CYRE News
Pre-K – 5th Grade & 6th – 12th Grade
As we hurl towards Thanksgiving, we introduce the practice of gratitude and how it can help us embrace acts of generosity. When thinking about giving to others, it can be a natural response to constrict and feel like what we have is so limited. This week we are challenging ourselves by practicing gratitude for the abundant splendor and mystery that endlessly swirl in our midst as we scroll on our devices. Recognizing what we are grateful for helps us to be generous and loving with others; this contributes to creating a temporary moment in time where UU values are alive and in action. What a beautiful moment, and something I am so grateful for!
| |
Auction Update
Our fundraising auction was a success thanks to everyone's help! We raised over $10K for our beloved community. Many thanks to you all for making it all happen! Special appreciation goes out to Lynda Lamitie, Carol Youkey, David Patten, Nancy Finely, Meg Lewallen, Foster Perry, Bryan Walls, Matthew Bollinger, Andrew Warrington, June Norton, Betsy Applegate, Alice Dilbeck, Camille Scales for all the hard work.
BREAK! BREAK! The fun is not over! We extended the opportunity to purchase a spot in our event offerings with open slots. Learn a new fun skill! Enjoy a concert, game night or a cookout! The offerings are available now on our auction website https://auctria.events/uuch through Sunday November 26. You may pay with a credit card on the website – or place your payment in the offering basket on Sunday (be sure to mark “Auction payment” on your check or envelope). If you have any questions, email stewardship@uuch.org.
| |
|
Alabama Hispanic Association Dinner and Christmas Party
The 9th annual Alabama Hispanic Association (AHA) dinner and Christmas party is scheduled for December 16th! This is an all-church event and we need your help to make this a success!
You can get involved in 3 ways:
1) Make a financial donation for teen gifts: We will be sharing the plate for the AHA party during the Sunday services on November 19, & 26 and December 9th to collect donations to cover the cost of presents for about 30 teenagers. (The AHA provides gifts for younger children.) All donations will go to the presents. Please note on checks that it is for the “AHA Christmas Gifts.”
In addition to sharing the plate, online donations are also being accepted now through December 9th. You can donate online by following these steps:
- Click this link: https://engage.suran.com/uuahuntsville
- Sign in to your Engage account
- Select “New Gift” from the menu in the upper right corner.
- Enter your gift amount in the “AL Hispanic Assoc Christmas Gifts” line
- Select “Continue” and check out like normal
Another option for donating online is to scan the QR code in the weekly Sunday Order of Service.
2) Donate food and/or your time: We need help with food for the dinner, setup, clean up, decorating, and working the dinner, which is fun and rewarding. A sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall and a newsletter signup genius will be posted for the event soon.
Please contact social.justice@uuch.org if you have any questions.
Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee (to begin the process!!)
| |
UUCH Board Report November 8, 2023
The Board of Trustees held its scheduled meeting for October and November on November 8, 2023.
The Board discussed several policies of the church including:
- The current COVID Policy will be reviewed at the next meeting in order to determine if it needs changing to deal with the current medical climate.
- The establishment of the Safety Committee was approved at the last Board meeting, but the description of the policy on “duties and responsibilities” is still being discussed by the Committee and the Board. The Board approved funding for the immediate safety priorities, and will ask Finance to find the money in this year’s budget.
- The Board continued work on the official “building usage policy” including issues related to alcohol use at rental events at the church.
The Treasurer reported the income and expenses are doing well for the year.
The Board approved the purchase of the six-session online course, “Transgender Inclusion in Congregations” from The Transforming Hearts Collective. This program is designed to create congregations that are fully inclusive and affirming of the full breadth of gender diversity. It would benefit our congregation in awareness of inclusion, and would allow us to use the material in many settings over time.
Proposed Board Goals for 2023-2024 (to be finalized at the December Board meeting.)
- Do Vision and Mission process and talk about Covenant process (for next year).
- Decide whether or not we can fully support the “Growth Through Service” model of leadership development.
- Complete at least one Social Justice program together as a Board and support UUCH’s larger social justice effort this year.
- Continue congregation-wide alignment work on the Policies and Procedures Manual.
- Formalize how we document and share institutional knowledge by expanding the use of the UUCH-side Google Drive with associated processes, procedures, and training for staff and volunteers.
- Continue to care for the asset of the building and keep the congregation up to date on repair work.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board will be December 13, at 6:30 pm.
| | | |
Circle of Candles
George Fletcher via Tim Miller lit a candle of Joy: "George is happy to report that his mitral valve repair went well on Friday, and his recovery is going along splendidly."
Vally & Foster Perry lit a candle: "We wish success and a speedy recovery from heart surgery for Vally's Brother, Freddy Schlesinger, in Achen, Germany."
Kent de Jong lit a candle of Joy: "Seeing the NASA Super Guppy at the Huntsville Airport. It was cool."
Sandy Moore lit a candle of Concern: "Last weekend I attended a Celebration of Life for my Cousin Ronald. Please help me send positive feelings, and communication to family members who have many unresolved issues over this death."
Janet Varner lit a candle of Sorrow: "My daughter-in law, Doretta, has a severe, life- threatening illness."
Krista McDowell lit a candle of Joy: "My Business has thrived more than I thought. I have grown and been busy. I am grateful for the love and support of the church. Please continue to pray for and send good vibes as I enter my 1st holiday season at the Bakery. To continue to thrive."
| |
Upcoming Events
Click the calendar to see all of our upcoming events!
| |
Little Food Pantry
The food pantry is a huge success, being utilized by numerous people!
If you are able to pick a day to re-stock the pantry, please do so, using the Sign-Up Genius link below.
There are also baskets in the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary entry foyer for food collection. The collected food will ultimately be used to fill the pantry on days not chosen on the sign-up genius.
Canned meats, soups, veggies, mac-and-cheese, bread, fruit, fresh veggies--all kinds of foods are welcome.
Thank you for being so generous. We are making a difference!
| |
Submitted by the Social Justice Committee | |
|
Donate Online
via CDM+ Engage
| | |
|  |
|
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".
| | |
|
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.
| |
Minister
Rev. Jaimie Dingus
Office Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday by appointment.
| |
|
UUCH 2023-24
Board Members
President:
Susan Coddington
Vice President:
Bryan Walls
Secretary:
Nancy Finley
Treasurer:
David Bollinger
Trustees:
Will Garrison
Darlene Patten
Cam Scales
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 will be announced as soon as possible.
| |
|
Office Administrator
Ryan Vidal Gonzales
Main Office Hours:
Mondays 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Tuesdays through Thursdays 11:00 AM to 2:00 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.
| |
|
UUCH News is a publication of The Unitarian Universalist Church,
3921 Broadmor Rd., Huntsville, AL 35810
Editor-in-Chief:
Laurel Bollinger
Copy Editor:
Ryan Vidal Gonzales
| |
PO Box 5545
Huntsville, AL 35814
(256) 534-0508
| | | |
Like our PAGE! SHARE our posts!
| | | | |
