Join us for church on February 9, 2025!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Potluck
The Genesis Creation and Fall stories in the bible are foundational to our Unitarian Universalist Heritage. What does this 3000 year old myth mean to Unitarian Universalists today? Longtime member George Cross shares some of his thoughts about the Adam and Eve story.
BEYOND THE CHURCH WALLS: REIMAGINING THE BOUNDARIES OF RELIGION IN APPALACHIA
PRESENTED BY DR. JENNIFER AXSOM ADLER
Saturday, February 15th, 10:00 a.m. First Presbyterian Church Elizabethton 119 West F Street, Elizabethton, TN
First Presbyterian Church Elizabethton is sponsoring a free lecture on Sat , February 15, by Dr. Jennifer Axsom Adler, titled "Beyond the Church Walls: Reimagining the Boundaries of Religion in Appalachia." This event will be conducted at the church and also streamed live from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Refreshments will be offered. For a head count, please register by going to fpcelizabethton.org. Thanks go to the Christian Education Committee for coordinating the program.
According to Adler, religion in Appalachia is much more complicated than is commonly recognized. "It is often imagined as predominantly Christian, with Baptists playing a particularly central role," she asserts. "But a thorough examination of the history reveals a much more complex and diverse narrative. For church groups, this exploration could offer a fresh perspective related to their own congregations histories.
A native of Bloomington, Indiana, Adler is currently an assistant professor of history at ETSU. She holds a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard College and a master's and doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University. From the lecture, Adler would like attendees to gain deeper- appreciation for the rich diversity of religious practices and identities in the region. In addition, she plans to introduce the concept of 'vernacular religion," which scholars define as "religion as it is lived: as human beings encounter, understand, and interpret it." This concept offers a valuable framework for examining the lived experience of religion in Appalachia .
According to our Congregation's policies, any time a new policy is proposed to be added to our Board Policy book, there is a "first reading" during a Board meeting where the Board votes to approve the policy. It is then shared with the congregation along with an email address to submit comments to the Board about the proposed policy. After the comment period, the Board will have a "second reading" where they can make amendments and vote on the policy. Only after going through this process does a new policy become part of the Congregation's Policy Book.
The following policy has been voted by the Board of Trustees (BoT) to send to the congregation for comment:
The BoT has developed a new policy about types of groups within the church and the privileges granted to them. There are some groups at HVUUC that are integral to the operation of the church like Choir, Social Justice, Small Group Ministries, Youth Group, etc. There are other fellowship groups that use the church facilities but do not ask for funding from the Church as a line item on our budget like MACHO, Women’s Group, BUUK Group, etc. And there are, or may be, other fellowship groups that would like to use the Church facilities and be funded as part of the church budget. To address the differences in the way both fellowship groups would be handled, the Board proposes the following:
Types of Groups and Their Privileges
The definition of a ‘Group’ is the following:
· A number of people, including church members and friends
· People gather to do one or many activities for fellowship or education
· They are not a standing Committee of the church
· Their existence is acknowledged by Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
· To form a Group, a minimum of (5) church members or friends must be committed to being members of the Group. Group of this size is called a ‘Level One Group’.
Privileges of a Level One Group are the following:
· Having a church email address
· Receiving support from the office and minister
· Having the ability to reserve the building or rooms in the church building
· Having the Group’s events in the church calendar and e-news
· Level One Groups do not have a line in the church budget nor are they provided funding from the church.
If a Group would like funding from the church, they would have to become a ‘Level Two Group’. The requirements to become a Level Two Group are:
· At least five (5) members of the Group are church members and friends
· A written structure of organized leadership, including a process of rotating leadership
· A written internal covenant with the leadership and its members
· A written covenant with the Board
· A mission statement
· Meet at least four (4) times a fiscal year
· A record of attendance of every meeting submitted to their designated Board Trustee
· A yearly report submitted to their designated Board Trustee
The privileges of a Level Two Group are all privileges of a Level One Group as well as the ability to be funded by the church. In exchange for being funded by the church, Level Two Groups are required to do at least two (2) of the following every fiscal year:
· Conduct and clean up Coffee Hour at least four (4) times a fiscal year
· Provide a Sunday service one (1) time a fiscal year
· Provide a Sunday potluck and clean up at least two (2) times a fiscal year
· Offer at least one item or service at the annual church auction
· Have at least 75% of Group members participate in church work days
· Conduct a fundraiser where the proceeds will be donated to the church
· Any item(s) or service(s) that is approved by the current Minister
The Board has full oversight and final say on funding Groups and which Groups qualify.
If you have any comments for or against this policy, please email your comments to president@hvuuc.org by February 16, 2025, so that your comments can be reviewed prior to the Board's final vote on this policy.
Click through for a collection of upcoming news and events at HVUUC. Click the images to be directed to more information.
Join us for church on February 2, 2025!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Across the sea, in an island of green, the figure of Brigid looms large. Is she a Goddess? Is she a Saint? What would it mean to be both? And what can that teach us about our Pluralism?
Join us for church on February 9, 2025!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Potluck
The Genesis Creation and Fall stories in the bible are foundational to our Unitarian Universalist Heritage. What does this 3000 year old myth mean to Unitarian Universalists today? Longtime member George Cross shares some of his thoughts about the Adam and Eve story.
BEYOND THE CHURCH WALLS: REIMAGINING THE BOUNDARIES OF RELIGION IN APPALACHIA
PRESENTED BY DR. JENNIFER AXSOM ADLER
Saturday, February 15th, 10:00 a.m. First Presbyterian Church Elizabethton 119 West F Street, Elizabethton, TN
First Presbyterian Church Elizabethton is sponsoring a free lecture on Sat , February 15, by Dr. Jennifer Axsom Adler, titled "Beyond the Church Walls: Reimagining the Boundaries of Religion in Appalachia." This event will be conducted at the church and also streamed live from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Refreshments will be offered. For a head count, please register by going to fpcelizabethton.org. Thanks go to the Christian Education Committee for coordinating the program.
According to Adler, religion in Appalachia is much more complicated than is commonly recognized. "It is often imagined as predominantly Christian, with Baptists playing a particularly central role," she asserts. "But a thorough examination of the history reveals a much more complex and diverse narrative. For church groups, this exploration could offer a fresh perspective related to their own congregations histories.
A native of Bloomington, Indiana, Adler is currently an assistant professor of history at ETSU. She holds a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard College and a master's and doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University. From the lecture, Adler would like attendees to gain deeper- appreciation for the rich diversity of religious practices and identities in the region. In addition, she plans to introduce the concept of 'vernacular religion," which scholars define as "religion as it is lived: as human beings encounter, understand, and interpret it." This concept offers a valuable framework for examining the lived experience of religion in Appalachia .
According to our Congregation's policies, any time a new policy is proposed to be added to our Board Policy book, there is a "first reading" during a Board meeting where the Board votes to approve the policy. It is then shared with the congregation along with an email address to submit comments to the Board about the proposed policy. After the comment period, the Board will have a "second reading" where they can make amendments and vote on the policy. Only after going through this process does a new policy become part of the Congregation's Policy Book.
The following policy has been voted by the Board of Trustees (BoT) to send to the congregation for comment:
The BoT has developed a new policy about types of groups within the church and the privileges granted to them. There are some groups at HVUUC that are integral to the operation of the church like Choir, Social Justice, Small Group Ministries, Youth Group, etc. There are other fellowship groups that use the church facilities but do not ask for funding from the Church as a line item on our budget like MACHO, Women’s Group, BUUK Group, etc. And there are, or may be, other fellowship groups that would like to use the Church facilities and be funded as part of the church budget. To address the differences in the way both fellowship groups would be handled, the Board proposes the following:
Types of Groups and Their Privileges
The definition of a ‘Group’ is the following:
· A number of people, including church members and friends
· People gather to do one or many activities for fellowship or education
· They are not a standing Committee of the church
· Their existence is acknowledged by Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
· To form a Group, a minimum of (5) church members or friends must be committed to being members of the Group. Group of this size is called a ‘Level One Group’.
Privileges of a Level One Group are the following:
· Having a church email address
· Receiving support from the office and minister
· Having the ability to reserve the building or rooms in the church building
· Having the Group’s events in the church calendar and e-news
· Level One Groups do not have a line in the church budget nor are they provided funding from the church.
If a Group would like funding from the church, they would have to become a ‘Level Two Group’. The requirements to become a Level Two Group are:
· At least five (5) members of the Group are church members and friends
· A written structure of organized leadership, including a process of rotating leadership
· A written internal covenant with the leadership and its members
· A written covenant with the Board
· A mission statement
· Meet at least four (4) times a fiscal year
· A record of attendance of every meeting submitted to their designated Board Trustee
· A yearly report submitted to their designated Board Trustee
The privileges of a Level Two Group are all privileges of a Level One Group as well as the ability to be funded by the church. In exchange for being funded by the church, Level Two Groups are required to do at least two (2) of the following every fiscal year:
· Conduct and clean up Coffee Hour at least four (4) times a fiscal year
· Provide a Sunday service one (1) time a fiscal year
· Provide a Sunday potluck and clean up at least two (2) times a fiscal year
· Offer at least one item or service at the annual church auction
· Have at least 75% of Group members participate in church work days
· Conduct a fundraiser where the proceeds will be donated to the church
· Any item(s) or service(s) that is approved by the current Minister
The Board has full oversight and final say on funding Groups and which Groups qualify.
If you have any comments for or against this policy, please email your comments to president@hvuuc.org by February 16, 2025, so that your comments can be reviewed prior to the Board's final vote on this policy.
Join us for church on February 2, 2025!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Across the sea, in an island of green, the figure of Brigid looms large. Is she a Goddess? Is she a Saint? What would it mean to be both? And what can that teach us about our Pluralism?
Headlines
· Minister’s Note
· Re News
· Ukulele Group
· Photo Archiving Event
· Women’s Night
· Potluck
· TUUCAN
· Movie Night
Click here to read the entire newsletter.
Click here for past newsletters.
You can also find a few printed copies at our visitors table in the sanctuary.
Up to date church info is always available at www.hvuuc.org
The Social Justice Committee would like to celebrate a big joy - after almost two years in the works, a statewide UU Action Network is being formed: The Tennessee UU Congregational Action Network (or TUUCAN).
Noel, Bob, Don, and Alesha attended a retreat this month where almost all of the 14 TN UU churches were represented. The goal is to have TN UUs work together collectively by pooling our resources and helping each other, in order to face issues that affect all of us across the state such as natural disasters or legislative concerns.
We would like to thank Don and Alesha for volunteering to be on a formative steering committee for TUUCAN as the group formalizes its processes and procedures, and they are happy to hear from you if you have questions or opinions. We are excited for future developments and hope you'll stay tuned about this ongoing joy!
Email sjchair@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Join us for church on January 26, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Our annual Social Justice Sunday this year will focus on a couple groups that have been assisting victims of Hurricane Helene damage in our region. Artie Davis will tell us about outreach from the Tri-Cities Mutual Aid Network, and Kristina Rowles will talk about the work of the Appalachian Service Project. Join us to learn more about these organizations and how we can strive to help our community in trying times.
Join us for church on January 19, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
4:00pm Youth Group
What do Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and King John Sigusmund of Transylvania have to teach us about the intersection of politics and religion? Join Rev. Tiffany for this exploration of two important historical figures, how they impacted both Unitarian Universalism and the wider world.
Happy Birthday! Feliz Cumpleanos! Congratulations! Buon Cumpleanno! E ku asheye ojo ibi! Bon Anniversaire!
Long ago, when HVUUC (paper) newsletters arrived to (USPS) mailboxes, they included a list of member and friend birthdays occurring that month. Where did all the birthdays go? We’re not sure but we are proposing to bring them back.
Members, friends, and staff: Would you like to add your birthday (month and day only) to the monthly newsletter? It’s free! Discontinue at any time. If you would like to opt in, send your name that we know you by (first and last) and your birthday (month and day) to Membership@hvuuc.org or contact Lori. Parents/caregivers opt in for folks under 18 years old.
Interest will be determined by the number of responses received in January, so please don’t wait until your birthday month to reply. Thank you and bring out the cake!
There are so many opportunities for celebrating Martin Luther King Day in Johnson City!
We are especially excited about participating once again in the Peace Walk that begins at the Carver Center in Johnson City at 1pm on January 20th. We hope to see you there!
Click through for more details about MLK Day Events.
Sunday morning your Minister, Board President, and Facilities representative will assess whether we feel it is safe to have church open or not. IF we decide to close church, you can find out about the closure in two ways:
-Our Facebook Page
-In the text of our Home Page at www.hvuuc.org
We are unable to share this timely information via ENews when it happens because of a delay built into our ENews system. So please monitor these other sources of information on Sunday morning.
If church is cancelled we will post an abbreviated version of the church service to YouTube by Sunday night, you can access our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/HolstonValleyUnitarianUniversalistChurch/featured
Join us for church on January 12, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Potluck
How do we make principled decisions? Can we create a solid foundation so that we can go beyond reactions and triggers and live the life we want to live? Today Rev. Tiffany explores how Systems Theory approaches to life and community can help us in navigating the big questions of life.
We are watching the weather and want to inform you about how you can find out IF church is cancelled on Sunday morning. Read on for more detail!
Sunday morning your Minister, Board President, and Facilities representative will assess whether we feel it is safe to have church open or not. IF we decide to close church, you can find out about the closure in two ways:
-Our Facebook Page
-In the text of our Home Page at www.hvuuc.org
We are unable to share this timely information via ENews when it happens because of a delay built into our ENews system. So please monitor these other sources of information on Sunday morning.
If church is cancelled we will post an abbreviated version of the church service to YouTube by Sunday night, you can access our YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/c/HolstonValleyUnitarianUniversalistChurch/featured
Interested in learning and discussing Unitarian Universalist history?
George Cross and Bryan Kleske are facilitating a Small Covenant Group, starting on
February 4th, and meet on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays through April for a total of six meetings.
The first meeting will be at HVUUC. We will discuss further meeting format to possibly include
an in person and zoom combo.
We will be watching Long Strange Trip, a six-part video series by Ron Cordes, that explores
the history of Unitarian and Universalist thought and practice from the early, liberal strands
in faith at the beginning of the Christian era to what we know today as Unitarian Universalism.
The video parts will be emailed out for viewing prior to the planned 2 hour meetings.
Only 8 spots are available so email uuhistory@hvuuc.org to claim your spot before the class fills up!
HVUUC will be hosting Comprehensive Sexuality Education for 3-5 graders beginning in January during normal RE hours. The program will begin with a Guardian Orientation on Sunday, January 12, from 9:30 - 10:45 AM in the Meditation Hall of the REZ. Subsequent workshops will begin on January 26 from 9:30 - 10:45 am. Please see the registration page for more information and full details and schedule. Registration is free and we are limited to 15 spaces so please sign up as soon as possible.
Please follow the link to the registration page: https://hvuuc-3.betterworld.org/events/our-whole-lives-sexuality-educat
If you have questions or would like more information please reach out to our DRE, Justin Ridley dre@hvuuc.org
