The Overlook

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

April 21st, 2016

Vol. 16 Issue 16

In This Issue

We Help HAP

Awareness Through Movement

UUGA

Book Sale--Right Now!

Annual Meeting May 22nd

Social Justice Meets

OWL for Adults!

Interweave Gets Busy!

Care List

We Can Reach 100!

The Social Justice Committee's goal is to collect and donate 100 items per month. Items added to our donation baskets in the church foyer and fellowship hall are taken to the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP) for distribution.

HAP is an interfaith network of Madison County congregations providing volunteers, information, and financial resources to help those in need. HAP focuses on those who need temporary assistance. HAP provides not only food boxes but also assistance with rent/ mortgage and utility bills.

From the HAP website:

"HAP's primary goal is to help clients have a better life. This does not always mean paying their bill will be the answer. We endeavor to meet many needs whether they are emotional, financial, or spiritual. All of our clients are interviewed in person and as much time as is needed to 'peel back the onion' and get to the core of that person's particular problem is taken. We may need to refer this person for financial counseling, marital counseling, drug/alcohol addiction, or medical assistance. We are a major referral source for services available within Madison County. All persons interviewed are encouraged to find a church family regardless of their denomination preference."

Awareness Through Movement!

Everyone is welcome! 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.

*Please Note:
May 7th will be the last ATM class for this Spring. Classes will start again in the fall.

Comedy Benefit for New Futures, Inc.

Our Share the Plate organization for this fiscal quarter is New Futures family homeless shelter. You can support New Futures further by attending their Benefit Show:

Henry Cho
Christian Comedian

April 29th, 2016,
at 7:00p.m.

Asbury United Methodist Church,

980 Hughes Rd, Madison AL 35758.

Tickets are available at Mellow Mushroom locations and at Asbury UMC. Thank you for supporting New Futures!

Coffee for Good

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!

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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UUCH Calendar
UUCH Website

UUA Website

Mid-South District

Upcoming Services

Sunday, April 24th, 2016

"Beyond Binary"

The Reverend Lynn Hopkins

"The structures we create to order our lives are binary: either/or, yes/no, true/false, right/wrong. I used to write computer code for a living, so I have a pretty good grasp on the concept of binary decision-making. The trouble is, the world, and the minds and bodies we use to navigate it, are not so simple. The important questions nearly always defy such absolute, categorical answers. I'm not just talking about rest rooms... but yes, I am talking about that, too."

Lynn Hopkins is a lifelong activist and computer geek, ordained into Unitarian Universalist ministry at age 50. Since 2014, Lynn has served the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Montgomery with a passion for interfaith religious exploration, a fervent commitment to justice, and a conviction that liberal religion has the potential to transform our wounded and broken world.

This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education

Cooperation Games! Children and youth will learn to play some Heart-Talk inspired non-competitive games in their RE Rooms. Fun!

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.

UUCH BOOK SALE Happening NOW!

Gail Williams sorts some of the over 6000 books donated! Thanks!

Still 2 More Days of Book-Buying!

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!

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

Members: Save the Date!
Annual Congregational Meeting
May 22nd, 2016, at 12:30 p.m.

Please make plans to attend, because we need a quorum! Also, per our bylaws (approved last meeting), we will send electronic copies of the mailing to all members, using your newsletter preferences as a guide. If you currently get a paper copy of the newsletter, we'll send paper copy of the agenda and other information. If you receive the newsletter electronically, we'll send you the agenda electronically. Please make sure that the church office has your correct email address! If you would prefer to receive the annual meeting notices in a different format than you get the newsletter, please just let the church office (uuch@uuch.org or 256.534.0508) know as soon as possible. Thank you!

Social Justice Meets April 24th

The Social Justice Committee will meet on Sunday, April 24th at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Lynsie Lamitie will meet with us to discuss opportunities for UUCH to become involved at the Chapman Middle School where she teaches. Everyone is welcome! We will have bagels, and childcare is available upon request. Please call Tonia Betts at 256.882.9891 with questions.

Don't Miss This...

OWL For Adults is Starting This Sunday!

April 24th, May 1st, & May 15th, 12:15-3:00 p.m.

UUCH has offered opportunities for our children to experience the extraordinary curriculum of Our Whole Lives (OWL) for years. Now it is time for the grown-ups. UUCH Adult Religious Education invites you to participate in Our Whole Lives for Adults. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives provides accurate, factual information while also helping participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social justice aspects of sexuality.

OWL models and teaches caring, compassion, respect, and justice. It helps adults address their attitudes, values, and feelings about themselves, their sexuality, and others' sexuality. Participants are guided by trained facilitators through an engaging program that addresses topics many adults have not had the opportunity to discuss in depth.

Three sessions lead by Laurel and David Bollinger will be held April 24th, May 1st, and May 15th at 12:15-3:00 p.m. Lunch and childcare will be provided. To Register, contact Nancy Finley, Chair of Adult Religious Education: finleyn@uah.edu. It is not necessary to register; it just helps us plan for food. So grab a friend and come on--everyone is welcome.

Save these dates!

Interweave is on the Move!

May 20th: UUCH Interweave hosts a "Dining with Friends Party," joining many other parties in the area to raise money for Thrive Alabama (formerly Aids Action Coalition). Thrive is doing many great things for many people in our community. You can find more information about the party, about Thrive, and about how to donate by clicking here.

June 12th: Interweave conducts our Sunday worship service, toward demystifying transgenderism.

June 18th: We will have a booth as usual at the Rocket City Pride Event, and this year we will participate in the parade in style--with our first float! This float will offer much more visibility than we've had in the past, and also provide an opportunity for those with mobility issues to join us in the parade.(To see the RCP flyer, click here.)

Be on the lookout. We will have a signup sheet to do another bulk order for Standing on the Side of Love shirts soon.

If you are interested in helping plan, conduct, advertise for, participate in, etc., in any or all of these events, let Denise Runnels (drrunnel@gmail.com) know. We will be having a meeting soon to brainstorm, coordinate tasks, and get things rolling.

UUCH's Interweave is an Outreach Group for self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) persons. Together with our friends and allies we are dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of UUs who are confronting oppression associated with their LGBTQ status. We follow the UUA's Interweave lead and facilitate the celebration of the culture and lives of our members.

Care List

At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, April 17th, candles were lit for:

Kathy Fisher, a candle of sorrow: "I found out Monday that I have two torn rotator cuff tendons in my other shoulder, so instead of the preventative surgery I was expecting, I will have the same shoulder reconstruction I had before. A friend said 'The good news is, you know what to expect; the bad news is, you know what to expect!'"

LaDawn Edwards, candles of joy: "First, Erin Howard is the Alabama State Spelling Bee Champ! Second, I am delighted to turn 50 this week. Thanks to all who helped me celebrate all month long."

Diane Scanland, a candle of joy: "Yes! I am now boot-less and cast-less. Thank you to everyone for your concern and good thoughts. Especially the Care Committee for your cards and pretty afghan. Thanks!"

Steve Herold, a candle of joy: "I'm happy to welcome my wife Bonnie back to Huntsville. She has been on temporary assignment helping to care for our granddaughter Bella for the last 2 months."

Bryan Walls, a candle of joy: "A joy to get to be here this morning because a work flight was cancelled. Appreciate travel blessings that our team can get where we need to be today!"

Our minister, the Reverend Alice Syltie, is on sabbatical through the month of June. For pastoral emergencies please contact Angel Hundley, the Sabbatical Coordinator, at ahundley@me.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.