|
|
Sunday Morning Worship Services
10:45 a.m. to 12:00 pm
2222 Governor’s Drive
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256)534-0508
Click here for map
All are welcome. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville is an open, welcoming faith community. Whatever your spiritual journey, you are welcome here.
Coffee and conversation follows each worship service.
SAVE THIS IMPORTANT DATE!
On Saturday, March 27, 2010 UUCH will take an important step toward our future. As we consider moving to a new facility, it is important that we create a clear vision of the future direction of the congregation. Who are we? What makes us unique among all other local congregations? What will we be spiritually and emotionally in the next 5 years? The answers to these questions are a “Vision Statement.” We also want to develop a “Mission Statement” that supports the vision of the congregation.
In order to define these things clearly and collectively, we will be engaging in a day of focus group sessions, “Searching for the Future,” designed to develop a shared vision, a more specific mission and a list of supportive goals, activities and objectives that will give us a head start on the development of a Strategic Plan.
Please plan on joining us; it is very important that we get input from everyone about our future. New members, old members, friends of the church-everyone is invited to attend. Most people’s commitment for this date will be about 3.5 hours, during which we’ll imagine our future together. We need all of you to come and share your ideas! Some of us will also need to serve as facilitators, who will be trained by our UUA consultant to lead us in these sessions, and who will need to be available for about 10 hours over the course of the weekend (with a Friday night meeting and in some cases an after-church meeting Sunday). Sessions will be held on Saturday, March 27 during three different time slots: 8:30am-12:00pm, 1:00-4:30pm, and 6:00-9:30pm. Select a time that works for you and join us for this exciting time in the life of our church. You will be seeing posters and sign-up cards circulating soon so that you can register.
Sunday, February 28th: “Signing the Book”
The Reverend Alice Syltie
Many people who are attracted to liberal religion find joining a difficult step. On this Sunday we will welcome new members, and consider what it means to join and belong to a faith community.
March 7th: “Nourish What You Cherish”
The Reverend Alice Syltie
Members of UUCH will join Rev. Alice in a joyous celebration of worship with special music and words to honor our commitment to what we love and care most deeply about in our church.
Great energy, commitment and promise were the spirit of the day on Saturday as so many of you gathered for the training offered by our UUA Consultant, Larry Wheeler. With a solid base of knowledge, and years of experience, Larry communicated not only the details of the work at hand, but the overarching goal, as well. At the heart of everything we do as a congregation lies the goal of building community. Every interaction is about nurturing relationships.
Thinking of this, I realize that probably the greatest challenge to spiritual growth in all the religious traditions is relating to each and every person with loving kindness. Our Unitarian Universalist Principles affirm the inherent worth and dignity of each person. In many Asian traditions the familiar greeting “Namaste” is often translated to mean “the divinity in me meets the divinity in you.” In Christian circles it is common to speak of all people as the body of Christ.
However we translate all of these different ways of honoring the sacredness of human life, there is no escaping the message that our connections to one another are of ultimate value, and being in right relationship is a spiritual discipline.
May our hearts and minds accept the challenge and our hands be ready to do the work, so that the beloved community of our dreams, becomes our reality.
In Love & Hope,
Alice
UUCH Annual Budget Drive Kick-Off March 7th!
 Make sure you circle March 7th on your calendar, because this is not only going to be the start of our Annual Budget Drive, but will be our monthly Pot Luck Luncheon after services.
Not only can we nourish our spirit-we can nourish our bodies! This will be the start of our person-to-person visits to pledge our support to ‘Nourish What You Cherish’. UU members, as usual, will be bringing their delicious dishes to share…. but, on March 7th, leave room for a special dessert from your Annual Budget Committee.
The UUCH Board met on January 26, 2010 and worked on coordinating the many activities surrounding the Church’s plans for pursuing new facilities. This includes the “Searching for the Future” focus-group weekend to establish a shared vision and mission for the church.
For the Annual Budget Drive, the Board discussed themes and specific priorities that help align the Budget Drive with our specific dreams for the church. This will help us set a strong foundation in the work of the church as we enter our capital campaign later in the year.
The Board also approved implementing mechanisms to allow for automatic deductions for pledging for people who wish to do this, and approved obtaining cash envelopes for pledges.
In other business, new members of the Committee on the Ministry were identified: Millicent Simmons, Bette Keane, Eric Henderson, and Brad Korb (a continuing member).
Early (and discounted) registration for the 2010 Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly (GA) in Minneapolis, MN opens Monday, March 1. The fee for full time registration is $310 until May 1 when the cost will rise to $350. For accommodations in nearby hotels at convention rates, you can go through the GA housing Department after 9 am CST on March 1 by going online at www.uua.org/events/general assembly, or by calling 888-947-2333 ( 9 am- 3pm CST).
Finding housing early is a good idea-a really good idea. Hotels near the convention center tend to fill up early and the special UUA rates for hotels are only guaranteed through May 15, at which time room prices will be subject to change.
–Nancy Bartlett, UUA trustee from the Mid-South District
Thanks for your donations!
Our Homeless Outreach committee is gathering items to create meal-packs. These food packs will be distributed to the many homeless people living in cars, under bridges & overpasses in our city.
To do this, we need donation of the following ingredients:
Juice boxes, water bottles, small potted meat or vienna sausages,
crackers, granola bars, pudding, fruit cups.
And ziplock bags to put them in!
A collection box will be available at the church.
Any One of Us: Words from Prison
Here’s Your chance to see a benefit reading of Any One of Us: Words from Prison
by Eve Ensler.
Tickets are cheap (only $5), and all proceeds go to charity (Community Free Clinic, Crisis Services, and vday.org).
The shows will be performed on the UAH Campus (Morton Hall, Room 106) on Friday, March 5 @ 7:30pm & Saturday, March 6 @ 2:30pm & 7:30pm.
Feb 25: Dallas Mill Deli on Pratt
Mar 4: Clementines -600 West O’Shaughnessy
Mar 11: Tin-TIn (formerly New Moon) on Pratt
Mar 18: Salsaritas S. Pkwy/Drake (behind Cracker Barrel)
February 21st: ” Hard Times, Challenging Faith”
The Reverend Alice Syltie
Our church community, and our city have been shaken by violence and loss. Where do we, of the liberal religious faith, look for resources to see us through times of crises?
February 28th: “Signing the Book”
The Reverend Alice Syltie
Many people who are attracted to liberal religion find joining a difficult step. On this Sunday we will welcome new members, and consider what it means to join and belong to a faith community.
|
|
