CHARITY OF THE MONTH
2012
July: School Supplies
August: Rita B. Huff
September: Habitat for Humanity
October: YMCA
November: Senior Center of Walker County
December: UUSC Guest at Your Table
2013
January: Board Discretionary Fund
February: SAAFE House
March: Friends of the Huntsville Public Library
April: SWUUC Chalice Lighters
May: Good Shepherd Mission
June: Boys and Girls Club
For more information on the charity, please check the appropriate newsletter.
Social Action Teams
The church has proposed the use of Social Action Teams to develop our congregation’s Faith in Action mandate. Ideally each team would volunteer as a group once a month at a specific charity, perhaps on a Saturday. By having each team focus on only one charity, the team would not only create a UU presence at this charity, but also the Team would only need training for one charity. Ideally every member of the congregation would join one of these Social Action Teams.
Joan Stringer has started our first Faith in Action Team. She will lead a group that will volunteer at the Good Shepherd Mission every Wednesday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. If you would be interested in joining her team, please contact her.
However, we need more Social Action Teams, so I am calling on people to volunteer to be a Team leader. A Team Leader will coordinate with the charity of his/her choice to arrange for training and volunteer opportunities for his/her Team. Ideas for charities that need our help are The SAAFE House, The Senior Center, The Boys and Girls Club, Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Friends of Huntsville State Park, etc. So find your passion and form a Social Action Team.
CHALICE LIGHTER GRANT
There is a new “Fall Call”, which has been awarded to the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in San Marcos, Texas. SMUUF is seeking support to purchase additional land for the construction of their sanctuary. They have already purchased some land and want to buy adjoining land. This fall marks their 25th year as they were officially recognized by the UUA in October, 1987. This call represents a kind of “silver anniversary” gift for UUism in San Marcos. They have doubled their membership in the last three years, and have ordained a minister this past March. They currently rent space in an Episcopal church. They have 59 members, and 15 children. They are active in their community in social action events, and attend denominational events. For more information, go to “www.smuuf.org”. Please make your check out to “SWUUC Chalice Lighters” and place in the collection basket or mail to the new district office: SWUUC Chalice Lighters, P.O. Box 560246, Orlando FL 32856-0246. You may also donate to “Chalice Lighters” by using SWUUC’s website, where a Paypal feature is provided: http://www.swuuc.org/pages/stewardship/support.php . Thank you for your generosity of spirit and resources.
BLOOD DONATIONS
There is a blood drive the 2nd Saturday of each month at Gibbs Elementary (on 19th St.) from 8-4 in the cafeteria. You can give blood in the name of our church. It is under Huntsville Unitarian and the code # is 4130.
NFW Certified Wildlife Habitat: The National Wildlife Federation has certified Thoreau Woods UU Church as a “Wildlife Habitat.” To protect wildlife for the future, a Wildlife Habitat provides the four basic elements necessary for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover, and places for animals to raise their young. Furthermore, a Wildlife Habitat incorporates sustainable gardening practices using native plants, plants that provide the best food and shelter for local wildlife as well as supporting insect life. We have just received a sign to display in our yard. Thank you to Lee Williams and Dusty Hill for applying for certification.
