From The Overlook

April 24th, 2008

Unitarian Universalist Church, Huntsville, AL

Vol. 08 Issue 08


Sunday Services

April 27th: Reverence for the Web of Life

This Sunday, the Social Justice committee will explore the Earth Day theme of Reverence for the Web of Life.  We found inspiration in Barbara Kingsolver's book, "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", and Gail Williams and Rebecca Smith will talk about Kingsolver's year long journey of living on locally grown food..  Choir will remind us of our interdependence through the beautiful anthem,  "All Things Are Connected"  accompanied by Paula Henderson.  Other music will be provided by Catherine Hall.

May 4th: “Is Unitarian Universalism the Faith of the Future?”
In 1933, philosopher and educator John Dewey lectured on a common faith for all humanity.  Join student minister John Czachurski in considering how our own faith might fulfill his vision of  a progressive faith of the future.

 

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Members, Mark your Calendars- UUCH Annual Congregational Meeting

 is scheduled for May 18th! We’ll be Voting for New Church Officers, and we’ll need a quorum!

 

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Next Newsletter Deadline

 is Tuesday, May 13th,

covering May 17th-31st! For further info on any event, call the church office: 534-0508

 

Picnic Potluck on Monte Sano- May 4th!

Mark your calendars- May 4th we’re having our Potluck at the Monte Sano State park, right after church!  Hospitality Committee has rented the big pavilion closest to the playground and parking lot, and we can picnic all afternoon!

 

Summer RE:  We Want You!!

     Did you have a favorite teacher when you were growing up?  Someone who made learning fun, or showed you a new way to look at things?  Or taught you something you didn’t know you wanted to learn?  In my youth program, I remember learning astronomy from Dr. Cao, first aid from Dr. Lenz, cooking from Mrs. McLoughlin, orienteering from Mrs. Young, stamp collecting from Mr. Roach, budgeting from Mr. Young.  These are skills and interests that enriched my life then and that continue into my adulthood.  And, even more importantly, I got the sense that the adults in my community cared about me and took an interest in my learning outside of school.  You have the opportunity to be this kind of teacher right in our own church.

     In the summer months, the Religious Education Program takes a special turn from the regular fall and spring curricula.  We invite UUCH members and friends to plan a class session for the children and youth.  You’ll be part of a teaching team as either the lead teacher or a helper; and a regular RE teacher will be there as support. 

     Here are some topics to get your creative juices flowing:  singing, crafts, nature walks, gardening, yoga, dance, paper airplanes, drawing, science, origami.  The possibilities are limitless!!  What’s your favorite hobby?  What’s something you know lots about that you’ve always wanted to share?  We can benefit from your expertise, and you’ll benefit too.  There’s nothing like spending time with the children and youth at our church.  Their energy, creativity, and intelligence are contagious.

For the next month, we’ll have a poster standing in the church lobby where you can sign up for a summer Sunday session.  Or, you can contact me, Erin Reid, at eereid(a)hotmail.com.  What’s a joy to you can be a joy to others.  Come on down with the children to play!

 

 

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    From your Minister    

 

      Did the Dogwoods seem unusually beautiful this year?  Or did winter just erase my memory of last spring?   Even my own back yard is alive with brilliant colors.  One rose bush has over a dozen yellow roses in full bloom, and about as many tightly closed buds awaiting their time.  Spring is a special season, holding a promise of an awakened awareness of the gifts and beauty of nature and a revived joy for life that winter time may dull.  Whether it is the winter of the season, or of the spirit, this may be a time to take notice of the surrounding splendor, a gift from the universe, which asks only that we act as good stewards of our earthly resources. 

      Many UUs celebrate our place in the interdependent web with a special spring time worship service dedicated to our seventh principle.  This year our Worship Committee and Social Justice Committee, in honor of Earth Day, will bring you just such a service.  The UU Ministry of the Earth encourages UU congregations to hold such celebrations saying:

Virtually all spiritual traditions include a deep tradition of respect and honor for our natural world. Deeply embedded in our human consciousness is a primal awe and gratitude for the air, water, solid ground, sunlight, and nourishing life forms that sustain our species. As people of faith, and especially as Unitarian Universalists, we recognize our place within the community of life, as part of the interdependent web of all existence.

Worship is a central part of our congregational life. It draws us together, offering us both the space and time in our daily busy-ness to pause and consider those most profound religious questions that give meaning to our lives. Earth honoring worship nourishes our spirit by strengthening our sense of connection – with each other and with Earth. By coming together in community to celebrate the abundance of the earth, we find that we are not alone. When we reflect on the beauty and harmony of nature, we are renewed and healed; and we are stronger for the experience.

 

      May that be so for all of us.

                                                                                In Love & Hope,    Alice

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Draft UUCH Covenant--Look it Over and Tell Us What YOU Think!

 

“We, as members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville, covenant to work together to create a supportive, affirming, sustaining community that inspires and challenges each of us to become our best selves.  To further our goal of creating such an intentional community, we promise each other to:
* Affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every member of our community, valuing our differences and supporting each other in a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
* Listen to one another with the intent of understanding, and speak to one another with respect and kindness, so that all may be heard.
* Recognize that forming an intentional community may at times require us to place the needs of the community above our own needs, at which time we choose to stay in community.
* Foster caring relationships by assuming the best intent in others, disagreeing in love, and empowering one another to speak for ourselves.
* Support the work of the church to the best of our abilities, valuing and appreciating the work of others, especially those who voluntarily accept a board or other leadership role in the church.

* Promote an environment where all people feel safe, both physically and emotionally.
* Use the energy and support we thus create to bring our vision of justice, equity and compassion in human relations into our wider community, our nation, and our world.”

 

     Please send comments and concerns about the proposed Covenant to Laurel.Bollinger AT uah.edu.  I'll assemble your concerns, and we'll address them through a small revision committee.  Then we'll publish the draft again for continued discussion. We look forward to hearing from you--and we look forward to having a covenant that will support us as we move into the future together!

 

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The Last 25 Aprils at UUCH 1982-2007

From your 50th Anniversary Committee

1982  04 Program: Pink Triangle Coalition “Also known as Dykes& Faggots”...09 UU Youth go to good Friday svc @ Holy spirit.....11 Easter egg Hunt!....18 Panel Discussion by “Friends/Quakers” Pam & Brian Bess, Steve Maulsby....22 UU Children’s Choir sings at  “Ground Zero” peace rally, Big Spring Park....23 Annual Pledge Dinner....25 Speaker: Rev James Brewer “What Use is Freedom?”.... Huntsville receives recognition at MSDAA as Honor Society (now known as Fair Share Contributor) for UUA....Veatch Committee awards grant for our upcoming Minister on Loan Program.

1983  02 Pledge Dinner....10 Speaker: Shel Ray, “Individuality” by R.G. Ingersoll “America’s Great Agnostic”; Canvass Sunday  ....17 Special Congregational Mtg to consider applying for another Minister On Loan for 83-84

1984 Older RE kids exploring different churches- Phillip Reyer....6&7 RE campout at Monte Sano Cabins....08 Speaker James Rachels....09 Mtg to help Pulpit Cmt draft congregational survey; Minister’s fund has $6000.....22 “Festival of Spring” Easter service....28 Pub Night and Talent/No Talent contest (booing is allowed- throwing beer cans is not...) Winner Robert Bijvoet, for making beautiful music on a toy piano.

29 Special congregational Meeting: change of bylaws to permit formation of Pulpit committee, and nomination & voting on Pulpit Committee Members

1985 07 “Glad Surprises of Spring” Easter/Passover All church (Baby Dedication, too)....19-21 RE overnight at the Monte Sano Cabins....28 The Reverend Doak Mansfield officially Installed as UUCH Minister.

1986 Sinkholes continue to appear in church Parking lot!....02 Speaker : Jane Mabry “Growth & Change in Hsv”....13 Speaker: Dr. Daniel Schenker.....18 Pledge dinner-at VBCC ballet room.  UUA interdistrict rep Bob Hill, provides the program – his own adaption of “A Prairie Home Companion” with music provided by church members.....20 Flower Communion....25-27  All Church Retreat at Camp Barber. Games, Talent Show, and a Variety of Workshops.....UUCH T-Shirts will be sold (these are the blue ones with the white letters and the tree)

1987  05 Board meets, approves 3 month trial rental of upstairs to Church of God International, on Saturday mornings. (MCC still meeting here on Sunday nights) ....UUCHCurrent Membership: 126....11 Singletarian’s Discussion: “Strategies to keep Your Parents from Driving you Crazy”....12 Svc: “Christian Humanism” w/ Jerry Mebane....19 All-Church Easter Service & Egg Hunt!

1988 03 Easter, Flower Communion & Baby Dedication With The Rev. Doak Mansfield....15 “IRS” Pub Night -forget your troubles with hotdogs, beverages, and games for the whole family...17 UUCH Softball Team practice w/coach Sonnie Hereford...23 March of Dimes Team walk...24 Speakers: Sonnie Herefords III and IV speak on “The Desegregation of Alabama Public Schools”...30 Annual Church Banquet @ VBCC North Hall

1989 6th, 7th, & 8th: 3 day Rummage Sale! @ the church..10 Cakes for the Queen of Heaven class begin...15 Flower Communion...15th, 22, & 29th: Bridge Construction-23 Volunteers build the front walkway in to the building, under the watchful eye of John Wade.....23 “Render Unto Caesar” Can anything new be said about churches & Money? Doak Tries.

1990 01 Dr. Leatha Bennett: “Cultural Diversity in American Higher Education”....07 Annual Fellowship Dinner @ Knights of Columbus Hall....09 “Last Temptation of of Christ” film Seminar begins....13&14: Painting Party! Bill Wilson et.al. paint the Sanctuary!......Architectural Study Fund asks for donations....22  Shel Ray speaks on “Why People are Atheist”; Adopt-a-Mile Roadwalk for Earth Day

1991 06 Spaghetti Dinner & Service Auction!......07 Congregational Mtg on bylaws to change beginning fiscal year to July 1st. (Formerly started June 1st.) ...10 Primary class learns how to make pancakes .....12 Mother’s Day & Child Dedication Service...13 Pysanky Class (Ukrainian Egg Painting) with Scott Prinster.....28 Spring Music Sunday with Choir & Director Marilee Plaks

1992 05 Fifty-Something Ladies meet at Mary Ann Ely’s home...11 Annual Service Auction! ...18 Saturday “Adventures in Art” IV- art activities for kids with art show on Sunday...19 Easter service: Hanging Symbols of Renewal on a Spring tree, the kids go downstairs for Beatrix Potter day...25 Annual Fellowship Dinner...26 “Worship & Work” Service -a brief service followed by clean-up, fix-up, yard-work hour.

1993 04 Service by June Blanton (nee Norton); Interweave Potluck; 5pm “Spiritual Paths” class...10 Annual congregational Dinner @ Faith Presbyterian Church Hall...18 “Hope, Not Hell” w/ Rev. Mansfield.....20 Native American Spirituality Wkshp: Charla Hawkwind Herman & John Tarwater...25 Book Fair! for all ages

1994 03 All Church Easter...10 “Truth-Telling as an Unkind Act”- Doak...... 12 Women’s Discussion group...15 UU Rummage Sale @ the Lethbridge /Scarl Home nets $1200..... 24 Men’s Discussion group.....29 CUUPS meets at Monte Sano

1995 02 Guest Speaker Terry Williams..08 Annual Pledge Party presents open-mike Cabaret!... 14 Interweave Coffeehouse! 16 Easter Service: “I Know Who Stole the Body” with Rev. Mansfield....22 UU Yard Sale! ....23 Huntsville Feminist Chorus sings for us.

1997 09 & 23  “Connections” Dinners- Wednesday night spaghetti fellowship dinners, writing cards to members of known concern.....12 “World Religion Class” Begins....13 Hsv Feminist Chorus returns for a performance.

1998 05 Service- Open discussion Forum for GA Action /Issue Topics; RE Bake sale for Playground fund...06 Book Discussion Group organizational mtg w/ Laura Brown & Rose Hollis (Deverzley)....12 Easter – RE makes Hats and comes upstairs for the Easter Parade....19 New UU Classes Begin....18 Welcoming Congregation Party!...26 “Whatever Happened to SIN?”- Rev. Mansfield

1999 04 Easter Sunday; Paganism 101 class......07 Fellowship Dinner...11 “Journey Toward Wholeness” Service  by Social Justice Cmt- raising money for UUA’s Racial Justice, Urban Ministry, and multicultural diversity projects...18 Hsv Feminist Chorus performs...24 UU YARD Sale!...25 Canvass Sunday- no Service, no RE, just stay home and greet the canvassers who will show up at your home.

2000 02 Adult RE Classes: Building Your Own Theology; Welcoming Congregation Workshop....05 Book Discussion Group reads “Growing Up” by Russell Baker.....08 Fellowship Dinner....09 UUCH Debates ten proposed study/action issues before GA; Fifty –Something Ladies meet at Leona Torode’s Home....15 Circle Suppers....22 SJ Film: “the Brandon Teena Story”.....30 Flower Communion!

2001 01 Speaker Sonnie HereFord IV “Desegregation in HSV in the 60’s and Dr. Kings Dream Today”; Adult RE: Paganism 101, Voluntary Simplicity....08 Service: Rosemary Urban & Priscilla Condon on the Local HEALS Clinic...11 Book Discussion group reads Saelzar’s “Lying Awake”....22 Flower Communion with Kids Maypole Dance!....29 Part-time Minister the Reverend Roy Reynolds speaks “On Ministry”

2002 07-14 Candidating Week for the Reverend Alice Syltie; Sermon on the 7th is “Prophetic Voices, Different Accents”; Syltie attends 6 different “Meet the Minister “ dinners during the week; on the 14th, Congregational meeting is held to vote for or against calling Rev. Syltie as minister (They voted FOR.) ......20 UU Yard Sale @ the Alexanders......21 Interim Minister the Reverend Bill Metzger speaks on “Interesting Times”;“Spiritual Sundown”, an evening vespers-like service, begins....Virginia Burroughs makes and installs the stained glass symbols for the front window.....28 Flower Communion

2003 06 Alice Syltie officially installed as UUCH minister- Rev. John Tolley, Associate Dean of Meadville Lombard Univ. gives the sermon.....13 “New UU” classes begin....30 Adult RE: “Articulating Your UU Faith” w/ Jan Hosey

2004 01 Adult RE: “Traditions in UU Theology” ...05 “Evensong” meets each Monday...11 Easter Flower Communion....UU’s give to “President’s Freedom to Marry” Fund- Civil Marriage is a Civil Right! ....25 Frank Benedetti from Winston-Salem UU speaks on “Gay Marriage- Why Now?”

2005 03 “The Bible for Skeptics & Religious Liberals” Class begins; Pendegraph/Bowers Concert raises $1,200 for Guide Dog Foundation...We Share the Plate with the HEALS  Clinic.... 09 Memorial Service held to celebrate the life of Marty Alexander... 10 “Understanding Islam” w/ Rev. Syltie & Alladin Bashir of the Hsv Islamic Center........Social Justice collects supplies for Oscar Mason Library hygiene class.

2006 02 “Your Brain & God” –Rev. Syltie; We Share the Plate with the Oscar Mason Library after school program...16 Flower Communion; Easter Egg Hunt @ Alice & Betsy’s!...20 Book Discussion Group reads The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini....22 Earth Day SJ Movie night: “Global Warming”

2007 01 “Fooling Ourselves”-Rev. Sylie; We Share the Plate with HOPE Place; Board calls “Town Meeting” to discuss congregational concerns about the current facilities & property, and how & when changes in the bylaws might take place...02 Long-time Member Leona Torode celebrates her 100th birthday.....08 Flower Communion & Easter Egg Hunt!....15 Special Business Meeting to vote on proposed by-laws changes requested by ten petitioning members of the congregation.

2008  You’re Living it!

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UUCH 07-08 Board Members

President – Jerome Belcher  Vice-President – Bryan Lorge

Treasurer – Alice Dilbeck           Secretary – Laurel Bollinger  

Trustees Jefflyn Weed, Bette Keane, Carol Youkey

Do you have an Agenda Item for the Board?

Board Regs require that all agenda items for the meeting must be submitted to Jerome Belcher, UUCH President, no later than one week prior to the meeting, i.e. the Tuesday before. You may leave a copy of your request in his Mailbox at the church office, or contact him at jeromeab-AT-comcast.net

Next UUCH Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, 2008.

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UULadiesLunches—

Join us at NOON Thursdays!

May Day! Lyn’s on Whtsbg north of Duffy’s Deli

08: El Dorado @ Pratt & Church

15:  Royal buffet on Drake

 

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JOB AVAILABLE FOR CHURCH PIANIST.  Responsibilities include playing hymns and performing special music at Sunday worship services.  The pianist must also be able to practice with choir on Wednesday nights. To learn more or to apply, contact Paula Henderson at 683-8493.

 

From the Overlook is a publication of the

Unitarian Universalist Church, 2222 Governor’s Dr.

HSV, AL   35801

Minister: The Reverend Alice Syltie; 

Board Pres: Jerome Belcher

Sunday Services are held 10:45a to 12 noon; Children’s Religious Education held concurrently; Nursery available for children under 3 years old.

Admin.Office Hours: 9a- 1p MWF. Ph. 256.534-0508

Minister’s Office Ph: 256.539-9607

E: uuch(a)uuch.org  Web: www.uuch.org

 

 

UUCH Yard Sale! June 14th!!

Start cleaning out Your, garages, junk rooms, storage rooms, and kids, don’t forget those toy boxes!

 We want your underused but still usable electronics! We want lawn equipment, office equipment, sports equipment!

We want coats, shoes, purses and shirts! We want doo-dads, knick-knacks, and thingamajigs! We want couches, chairs, entertainment centers! We want boats, floats, totes….(--but sorry, no goats!)

We want it all!

May 25th will be a yard sale intake day at the church; May 27 we plan a big pricing party! June 7th will be yard sale prep day, with pricing going on throughout the following week. Volunteers will be needed for all these jobs, and also on the day of the sale, so gear up! More info and specific dates closer to the sale. Meanwhile, CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS!