The Overlook

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

September 29th, 2016

Vol. 16 Issue 39

In This Issue

Sharing Sunday

Awareness Through Movement

Join the Choir!

Safety First!

Upcoming Services

This Sunday in RE

SoulCollage®

New UU for You!

Family Movie Night!

Service Auction 2016

Run, UUs, RUN!

Personal Finance Class

5th Annual Campfire/Campout

Your Chance for a Quilt!

UUs Represent!

We Share the Plate

This Sunday, October 2nd, is a Sharing Sunday

On the first Sunday of each month, we

Share the Plate during the offering,

Share our Lunch with each other during Potluck, and

Share our Bounty by filling the Food Basket!

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!

ATM: Awareness Through Movement on Saturday Mornings

UUCH Adult Religious Education focuses on the whole spiritual person--mentally and physically. We are starting another series of Awareness Through Movement® classes. Those who came to the first series found it very enjoyable, relaxing, and useful. The class focuses on gentle movement that can assist us in being more comfortable and pain-free in our everyday activities. Come learn how to use the core of your body to improve movement, balance, and chronic pain.

Everyone is welcome! This verbally guided Awareness Through Movement® class is for anyone who wants more ease and comfort in their movements. Class is drop-in, no experience necessary, and will be led by Sally Locklear. Wear comfortable, loose clothing, and bring a bath or beach towel to use as head support for comfort in side-lying.

Classes will be held on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m., until further notice. For more information, contact Adult RE chair Nancy Finley at Adult.RE@uuch.org. If you need childcare for this event, please contact Nancy at least a week before the event.

It's Not Too Late to Join the Choir!

UUCH Choir holds their weekly practices
each Wednesday, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. Come sing with us! Childcare is available.

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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Quick Links...

UUCH Calendar
UUCH Website

UUA Website

Mid-South District

October's Theme: Healing

Upcoming Services

Sunday, October 2nd, 2016

"A Community of Healing"

The Reverend Alice Syltie

Our theme for October is healing and the question before us is, "What does it mean to be a community of healing?" As individuals we may find ourselves, or those we love, seeking healing of mind, body or spirit. Families and communities also experience times of disruption or trauma that require healing. Most of us would probably agree that right now the world needs healing. Unfortunately there is not a pill for everything that ails us. What are the resources available to help us in our own journey of healing, even as we find ways to reach out and be of support to others in their needs for healing?

This Sunday we Share the Plate with First Stop, Inc. For more about this program, please see the article below.

This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education

We continue our "Storysharing" curricula

based on our Soul Matters monthly worship theme of HEALING. Children and youth will explore how healing begins with ourselves.

Nursery care (ages 0-3) will be offered as usual.

The Children and Youth Religious Education Program is now registering for the fall and spring program, which began September 18th. Registration helps us plan for facilities, leadership, and safety needs. It also lets us be in touch with your family with special announcements and RE information. All participants in the RE program (ages infant to 18) should register each year even if you've registered before. Register online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WS8LDNP. Paper registration forms are also available at the church.

For more information, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education (DRE) at dre@uuch.org or Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair, at children.re@uuch.org )

Exploring SoulCollage®
Have Fun and Be Inspired!

Don't really understand what SoulCollage® is all about? Well, it is similar to Unitarian Universalism in that it is "about" many things to many people. For some, it is an easy way for the less artistically talented to create something very personal and beautiful, to enjoy some small part of the feeling talented artists feel when they create. Some simply enjoy the intimate community in which we create our cards. Still others just find the process "plain ol' fun." Overall it is a way of creatively expressing components of ourselves, a visual reminder that each of us comprises complexity!

Denise Runnels and Nancy Finley will co-facilitate this Adult RE workshop in the UUCH fellowship hall Monday evening, October 3rd, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. So please join us as we continue to explore Seena B. Frost's SoulCollage® process, beginning (or continuing) to build our deck of cards. Everyone is welcome! No experience necessary! All you need to know is how to use a pair of scissors and a glue stick!

"New UU" Class This Sunday
Oct. 2nd, 9:00 a.m., in the Adult RE Classroom.

You don't have to be new to UU to join us for a fun discussion about what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist and learn more about UUCH. This three-part series explores important themes in UU congregational life, such as worship, theology, history, covenant, faith development, social justice, and membership. It 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.

You do not have to have attended the previous sessions in order to enjoy and learn at this one! Childcare will be provided. Contact Nancy Finley (Adult.RE@uuch.org) for further information.

My Neighbor Totoro
All-Church Movie Night, Saturday, Oct. 8th!

Join ALL AGES for a screening of My Neighbor Totoro on Saturday, October 8th. We will gather at the church at 6:15 p.m. with snacks and treats; show time is 6:30 p.m. Bring themed refreshments or your favorite movie snacks to share.

This event is sponsored by the Children and Youth RE program. All are invited! Contact RE Chair Audrey Fox for more information at children.re@uuch.org.

"Return to Treasure Island"
UUCH Service Auction 2016!

Get ready for the donations that will soon be piling up like coconuts for the annual UUCH Service Auction that takes place Saturday, October 22nd! Have you thought of a donation that shows your talent? Dinner parties, wine tastings, guided hikes, specialty breads ... these are just some of the fabulous items from past years that are sure to be back.

Have an item in mind you'd like to see at the auction? Send suggestions to Bob Locklear at Service.Auction@uuch.org and we'll list your request in the next newsletter.

Want to volunteer on Treasure Island? We need table monitors, spotters, and runners as well as people to help with setup and cleanup. If you can volunteer to help, sign up on the poster in the Fellowship Hall.

There are 3 ways to donate:

Fill out the forms available in the Fellowship Hall and drop them in the Treasure Chest,
Send an email to Bob Locklear (Service.Auction@uuch.org) with details about your contribution, or
Fill in an online form at communityauctionservices.com/register/uuch.

Don't miss the food, friendship, and fun on Saturday, October 22nd at 6:00p.m! Childcare will be provided. Door prizes will also be given away throughout the evening--you must be present to win!

Run, UUs, Run! Sign up NOW

for the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run!

For the 7th year, UUCH is forming a team to enter the lucky 13th Annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run to benefit breast cancer awareness. This is an all ages 5K run/walk that takes place on Saturday, October 15th, 2016, starting at 8:00 a.m. There will be a Survivors Walk at 10:00 a.m.

The race winds through beautiful downtown Huntsville, starting and ending at Huntsville Middle School at the corner of Lowe Avenue and Adams Street. On a beautiful Fall day, what more could you want than exercising with friends while raising money to find a cure for an illness that has touched so many in our church community?

To register, go to hhfi.convio.net or google "ribbon run 2016" and sign up to join team "Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville." Cost is $30. Registration is limited to the first 6500 people. Last year they closed registration early after they met their capacity goal, so sign up now! We must have 10 people registered by October 3rd--we have two already!

Look for further team announcements like where to meet on race day for our annual team photo. Thanks go to the Social Justice Committee for sponsoring us for this event! Please contact Becky Ellingwood with questions: (beckyel22@gmail.com).

Start stretching and hydrating now!

Wi$e Principles of Personal Finance and the Power of Financial Planning

This Adult RE Class Continues October 14th!

Do money worries cloud your focus or invade your sleep? Do you want to learn how to use money as a tool in living a contented, generous life? Do money fights disrupt your relationships? Do you need help figuring out how to make ends meet? Is the answer no, but you think you can learn to do better?

If you answered yes to one of these questions, join UUCH Adult RE as we look at managing money as a spiritual practice. Through a book study and group discussion of wise advice, we will look at attitudes about money and learn how to manage it in a way that leaves room for matters of the spirit.

The four-session class (which began Sept. 30th) will meet every other Friday at 6:30 p.m. (So, September 30th, October 14th, October 28th, and November 11th).

Everyone is welcome. Married couples and life partners are strongly encouraged to attend together (child care will be provided). Parents, bring your teenagers! Sign up in the Fellowship Hall after service or email Michelle Clark at michelle_e_clark@yahoo.com. Copies of the book and workbook are available courtesy of the Social Justice Committee. You do not have to have attended the first class--catch up now! Facilitators Jon Fox and Michelle Clark look forward to seeing you there!

Campfire/Campout is October 15th!

Save the Date! Our 5th Annual Campout & Campfire will be held Saturday, October 15th, at the primitive campground up on Monte Sano Mountain! 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 (Interweave@uuch.org) for info.

Quilt Raffle for the Service Auction!

Have you seen the beautiful quilts hanging up at the church? You can own one of these lovely quilts!! One winner will select his/her choice of the five quilts (Pictures Here), now on display in the Fellowship Hall.

Raffle tickets will be available every Sunday between now and the Service Auction when we will draw the name of the lucky winner. You can also mail a check to the church indicating that it's for the raffle, and we'll enter you in the drawing and mail your ticket(s) to you. Tickets are $5 each, or 5 for $20.

Proceeds are a part of the Service Auction and benefit the operating budget of UUCH. We also encourage folks to take a block of tickets to sell to family and friends. For more info, contact Alice Dilbeck (Finance@uuch.org) or Bob Locklear (Service.Auction@uuch.org).

Many thanks to quilter Shiela Burrows for her generosity and talent!

"Service is Our Prayer."

As UUs, service and social justice are at the heart of our spiritual practice. Last weekend, UUCH held events serving our church and our wider community. As the pictures below show, it was a great weekend of service and fellowship!

Pancake Tickets Sold like Hotcakes! Will, Gail, Nancy, Monica, Denise, Howard, Tom, Mac, and Lynsie made a great team!

Nancy, Vicki, Susan, and Ilene at the Voter Registration Table!

Theresa, Audrey, Gail, Denise HG, Nancy, Shiela, Barbara, Sally, Bobby, Kathy, and Kim--sewing up tote bags for our homeless outreach.

Thanks also go to Tim Miller, Pam and Brad Korb, and Susan Allbritton, for tackling some of early morning yard work at the church on Saturday!

What a productive and fun weekend!

We Share the Plate with First Stop, Inc

First Stop, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation established in 2001 to reduce the number of homeless persons in Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama communities.

First Stop's overarching goal is to promote the overall rehabilitation of homeless citizens in Huntsville and Madison County communities. That includes facilitating their transition from the "street" into permanent housing and assisting with their reintroduction to their workforce.

First Stop provides its homeless clients with life-management-skills training and seminars to enhance their personal well-being. Individualized case management is the most critical element to our long-term solution in promoting continued stability and growth--insuring physical and mental health monitoring, referral to proper health care and access to available social service benefits. Since our incorporation, we have maintained a 90-percent retention rate among clients placed in permanent housing.

First Stop's efforts are funded through federal, state and local grants, planned outreach/fundraising efforts, generous contributions from organizations and gifts from interested individuals.

More information is available on their web site: www.firststop.org.

When we "Share the Plate," all cash collected on the first Sunday of each month in the quarter (October, November, and December), along with any checks noted as "Share the Plate," will be halved with First Stop, Inc.

Care List

At our Circle of Candles on Sunday, September 18th, candles were lit for:

Millicent Simmons, a candle of sorrow: "My niece Laurie Burns died last Sunday. She was suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. You may remember that I have sold some of her beautiful fused-glass jewelry here in our art sales."

Theresa Miller, a candle of sorrow: "Asking positive thoughts and prayers for two of my sisters who have been in the hospital recently. My oldest sister Romey, who is 79 and recently had dizzy spells, was found to need a pacemaker. Also my sister Lois, who had kidney stones and infection (Lois is the one who got a prosthesis this summer.). Wishing healing for them both."

Kate Watkins, Bicycle Riding Community, a candle of sorrow: "Prayer request for Brian Guerro who was critically injured in a bicycle accident last weekend. Mr. Guerro is from Louisiana and came to Huntsville to ride in the annual "All You Can Eat" 100 mile century ride. In addition, a prayer of thanks for my ride companion who had a separate bike accident and is recovering from her injuries."

Lynsie Lamitie, a candle of joy: "Thank you so much to all of the amazing volunteers and pancake eater's that made yesterday's fundraiser a huge success. And an extra big thank you to Tom Meier for his organization and leadership."

Ilene Sparks, a candle of joy: "Thanks a million for the marvelous birthday party and covenant of community, of peace and love with the world. Luv y'all, Ilene."

Bobby Hall, a candle of joy: "My father is sitting in the pews today. (Happy face)."

Steve Rittenberg, "A candle of sorrow to honor the passing of my wife, Gina, on Monday. And a candle of joy as gratitude for the support I received this past week and continue to need daily."

If you have pastoral care needs, please contact the Reverend Alice Syltie at Minister@uuch.org. 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 care@uuch.org.

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 President@uuch.org.

The next UUCH Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 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: Minister@uuch.org .

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.