m.--after the potluck--in the Sanctuary. Please see the article about this lecture, below.

This Sunday our Share the Plate donations will be going to "New Futures, Inc." For more about this program, please see the article below.

This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education

We continue our shared journey with Heart Talk for Kids with all ages, this week focusing on Session 15: Peace and Contribution.

Childcare for ages 0-3 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 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.

"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 Sunday morning April 3rd, and continuing on April 10th and 17th, join us for this chance to learn and share. Meet for coffee 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. 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 Nancy Finley (finleyn@uah.edu) for further info.

Our Shared Journey Update

This Sunday, we will wrap-up this year's UUCH Annual Budget Drive (ABD) activities and announce our final total at the service. (Spoiler alert: it looks to be our most successful ABD on record!) Our thanks again to everyone who has pledged!

If you have not yet given your pledge and would like to support the church's budget for the 2016-2017 church year then please turn in your pledge form this week!

If you did not get a letter, or if you are new, or if you know someone else who would like to give to the church, there are blank pledge forms in the fellowship hall. Please let us know if you would like to support UUCH!

Jason Aycock, 2016 ABD Chair

Kevin Betts, 2016 ABD Co-chair

Special Event! Please invite your family, friends and neighbors! Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow will be at UUCH on Sunday, April 3rd for our 10:45 Worship Service as well as this special program that afternoon.

Sunday afternoon, April 3rd, 1:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. (Note Time Change--begins at 1:30, not 2:00 p.m. as previously published!)

Childcare will be available.

Ten Commandments to Avoid Extinction: Religion as if Survival Mattered
The Reverend Michael Dowd

"What Reality is telling us through evidence about how we must now collectively think and act if we hope to spare our grandchildren from hell and spare ourselves their condemnation.

"We each have experienced times of trouble that threaten to overwhelm our individual lives. In such times, a vision of possibility is essential. The same holds for the punctuations in history when whole societies face troubles of an immense and uncharted variety. Truly, we here and now have arrived at such a time. Humans, unwittingly, have become a planetary force. We are changing, irreversibly, the very climate of our world. Henceforth, any actions we take as individuals and societies will be done in the new light of climate change. What vision will carry us forward through such times and inspire us to work together? How shall we frame the need to shed our business-as-usual outlook on life and take on a new vision of possibility that can unite us as a species in joyful self-sacrifice and service? What vision will charge us with a sense of heroic purpose that the future is, indeed, calling us to greatness?"

Rev. Michael Dowd is a bestselling evolutionary eco-theologian and pro-future evangelist whose work has been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Newsweek, Discover, and on television nationally. Michael and his science writer / evolutionary educator wife, Connie Barlow--both climate hawks--have spoken to more than 2,000 groups throughout North America since 2002, including 450 UU churches. Their work has been featured on the cover of the UU WORLD twice, in 1997 and again in 2006.

This program, geared for adults and teens, builds on Rev. Dowd's most recent TEDx talk, "Reality Reconciles Science and Religion," and his 20 minute YouTube video:

"Reality's Rules: Ten Commandments for Survival and Long-term Thrival." It also expands on material in his bestselling, bridge-building book, Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World, which was endorsed by 6 Nobel Prize-winning scientists, noted skeptics, and by religious leaders across the spectrum.

Adult RE SoulCollage� Workshop
This Coming Monday!

SoulCollage� is a creative process that requires no artistic ability. Using collage techniques, cards are designed based on intuition. The cards reflect our inner self and help us get to know ourselves better, discovering our own wisdom.

This journey begins with the first card so it is never too late to get started with your own SoulCollage� cards. The process is designed to allow each person to work as deeply and intensely as they are comfortable doing, knowing the pace is right for them.

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.

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, April 4th, 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.

Only Three Weeks Until the

UUCH BOOK SALE!

Four Days of Book Buying!

Wednesday, April 20th through Friday, April 22nd,

from Noon until 7:00 p.m.

AND Continuing

Saturday, April 23rd, from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Admission is FREE!

There will be no pre-sales!

Come browse through the HUGE SELECTION of used books, audio, video, magazines, rare finds and old favorites at BARGAIN PRICES--get there before the good ones get away!

What Can YOU Do To Help?

Donate your books to this great cause (and get a tax deduction).

Invite your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

Bring your books to church any time before Sunday, April 17th, and leave them in front of the North Hall doors.

Plan to stay after church on Sunday, April 17th, for a book-sorting party!

Volunteer to work a shift at the sale. Sign up HERE or on the poster in the Fellowship Hall.

"When I get a little money I buy books and if any is left I buy food and clothes."--Desiderius Erasmus

We Share the Plate with New Futures, Inc.

Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to send a check for $952.50 to last quarter's recipient, Friends, 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: http://www.keepingfamiliestogethernf.org/

When we "Share the Plate," all cash collected on the first Sunday of each month in the quarter (April, May, and June), 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, March 27th, candles were lit for:

Michelle Clark, a candle of joy: "Joy that my Mom is here, and that tomorrow is my first day with normal knees. Thank you for your support and love during this time."

Tom and Katherine Meier, a candle of joy: "Joyful for Evan being awarded the 'UU Religion Medal' for Cub Scouts, and for recently winning 1st place at the District Pinewood Derby for his X-Wing car."

The Lamitie family, a candle of joy: "We are thrilled that Mom (Lynda) made it through surgery without complications, and she is now healing quickly. Thank you for the phone calls, flowers, and well-wishes!"

LaDawn Edwards, a candle of joy: "During my spring break visit with my parents in New Mexico, my mother and I agreed to do a 3-week dietary cleanse together. This motivated her to join Facebook which I hope will bring us closer."

The Aycock family, a candle of sorrow: "Jason's aunt just passed away. Please be with our family through thoughts and love. Thank you."

We also lit a candle of sorrow for the family of Jo Barry, a long-time member who passed away recently. Rev. Alice officiated at a memorial service for Jo on Saturday in Arab.

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, 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 UUCHBoardPresident@uuch.org.

The next UUCH Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 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 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.

Website: 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.