CUUPS will be hosting a book club. Join us in this introductory meeting. We will be discussing organizing the book club and creating a list of books for members to read.
Email cuuups@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Wednesday Night Supper is a week early this month on May 22nd and stars guest chef, Ramesh Munjal. We'll have an Indian feast!
Cost:
$8.00 for one adult
$15 for two
$5 for children under 12
A delicious Indian meal is offered this month including a chicken curry, vegetable korma and dal. Rice, raita, chutneys, naan bread and creamy Indian rice pudding for dessert round out this tasty meal.
Be sure to reserve your spot by Sunday, May19th. Email WNS@hvuuc.org or sign up in the fellowship hall.
CUUPS will be hosting a Full Moon ritual for May on Thursday the 23rd. Ritual will begin at 6 pm. There is no potluck dinner with this event.
Email cuups@hvuuc.org with any questions.
All are invited to dance, pray and eat for peace. Come for the entire evening OR just the parts that speak to you.
DANCE: 5:30-6:30: We will gather on the back porch to learn the Universal Dances for Peace. These are fully accessible intergenerational dances: there are modifications for people who have movement limitations and children are very welcome! Dances are taught and led by Rebecca Nunley. Please consider bringing a minimum of $5 donation in gratitude for Rebecca and her musicians
PRAY: 6:30-7:00: Join us in the Sanctuary to offer prayers and songs for peace. There are currently 114 wars throughout the world, and we will be praying for everyone effected by those wars.
EAT: 7:00-8:00: Revive the time-honored tradition of finding peace by gathering around a shared table with a simple meal. Let’s share some vegan soup, bread and gluten-free crackers as we create peace between ourselves and envision peace for the world.
Email minister@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Join hosts Lori and Rosemary for our 4th Friday game night. This is for camaraderie and fellowship, a way to get to know others on the framework of boardgames.
The games start at 6:30. Modern board games are a focus, as well as modern card games.
Your hosts will have some suggestions and will be prepared to teach. Feel free to ring your favorite game(s) to pitch to attendees. The only requirement is an interest in playing, positive support of all participants, and if you introduce or want to play a game, you should be familiar enough to teach it to others.
You can bring snacks for yourself or to share, but this isn't expected or obligatory.
Email gamegroup@hvuuc.org with any questions.
June First Friday Women's Night, 6:30 p.m. Friday June 7th at HVUUC.
All who identify as women are welcome to the first-Friday Women's night in June. Come be energized by the support of other women.
Hosts Sallie and Vonda will offer a labyrinth walk on the covered deck. They are also collecting food and toiletries for Hunger First.
Sharing of snacks and libations are always welcome, but it is not required to bring something to attend; bringing food should never be a barrier.
For questions, contact womensgroup@hvuuc.org.
NOTE: If anyone has info on the whereabouts of the HVUUC canvas labyrinth, please contact womensgroup@hvuuc.org. Thank you.
Transposition, the rock opera written by Wendy Hearl and performed by Chameleon Red, is the story of a young Appalachian trans musician's struggle with questions of identity, spirituality, and success. The opera will be presented as a video combining the musical soundtrack with illustrations that depict the action in cartoon form--kind of like a graphic novel set to music.
A conversation about LGBTQ+ representation in media will follow.
Parental guidance is suggested for very mild language, depictions of bullying, and brief, mostly offscreen, gun violence. The running time is about two hours.
The Social Justice Committee will be hosting a Get Out the Vote postcard writing campaign during coffee hour on June 30. The campaign is for the November General Election. We had great success with the last postcard writing campaign and plan to have another one!
Based on the success of our previous Get Out The Vote postcard writing campaign, our Social Justice Committee will be hosting another campaign on June 30 after church at 12:00 during coffee hour. The campaign is sponsored by the Reclaim Our Vote - Center for Common Ground. The event is intended to encourage disenfranchised voters to vote in the November election. Come join us!
Email sjchair@hvuuc.org with any questions.
There will be TWO Game Nights in May on the second and fourth Fridays, 5/10 and 5/24. 6:30pm – 10pm
We play board games and card games in the spirit of inclusion and fun. We always teach the rules to the games, so you don’t need to know anything in advance. If you are curious about it, just show up ready to have some fun. If you want to bring a game that you love (and can teach to others), please do! Snacks and all ages welcome.
Adam Dickson of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alliance is back with us to lead us in a workshop designed to help us think about our own Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work within HVUUC and how we can support this vision of inclusiveness for our Tri-Cities area. A free light vegan meal will be provided at 6:00pm, and the workshop will begin at 6:30pm. Let us know you're coming at showup@hvuuc.org
For more information about the DEI Alliance visit https://deialliance.org/
If you want to go deeper into this learning, join Rev. Tiffany and our Social Justice Chair for the 2024 DEI Summit on May 17th in Kingsport: https://deialliance.org/summit/
HVUUC, the RE Collaborative, and RISE: Healthy for Life invite you to a documentary film screening of Under G-d, on Sunday, May 5, at 1:00 pm. A light meal will be provided after the service before the screening begins.
Under G-d
A film by Paula Eiselt
Under G-d is a documentary short about the national Jewish response to the Dobbs Decision woven through the lived experiences of impacted women and the various lawsuits currently being launched by Jewish and interfaith leaders to challenge the overturning of Roe v. Wade, state by state.
We will watch the film together, then facilitators from RISE will lead a discussion on the film and what actions we can take together in our community/state/country.
See the trailer below and visit the Facebook page to RSVP:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1137351984178387/?ref=newsfeed
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4aB-3Bxw3c
For questions or more information contact Justin Ridley - dre@hvuuc.org
Award-winning singer/songwriter, guitarist and poet from northern Virginia's Blue Ridge. Nationally-acclaimed singer/songwriter and guitarist celebrates rural America, weaving his masterfully crafted songs, humorous stories and poetic drama into a musical soundscape sketched with shades of Appalachia, tasteful slide and jazzy blues, feisty anthems, and rustic folk.
Venue: The sanctuary will be set up with tables to create a coffee shop ambiance.
Food: The kitchen will offer Mexican-style cuisine such as quesadillas, nachos, and possibly burritos. Beverages will include coffee, water, tea, and potentially virgin margaritas.
Venue: Main Building, Sanctuary, and FBR
Doors: Open at 4pm.
Donations: We'll be accepting donations at the door, with a suggested amount of $20-30 (excluding food, which will be purchased separately). No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Music: The music will start at 4:30pm and continue until around 6pm.
Service: We're aiming to have servers attending to the tables as well.
CUUPS will host a ritual of Beltane celebrating the beginning of summer. Activities will include a ritual observation, a bonfire and dancing at the maypole.
Preparation and decoration begins at 5 pm and doors open at 7 pm
Please bring a dish to share for a potluck dinner.
Email cuups@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Where: the home of Denee M. in Elizabethton. (For safety, the address is not published publicly, but an email to WomensGroup@hvuuc.org or contact Rosemary K.)
Focus: spring cleaning 'stuff swap', optional
Our monthly First-Friday Women's night is for all those who identify as women. It is for fellowship and to lift each other up and to be lifted.
The date is My 3rd, at the beautiful hillside home of Denee M. in Elizabethton. If weather is good we can be both in and outdoors. Reach out to WomensGroup@HVUUC.org or the office for the address. Parking is pretty good, but carpooling is always encouraged. Carpooling "the party before the party."
You are welcome to bring a snack or beverage to share, but if that is a barrier for you coming, just come as you are and enjoy.
The focus for this event is a "Spring-Cleaning Stuff-Swap'. Since many are doing some level of spring cleaning, it is a fun idea to have us bring something you no longer need or want for gifting or trade. Participation is optional and you don't need to bring something to be able to pick up something. The only rule being nothing is left behind at the host’s home. 6:30 as usual.
Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 28th immediately following the church service in the sanctuary. Childcare will be provided.
Anyone who has been an official member of HVUUC for at least 60 days as of April 28th is eligible to vote at the meeting. Items on the agenda will include:
A congregational vote on adding a new Trustee position: Membership Trustee. This Trustee position is being added as we are splitting the Fellowship Trustee into two (Fellowship Trustee and Membership Trustee). The Fellowship Trustee position alone has become unwieldy for one person.
Vote on the slate of Nominees for Board of Trustee positions recommended by the Nominating Committee.
Vote on the 2024-2025 Budget.
Any other items as needed.
HVUUC’s by-laws allow members to add items to the agenda at the Annual Congregational Meeting. If you have an issue you feel should be on the agenda, please submit it to president@hvuuc.org by April 8th. Please submit items in the form of a motion (“I move…”). It would be helpful to discuss your motion with the President to develop wording that makes it actionable with the fewest possible modifications.
You will receive a complete agenda as well as a finalized budget for congregational approval at least 10 days prior to the meeting.
The slate of nominees for Board positions and Nominating Committee will be sent out at least 20 days prior to the meeting. Additional nominations may be made by members provided that notice of the nominees has been given to the President (president@hvuuc.org) at least ten (10) days in advance of the Annual Meeting.
We are not sure at this time if the Annual Meeting will be set up for a hybrid Zoom/In-person Annual Meeting so that members who do not want to attend in-person meeting will still be able to be involved. We’ll let you know about that option as soon as possible. Please contact Dottie Blades if you have any questions at: president@hvuuc.org
The RE Collaborative is hosting a Teacher Appreciation Dinner, catered by Poblano's, on Saturday, April 27, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at HVUUC to recognize and thank our RE teachers, OWL and Stellar facilitators, and nursery volunteers.
If you have volunteered in one of these areas in the past year please RSVP to Justin Ridley, dre@hvuuc.org with your plus one so we can get an idea of how many people to expect. Childcare will be available and pizza for those 11 and under.
It's our monthly game night! Bring a snack and your own games if you want, and we'll play!
A fabulous baked potato bar is on the menu for April. Both white and sweet potatoes will be served with an astonishing variety of toppings. For the white potatoes: sour cream, cheeses, broccoli, bacon, scallions, chili, and chipped beef etc. And for the sweet potatoes: syrup, pecans-and do we need marshmallow fluff? Also we offer our large and elegant signature salad with toppings and croutons. Dessert is apple pie and something chocolate, of course!
$8 per person
$15 for two folks
$5 for kids under
Sign up by this Sunday, April 21st either by emailing WNS@hvuuc.org or in the Fellowship Hall at the sign up sheet.
Join CUUPS for a Wiccan full moon ritual. Ritual garb is encouraged but not mandatory. We will be honoring the time of the Pink Moon with a ritual observance.
Email cuups@hvuuc.org with any questions.
The Tri-Cities Mutual Aid Network is holding our next Steering Committee meeting on Sunday April 14th from 4pm-6pm at the Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
We welcome any church or community members to join this meeting. Our team is currently brainstorming tangible plans to build our regional network into an effective resource hub and communication network for activism and advocacy efforts across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. We would love to have as much community input as possible as we work towards this goal.
Email alesha@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Members of the Religious Education Collaborative and our DRE will be available during coffee hour on Sunday, April 14, to talk about ideas for kickstarting our Youth Group at HVUUC. Come with your ideas and suggestions and ready to answer the question
Youth and guardians are especially encouraged to attend -- we want to hear from you!
Email dre@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Women's night is for all who identify as women - a safe space to meet, talk, get ideas, and support each other. Come be uplifted, and uplift.
April's event is at the HVUUC church facility main building.
Bring your favorite snack or beverage to share, but if life is running away from you, it isn’t required. Your presence is most important.
Email womensgroup@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Join us on Sunday, March 31, at 12:00 pm after the service for an Easter Egg Hunt!
The RE Collaborative is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for kids on Sunday, March 31, at 12:00 following the service. Kids should meet on the deck after the service to get a basket and wait for the hunt to begin. Come ready for a good time and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny!
Join us on Weds the 27th of March for a meal and conversations with friends. We start serving at 6pm.
The cost is:
$8.00 for one person
$15 for two
$5.00 for kids under 12
Sign up online WNS@HVUUC.org or in the Fellowship Hall sign up sheet by this Sunday March 24th at the latest!
We will devote a segment of the service on March 24 to the induction and welcoming of new members. If you have taken the Path to Membership classes and would like to sign the book, become a member, and participate in this ceremony, please email membership@hvuuc.org by or before Sunday, March 17.. Include a three or four sentence (50 word) introduction of yourself, written in third person, to be read to the congregation.
For anyone who has taken the Path classes and would like to join, but cannot or does not wish to participate in the New Member Ceremony, a private signing of the membership book can be arranged.
We are so pleased you have found this church. We welcome you to become a member of our congregation.
CUUPS will host a celebration of Ostara/the spring equinox. We will gather to decorate at 5 pm. Ritual and activities will begin at 6 pm.
Come celebrate Ostara with the CUUPS group! We shall be observing the spring equinox. Activates include a ritual, decorating eggs, singing, chanting and drumming.
Email CUUPS@hvuuc.org with any questions.
The Dollmaker is this year’s final film in our Appalachian themed series. Appetizers will be served at 6:30 and the film will be shown at 7:00.
This event was originally an auction item but anyone is welcome to join us at the cost of $10.00 per person.
Email movie@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Game Night! After a winter break, Game Night is back, now on the FOURTH FRIDAY, March 22nd at 6:30pm.
Rev. Tiffany and Kirk Roberts will be co-hosting and will have a variety of games to choose from.
Meet us on the lower floor of the REZ building, you may bring a snack or a group game if you wish, or just bring your smiling faces. For more information email minister@hvuuc.org
Join Michael Jones and Mike Frisch on March 16th for two presentations of geology and astronomy in our Solar System.
Michael will discuss Fire & Ice – Volcanism In Our Solar System. Volcanoes are not just confined to Earth and have occurred quite widely through the Solar System – in very different ways and forms.
Mike’s presentation – Through Saturn’s Rings – NASA’s historic Cassini Huygens Mission of discovery to the Saturn system’s beautiful rings and two very special moons which scientists speculate may hold the potential for extraterrestrial life!
The presentations will be at HVUUC – light refreshments at 1:30 and presentations begin at 2. This was originally an event from our annual Service Auction but we also have room for additional guests. The price for this event is $15 per person.
If you wish to be added to the guest list or have any questions, please email mike@hvuuc.org. Please reply before March 10th.
HVUUC is serving again this year as one of 162 pick-up sites across the state for the TN Environmental Council’s native tree planting event! Tree Day is March 16th , 2024. On the morning of March 15th on the HVUUC back porch we will organize and bundle seedlings and prepare them for distribution. On March 16th , we will be open for community members who have ordered trees to pick them up 9:00 am-1:00 pm.
Volunteers are needed to help one or both days. Also, the tree crew needs clean plastic shopping bags and newspaper for bundling orders. You can drop either in the Tree Day box in the Fred Ball room during February. Thank you!
To learn more about trees or to order trees: https://www.tectn.org/tennesseetreeday.html
If you would like to help please email environment@hvuuc.org
The ETSU Tenor-Bass Acapella Group, The Swashbucklers, along with American University's Tenor-Bass Acapella Group, On a Sensual Note will be offering a 30 minute mini-concert on Wednesday 3/13 from 5:30pm to 6:00pm. Come on out and hear some great singing!
Path to Membership will be facilitated in two parts held on successive Sundays in March. The first class, Sunday, March 3, will be dedicated to understanding Unitarian Universalism and our Covenant. The second class, Sunday, March 10, will involve sharing spiritual journeys, discussing how to become integrated into church life, and how our church is governed. Each class will run from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Childcare will be provided.
Although these classes do not commit you to membership, they are necessary precursors for joining. They also allow you to get to know a small group of people on a more personal level. The number of participants will be limited. Get your name on the list, if you haven't already, by emailing membership@hvuuc.org. There will also be a sign-up sheet on the side counter in the sanctuary.
Please provide the following information when you sign up:
name
phone
whether you prefer emails or texts
If you require childcare, please provide the number of children and their ages.
We look forward to your participation!
Email membership@hvuuc.org with any questions.
First Friday Women's Group - March 1st, 2024
Your host is Nikki Rae, who will greet you with a smile and perhaps a game, some music, and who knows - maybe a signature cocktail?
Women's night is for all who identify as women - a safe space to meet, talk, get ideas, and support each other. This March 1st it will be at the HVUUC campus, in the main building around the kitchen. Be prepared to have some fun and connect with a supportive group. Bring a snack or beverage to share if you would like, but it is not required.
February's Wednesday Night supper will showcase the delicious casserole that our church makes for Kitchen of Hope once a month, accompanied by salad, bread and desserts as usual.
Must RSVP by this Sunday February 25th.
Email WNS@hvuuc.org or fill out the sign up sheet in the Fellowship Hall.
The price for this delightful time of fellowship and good food :
$8 per person
$15 for two people
$5 for kids under 12
Statewide day for Tennesseans to advocate for the freedom to live without fear of gun violence. Together we will demand action from the TN Legislature.
There us an opportunity to carpool from Tri-Cities to Knoxville and ride a bus, provided by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, from Knoxville to Nashville and back Knoxville at the end of the day.
If interested, please email brandi@hvuuc.org.
The Month of Solmonath (Cake Month) in Anglo-Saxon time keeping refers to the time of year that people baked hearth cakes, and offered them to the gods in exchange for fruitful land and bountiful blessings in the coming warmer months.
We will be doing a modern spin on this historical tradition. Please bring your favorite tea and/or flavor of cake/cookie and join us for a tea and cake offering and celebration.
Set up at 2pm, Event at 3pm February 25th 2024
Email cuups@hvuuc.org for more information.
During Sunday, February 25th's service we will have a speaker presenting from the Final Exit Network.
A former hospital and hospice chaplain, Kevin Bradley co-founded Interfaith Clergy for End-of-Life Options and has testified in the Minnesota legislature on behalf of the Right to Die. He has been with Final Exit Network since 2016, serving as an exit guide, counselor, board member, editor, and speaker. Final Exit Network provides educational resources and support to any mentally competent adult who is facing an unacceptable quality of life and wants to end life on their own terms.
Please also bring a brown bag lunch if you would like to stay for Kevin's talk and Q and A after the service beginning at 12:30.
This month, members of HVUUC have another opportunity to make our local waterways safer and more beautiful by signing up to reduce the flow of plastic, foam, and other trash into the TN River. Our friends at Keep the TN River Beautiful have invited us again to participate in a lake clean up on Sunday, February 18, 2024.
Removing litter from waterways protects fish, birds, and other wildlife from dangers of entrapment or accidental consumption of garbage and there are thousands of pounds of trash ready for collection by valiant volunteers.
The team will gather at Washington County boat ramp in Abingdon at 1:30 and be taken by boats to the lake shores most in need of care. Equipment is provided. Wear clothes that can get dirty and sturdy, closed shoes.
You must register to attend and secure your seat on the boat here:
https://www.keeptnriverbeautiful.org/southholston
Contact for questions: environment@hvuuc.org
