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Upcoming Events
Sat. 3/14
Huntsville Vegan Discussion Group
5:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 3/15
Soul Circle Small Group (Group D)
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Sunday Service
Rev. Ed Brock
10:45 a.m.
Tues. 3/17
Council Meeting
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Wed. 3/18
Choir Rehearsal
7:00 - 8:45 p.m.
Sat. 3/21
S.E. UU Regional Exchange: Vocal Workshop in Nashville
All Day
Private Event - Building Closed
8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Sun. 3/22
Sunday Worship
Rev. Ed Brock
10:45 a.m.
Tues. 3/24
Board Meeting
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Wed. 3/25
UUkulele Group
5:45 - 6:45 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal
7:00 - 8:45 p.m.
Sun. 3/29
UUCH and FUUN Choir Welcome Breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Service
Rev. Ed Brock and UUCH / FUUN Choirs
10:45 a.m.
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The UUkulele Fun Group is open to everyone, regardless of skill level.
The group meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.
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Huntsville Assistance Program
The Social Justice Committee has a goal to collect at least
100 items each month for the food pantry.
Please put your nonperishable food items or personal care products donations in the basket in the church foyer for the Huntsville Assistance Program.
Please, no canned corn, beans, or peas! They are currently overloaded with those items.
Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee
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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, March 24.
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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
"Reflections on Wisdom - Part 2"
Rev. Ed Brock
March 15, 2020
This Sunday, in keeping with the theme of our Soul Matters Sharing Circles, I will continue our exploration of wisdom. What is wisdom? Where do we find it? How do we know if something is "wise" or not? Can we find wisdom from others, or must we find it ourselves? These are some of the issues I will explore in this month's series of sermons.
Future Services
March 22 - Rev. Ed Brock
March 29 - Rev. Ed Brock
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This Sunday in Children and Youth Religious Education (CYRE)
It's Action Day!
All groups will participate in outreach projects that put faith into action in the service of community.
The CYRE children and youth are excited to bring you their next Outreach Action Project. It's been brought to our attention that our Little Food Pantry is getting lots of use. We are glad it is providing help to those who need it. However, additional items have been requested. The CYRE program will be hosting a drive
through March 29
to collect the following items (only new items please):
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Warm socks (men's/women's all sizes)
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Underwear (men's/women's all sizes)
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Toiletries (travel size shampoo/conditioner, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes)
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Menstrual products (pads, tampons)
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Cough drops
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Can openers (manual, small)
We are collecting items in the boxes in the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary Foyer.
CYRE registration is open!
All families, new and returning, should register each year.
Click
here
to register!
Submitted by the Children and Youth Religious Education Committee |
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2020 Stewardship Campaign
Our Annual Budget Drive kicks off this week with letters going out to all active members and friends. You should receive a packet later this week or early next week. In addition to the letter, you will receive a pledge form, a draft proposed summary budget for fiscal 2020-2021, and a self addressed stamped envelope so you can return your pledge form. We would like to conclude the stewardship campaign before settled minister candidating week if at all possible so we ask that you to give your pledge sincere thought and return the forms over the next few weeks.
The upcoming year will be a momentous one for UUCH! We will be welcoming a new settled minister and embarking on a new chapter in the history of our congregation. We would also like to begin the first of many additional renovation projects that will be needed as our new minister grows our congregation. We need a balanced operating budget to allow us to use capital funds for these renovations. The future is very bright for us. We live in one of the fastest growing and most desirable small cities in America. Our city is a progressive icon in the south and UUCH will be key resource to those new Huntsvillians moving here and for new found current residents alike. With our best foot forward, we are poised to enter the new roaring twenties with a bang!
Submitted by the Finance Committee
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Nicole Sharp and Shalin Mody are co-hosting a new Young Adult Group! Any interested people, ages 19 and older, are invited to meet up on the first and third Sundays, from 12 - 1:30pm, in the Adult RE Room.
We will get together for discussion about various topics including, but not limited to the following: volunteering in the community, religion, our individual life philosophies, and adulting in general. We are interested in creating an environment of fun, friends, and community, and we would love for you to join us!
Submitted by the Adult Religious Education Committee
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A Message from the Minister
Dear Members and Friends of UUCH:
We are now all aware of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on our lives. For the last ten days, I have been reading everything I could about this virus, its spread, its projected impact, and related matters. I have also been following closely how communities of faith across the country have been responding to this situation.
I will be asking the Board to reflect on prudent forms of response. I ask that anyone in the congregation that might have special expertise in this issue to contact me and the Board President immediately so that we can be aware of the best and most up-to-date information.
I think it is imperative that we all voluntarily take the following actions:
- End, for the time being, hand-to-hand contact, touching, embracing, and similar forms of contact during any and all church activities. The fist and/or elbow bump are popular alternatives to the handshake.
- Anyone experiencing flu or cold-like symptoms, no matter how slight, should stay home, self -isolate, and contact your doctor.
- Be aware of and practice the basic protective measures laid out by the CDC and other reputable information sources: Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds (back of hand, between fingers, and palms) with soap regularly; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; keep your distance from anyone who shows cold or flu symptoms; sneeze and cough directly into your elbow; have a stock of medicines and basic food for any possible period of quarantine; have a plan in case a family member might get sick; avoid touching door handles and other surfaces that might be frequently used by large numbers of people.
- Be aware of solid and dependable information sources (CDC, The New York Times, etc.)
The further spread of the virus in this country is inevitable, only the extent is not known. South Korea and China already show a post-peak decline of the spread of the virus, which gives us awareness that whatever spread we see in this country will be followed by the decline of the virus activity rather soon -- assuming a good public health response.
I am not a doctor or a public health official. I do not speak on behalf of the Board or the congregation. I am just speaking for myself. I encourage you to seek out as much information from reputable sources as you can. I will be sending another pastoral letter to the congregation about this matter later in the week. Stay healthy!
Warmly,
Rev. Ed Brock
Submitted by the Minister |
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| Are You Ready to Become a Member?
If you've been attending UUCH long enough to know that this church community feels like your spiritual home, you may be ready to take the next step and become a member. On
Sunday, March 29, we plan to welcome new members as they "sign the book" and officially join our church.
If you are ready to become a member or would like to find out more about the process, please contact
Membership Chair Pam Korb as soon as possible, but no later than March 22.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP
Because we are a democratic community, members are collectively vested with responsibility for the congregation. Members may vote at all congregational meetings, be elected to the governing Board, be appointed as committee chairs, and participate in all activities of the congregation. Because we are a covenanted congregation, members have certain responsibilities to the congregation and to each other. These responsibilities are best fulfilled by:
- Regular attendance at worship
- Voting at congregational meetings
- Making financial contributions
- Contributing time and talent
- Spiritual growth and development
Submitted by the Membership Committee
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Update from Your Ministerial Search Committee
"The Discernment Stage"
The Pre-Candidating Stage
Over the past few weeks the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) has been deeply engaged in Pre-candidating Weekends. Following the well-established process developed by the UUA Ministerial Transitions Office, we previously conducted video interviews with all qualified candidates that applied to our church. From that pool we selected the three candidates that we believed most closely matched the mission and goals of our church, and we invited each of them for separate weekends of in-depth interviews. We spent an entire weekend in face-to-face interviews with each of the three candidates, including watching them preach in a neutral pulpit. These interviews were deep and insightful, covering areas of UU theology, administrative skills, pastoral care abilities, social justice activities, preaching styles, conflict management, internal community building, interfaith engagement, and many more of the important facets of ministry.
The Discernment Stage
We now enter the "Discernment Stage" of the search, when the MSC spends time reviewing all information, re-reading materials, comparing notes, and engaging in the sacred and powerful work of consensus-building to prepare a ranked list of ministerial candidates to send to the UUA Ministerial Transitions Office. During the last week in March, the UUA will match the rankings of our church with candidates' choices of placement, and we will invite a single candidate to our church for "Candidating Week."
Candidating Week
Candidating Week
is on the calendar for April 25 to May 3
and will be the opportunity for the congregation to meet the ministerial candidate. It will run 9 days, from Saturday through Sunday, and the candidate will lead worship services on both Sundays. The schedule will also include opportunities for the congregation to interact with and get to know the candidate. At the end of the week, we will hold a congregational members' meeting after the worship service on
May 3
to determine if the candidate will be our next settled minister. The members of our congregation will make the final decision on calling a minister.
We want you to know that during this process the MSC is constantly aware that we are representing you, the community of this church. During the discernment process, we will be again referring back to the survey of your interests, notes from cottage meetings with you, and the video statements made by the congregation to remind ourselves of your priorities. The Mission, Vision, and Covenant of this church are the foundation on which we do our search, and the future of this beloved community is in our hearts and minds. As always, please contact us via email if you have questions, or feel free to talk to any of the MSC members in person. The members of the MSC are Betsy Applegate, Laurel Bollinger, Suzey DeLacey, Nancy Finley, Vickie Goodman, Barbara Hitt, Brad Korb (Chair), and Tim Miller.
Submitted by the Ministerial Search Committee
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Huntsville Plant-Based
Living & Discussion Group
The March meeting of the Huntsville Plant-Based Living & Discussion Group will be held this Saturday, March 14, at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is invited to attend, even if you don't consider yourself a vegetarian or vegan. There will be a potluck dinner with many delicious vegan foods! First-time attendees do not need to bring anything.
We hope to see YOU on Saturday! If you have questions, you may contact Cam at 256-783-9485 or Omkar at 256-783-5764.
Submitted by the Social Justice Committee
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Regional UU Collaboration/Exchange
The UUCH Choir will travel to First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville (FUUN) for a workshop taught by Patrick Dailey. This workshop, for the UUCH and FUUN choirs, will be Saturday, March 21, from
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Performances by the combined choirs of FUUN and UUCH will be at the following times:
- Sunday, March 22, at FUUN (9 a.m. and 11 a.m.)
- Sunday, March 29, at UUCH (10:45 a.m.)
UUCH will host a breakfast for both choirs on Sunday, March 29, at 9:00 a.m.
Submitted by the Music Committee
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During February and March, we will share half the Sunday offering each week with Habitat for Humanity of Madison County!
Habitat for Humanity of Madison County is an ecumenical, grassroots, Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing from our community and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. The need for affordable housing in Huntsville and Madison County is great. Of the families in our area who make less than $48,000 a year, 42% of them pay 50% or more of their gross income for housing. This is a statistic that needs to change. Only a few organizations are working to solve this problem -- Habitat for Humanity of Madison County is one of the largest and most effective. We are all better off when our community has better homes for our families.
Submitted by the Social Justice Committee
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Care List
This Sunday, March 8, 2020,
at our Circle of Candles:
John Jeter
lit a Candle of Concern:
John will have dental and oral surgery on Wednesday.
Amanda Schuber
lit a Candle of Joy:
I'm delighted to be in Huntsville today. My internship in Chattanooga is going wonderfully, though I do miss all of you in Huntsville.
Kristen Warrington
lit a Candle of Joy: I got a job and get to serve some of the most vulnerable in our community!
Jessica Schulz
lit a Candle of Joy: Thank you to everyone who helped make last night's Chili Fest the awesome event it turned out to be! We are a congregation of people with many talents.
LaDawn Edwards
lit a Candle of Joy:
More than a year after my father's death, I see my Mom getting a little stronger, a little more confident, and happier all the time.
Anonymous
lit a Candle of Joy:
I am constantly amazed at the amount of musical, literary, and creative talents of this UU community. Thanks so much for a wonderful Chili Feast! It was so delicious in so many ways!
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