Upcoming Events
Please note that all meetings, worship services, and gatherings will be held online until further notice. Please check our Facebook page and website for updated information.
LINKS TO ALL MEETINGS WITH OUR MINISTER CANDIDATE CAN BE FOUND HERE.
Thurs., April 30
Coffee Chat with Congregation (led by Betsy A.)
10:00 a.m.
Coffee Chat with Congregation (led by LaDawn E.)
3:00 p.m.
Fri., May 1
Coffee Chat with Congregation (Led by Brad K.)
1:00 p.m.
Happy Hour with Congregation (led by Barbara H.)
5:30 p.m.
Sun., May 3
Worship Service Rev. Jaimie Dingus
10:45 p.m.
Congregational Meeting
12:00 p.m.
*Please see newsletter articles for times and links to meet with Rev. Jaimie Dingus.
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UUCH's Free Food Pantry is installed in the parking lot and is now stocked. The Social Justice Committee will restock the pantry with non-perishables, as needed, and you can, too.
See the Social Justice Committee for more information on what items are in need.
Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee
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UUCH 2019-20
Board Members
President:
John Schulz
Vice President:
Denise Runnels
Secretary:
Nick Wilbourn
Treasurer:
David Bollinger
Trustees:
Ed Bernstein
Jack Long
Bryan Walls
Interim Minister:
The Rev. Edward L. Brock
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 John Schulz
via email no later than one week prior to the meeting (i.e. the Tuesday before). The next board meeting is scheduled
for
Tuesday, May 26.
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The Overlook is a publication of The Unitarian Universalist Church, 3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville, AL 35810
Interim Minister:
The Rev. Edward L. Brock
Board President:
John Schulz
Editor:
Nick Wilbourn
Office Hours:
Monday:
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday:
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday:
1:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Minister's Office Hours:
Wednesday:
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday:
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Other times by appointment.
Office Phone:
Sunday Services are held 10:45 a.m. to
12:00 p.m. Children's Religious Education held concurrently.
Nursery available for ages 3 years and under.
For more info on any event, contact the church office.
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Upcoming Service
Rose, Bloom Again!
Rev. Jaimie Dingus
May 3, 2020
UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray writes, "This is no time for a casual faith or a casual commitment to your values, your community, your congregation, or your soul." Her words are true no matter our circumstances, but they are especially true today. What are you learning and discovering in yourself that we will need as we build a future? What are we noticing in the congregation and the world in this moment that requires transformation? Where will we go together? This week our candidate for settled ministry, Jaimie Dingus, offers her second worship service for UUCH.
Click here to join our virtual worship service at 10:45 a.m. this Sunday, May 3; Meeting ID: 229 305 601
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This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education (CYRE)
On Sunday, May 10, our digital worship service will be a celebration of multi-generational community. As a part of that, we will be appreciating the Children and Youth Religious Education Program volunteers, staff, and families, and the love that this congregation holds for all ages.
Families, you are invited to participate in several ways:
1. Send a photo of your child, plus one sentence they would like to share about their experience in their RE group or at church this year. You can type the sentence or record a short video of them saying it.
2. Send any church photos you've taken this year, especially ones that include your family. You can take new pictures of yourselves at home enjoying the virtual worship service, lighting a chalice, or doing anything else that feels like part of your spiritual journey.
3. Especially for YOUUTH (grades 9-12), we will be having our first virtual bridging ceremony for two youth. Please send a picture of yourself offering a farewell to our bridging friends, Sarah Korb and Abigail Fox.
4. Finally, if a child or youth would like to do a reading or be part of special music or creative activity during the service, let me know, and I'll find a special place for them.
ALL CHURCH MEMBERS AND FRIENDS:
If you have a photo that shows a multi-generational friendship from church, please send it. This can be people of any age being together at a church activity. Children and youth may also create a drawing of something they enjoyed in RE or church this year.
Submitted by the Children and Youth Religious Education Committee |
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Right before we closed our brick-and-mortar doors, the Music Committee tasked me with sharing the inspiration for offering a multi-generational "pick-up" choir one Sunday a month. My colleague, Joanne Hammill, expresses it perfectly:
"Here are some points that I feel are goals and benefits of intergenerational songs and choruses:
- To break down barriers between generations
- To raise appreciation for people in other age ranges than one's own
- To dispel stereotypes (that elders have of young people, and that young people have of older people)
- To gain a respect for what people of a different generation bring to a singing experience (energy, ideas, expertise, etc.)
- To feel like a real community of many differences coming together to create something we need each other for.
- To join together in a true, whole community, as opposed to just a community of your peers.
- To create a beautiful, unique artistry and a joyful experience that no one age group can create on its own in the same way."
I look forward to being able to start our multi-generational choir again soon! Who knows, maybe I'll even figure out how to have it online!
Blessings,
Pam Siegler
Music Director
Submitted by the Music Director
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Ministerial Search Events This Week
On Sunday, April 19, the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) announced our selected candidate to be the next settled minister at UUCH, Rev. Jaimie Dingus. This week has been full of opportunities to meet with Rev. Jaimie and worship with her. While holding this candidating process virtually has been a unique experience for us, the MSC hopes that each of you has been able to interact with Rev. Jaimie and learn about the wonderful qualities she brings to her ministry. If you have not already done so,
please visit the website
that Rev. Jaimie has established to introduce herself to UUCH. At this website you can become familiar with her background, listen to her introductory video, and hear examples of sermons she has given.
This Sunday, May 3, immediately following the worship service, the members of our congregation will be voting on whether to call Rev. Jaimie as our settled minister. The calling of a minister is an important event in the life of a church, and it is through this important membership vote that we officially call our minister.
There are still some opportunities to become more familiar with Rev. Jaimie and the process of calling a minister before our final vote on Sunday.
There are two more Zoom small group meetings with Rev. Jaimie:
Friday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m.
Coffee Chat with Congregation (led by Brad K.)
Friday, May 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Happy Hour with Congregation (led by Barbara H.)
These sessions are limited to 12 participants and will require you to sign up.
Please click here
to select the date and time in which you would like to participate.
Saturday, May 2 at 10:00 AM
MSC/Board/Congregation Informational Session
Meeting ID: 977 7057 5237
There will be an open informational meeting led by the UUCH Board and MSC for the congregation to learn about the online voting process and to ask any final questions about the ministerial search process. Rev. Jaimie will not be attending this meeting.
If you have any questions, this will be the time to ask, as the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 3, will be only for the voting process. Everyone is welcome to attend this informational session.
Sunday, May 3 at 10:45 a.m.
Worship Service led by Rev. Jaimie Dingus
Rev. Jaimie will be leading our worship service this Sunday, so you will have another opportunity to see her preach during that service.
Finally, make plans to stay after the worship service this Sunday to vote at the congregational meeting held on Zoom.
Please take advantage of these times so you will be prepared for our final vote on May 3.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the MSC
, and we will get back with you.
Submitted by the Ministerial Search Committee
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UUCH Board Report
April 28, 2020
The UUCH Board conducted its regular monthly meeting on April 28, 2020.
The Board discussed procedures and logistics for this Sunday's vote to call Rev. Jaimie Dingus as our next settled minister. The Board has ensured that our procedures to conduct the virtual vote are compliant with our church bylaws, are accessible to members, and pose a low risk of technological malfunction.
The Board and Ministerial Search Committee will host an informational session at 10 a.m. this Saturday, May 2, to answer questions regarding Sunday's vote. If you have questions or concerns regarding the vote, you are strongly encouraged to attend this session.
The Board, in coordination with the Finance Committee, successfully submitted an application for a paycheck protection loan offered by the federal government due to COVID-19. We applied for a $10,000 loan and are waiting to see if we are able to receive those funds.
Our annual congregational meeting is tentatively scheduled for June 14. The Board will finalize the agenda for our congregational meeting in May.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26.
Submitted by the Board
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Worship Service Recording
April 26, 2020
Did you miss our virtual worship service last Sunday? Want a midweek re-watch?
Fear not, you can
click here to see the recording.
Remember, the building is closed,
but CHURCH is open!
Submitted by the Worship Committee
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To give a plate offering to UUCH from your mobile device, text the amount (with dollar sign) to 833-559-0257, and follow the instructions.
Like our other online and mobile giving options, this is through Vanco, is secure, and has a good option for "plate" donations.
Text giving is by debit or credit card only. To give from your bank account, you can still use the UUCH website or the GivePlus+ mobile app.
Submitted by the Finance Committee
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Top 5 Financial Do's and Dont's During COVID-19 Isolation
The purpose of this series of articles is to give you financial knowledge so that money issues are not dominant concerns when there is so much spiritual and emotional work to do.
1. DO focus on your Four Walls. Paying for FOOD, HOUSING, UTILITIES, and TRANSPORTATION before anything else will give you a stable home base from which to fight the other battles in this crisis. If you have an income deficit right now, proactively contact your landlord or mortgage company, your utility providers, and/or the lender on your car loan. For utility and food resources, use the UUCH food pantry, call 211, and/or contact the church office.
2. DO learn the skill of creating a written budget. In this time when there are restrictions everywhere, think of each month's unique budget as permission to spend rather than another set of rules. Put your projected income at the top of the page, and prioritize expenses down the page until all the money is spent. If you have never budgeted before, looking back over your bank transactions for the last several months will give you an idea of what to put into each category, but keep in mind that shelter in place will impact some categories. For help with budgeting, check out some of the many online resources. My favorite budgeting tool is www.everydollar.com
3. DO live by and track your spending to the budget. To maximize each available dollar, you have to track your spending throughout the month, verify you will not overspend BEFORE you make a purchase, and make adjustments to the budget to keep it in balance as things change. This may sound tedious, but with online banking and interactive budgeting tools like everydollar.com it does not have to take a lot of time or effort. Most people find that their money goes further than they thought just by being intentional with their spending.
4. DON'T panic-sell your investments. Repeat after me, "I will not touch my face; I will not touch my 401k." I am not talking to those of you who already had plans to make a 401k withdraw to live on. I am talking to the less than 60-somethings out there who are afraid of "losing everything." Stick to your plan; or at the very least, make a new plan with the help of a professional. Keep investing if you can. The stock market will recover as the nation does.
5. DO be prepared for this to continue. I recommend paying minimum payments on loans and credit cards until your income stream is normal. If you do have extra money after paying essential expenses, put it aside to help with expenses in the future. Once this crisis is over, you can take that extra money and apply it to debt or your emergency fund. If you find yourself in a deficit, can you find work you can do safely to make up the difference? Take inventory of your hobbies and skills and reach out to people for ideas.
Next week we will talk about steps to take after this crisis to have financial peace during the next one, be it personal or global. Finance Committee member Michelle Clark invites you to
email her with any questions or if you need help.
Submitted by the Finance Committee
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Like a Good Neighbor. . .
We Fill the Pantry
The Little Free Pantry has been well used in recent weeks, with an estimated 12 people visiting per day. Even with daily restocking we sometimes find the shelves completely empty. Do you have a little extra you could share with needy families? Maybe you tried a new type of pasta that your spouse didn't like and are wondering what to do with the other 11 boxes. Just email and we can do a porch pickup to maintain your social isolation.
Any food added to our Little Green Food Pantry would be helpful. We need a variety of items, including c
anned meats, cereals, mac and cheese, pasta, peanut butter and jelly, ravioli, energy bars, fruit cups/cans, pasta sauce, soups, packets of dried potatoes, canned milk, instant ramen, baby wipes, canned veggies, oatmeal, etc.
Please
contact the church office if you would like to schedule a drop-off and request assistance. Or feel free to stop by and stock the pantry on your own.
There is a black storage box located just outside the door that you can place extra pantry supplies in. We have a list of volunteers who will be stopping by to put extra supplies in the building and restock the pantry as needed.
If you would like to sign up to bring food and restock the pantry, please
click here to choose a slot(s).
Submitted by the Social Justice and Care Committees
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Cooking in Hard Times
This week Fran Alexander shares her recipe for Santa Fe Soup. She likes this soup because you don't drain and rinse the beans, washing all that goodness down the drain.
Santa Fe Soup
- (2) lbs. ground chuck
- (1) large onion, chopped
- (2) 1-oz. envelopes ranch dressing mix
- (2) envelopes taco seasoning mix
- (2) 11-oz. cans white shoepeg corn, drained (regular or Mexicali corn)
- (1) 16-oz. can pinto beans, un-drained
- (1) 16-oz. can black beans, un-drained
- (1) 16-oz. can kidney beans, un-drained
- (1) 14-oz. can diced tomatoes
- (1) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
- (2) cups of water
- Chili powder and cumin to taste (optional)
Brown beef and onions. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer for 2 hours.
You can garnish with grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or tortilla chips.
This recipe freezes well.
To halve the recipe, use 1 lb. beef, 1 package ranch dressing, 1 package taco seasoning, 2 cans of beans, and 1 can of Rotel tomatoes. You can also make it more like a chili by using less water.
Submitted by the Hospitality Committee
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Care List
This Sunday, April 26, 2020,
at our Circle of Candles:
Andy Durbin
lit a candle of Concern: My concern is my job. There is a rumor going around that the USPS will be forced to close its doors by June or September unless Congress bails us out. Everyone, please go to your local post office and buy stamps to help my job stay open!
Nancy Finley
lit a candle of Sorrow: A dear friend of mine in Baltimore lost her sister to the virus yesterday. I am concerned for all my friends in Baltimore. The virus is very serious there.
Tim Waskerwitz
lit a candle of Sorrow: My friend
Kari lost her battle with COVID-19. She will be greatly missed.
Vincent Clark
lit candles of Joy I earned a brand new stripe on my belt last week! I am glad that I met the new minister last week, as well.
Ray and Jeannie Hosmer
lit a candle of Joy: Ray and I are joyful that we can enjoy today's service as we begin our drive cross-country.
Deb & Suz Delacey
lit a candle of Joy: SO glad Ms. Ilene and Cheri joined! The Delaceys actually had heard Ms. Ilene had been joining us all along.
Paul & Bridgit DeMoor
lit a candle of Celebration: Happy belated birthday to our ministerial candidate!
Kathy Fisher
lit a candle of Concern: The facility where my son is now has dozens of confirmed cases of the virus.
Kathy Fisher
lit a candle of Joy: Happy birthday yesterday (Apr. 25) to Dave Gallaher, Huntsville's beloved blues man. And to Jaimie last weekend!
Nick Wilbourn
lit a candle of Joy: In recognition of everyone working so hard to put together our worship services. I love seeing new elements in our services each week and am grateful that we are finding creative and novel ways to be together in community despite our physical distance.
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