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 and links.
Sun. May 31
Worship Service:
Alabama and Gulf Regions Cluster or UU Ministers
Mon. June 1
Council Meeting
6:30 p.m.
Tues. June 2
Soul Circle Small Group, A
7:00 p.m.
Wed. June 3
Happy Hour with Susan
5:00 p.m.
Soul Circle Small Group, B
6:00 p.m.
|
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
|
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, June 23.
|
 |
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:
Tuesday:
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday:
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
* Please email office if you need building access outside of the posted times.
Minister's Office Hours:
By appointment only.
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.
|
|
|
| |
Upcoming Service
"We Would Be one: A UUnited Service"
Alabama and Gulf Regions Cluster of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association
May 31, 2020
10:00 a.m.
In this special service, eight congregations from the Alabama and Gulf Regions cluster of the UU Ministers Association come together to celebrate what it means to be united in these difficult times. Come join us, and celebrate the connections that bring us together in shared religious community, whether it's across town or the region!
Click here
to join our virtual worship service at 10:00 a.m. this Sunday, May 31.
This service will be hosted through YouTube.
|
|
This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education (CYRE)
School is letting out, and many families are facing a summer that looks very different than any we've had before. The CYRE program wants to help make multi-generational community happen all summer long.
Join us for UUCH Summer Religious Education! Families, we are gearing up for a fun and creative summer series for children and youth. Each week in June and July, the CYRE program will host virtual gatherings that will be rich with innovative activities and spiritual meaning. We will also host online meet-ups with our senior high YOUUTH group. More details and a summer schedule will be posted in the newsletter, Facebook, and emails to registered families.
If you are interested in joining us, but you're not registered in the CYRE program, send an email to
DRE Erin Reid. You can also
click here to register your children and youth. We'd love to include you in our joyful and welcoming community of all ages.
Sincerely,
Erin Reid
Director of Religious Education (DRE)
|
|
|
"We are a circle
within a circle
with no beginning
and never ending"
As Amanda referenced this past Sunday service, and as our thread song above sings, our community of faith and love keeps us all moving smoothly across the many new thresholds we traverse daily.
I found the following reading (685) in our hymnal by 'divine intervention' as I was looking for hymns to do in the month. I just smiled and nodded at its timeliness.
I
What we call a beginning is often the end
and to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from.
II
We shall not cease from exploration
and the end of all our exploring
will be to arrive where we started
and know the place for the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot
Pam Siegler
UUCH Certified Music Director
Submitted by the Music Director
|
|
Stewardship Campaign Update
We are very near the conclusion of our Annual Budget Drive and have some stellar results to report. In these difficult times, we have total pledges of $219,792 (compared to last year's $223,093) from 85 pledging units (individuals or families), compared to 95 last year. The Board and Finance Committee appreciate and commend everyone for supporting our church and mission in this critical time for our community and time of transition to our new settled minister, Rev. Jaime Dingus.
If you have not pledged and would like to do so, there is no time limit, and we understand that situations differ. We know that as we go back to work, some may be more able to resume their support of UUCH than others.
Submitted by the Finance Committee
|
|
COVID-19 Relief Funds Available
Funds are available for members of the congregation who have been negatively impacted financially by COVID-19.
Submitted by Rev. Ed Brock
|
Worship Service Recording
May 24, 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
|
To give a plate offering to UUCH from your mobile device, text the amount (without 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
|
Using Zoom at work? Put those skills to good use!
As we adapt to our new digital form of communion, the Technology Committee is looking for volunteers to help facilitate our congregational Zoom meetings on Sunday mornings. Training will be provided, though some experience and familiarity with Zoom or other web-meeting platforms is desired.
Submitted by the Technology Committee
|
|
Little Food Pantry Needs You
The outdoor food pantry is being heavily used, with an estimated 12 visitors per day, both families and homeless individuals. YOU can help keep it stocked by signing up on the SignUp Genius.
Items to consider buying include the following:
c
anned meats, cereals, mac and cheese, pasta, peanut butter and jelly, ravioli, energy bars, fruit cups/cans, pasta and alfredo sauce, soups, packets of dried potatoes, beef stew, canned milk, instant ramen, baby wipes, peanuts, canned veggies, beanie weanies, oatmeal, onions, bananas, potatoes, 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. It would help if you checked the SignUp Genius and maybe come on off-days. There is a black storage box located just outside the door in which you can place extra pantry supplies. Thanks to everyone who has helped keep the pantry stocked for our hungry neighbors.
Submitted by the Social Justice and Care Committees
|
|
The Tortoise Approach to Reopening
Is it possible to have a church social while observing social distancing guidelines? On Memorial Day, three congregation members decided to find out.
The idea came from Cheri Smith, who has been isolated from everyone but her daughter and her roommate, Molly, who works nights and sleeps days. Cheri likes to visit the church grounds from her nearby apartment when she has a donation for the Little Free Food Pantry. She contacted LaDawn Edwards, saying "sometimes, talking on the phone just isn't enough." LaDawn had an idea and invited Angela Arnold, whose job allows her to work 100% remotely.
By 9:15 a.m. all 3 had gathered with their lawn chairs and cool drinks in the shade of the sweet gum trees, soaking up the birdsong and breezes. About 10 feet seemed the right distance for both safety and conversation. After an hour the members inspected the vegetables growing in the demonstration plot and headed home.
Submitted by the Care Committees
|
|
Cooking in Hard Times
This week Jessica Schulz shares her favorite vegetable soup.
Jessica says, "Yes, it's that Weight Watchers recipe you've heard about. I've been making this soup for a long time, and it is my go-to recipe, especially if I've got a refrigerator full of vegetables. There's something very comforting about chopping and sautéing all of those vegetables, seeing them morph together into a lovely soup. Variations on this basic recipe are limitless. Based on what's in season, what's available in the herb garden, pantry, fridge or freezer, it's a different soup each time I make it. It keeps well in the refrigerator or freezer. Taste improves with age. And best of all, it's so darned good for you (and zero points!)."
Zero Point Vegetable Soup
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, diced
- ½ head cabbage, chopped
- 1 cup green beans (frozen or fresh) chopped into ½ inch pieces
- 4 cups broth-chicken or vegetable
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- Italian seasoning, bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in large soup pot.
- Sauté onions and carrots about 2 minutes, then add garlic and stir 2 minutes more.
- Add cabbage and green beans.
- Stir for 2-3 minutes.
- Add broth, tomato paste, and zucchini.
- Bring to boil, then reduce heat and cook for about 15 minutes, until vegetables are soft.
- Season to taste. Add more stock if necessary.
Possible additions: celery, tomatoes (canned or fresh), corn, peas, beans, edamame. If I use cilantro, I substitute cumin for the Italian seasoning and add cilantro at the end. If I use fresh basil, I use Italian seasonings and add the basil at the end.
Would you like to share a favorite recipe with the UUCH congregation? Contact Kathryn Heath and Jessica Schulz here.
Submitted by the Hospitality Committee
|
|
Care List
This Sunday, May 24, 2020,
at our Circle of Candles:
John and Jessica Schulz
lit a candle of Joy:
Many thanks to LaDawn Edwards for her hard work on the UUCH gardens. What she's doing is literally ground-breaking!
Heather Kyemba
lit a candle of Joy:
Sophia and Torin finished school last week. Yesterday, our neighborhood pool opened, and they enjoyed a brief, cold swim.
Ilene Sparks
lit candles of Joy and Sorrow: For the many people in the congregation who have reached out to her, especially
Howard and Gail Williams. Her sorrow is that she is waiting to hear what changes AL is making to nursing home isolation -- probably NOT for the better.
Kathy Fisher
lit candles of sorrow: Because of COVID-19, my grandson,
Jacob, missed normal senior year activities and high school graduation. My granddaughter,
Kathrine, didn't get to move into the dorm on campus but has done online classes from home instead. And my niece,
Katie, had to cancel her wedding to
Peter. But, thankfully, we all are healthy!
Kathryn Heath
lit a candle of of Joy and Sorrow: My daughter, Stephanie, turns 50 this week. My concern is that we can't celebrate like we normally would.
Paul and Bridgit DeMoor
lit a candle of Joy: Whether storm or sunshine, what a gorgeous spring! Paul was able to spend part of his vacation this week camping in the David Crockett State Park in TN. We were also able to make a day trip to Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga yesterday. We wore masks, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
