The Bridge Weekly - August 16, 2026
Religious Exploration: A Little More Space to Breathe
After hearing from our Religious Exploration community, we're excited to share our updated schedule for the beginning of our new Religious Exploration year!
August is a season of transition—summer winds down, school begins, schedules shift, and families and volunteers begin finding their new rhythms. Your responses made it clear that a little extra space to breathe before jumping into our regular classes would be a welcome gift.
Here's our updated schedule:
✨ August 9, 16 & 23 — Summer All-Ages Religious Exploration continues! 🎉 August 30 — All-Ages Religious Exploration Kickoff on the Deck! 🌻 September 6 — Labor Day Weekend (No Religious Exploration) 💜 September 13 — Regular K–12 & Adult Religious Exploration classes officially begin!
We can't wait to begin this new year of curiosity, connection, and exploration together.
Registrations Are Open!
If you haven't registered yet, now is a fabulous time!
Registration helps us:
● Plan for our continually growing programs.
● Keep communication lists current.
● Better understand participation as we dream about future opportunities.
And adults—registration is for you, too! If you're participating in, or interested in joining, one of our Adult Discussion Groups, please complete the Adult registration form as well.
Nursery through Grade 12: https://form.jotform.com/262060977369064
Adult Discussion Groups: https://form.jotform.com/262061181173146
We look forward to exploring with you!
Volunteers Make the Magic Happen!
Help create meaningful experiences for children, youth, and adults!
Whether you enjoy:
● Teaching or assisting
● Wonder Worship
● Gardening with children
● Behind-the-scenes support
● Hospitality and organization
...there's a place for you!
These programs are built from wonderful ideas, but they truly come alive through the people who generously share their time, talents, and hearts.
Volunteer Interest Form: https://form.jotform.com/262058660418055
Background checks for children's volunteers are provided by the church.
Wonder Worship Continues!
Each week, Wonder Worship mirrors the adult worship theme, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations and reflection at home.
This past Sunday, our children explored Appreciation and discovered how appreciation naturally blossoms into generosity. Through mindfulness, reflection, movement, and music, they experienced appreciation expanding outward—from themselves, to one another, and into the wider world.
This coming Sunday, Wonder Worship will explore Authenticity, alongside Rev. Tiffany's worship service, "Unshaken."
We're also looking for one additional adult volunteer to help with Wonder Worship this Sunday. If you'd enjoy being part of this beautiful experience, please reach out to Jess Ox at hvuucdre@gmail.com.
Youth Group Gathering
Youth in grades 6–12 are invited to join Emi Johnson and Jess Ox for our monthly Youth Group Gathering!
🗓️
Sunday, August 16 🕓 4:00–6:00 PM 📍 Upstairs Youth Room in the REZ Building
Come enjoy games, conversations, connection, and plenty of laughter as we continue building our youth community together. Whether you've joined us before or are coming for the first time, we'd love to have you!
Youth Group Trip to Wilderness at the Smokies
Parents and guardians, please keep an eye on your email! Trip information, registration details, and permission materials will be arriving shortly.
Saturday, August 29
🚌 Meet at church: 10:00 AM 🚐 Depart: 10:30 AM
Lunch will be provided. Youth should bring money for dinner.
We anticipate returning around 10:00 PM, and we'll contact families approximately one hour before arriving back at the church.
Religious Exploration Book Sale Update
Our Religious Exploration Book Sale, originally scheduled for August 15, has been postponed until Spring.
Thank you to everyone who has already donated books!
Donations are still happily being accepted, so if you're continuing to clear shelves and create a little more space in your own home, we'd love to put those books toward supporting Religious Exploration programs when spring arrives.
Gratitudes
Our community continues to make these programs possible, and we're so grateful for everyone who shares their time, care, and generosity.
A heartfelt thank you to:
💜 Everyone who has donated additional nursery supplies to help create a warm and welcoming space for our youngest explorers.
💜 Jill, Byron, and Betty for stepping into classrooms this past weekend and supporting our programs.
💜 Byron and Tazley for helping lead our very first official Wonder Worship and for so graciously adapting to timing changes as we launched this new ministry.
💜 Rev. Tiffany for sharing time before worship with our youth as they prepare for their upcoming Youth-Led Service.
We appreciate each of you more than words can express.