THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Sun. 9/17:
9:00 a.m.
Adult RE Classroom
Wed. 9/20:
Wonderful Wednesday Supper
6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Fellowship Hall
Adult RE Film and Discussion
6:45 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
UUCH Choir Practice
7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Music Room
Sat. 9/23:
UUCH All-Ages Movie Night
6:30 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
Team UUCH Cares - NAMI Huntsville 1 Mile Fun Walk
9:00 a.m.-12:00 Blossomwood Elementary Track
9:00 a.m.
Adult RE Classroom
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SAVE THESE DATES!
2017 Service Auction
November 4th
This year's Annual Service Auction will be on
November 4, 2017, at 6p.m. As always, we will gather and have a great time with food, beverages, and the auction. Of course childcare will be provided.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more information on how to donate items and register for this great evening!
--David Bollinger, Chair
6th Annual
Come Out,
Cook Out, and Camp Out!
October 21st
Don't miss out on this wonderful annual tradition sponsored by Interweave. Consider what vegetable(s) you'd like to share and plan to join us at Monte Sano State Park beginning at 5pm on October 21st. More information will follow soon.
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New UU Class
Everyone is welcome!
Join us this Sunday morning (September 17th) and again on September 24th to learn and share.
Each session stands alone, so please come even if you cannot attend each session. Meet for coffee, juice, and snacks at 9:00 a.m. in the Adult RE room located at the end of the Religious Education (South) wing; discussion starts at 9:15. Pam Korb and Mac McSherry will facilitate
.
Contact Nancy Finley for further info. Childcare will be provided!
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August HAP count was 90 items!
The Social
Justice Committe
e's goal is to collect items for the food pantry. CAN you pick up an extra CANNED good, nonperishable food item, or personal care product next time you are out shopping? Please put your donation in the basket in the church foyer to be donated to the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP).
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The UUCH choir practices on
Wednesdays at 7:15pm
in the choir room. Whether you know how to sing or would like to learn, we would love for you to join us!
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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
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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. 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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Upcoming Service
Sunday, September 17th, 2017
"
Living Our Principles: Making a More Radical Welcome"
Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education,
and Harper Goodman, Young Adult Ministries
As Unitarian Universalists, we have diverse lives and beliefs, yet we are connected and empowered by our common principles. People of all ages in our faith ask how we can more fully understand and live our principles, create inclusive communities, and work for justice. Erin Reid will discuss "Living Our Principles," the Children and Youth Religious Education theme for the year, in dialogue with Harper Goodman, who will talk about opportunities for a more radical welcome for young adults in Unitarian Universalist congregations.
The service will include a ceremony of dedication for this year's CYRE teachers and volunteers.
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This Sunday in Children and
Youth Religious Education
Children and youth are welcomed to the opening session of the Fall RE program! Come start up the year with old friends and new. We welcome you!
For more information, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education or Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair.
Fall RE registration is now open.
We encourage all families to register by September 17, our first day of Fall RE sessions. Welcome!
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Wednesday Pizza Time!
Wonderful Wednesday Supper for September 20th features fresh pizza and yummy salad. Meat choices! Gluten free! Veggie!
This event is 6:00 p.m.- 6:45 p.m. with $5 per person, $3 for children, under 5 free, and family friendly $15 max pricing. What a bargain!
After supper, you can stay to enjoy and learn in Adult RE or sing with the choir.
Childcare available at 6:30 p.m.
Wonderful Wednesdays are a great way to reconnect with friends and meet new friends in a casual evening.
--Sponsored by Hospitality
Also, join Adult RE after the Wonderful Wednesday Supper September 20th from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for a short video and discussion on "Welcome."
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Sabbatical Letter from Your Minister
By the time you read this article, the second half of my sabbatical will have begun. The first half of the sabbatical was in the spring of 2016.
The offer of sabbatical is a tradition in Unitarian Universalist congregations. Recognition of the need for renewal and reflection by ministers is acknowledged in the process of calling a minister and included in the letter of agreement offered by the congregation.
Continue reading the rest of Rev. Alice's letter here.
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UUCH All-Ages Movie Night September 23
Join Children and Youth RE for another
night of fun, fellowship, and popcorn as we host our next
movie
night on
Saturday, September 23rd, in the Fellowship Hall. We will be screening the recent
Disney/Pixar movie Inside Out.
Please bring along your favorite
movie snack to share.
Popcorn and drinks will be provided. The popcorn starts popping and the doors open at 6:15pm. The
movie will begin at 6:30pm.
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Team UUCH Cares
NAMI Huntsville 1 Mile Fun Walk
The Social Justice Committee is forming
Team UUCH Cares
to support the works of NAMI
(National Alliance on Mental Illness).
NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans impacted by mental illness.
Team UUCH Cares is teaming up with NAMI Huntsville and NAMI Alabama for a
statewide, 1 mile fundraising walk on September 23. We are reaching out for contributions that will help NAMI Huntsville continue providing free services to local families who live with mental illness.
Donating to Team UUCH Cares is easy, fast, and secure here. Your donation will make a difference in the lives of the 43.8 million adults who experience mental illness in a given year.
We encourage you to donate and/or join us for the 1 mile fun walk on September 23, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. until noon at Blossomwood Elementary Track located on
1321 Woodmont Ave.,
Huntsville.
Further details can be found at
Thank you for your support!
--Social Justice Committee
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Music Notes
Hi all! I finished my second year of the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network Music Leadership Certification Program this past spring! Through the requirements of the two courses, Music as Ministry and Directing and Managing a Music Program, I participated in many diverse exchanges of ideas with my colleagues responding to questions like, "Please discuss what belongs in a mission statement for yourself and your music program. What covenants have groups within your program made? What has been your process in the creation of these mission statements and covenants?"
There were also discussion questions about Music Sundays, collaboration efforts in music and worship to enhance worship experience for your congregation, music budget and salary, selecting repertoire, advocating for the music program, and much more!! One of the most important outcomes of this program each year is the revision we are asked to do of our Philosophy of Music. The following is my second revision.
I am led to provide and nurture musical experiences that open hearts and minds through song. My life journey in music has taught me to get out of my own way and let spirit lead me to use my experience and talents to foster musical connections between and among all those I have the opportunity to minister to. This becomes a 'healing ministry' to me and fuels the passion I have to continue to grow in this work.
--Pam Siegler, Music Director
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Essential Spirituality, The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind
Thursday evenings, September 28th through November 16th at 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Join UUCH Adult Religious Education as we read, discuss, and explore some exercises in the book, Essential Spirituality - The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind by Dr. Roger Walsh, M.D., PhD. Based on over twenty years of research, Essential Spirituality shows how we can apply the seven practices central to all the world's major religions in our daily lives to cultivate kindness, love, joy, peace, vision, wisdom, and generosity. Dr. Walsh, who is both a spiritual practitioner and an award-winning scientist, believes that each of the major spiritual traditions has both a common goal and seven common practices to reach that goal. Essential Spirituality integrates the spiritual principles of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Taoism into what Walsh believes is one truly rewarding way of life in which kindness, love, joy, peace, vision, wisdom, and generosity become an ever growing part of everything you do. Come join us as we discover how his views might be consistent with our principles as Unitarian Universalists.
We have four copies of the book available for loan and they can be signed out in the fellowship hall or by contacting Shiela Burrows
. The book is also readily available on-line to purchase. We will meet each Thursday evening from September 28th through November 16th in the Adult RE Room from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you need childcare, please contact Shiela Burrows or Nancy Finley
at least one week before the event.
Everyone is welcome!
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Relax and Move at UUCH
Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. starting on September 29th!
This fall our "Feldenkrais Method of Awareness Through Movement" class will start with a series of lessons focused on improving balance
and breathing by improving the use of the muscles that support the hips and low back. These lessons will be using small, gentle movement, imagination, and sensing. Mats will be provided, but feel free to bring anything you might need to make yourself comfortable lying on the floor. If you are unable to lie on the floor, please let us know and we will make an accommodation for you.
This Adult RE class is drop-in, no experience necessary. The class will be
led by Sally Locklear. Everyone is welcome. We will meet each Friday at 10:00 a.m. starting on September 29th.
For further information, contact Adult RE chair, Nancy Finley
. If you need childcare for this event, please contact Nancy at least a week before the event.
UUCH Adult Religious Education focuses on the whole spiritual person--mentally and physically, so come join us!
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Exploring SoulCollage®
Returns October 2!
If you haven't tried SoulCollage® you may  discover this as a fun, relaxing, and creative process that requires no artistic ability, but yields deep insight. Using collage techniques, cards are designed based on intuition. The cards reflect the numerous aspects of ourselves and help us discover our own inner wisdom. The process is designed to allow each person to work as deeply and intensely as they are comfortable doing, knowing the pace is right for them. And you end up with a beautiful set of SoulCollage® cards.
The only skill needed is the ability to use scissors. That is it; just cut and paste images from the hundreds we've pulled from magazines to your 5" x 8" card.
Newcomers, come prepared to be surprised at what you find. Adult Religious Education sponsors this class which will be held the first Monday of each month. Denise Runnels and Nancy Finley will co-facilitate the workshop. We will start the session in the UUCH Fellowship Hall Monday evening, October 2nd, at 6:00 p.m. and create until 8:30 p.m.
Check out soulcollage.com for more information about the SoulCollage® process we are following, developed by Seena B. Frost or contact Denise for more information about the process and/or the workshop.
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Go, UUCH, Go!
We've formed a team, we have a date; now all we need are some team mates! All abilities are welcome!
The 14th Annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run will be on Saturday, October 21, 2017, and UUCH once again has a team sponsored by our Social Justice Committee. The 5K course will take walkers and runners through beautiful downtown Huntsville on a lovely Fall day. The race will begin at 8:00 a.m. followed by awards at 9:30 a.m. and the Survivors' Walk at 10:00 a.m.
Proceeds from the 2017 Ribbon Run will be used to purchase an additional 3D tomosynthesis mammography machine, making breast cancer easier to detect.
To register as a team member, go to Liz Hurley Ribbon Run, search for Teams, and enter Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville.
Support your fellow UUs and friends who have already been touched by this awful disease. Register now and start stretching! All abilities are welcome!
Look for additional information to come about meet up place and time. For questions, contact Becky Ellingwood.
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A New Year in Children and Youth Religious Education (CYRE)
Welcome back to the fall program of Children and Youth Religious Education at UUCH! The first day of fall curricula will be
September 17th.
As always, children and youth will begin the service in the sanctuary with our full multi-generational congregation and will go to their RE rooms after the Story for Sharing. The worship service will include a ceremony of dedication for our CYRE leaders.
If you have not done so already, please register children and youth for this year's program. Paper registration is available at the church or you can register online.
Our RE age-based groups for this year are updated. We are adding a new room to support the amazing growth of the program!
- Nursery (ages infant to 3, staffed by experienced childcare providers)
- Peace (ages 4/Pre-K to grade1);
- Justice (grades 2-3);
- Searchers (grades 4-5);
- Transformers (grades 6-8); and
- YOUUTH (grades 9-12).
There are many children and youth transitioning rooms this year, which is VERY exciting! All groups will stay in their previous locations except the Transformers who will trail-blaze the new room that currently serves as the Board and meeting room.
This year's theme is "Living Our Principles." Each RE group will be exploring our values as UU's and thinking about how we want to act them out in the world, in ethical decisions, and when we see injustice happening. We hope to help our young people feel confident that they can understand and make a difference in the world. We have terrific curricula from UUA Tapestry of Faith. Lessons are highly interactive and story-based with games, crafts, music, projects, and more!
We will continue to integrate our monthly worship themes with our children's stories, worship time, singing, and discussions. We begin the month of September with WELCOME! As always, children
and youth are invited to pick up their name tags in the foyer and wear them while at church, just like all ages. This is one way we welcome each other!
Welcome back and welcome for the first time! We are so pleased for your presence in the UUCH Children and Youth RE Program.
For more information, contact Erin Reid, Director of Religious Education (DRE), or Audrey Fox, CYRE Chair.
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Care List
This Sunday, September 10th, 2017, at our Circle of Candles:
Mike & Carolyn, a candle sorrow: Thousands of prayers for the Henley family, who lost their home in Hurricane Harvey, and all those affected by Hurricane Irma.
LaDawn Edwards, a candle of joy: Abi Nielsen's mother keeps improving after heart surgery. She plans to move from Vanderbilt Hospital to a care facility. Thank you for all the good thoughts, prayers, and support. Abi continues to focus on the 4th grade priorities of math homework, Girl Scout meetings, and what to wear for picture day.
Barbara Hitt for the Care Committee, a candle of concern: For Mona Smith who says she is slowly recovering from her back surgery and hopes to be back soon; a candle for Millicent Simmons: Please write a card for her and have your photo taken for her Memory Book; a candle of joy for the Knit Wits and the Yarn Bombing decorating the fence to the playground. Lynda Lamitie led the project and Audrey Fox helped the RE children make butterflies and tassels. Be sure to take a look!
LaDawn Edwards, a candle of joy: Girl Scout Troop 10507 wrapped up its joint duffel bag project Friday. The lively pizza party included making tied blankets for the foster kids. Thanks to Ashley and Emily Creekmore for the opportunity to meet and work with their Troop.
Maria Coble, a candle of protection: Please light a candle of protection for those in Florida. My friends, the Stantons, are waiting out the storm in Tampa. The father, Ryk, is in a wheelchair and they have two toddlers.
Jeannie Hosmer, a candle of concern: Thank you for the prayers for my niece and her family in Houston. They weathered the storm. Asking today for prayers for my nephew, Jason Lane. He's fighting a battle with pancreatic cancer.
John Jeter, a candle of concern: For friends in Tampa, Florida, and Texas. Thanks that daughter, Kristina Jeter, and her son, Chase, evacuated from Tampa, to Birmingham, on Tuesday, ahead of the crowd.
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