The Overlook
Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville 
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville, AL 35810  
May 14, 2020
Vol. 20 Issue 20
In This Issue
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.  
 
Thurs. May 14 
Coffee Chat with LaDawn
3:00 p.m.
Meeting ID: 815 1458 1576

PFLAG Support Meeting
6:30 p.m.
 
 
Sun. May 17
Worship Service  Rev. Ed Brock  
10:45 a.m.
Meeting ID: 229 305 601  
 
Soul Circle Small Group D
12:00 -1:30 p.m. 


Tues. May 19
Lunch Chat with Amanda
11:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 865 7313 2824 
 
Web of Life Garden Group
4:00 p.m.
Meeting ID: 895 841 687
Password: 447671 
 
Council Meeting
6:30 p.m. 


Wed. May 20
Happy Hour with Susan
5:00 p.m. 
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 847 8458 5916
 

Thurs. May 21
Coffee Chat with LaDawn
3:00 p.m.  
Meeting ID: 815 1458 1576 


Sun. May 24 
Sunday Worship
Amanda Schuber 
10:45
Meeting ID: 229 305 601
UUCH Free Food Pantry 
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.
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: 
256-534-0508
Office Email:
uuch@uuch.org
Minister's E mail: minister@uuch.org
Website: www.uuch.org  
 
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

"Going Forward"
Rev. Ed Brock
May 17, 2020 
 
The wheels of life are turning, and the world for all of us is changing. Although the future, as always, is in some ways opaque and unknowable, there is a lot we can say about the future of UUCH.   
 
First, UUCH is in the best position imaginable to enter the next chapter of its life. The ministerial search process, led by your excellent MSC, has concluded the search for a new minister with the best possible choice.  I have never seen a minister and congregation so perfectly suited for one another, and for the maximum possible positive relationship.
 
Second, UUCH resoundingly affirmed the choice of the new minister with a 100% affirmative vote. This means you enter the relationship with your new minister under the best possible conditions emotionally, psychologically, and in every other way.
 
Third, the UUCH congregation is sound and healthy. There are no overhanging difficulties lingering in the congregation that would impede your movement forward.  
 
Fourth, the UUCH congregation  is ready to move forward. You are ready to rise to your potential as a spiritual and religious influence in the greater Huntsville area.
 
Fifth, right now, the UU congregations of Alabama have strong leaders in all the congregations led by professional ministers. There are things the congregations of Alabama can do together that would have been impossible only four years ago. The potential for unified action among Alabama UU congregations to cast a greater influence on Alabama has never been greater.
 
This Sunday I will talk about future of UUCH, and the many great possibilities that are open before you.
 
I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.  
 
Click here to join our virtual worship service at 10:45 a.m. this Sunday, May 10; Meeting ID: 229 305 601
     
May Theme -  Thresholds
This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education (CYRE)
   
The CYRE program would like to thank our dedicated volunteers, teachers, Sunday Supervisors, outreach coordinator, youth advisors, and committee members for their commitment to children and youth this year. We cannot say enough about how much your presence meant to our all-ages community and to the young people for whom you made church a welcome and loving place each week.   We recognized you as a group in Sunday's worship service but we want to name you all here: Matthew Bollinger, Michelle Clark, Susan Coddington, Ashley Creekmore, Audrey Fox, Kristy Jane From-Brown, Greg Howard, Heather Kyemba, Patti Lovejoy-McKee, Steve Rittenberg, Nicole Sharp, Ashley Smith, Wanda Snoddy, Amy Strickland, Matt Strickland, India Truman, Nicole Wright, Jes Zelaya.

We also thank our church professional staff, RE staff, childcare workers, and the team who worked so diligently to keep the program vibrant during the DRE's leave.  Finally, big thanks to all who contributed in any way to the program by doing so many of these things: making music with children and youth, leading summer RE or a special activity, making homeless meal packs and care cards, involving children and youth in worship, caring for the physical space (especially after the flood), arranging a visit from the fire department, playing on the playground, doing AV for youth services, helping plan and volunteer at all-ages events, collecting food and hygiene supplies, and so much more. Our church is truly a community who loves and supports all ages!
 
Submitted by the Children and Youth Religious Education Committee
Music Ministry
 
As I do every day, I hope this finds you healthy, happy, and enjoying moments of sound that calm your soul and uplift your spirit. I'm finding that more and more of the everyday happenings around me are blessing me with reminders of where my focus needs to be.... bird song, my dogs playing, cats purring, the wind in the trees, fire crackling, rain, the sizzle of the grill, playing flute, neighbor children laughing, the toothbrush humming, wind chimes, silence.

What sounds are you blessed with?

Pam Siegler
UUCH Certified Music Director

Submitted by the Music Director
Pictures Needed
   
On May 24, our Worship service will be in celebration of transitions that are happening during this time of physically distancing: graduations, weddings, births, funerals, etc. 

As life marches forward, despite our distance, it is important to take the time to honor and celebrate the lives and milestones that make up the human experience. 

The Worship Committee invites you to share photos of loved one who are graduating (all ages and stages of graduation are welcome), new babies (pregnancy pictures welcome), friends and family we have lost but been unable to properly celebrate, weddings, etc.  Photos will be used in a slide show during our service. 

Please submit photos no later than May 20 by clicking HERE. Please put May 24th Photo in the subject line.  
           
Submitted by the Worship Committee 
Let's Get Social
Coffee Hour Updates
 
 
Every week we have three opportunities to come together via Zoom and catch up with friends, old and new.  Please note that two of the chats have changed times.  
 
Tuesdays at 11:30 am, join Amanda Schuber for a lunchtime chat.   
Join in on Zoom  Meeting ID: 865 7313 2824
 
Wednesdays at 5:00 pm, join Susan Coddington for a Happy Hour visit.  
Meeting ID: 847 8458 5916
 
Thursdays at 3:00 pm, join LaDawn Edwards for a coffee chat.
Meeting ID: 815 1458 1576 
 
Submitted by the Care Committee 
Worship Service Recording 
May 10, 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 
Donate via Text Message  
 
  
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 
Caring Times
 
Alabama is officially reopening for business. Many people feel that they are not yet ready to eat in a restaurant, buy concert tickets, hug their friends, or even shop for clothing in person. So, that leaves us in a wait-and-see mode.
 
What IS safe, if we want to keep being "part of the solution" and contribute to a more normal-looking society in the fall?
  • Socialize outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer
  • See people who have also been staying isolated
  • Wear masks when you have to enter a public building
  • Wear gloves if you need to share equipment (like a gas pump)
  • Avoid places where many people would gather and stay for over an hour
  • Wash your gloves and masks between each use
For anybody feeling like you can't have an active role in helping, here's the perfect safer-at-home way to contribute: save food scraps! One of the best ways to ensure a productive garden is to apply compost, so either save them for your houseplants and garden, or bring them to the church for the community garden. (It's okay to leave them by the North Wing doors.)
 
Easy compost starters (with no nasty smell) include these everyday foods:
  • Coffee grounds and tea bags
  • Egg shells
  • Apple cores
  • Vegetable skins and scraps
What CAN'T go in compost?
  • Meat and oils, which attract critters
  • Banana peels, which are heavily sprayed with pesticides
  • Pet poop, which can spread disease
See more information here And for the little kid in your life (or in your heart) who wants to rescue every earthworm after a rainstorm, they are always welcome in a garden. They can keep pretty well in cool, damp dirt. Plenty of anglers keep a cup in the back of the refrigerator for their fishing trips.
 
This summer, the Care Committee is joining with the Property Committee in an effort to grow some fresh food to share. We have a 4x8 foot plot and a few containers, and we are finding space among the flower beds for a "stealth Victory Garden." Contact the Care Committee  if you would like to help. Naturally, socially distancing guidelines will be observed.
 
Submitted by the Care 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. 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  
Cooking in Hard Times

Today's recipe comes from Patti Lovejoy-McKee:

"I have one dessert recipe that I lov, .and it was served at the Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro when I was a waitress there in 1977. The members loved it! I have served it since then many times, but it is very rich and yummy! You only need small slices, with a dollop of Cool Whip on top!"

Caramel Pie

You need:
  • 3 cans of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 ready-made graham cracker crust
  • Whipped cream
Boil the 3 cans (unopened) of sweetened condensed milk for 3 hours, making sure to keep adding more water -- enough to keep the cans covered. Boil, boil, boil.

After 3 hours, take the cans out of the water. Open the cans, and pour the contents into a ready-made graham cracker crust.

Put it in the refrigerator for a few hours to set. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

You will love it! ❤❤❤❤❤

Submitted by the Hospitality Committee
votives
Care List
 
This Sunday, May 10, 2020,  at our Circle of Candles:

Erin Reid and Pam Siegler lit a candle of Joy and Gratitude: for Laurel, Suz, Deb, Harper, Pam, Kathy, George, and all the children, youth, and adults who made this service possible.

Heather Kyemba lit a candle of Joy: Thank you, Nicole, Jeremy, and Jonathan.

Cheri Smith lit a candle of Joy: For the change to enjoy the flowers and birdsong at the church in the early morning. Also, her daughter visited this morning for the first time in a month.

Anna Delacey lit a candle of Joy: Happy Mother's Day, especially to my two moms.

Rachael Scheib lit a candle of Recognition: It has been difficult, but kindness is smiled in the eyes above a mask.

Daniel McKitrick lit a candle of Joy: Happy Mother's Day to all mothers current and pending! If there's a heaven, you're in it, Ruth Eileen Dean McKitrick!

The Delaceys lit a candle of Joy: Congratulations to Deborah Delacey for completing her post-master's certificate as an Education Specialist in Instructional Leadership.

Bryan Walls lit a candle of Sorrow: Sad for the Neal family, friends from the Huntland,TN area. Mary Neal has entered hospice with an aggressive cancer. Sad Mother's Day for them.

Amanda Schuber lit a candle of Joy: I have officially entered into my last year of Divinity School.

Ken Sandin lit a candle of Joy: A great joy to experience the loving generosity of the congregation in donating to UUCH's Free Food Pantry. The need is great. Your caring is great.