The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville AL 35810  
February 22, 2018
Vol. 18 Issue 8
In This Issue
This Week

Fri. 2/23
Awareness Thru
Movement Class 
will not be held this week. Classes will resume on March 2nd.
   
Sun. 2/25
New UU Class
9:00 a.m.
Adult Religious Education Classroom

Church Services
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Sanctuary

Wed. 2/28
 
The UUkulele Fun Group
5:45-7:00 p.m.
Adult Religious Education Classroom

UUCH Choir Practice 
7:15-8:30 p.m.
Music Room
HAP Collection 
We CAN Do It! 
canned goods
We collected
95 items in January. 

The Social Justice Committe e has a monthly goal to collect at least 100 items during each month for the food pantry.

Please put your nonperishable food items or personal care products donation in the basket in the church foyer for the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP).  
   
THANK YOU for your continued generosity!   
COME SING A SONG WITH US

The UUCH choir practices on Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. in the Choir Room. Whether you know how to sing or would like to learn, we would love for you to join us!
The UUkulele  
Fun Group

The Ukulele Fun Group occurs every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. and is open to everyone, regardless of skill level.
Awareness Thru Movement Class 
   

For a healthy new you, join our
Awareness Through Movement (ATM) class.

These classes focus on gentle movements 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!

Classes, led by Sally Locklear, are drop-in with no experience necessary
. Wear comfortable, loose clothing and bring a bath or beach towel to use as head support for comfort in side-lying. ATM is held on Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. However, the class will not be held this week. Please join us next week.
   
For more information, contact Nancy Finley at Adult.RE@uuch.org. UUCH Adult Religious Education focuses on the whole spiritual person--mentally and physically. J oin us!

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UUCH 17-18  
Board Members
 
President:
Laurel Bollinger

Vice-President: 
Denise Runnels

Secretary:
Nancy Finley

Treasurer: 
Greg Howard

Trustees: 
Susan Coddington
Kathy Heath

Lynsie Lamitie


Ex Officio:
Reverend Alice Syltie

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 phone her at home or send a copy of your request to
President@uuch.orgThe next UUCH Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 27th.

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:  

Susan Coddington 

Kathy Heath 

 

Newsletter deadlines are each Monday at midnight.
Please send submissions to news collator Willette Battle at
uuch@uuch.org.  

 

Office Hours:

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  
Monday - Friday

 

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.

 
Upcoming Service

Sunday, February 25, 2018
              "Paving the Path"   
              The Reverend Alice Syltie 

Where are we on our path to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville, that we have dreamed of becoming? This is the question we ask ourselves, as we consider the resources we will need to pave the path for the next steps of our journey. 

Like the gang on the Yellow Brick Road, we may encounter surprises along the way. To be a People of Perseverance, it helps to be reminded that together we have all we need to reach our desired destination. Each of us brings something unique and special to the journey. In preparation for this Sunday, I invite you to consider what you bring.
 
This Sunday in Children and
Youth Religious Education (C YRE)
 
Children and youth will continue their exploration of Living Our Principles in their regular RE rooms.  

Nursery care (ages 0-3) will be offered as usual.
 
If you haven't already, please register your child/youth for this year's CYRE program. For more information, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education, or Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair.
Paving the Path!



The 2018 UUCH Annual Budget Drive (ABD) has started with the theme of Paving the Pat h! W e are taking this time to celebrate some of t he great things we have accomplished together over the past few years, including moving to our new building, selling the Governors Drive property, and growing our congregation. We also are preparing for the future as Reverend Alice retires and we continue down our shared path together. This is an exciting time for UUCH!
 
Your support, my support, all of our support together is what makes current and future programming possible at the church.
 
The ABD Cottage Meetings are scheduled throughout March in the homes of UUCH members. These Cottage Meetings are here to give you an opportunity to complete your forms for your pledge of support while you enjoy food and fellowship with others who value and support the church.
 
Whether you are a long-time member or someone who only recently started coming to UUCH, your support is the key to all the great things UUCH can accomplish. The Pledge form you'll fill out at the Cottage Meeting, along with the Pledge forms from everyone else, will be the basis for creating the annual operating budget for the 2018-2019 church year that starts in July.
 
Sign up this Sunday in the Fellowship Hall. Several of the meetings are designated as "(CF)" (child-friendly), so your whole family can attend. Any special diets will be accommodated so that everyone is welcome at a cottage meeting. Please note any special needs on the signup form. 
 
We look forward to seeing each of you at a Cottage Meeting. 
 
John Schulz, 2018 ABD Chair
David Bollinger, 2018 Finance Chair
"New UU" Class Continues February 25th

What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? Guided by the Tapestry of Faith Curriculum, we will offer a three-part series that explores important themes in UU congregational life -- our worship and theology, history, covenant and polity, faith development, social justice, and membership. This program is particularly focused on introducing newcomers to Unitarian Universalism, but those of us who have been here 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!
 
Join us on February 25 th for this chance to learn and share. Please come even if you were not able to attend earlier sessions. Meet for coffee or tea at 9:00 a.m. in the Adult Religious Education classroom; discussion starts at 9:15. Pam Korb and Nick Wilbourn will facilitate the discussion.
 
Contact Nancy Finley (Adult.RE@uuch.org) for further info. If you need childcare during this time, please contact Nancy.
Save The Date
As you all know, Reverend Alice has announced her plans to retire at the end of this church year. Although she will be with us until the end of July, we plan to start celebrating her a little early, to begin the process of saying goodbye to someone who has made such an impact on our church and to allow for participation from members before we all embark on our summer vacations. 
 
Please mark your calendars for a celebration of Reverend Alice's legacy of service and leadership on April 22nd.
 
We will have an opportunity during that worship service to look back at the many gifts Reverend Alice has given our church. You will not want to miss it!
Minister Transition Update

In this period of transition following Reverend Alice's retirement announcement, your church leadership, Reverend Alice, and regional support staff have been preparing for this important stage in our church's developmental life. Fortunately, we are well-assisted by guidelines that are provided by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and by professionals who are experienced in supporting ministry transitions. The Board is happy to discuss this planning with all members of the congregation, and we will continue to host "Talk to the Board" sessions as we go through these coming months. We would, however, like to provide a simple overview of the process in motion.

First, among Unitarian Universalist congregations, an almost universal process following the retirement of a long-term settled minister is the reliance on an "Interim Minister" during the transition. Interim Ministers are trained to assist congregations in examining their past and preparing for a new permanent "Settled Minister." Interim Ministers typically serve two years, and are not considered candidates for a permanent position. Thus, the Interim is free to guide the congregation through the challenging stages in their development, and to help the congregation assess their future, review their goals, and "tune up" for a new era.

The Board is currently working on the application for an Interim Minister. There is a UUA-wide process for applications, and congregations seeking an interim are matched with available interims starting in April. It is our hope that we can have an Interim Minister in place in August of this year, as Reverend Alice will be leaving at the end of July.

Second, during the interim period we will be starting the process for a search for a "Settled Minister." The Southern Region has instituted a process for helping congregations navigate these transitions. The Board is obtaining the services of a "Regional Transitional Coach" (RTC) who will conduct exit interviews, help facilitate the search committee process, and lead start-up workshops with the new minister and the congregation. All these steps have been shown to enable more productive searches and new beginnings. A reasonable time-line is that the RTC will help us begin to select our Search Committee for a settled minister by next spring, with the goal of a new settled minister in place by the following fall (2020).

You all will be hearing much more as we go along this journey, and please let us know if you have concerns or questions. Ministry transitions can generate a multitude of emotions, fears, memories, and hopes. They can also be exciting times that re-energize congregational missions, enrich our sense of community, and inspire new vitality and growth that come from change. Your church leadership looks forward to working with you during these exciting and invigorating times.
votives
Care List
 
This Sunday, February 18, 2018, at our Circle of Candles:
 
Reverend Alice; lit candles for Laurie Keller, Jerome Belcher, and the victims and families of the Florida school shooting. 
 
Steve Herold; a candle of gratitude: Bonnie is recuperating at home after surgery. 
 
Susan Coddington; a candle of sorrow: My mother, Judy Esslinger, has been diagnosed with lung cancer. We will be meeting with the oncologist this week to determine the treatment.