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Save the Dates!
New UU Classes on 1/19, 1/26 & 2/2
Newcomers and long-time members alike are invited to participate in the New UU class series next month. This 3-class series will be held before church on January 19th, January 26th, and Feb 2nd from 9-10:30 AM.
These classes are a great way to get to know others while learning about Unitarian Universalism and our local congregation. The classes are for learning and sharing, with no expectation that attendees will subsequently join UUCH. However, if you may want to become a member of UUCH in the future, attendance at the New UU Class series is strongly encouraged.
Nancy Finley and Pam Korb will facilitate the classes. The first two sessions will primarily cover UU beliefs and theology, while the third session will introduce you to specifics about our local congregation. Each class deals with different topics, so attending all classes is ideal. However, if your schedule only allows you to attend one or two of the classes, we can provide materials for the missed class, or meet with you separately to talk about the missed information.
Breakfast snacks, coffee, and juice will be provided at the start of each class. And childcare can be provided if you’ll let us know at least a week in advance.
Contact membership@uuch.org for more information or to let us know you plan to attend.
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Holiday Service Readers
Each year, we gather to celebrate the Winter Solstice and Christmas Eve. Each of these services includes a variety of readings and meditations. If you are interested in reading one of the readings during either of these services, please reach out to Rev. Jaimie!
And mark your calendars for Solstice on 12/21 at 7pm and Christmas Eve on 12/24 at 5:30pm. Happy Holidays!
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UUSC's Guest At Your Table
UUCH is participating in the annual Guest At Your Table (GAYT) program sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). The GAYT program has introduced generations of Unitarian Universalists to grassroots partners working for justice around the world with our support. This church year, we are celebrating Guest at Your Table’s 50th anniversary with the theme “Expanding the Welcome Table.”
Every family is encouraged to participate by placing a GAYT box at your dining table and then contributing to this guest at every meal. Please see the table in the Fellowship Hall to pick up your box (the “guest”) and some information about this year’s guests. Boxes can be returned to the church in January or contributions can be sent to UUSC directly.
If you have any questions, please email social.justice@uuch.org
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Church Office Hours
The Church Office will be closed the weeks of December 22nd and December 29th. Office Admin, Ryan will be checking the UUCH@UUCH.org throughout the holidays. The office can be opened by appointment. Happy Holidays!
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A Holiday Gift for the Congregation
The Property Committee is thrilled to announce that Ward Welty is giving our church a generous donation to make the patio space outside of the fellowship hall more beautiful, more comfortable, and more welcoming, as well as being more efficiently maintained. The improved patio garden project is being done in loving memory of Ward's late wife, Jane, who was a member of this congregation for 39 years. She served our church in many ways, including being a youth religious education teacher and serving on membership, hospitality, and social justice committees.
On January 13 at 7:00 PM, we will have a zoom meeting of any church members who are interested in giving input on what they would like to see included in the beautiful new patio garden. The Property Committee will take members' inputs and incorporate as many of them as possible in the final design, which will then go to the Board for approval. We hope to start construction this spring.
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Your Board Needs Your Help!
Do you have expertise in insurance? UUCH's current insurance provider is dramatically increasing rates when not just canceling church policies altogether. Insuring churches and church activities is pretty complex--your Board would very much appreciate your help if you have special insurance expertise. Thank you so much! Contact Laurel Bollinger (secretary@uuch.org) if you can assist.
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Special UUCH Fellowship Lunch on Christmas Day
Are you in town on Christmas Day and do not want to cook? Well come out and join your UUCH family at a special UUCH Fellowship Lunch at 12 noon at 88 Buffet in Huntsville.
Optional: If there is interest after lunch, we will carpool to the Tinsel Trail, Galaxy of Lights at the Botanical Garden, or go Ice Skating (weather permitting).
Where: 6125 UNIVERSITY DR, HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, 35806
When: Wednesday, December 25 at 12 noon - 2 pm
Money will never be a barrier to participating in Fellowship at UUCH. If you need financial assistance to participate, please contact Rev. Jaimie at minister@uuch.org.
Please sign up here so we know how many people will attend.
POCs: Contact Sarah Storm (sarahmstorm28@gmail.com) or Steve Rittenberg (srittenberg@gmail.com) if you have questions. Thanks!
We are grateful to anyone who can bring a non-perishable item for us to deliver to the UUCH Little Food Pantry.
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Board Report 12-11-2024
The UUCH Board met in person for its November and December meetings on December 11th, 2024.
The Board discussed plans to beautify the patio space off the Fellowship Hall. Discussions with the congregation will be undertaken in the spring to determine the best use of said space. The Board also agreed to move forward with installing a Little Free Pantry refrigerator, to be funded and partially stocked by the Yellowhammer Fund and Alex Forsythe. More information will be provided to the congregation as the project proceeds.
Rev. Jaimie reported on issues associated with her sabbatical absence. The Board approved reallocations of her compensation due to her upcoming nuptials.
The Treasurer, Khoe Tran, reported that the church finances are good with expenses below, and income above, predictions for this point in the year.
The Vice-President and Chair of Council, Bryan Walls, raised issues with ongoing projects and with current volunteer needs among committees.
The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held via Zoom, to accommodate Rev. Ruth’s attendance, on January 22nd, 2025.
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UU Grief Support Group
The Grief Support Group will meet on the first Monday of each month in 2025. The meeting will be in the RE wing from 6-7 pm. Anyone who wants to attend but does not drive after dark, contact Melodie Brier at 256-468-5465. The care committee will arrange a ride for you. The group is open to anyone so feel free to invite people from outside our congregation. The group will support multiple kinds of losses and be a safe space to talk about beliefs that are not traditional Christian heaven and hell afterlife beliefs.
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Habitat for Humanity Home Build
UUCH members and volunteers from other churches are making good progress at the Fazzingo/Turner house at 216 Lake Drive in Huntsville! Sheetrock work has completed and interior painting is getting started this week.
Your help is needed! Volunteers will be working at the site most Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays depending on weather and subcontractor activity.
All volunteers must take a volunteer orientation class that is given virtually every week. The dates of the training vary, so please contact Brad at social.justice@uuch.org for the latest schedule.
If you have any questions or are interested in helping out, please email social.justice@uuch.org
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Circle of Candles
Jaylee Kordosky lit a candle of Sorrow: "Our school nurse at Rainbow Elementary passed suddenly yesterday after a typical, easy surgery. Please send thoughts to the staff and students who will have a difficult week coping with this news, on a week that is usually so exciting before break."
Holly Baker lit a candle of Joy: "Although I've experienced a great loss this holiday season, I want to share the joy that I now hold a Bachelor's degree! I could not have done it without the support of my friends and family"
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Upcoming Events
Click the calendar to see all of our upcoming events!
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Little Food Pantry
Signups for the LFP have slowed to a trickle unless you are filling it without signing up in the signup genius. It’s hard to know. Our LFP is a much needed service to the neighborhood. Fill it with nutritious foods. Folks rarely take garbanzo beans or lentils (even though they are nutritious). Let’s try to keep the pantry going! Please, if you are able to fill it up, please note your name in the Genius. Also, you can bring non- perishables to church, as there are baskets. A big thank you to all who do contribute!
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Submitted by the Social Justice Committee | |
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Donate Online
via CDM+ Engage
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Online:
Like our other online and mobile giving options, this option is through CDM+ Engage, is secure, and has a good option for "plate" donations as well as "pledge".
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Submit to the Newsletter
Do you have news to include in the newsletter next week? Please submit your article to the newsletter through our request form no later than 10:00 am each Wednesday. Please make sure to complete a new request form each time you make a submission to the newsletter.
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Minister
Rev. Jaimie Dingus
Office Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday by appointment.
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UUCH 2024-25
Board Members
President:
Susan Coddington
Vice President:
Bryan Walls
Secretary:
Laurel Bollinger
Treasurer:
Khoe Tran
Trustees:
Darlene Patten
Cam Scales
Vickie Goodman
Minister:
Rev. Jaimie Dingus
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 Susan Coddington via email no later than one week prior to the meeting (i.e. the Tuesday before). The next Board meeting is January 22nd, 2024
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Office Administrator
Ryan Vidal Gonzales
Main Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Tuesday 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
or by appointment.
*Please call/email the office in advance if you need building access.
Phone:
256-534-0508
Email: uuch@uuch.org
For more info on any event, contact the church office or visit our website.
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UUCH News is a publication of The Unitarian Universalist Church,
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville, AL 35810
Copy Editor:
Laurel Bollinger
Editorial Writer:
Ryan Vidal Gonzales
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PO Box 5545
Huntsville, AL 35814
(256) 534-0508
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