Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tuscaloosa News Feed

 Greetings UUCT Members and Friends, I am so happy to be joining y'all again as your Sabbatical Minister while Rev. Julie is away for a few months.  I have such fond memories of my time with you from 2018-2021.  Hasn't a lot happened since then! We are living in "interesting times" and you may, like I, wish for duller days!  There is a lot in the news designed to frighten and outrage us, and fear and anger are appropriate responses to much of what we hear and read.  However, it is vital that we also protect our mental and emotional well-being.  So I urge everyone to take the news in small doses and make sure you are pursuing healthy, positive input every day. A walk down the street, at a park, around your backyard to enjoy the outdoors can be very healing (allergies not withstanding!).  Other positive activities might be reading a good book, watching distracting entertainment, visiting with friends, meditation, attending group gather...

  As we approach this season of gratitude and reflection, we warmly invite you to join us for our Thanksgiving Celebration. Together, we will gather in community to give thanks for the blessings of the year, share in heartfelt moments of connection, and affirm the values of love, justice, and compassion that unite us. Sunday, Novermber 17 at UUCT immediately after the service. All are welcome, whether you are a member of our community or a guest. Please feel free to bring a dish to share if you are able, and we encourage you to bring a heart full of gratitude and a willingness to celebrate the many gifts life has to offer.

 It is time again for our annual bread sale, bringing you the wonderful breads from the Touch of Home Bakery in Livingston, AL. We take all orders online and will have the website open until November 24. Orders should be back for pickup or delivery on the December 13 and 14. These make great gifts for friends, family, and co-workers. You can find our store at https://shop-uutuscaloosa.square.site/

  It's baaaccckkk The UUCT "Trunk or Treat" is back. Come on over to 6400 New Watermelon Rd. on Saturday, Oct. 26 for some Halloween Fun. There will be hotdogs and drinks, pumpkin carving, candy, costumes, tarot readings and more. The Fun starts at 5pm. We'll see you there.

Dear UUCT Members and Friends, We are reaching out with an important request for volunteers to serve as the vital "second adult" in our Children’s Religious Education (CRE) program. This role is essential for ensuring the safety and success of our program, and it's a rewarding way to engage with the amazing children in our congregation. We need more volunteers to step in! It’s an easy and enjoyable commitment—the CRE teacher handles all the planning, so your role is simply to be present, offer support, and build connections with our young participants. If you're interested, please let a Board member know as soon as possible, even if you aren’t available immediately. We will need to process your background check, which can take a couple of weeks, before you can start. Your involvement can make a big difference, and we deeply appreciate your consideration in supporting this wonderful program. Thank you for helping us create a nurturing space for our children!

This Sunday, we’re throwing a birthday bash for our September stars, complete with cake and a mountain of ice cream! Let the sugar rush begin! Let’s wish a Happy Birthday to   Jackie McKenzie Susan Duff-Koniak Sue Blackshear Richard Fording   If you have a September birthday, please let Susan McKee know.   From Building a Welcome and Caring Community

A Message from Rev. Julie:  Beloveds,  It was so great to be with you on Sunday! I hope you enjoyed our creative service and the amazing potluck afterward.  If you have never attended this bread for the world program, I highly recommend it. It is a fascinating look at how our internalized structures benefit some people more than others and is presented in an interactive format. Please consider attending, And if you are able to go and would like to share your experience, please let me know because I would love to make room for this on a Sunday morning. Warmly, Rev. Julie