The HAP Count for March is 186!
The Social
Justice Committe
e's goal is to collect and donate 100 items per month. CAN you pick up an extra CANNED good, nonperishable food item, or personal care product next time you are out shopping? Please do, and put it in the basket in the church foyer to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP). Suggested donations:
macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce, dry beans and rice, boxes of cereal, bars of soap, canned meat, and peanut butter!
Thanks for all you do!
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All church members and friends are invited to an informal "town hall" meeting after church on April 30th to discuss and learn about the next steps we hope to take in making best use of funds from the sale of the Governors Drive property. We will not be making decisions at the meeting, but we will share information to clarify how we are moving forward, specifically how we will go about making decisions, including issues possibly up for vote at the Annual Meeting in May. In this town hall meeting, we will hear from the finance committee and our Next Steps Task Force.
Questions in advance may be directed to Board President Laurel Bollinger (
President@uuch.org) or Task Force members
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Annual Budget Drive (ABD) Update
We are in the final stages of wrapping up the ABD, and we are excited to announce that we have raised over $199,000 in pledges from 93 households! On behalf of myself, Glen, and the rest of the ABD team, I would once again give a sincere thank you to our members and friends for their generous support of UUCH.
If you were intending to make a pledge and had not gotten around to it, please mail it back this week or bring it with you to church on Sunday. Blank forms are also still available at the church if you did not receive one in the mail. Maybe we can still break $200K!
Kevin Betts (ABD Chair) &
Glen Clark (ABD Co-Chair)
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UUCH
Annual Yard Sale!
Good news to the spring cleaners among us! The annual
UUCH yard sale will be held at the church on Saturday,
May 20, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Mark the date, gather your goods (after making sure they're clean, stain-free, and intact), and start delivering them to the north wing where Willette will answer the doorbell from 10 to 2 weekdays. If you want to deliver them on Saturday, you can make arrangements with Bonnie Herold; or you can always bring them when you come to church on Sunday. Bonnie will eventually ask for help in sorting and displaying, and for participation on the actual date. If you have a pickup truck and are willing to collect large items the week of the yard sale, or have questions, email Bonnie Herold at bherold51@gmail.com or text/call (256) 289-1374.
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Members: Save the Date!
Annual Congregational Meeting
May 21st, 2017, at 12:30 p.m.
Please make plans to attend, because
we need a quorum! Also, per our bylaws, we will send electronic copies of the mailing to all members, using your newsletter preferences as a g
uide. If you currentl
y 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!
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2016 Opening Parade
General Assembly 2017
June 21-25, 2017
at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130.
By going to New Orleans, we can both celebrate our successes and recommit to the relationships that have been forged with this community. Plan your trip! Important dates and programming updates may be found here: http://www.uua.org/ga.
CLICK HERE
This is close enough to drive from Huntsville!
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President:
Laurel Bollinger
Vice-President:
Denise Runnels
Secretary:
Ed Bernstein
Treasurer:
Greg Howard
Trustees:
Susan Coddington
Kathy Heath
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 phone her at home or send a copy of your request to
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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 Willette Battle at uuch@uuch.org.
Office Hours:
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mon-Fri.
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.
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April's Theme: Transformation
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Upcoming Service
Sunday, April 16, 2017
"Radical Transformation: Our Annual Flower Communion Service and Celebration of the Season for All Ages"
The Reverend Alice Syltie
The Easter story is a story of transformation. In this season of new life and renewal, we celebrate the gift of life and the transforming power of love. Our worship will include a special message for all ages, the giving and receiving of flowers, and a ceremony of dedication for babies and children. Each person, from the youngest to the eldest, may bring a flower for our Flower Communion Ceremony. It is also perfectly acceptable to bring a few extra flowers for visitors or for those who might not remember.
If you would like to have your baby or child dedicated, or have questions about the meaning of this ceremony, please contact Rev. Alice by Saturday, April 15.
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This Sunday in Childre
 n and
Youth Religious Education
Children and youth will participate
with their families in the all-ages Flower Communion service in the sanctuary. CYRE groups will not meet. Nursery for ages 0-3 will be offered as usual.
For information or to register a child, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education (DRE) at dre@uuch.org or Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair, at children.re@uuch.org.
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Welcome to our Newest Members!
On Sunday, April 9th, UUCH welcomed 15 new members into covenant during a brief ceremony.
Pictured above are our new members (left to right):
Back (standing): John & Jessica Schulz, Joe Rogers, Phil Garson, Mike Reyes, Matthew Bollinger, Bob Richmond, Peter Bertone
Middle (seated): Bryan & Diane Walls, Sandy Garson, Carolyn Reyes, Khoe Tran, Anna Bertone
Front (floor): Children from Reyes and Bertone families
Not pictured: Lauren Childers
We appreciate the commitment that these new members have made to our church community with their gifts of time, financial support, talents, and themselves. We look forward to working together to fulfill the mission of this church.
The UUCH covenant that members make with each other is as follows:
We, as members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville, covenant to work together to create a supportive, affirming, sustaining community that inspires and challenges each of us to become our best selves. To further our goal of creating such an intentional community, we promise each other to:
- Affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every member of our community, valuing our differences and supporting each other in a free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- Listen to one another with the intent of understanding, and speak to one another with respect and kindness, so that all may be heard;
- Recognize that forming an intentional community may at times require us to place the needs of the community above our own needs;
- Foster caring relationships by assuming the best intent in others, disagreeing in love, and empowering one another to speak for ourselves;
- Affirm the work of the church to the best of our abilities, valuing the work of others, and supporting those who voluntarily accept leadership roles in the church;
- Promote an environment where all people feel safe, both physically and emotionally;
Use the energy and support we thus create to bring our vision of justice, equity and compassion in human relations into our wider community, our nation, and our world.
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Spring Cleaning Workday
The Property Committee is hosting
a spring
cleaning workday on Saturday, April
15
th, starting at 8:00 a.m. and lasti
ng until around noon.
The main effort is to spread about half a trailer load of mulch in our newer, safer swing set mulch bed. We're bringing the swing sets up to modern safety standards with safe plastic edging and playground-rated mulch. Bring deep wheel barrows, large scoops, and gloves.
If cleaning is your desire, we will also be scrubbing down the awning out front, clearing out gutters, and cleaning "all the things" that need it. Also removing some playground weeds and repairing some boards at the play castle.
Current forecast is partly cloudy and high in upper 60's. It will be a great morning for service to our church community!
--Property Committee
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Easter Egg Hunt
at Alice & Betsy's!
Sunday Afternoon, April 16th
You and your family are invited to spend Easter Sunday afternoon with
your fellow UUs in a day of relaxation and fun while welcoming the beginning of spring. (Rain or shine!)
What:
Easter Egg Hunt
Who:
Ev
eryone is invited!
When:
Sunday, April 16th,
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Where:
Alice Dilbeck and Betsy Applegate's home, in Harves
t.
Suggestions for what to bring:
Yourself and family--Eggs for the hunt (plastic filled and "real")--Baskets for the egg hunt--Goodies to share for munching--Lawn chairs and musical instruments.
Fun for everyone. No children? No problem. We'll have badminton, croquet, and activities for all ages, including "sitting-on-the-porch-talking-as-we-watch-others-expend-a-lot-of-energy." What could be more fun?!
Children are advised to wear or bring play clothes
to fully enjoy the outdoor activities.
Directions and map to Alice Dilbeck's and Betsy Applegate's home are in the fellowship hall by the kitchen door. Or you can call (256-534-0508) or email Willette at the church office (uuch@uuch.org) for a copy.
We're Egg-cited! We'll be HOPPY to see you!
This activity is sponsored by the Children and Youth RE Program as an all-church activity. All are welcome!
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Wonderful Wednesday
Salad Supper 
Craft the salad of your dreams! Join fellow UUs Wednesday to enjoy the "make a salad" event, April 19th at 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. The freshest of veggies, sides, and meats will be available. Pick your favorites for your salad. And, as always, dessert!
Sponsored by Hospitality
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 Adult Religious Education
Film Series
Want to change the world?
Find out how humans
themselves change!
Film discussion on
Wednesday, April 19th
7:00 - 8:00 pm
(after the Wonderful Wednesday dinner).
In keeping with this month's theme of "Transformation," our Wednesday night film will be
"Three Myths of Behavior Change - What You Think You Know That You Don't" a TEDx talk by Jeni Cross.
As a professor and consultant, Dr. Cross has helped schools, government agencies, and activists implement and evaluate successful programs to improve community well-being.
In this short film, she talks about how our biggest limit to changing others is our own common sense. After the film, Nancy Finley and Denise Runnels will facilitate a discussion. For more information, contact Adult.RE@uuch.org. Childcare will be provided.
Everyone is welcome.
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March for Science 2017 
Saturday, April 22nd 1- 3 pm
In Unitarian Universalism, one of the six Sources of our Living Tradition is:
Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
Given that the respect for the quest for knowledge is so important in our tradition, the UUCH Social Justice Committee would like to bring to the attention of our church community this event that will be held in Huntsville.
On Saturday, April 22, scientists and friends of science will take to the streets in Washington, D.C. and in more than 400 other cities around the world in a peaceful and non-partisan show of support for scientific research and evidence-based public policy. Organizers of the Washington march have recognized the Huntsville event as an official satellite activity.
The Rocket City Science March organizers are a group of volunteers from the Huntsville metro area who want to protect the funding and publishing of peer-reviewed, empirical science without government interference. In a high-concentration STEM city, we see free speech of peer-reviewed science as vital to our success as a community and our progress as a country. It is time for people who support scientific research and evidence-based policies to take a public stand and be counted.
Meet in front of
UAH's Shelbie King Hall on the corner of Sparkman and Technology Drive and march 1.3 miles to the Space and Rocket Center.
A family- friendly event.
Everyone is welcome!
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Children and Youth Program Updates
The UUCH Children and Youth Religious Education Program periodically updates the congregation on matters concerning the CYRE program and multi-generational community. In this newsletter, we wanted to let you know about some changes in nursery and childcare practices, and we also wanted to offer a refresher on some of our long-standing safety guidelines.
Nursery and Childcare
We have been growing by leaps and bounds in our nursery and in childcare service offered for all-church events, classes, and meetings. Some important information for families:
- The Nursery is for ages 0-3; older children should remain with their families before church and during times when they are not in their RE activities. Some 4-year-olds do continue to use the nursery for a time as they transition into the older room.
- We are pleased for the nursery to be a welcoming space where parents can bring infants and toddlers for play, naps, nursing, etc., even when nursery staff are not present. A parent should always be present with their own children in the nursery when un-staffed and in any church space when children are not in their RE activities or childcare.
- It is also important that parents personally accompany their children to nursery or childcare and sign them in, providing a cell phone number that can be reached in case of emergency. Children will remain in nursery/childcare until a parent returns to sign them out.
- Finally, we also invite parent support in fostering our brand-new Nursery and Childcare Covenant: "Respect. Share. Help. Be safe. Have fun."
Safe Congregation
The Children and Youth Religious Education Committee promotes these safe congregation practices in all of our programming:
- Each class has at least two teachers present for each session.
- A Sunday Supervisor sits in the common area during all RE class sessions.
- RE classrooms are outfitted with a window in each door to promote safe classroom space.
- Non-teacher adults do not have ready access to classrooms.
- We promote and communicate family commitments (see below).
- We practice healthy communication and reporting regarding situations that seem unhealthy or dangerous.
UUCH Family Agreements Commitment
As a reminder, when families register each year to participate in the CYRE Program, they commit to the following guidelines for the safety and enjoyment of all participants:
- Treat each other with respect and kindness according to our UUCH Covenant.
- Make an effort to attend as regularly as we can.
- Check-in at the RE Welcome Area in the foyer and get our name tags.
- Supervise children and youth in the church facility and grounds when they are not in their planned activity. (All playground use will be supervised by a parent/guardian).
- Honor RE begin and end times and pick up children in the Peace, Justice, and Searchers room at noon.
- Respect off-limits areas to children, including the kitchen-except in special circumstances, and with supervision-storage and utility rooms, the balcony, and the attic.
Parental supervision is especially important at all-ages events, on the playground, and during social times when RE classes are not in session. The entire congregation plays a role in making a child-friendly and safe church. Thank you for your commitment to our all-ages community!
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Care List
This Sunday, April 9th, 2017 at our Circle of Candles:
Barbara and Gary Hitt, a candle of sorrow and joy: Sorrow that Barbara's mother slipped away from this earth at 3:00 this morning to go to what she called her "next big adventure." Joy for the amazing, long, full life she lived for 99 years.
A candle of sorrow for Matthew Vincent Ford, who left this world Monday evening. His legacy will not be forgotten. He blessed our community with Free2Be and Rocket City Pride. Go now in peace, sweet Vincent.
Kathy Fisher, a candle of sorrow: A request that we please lift up Rose Deverzley in our hearts and prayers. Her father died Wednesday morning. She was able to be with him. Also, a candle for the heart-breaking news of the victims of the bombing of two Coptic Christian churches this morning in Egypt. 40 people were killed.
Carly Bowls, a candle of sorrow: Her mother is home for 12 weeks recovering from an extensive back surgery. A request for prayers of hope that she knows she is not alone and has a beautiful connection and light within her.
John Sims Jeter, a candle in memory of his mother, Flora Lee Sims Jeter. Yesterday, April 8th, would have been her 116th birthday.
Nancy Stetson, a candle of joy: Her daughter Michelle is marrying Sean Pennell on July 16th!
Tim & Theresa, a candle of joy: They are excited to have two of their daughters with them for dinner to help them celebrate their 35th anniversary!
Denise Runnels, a candle of joy: A joy to have Alice and Betsy in our church. Thankful for the party last night and Easter next week.
Nancy Finley, a candle of joy for the people from our church who attended the UAH Interfaith Round Table Discussions. "Seeing the way you participate in the interfaith conversations, makes me proud to be UU."
Glen and Michelle Clark, a candle of joy: Haley entered a contest to choose the cover of the yearbook for her school. Her drawing won! She is especially proud that her drawing was chosen over those of 5th and 6th graders.
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