Share the Plate with North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless

During the first quarter of 2024, UUCH will be sharing our plate proceeds with the North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (NACH). All plate proceeds received from the Thursday before the first Sunday through the Saturday after the first Sunday will be split with NACH. In March, this includes plate donations received from February 29th through March 9th.

NACH is dedicated to reducing and preventing homelessness in the Greater Huntsville Area. They achieve this through education and assistance provided to individuals at risk of homelessness. NACH's primary objective is to help unsheltered and at-risk populations in Madison County find housing and prevent homelessness. NACH offers a range of essential services, including food provisions, housing assistance, utility support, distribution of cold weather gear, and comprehensive case management for those seeking shelter in our community. Their committed case managers conduct daily housing assessments for homeless and at-risk clients. These assessments enable NACH to connect clients with emergency shelter, permanent housing, rental assistance, as well as access to food and clothing resources in our area.

Many NACH clients become part of the RISE (Restore, Invest, Support, Empower) case management program. Through RISE, clients receive both short-term and long-term case management, designed to support them on their journey to achieving permanent and sustainable housing. Furthermore, NACH has introduced a new program called SHINE (Supportive Housing Integrated Network). SHINE is specifically tailored to assist clients who are grappling with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health issues. This program provides access to recovery housing, medical and mental health services, and integrated case management. The overarching goal of SHINE is to support clients in maintaining sobriety, securing employment, and ultimately attaining permanent housing.

Please consider giving generously to this important local organization.

Social Justice Project and Ongoing Discussions

Book Discussion Group Offerings

NOTE: Both books currently are available in our church library.

Adult RE is planning to offer a book discussion group later this spring based on the book Life Worth Living--A Guide to What Matters Most by Volf, Croasmun, and McAnnally-Linz. The book is based on a popular course the authors teach at Yale University, which students often describe as “life-changing.” The book guides the reader through a process of understanding and expressing more clearly what matters most in their life, and how they might live accordingly. If you are interested in this group, please email adult.re@uuch.org, or see Teri Thomas or Tim Miller (group facilitator) during coffee hour after a church service. More information about the book is at lifeworthlivingbook.com.

Join Adult Religious Education this year in our social justice project. We will be reading Poverty, by America written by Matthew Desmond. A time this fall will be set for a group discussion. The challenge, should you choose to accept, is to email me your commitment to read the book and be prepared to share one action you will do AND/OR one insight from what you’ve learned.

A copy has been ordered for the church.

Teri Thomas

adult.re@uuch.org

Discussion groups

The 2nd Sunday class, led by Gary Hitt, is being discontinued. Thank you, Gary, for your time and dedication to this class.

You Are Invited to a Cottage Meeting in March!

Our 2024 Annual Budget Drive begins! Join us for a kick-off PARTY during the potluck after church. We will celebrate each other, learn about the ABD, enjoy cake, and HAVE FUN!

As part of our drive, PLEASE make plans now to attend one of the many Cottage Meetings scheduled this month. These small gatherings are hosted by your friends from UUCH and offer delicious food, sharing and connection. Our gracious hosts can answer your questions and will offer an opportunity to fill in your pledge form for the church year that begins on July 1st. Pledges of financial support provide a basis for all the great things UUCH can accomplish.

There are many Cottage Meetings to choose from – one to fit your convenience. Sign up at Cottage Dinner Sign-Up or via hardcopy in the Fellowship Hall as soon as possible to give our hosts time to prepare!

Whether you are brand new to UUCH or a long-time member, Cottage Meetings are for everyone! Several are designated as child-friendly so the whole family can attend. Efforts will be made to accommodate dietary restrictions so that everyone feels welcome.

We pledge our financial support because we love our church and what it stands for. Every pledge connects us, building the beloved community of our dreams. In the words of Rev. Jaimie “Join me in supporting our 2024-25 Annual Budget Drive, because TOGETHER WE CAN do powerful things!”

Sign up today to attend a Cottage Meeting!

https://uuch.org/connecting/pledge/

Zena Tucker, 2024 UUCH Stewardship Chair

Save Our Public Libraries

As you may have heard, there are efforts in Alabama to censor public library materials and to make the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) board more political. Alabama State Legislators have taken up a particular bill this legislative term, filed as SB10, which will allow politicians who appoint library board members to remove those members at any time, thereby securing them the legal means to enact a total political purging of library board members across the state who might stand against this mass censorship campaign that seeks to erase LGBQT-supporting resources from our communities.

The APLS board recently published changes to the administrative code that sets the rules for libraries to receive state funding, which initiated a 90-day public comment period that will close on April 30th. To push back against this campaign of suppression, local organizing groups such as Read Freely Alabama (https://www.readfreelyalabama.org/) and the Democratic Socialists of America have partnered together to launch a letter-writing campaign to respond during this open public comment period. A letter template has been developed to make this as quick and easy a process as possible, or you can still choose to craft your own!

If you would like to participate in this effort before this 90 day window closes at the end of April, please follow this link to the Action Network page (https://actionnetwork.org/groups/save-our-libraries) to sign up and find the template, and get continuing updates on this important issue.

For more information, please contact social.justice@uuch.org.

Support Literacy in the Community!

Highlands Elementary School, a Title 1 school, is having a book fair and we would love volunteers. Our very own Deborah Delacey is the librarian at Highlands, which is the local elementary school to the church. Funds generated from sales go directly back into the library, helping to diversify the collection with books that speak to our shared values and represent our diverse population. The book fair will take place beginning Monday, March 4th through Thursday, March 7th from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm in the school library. Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated. For more information about volunteering, please contact Deborah Delacey at: deborah.delacey@gmail.com

Upcoming Social Justice Events

Your participation is needed! Below is a list of local social justice events sponsored by groups that UUCH and/or our members support.

• March 2nd: Huntsville Green Team Cleanup in District 1 from 9 am to 11 am
• March 2nd: AshaKiran Kite Festival from 10 am to 4 pm
• March 6th: Faith In Action Alabama Legislative Day in Montgomery
• March 16th: UUA's Mosaic Virtual Spring Gathering (working to end racism) (Zoom)
• March 23rd: Huntsville Green Team Cleanup in Sherwood Park from 9 am to 11 am
• April 2nd: Alabama Arise Legislative Day in Montgomery (UUCH members driving down)

For more information about a particular event or to list an event, please email social.justice@uuch.org.