The Overlook

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

July 28th, 2016

Vol. 16 Issue 30

In This Issue

Food Basket Needs

Safety First!

Upcoming Services

This Sunday in RE

Brownie Swim!

Care List

Let's Fill the Food Basket!

Your Social Justice Committee asks that we bring non-perishable food and personal hygiene items for the food basket this Sunday, to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program. (Baskets are located in the Foyer and in the Fellowship Hall.)

Our Goal: 100 Food Items per month!

So please check your pantry, and/or pick up an extra item on your next shopping trip. Suggested donations: macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce, dry beans and rice, boxes of cereal, bars of soap, canned meat, and peanut butter!

Also toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, sanitary napkins and tampons, shampoo and conditioner...you get the idea!

Thanks in advance!

August 7th Potluck: Celebrating Summer's Bounty
What is your favorite "Summer Bounty" food? Bring it for our August First Sunday potluck on August 7th in the Fellowship Hall, following Coffee & Conversation time (about 12:30). We'll begin the potluck with chimes and thanks. We're looking forward to seeing you and your "Summer Bounty" story!

Safe Space for Children and Youth
For the safety and enjoyment of our all-ages community, parents/guardians are asked to supervise children and youth in the church facility and grounds when they are not in their planned RE activity.

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Mid-South District

Upcoming Services

Sunday, July 31st, 2016

"Returning to the Basics: What are the Basics?"

Gail Stratton

In this era of constant high anxiety, in this era of political gridlock, in this era where hateful speech is more and more the norm, how do we hang on to what is good? What are the basics of your religious life, of our religious life? What do you return to over and over again?

For me there are two things: first it is the call to use words with care, knowing they are the bridge between us. Ever miraculous yet imperfect, they can be a bridge or a barrier. How can we better use words to connect? My second is connected to the first and it is to remember that Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal religion. My personal covenant includes trying to be careful with words. As we explore words and covenant, we will remember that every interaction is a holy interaction if we let it be. And it includes letting go of assumptions and presumptions and expecting it to be simple. Let us enjoy the miracle of words!

Gail Stratton is a Unitarian Universalist Minister who will be ordained in the fall. Also a Biology Instructor, she enjoys gardening, mushroom hunting and spider studies with her wife, Pat Miller.

This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education

Our Summer Program continues this week with "Making Paper Airplanes," led by Heather Kyemba!

Childcare for children age 3 and under will be provided as usual.

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). Register online for the UUCH Children and Youth RE Program at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WS8LDNP.

Back-to-School Celebration at Point Mallard with the Brownies!

Come along with UUCH's Brownie Troop 507 for a special day at the Point Mallard water park on Saturday, July 30th. Admission will be $14 for adults and $11 for children (including siblings and friends), with lunch provided. Learn about joining our combined troop for girls entering 1st through 4th grade. Call LaDawn Edwards (319-431-7461) to register for the outing!

Care List

At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, July 24th, candles were lit for:

Anita and John Czachurski, a candle of sorrow: "Roger Williams passed away last night. Roger was the husband of Anita's long-time friend Martha Williams. We were fortunate to spend time with Martha and Roger yesterday afternoon before he passed."

Cheri Smith, a candle of concern: "My daughter Vicky had a biopsy on the lymph nodes in her chest. It will take 5 to 7 days for results."

Claudia Carson, a candle of joy: "I'm so happy to be reunited with my UU family after 10 months of working weekends! I have missed everyone and look forward to saying Hi after the service."

An anonymous candle to "honor the joy of being alive and to celebrate those who support us in following our dreams."

Theresa and Tim Miller, a candle of joy: "My sister, Lois, has now gotten her prosthetic leg. She has given it a test drive with her doctor, but she hasn't worn it on her own. She has an appointment with a physical therapist to help her learn to put it on herself. She says she'll name it Betty, after Betty Grable, who had famously beautiful legs. She said right now, it needs a lampshade! Glad to see she's keeping her sense of humor."

Rachel Farnsworth, a candle of joy: "This is the last time I will be playing here for a while, as I'm leaving to go to Agnes Scott College in Atlanta. Meeting and working with this community this summer has been a true blessing. Thank you!" UUCH thanks you for playing so beautifully for us, Rachael!

Barbara Hitt for the Care Committee--

"A candle of concern for Steve and Gina Rittenberg. Gina has been in the ICU at M.D. Anderson for over eight weeks now for cancer treatment. Thanks to the UU members who are taking care of their cats and dogs in their absence."

"A candle of concern for Lydia Goodman who is recovering from surgery for cancer, and also awaiting the results from recent tests, with a probability of starting chemotherapy on Tuesday."

"A candle of concern for Echo and Jack Long. Echo reports that she is recovering from her pancreatic cancer, but is also awaiting further test results."

If you have pastoral care needs, please contact the Reverend Alice Syltie at revaluu@gmail.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 16-17 Board Members

President: Laurel Bollinger

Vice-President: Denise Runnels

Secretary: Ed Bernstein

Treasurer: Greg Howard

Trustees: Susan Coddington, Kathy Heath,

and Lynsie Lamitie

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, August 23rd, 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.