Jessica Bowman
Richard Boyd Memorial

With great sorrow we report that Richard Boyd passed away last week, November 21st, 2024, while in Knoxville seeking a second opinion about a serious medical concern.

All are invited to his Celebration of Life on Saturday December 7th at 1pm here at Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. A reception will follow.

The following is Richard's Obituary:

Richard Porter Boyd passed on 11/21/2024 at 80 years. He was born in Wakefield, Mass 11/16/1944 to Bertha A. Thayer and her husband Gordon Boyd.

He loved playing sports and was part of a winning high school Massachusetts football team honored at the White House by President John F. Kennedy.

He served in the Air Force security service in Vietnam where he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. After an honorable discharge, he earned a BA in Accounting and his first position was in a tax firm. He actually enjoyed doing taxes and he often helped people without pay including volunteering to do community taxes with AARP. Later, he became the Comptroller of a hospital where he became the Senior Vice President for 15 years. During this time, he also earned his Masters in Healthcare Administration. The next 12 years he was the first CEO of a multilevel retirement community in San Antonio.

Richard is survived by his wife of 48 years Joy, and his Son, Marty Boyd and his wife Missy, of Bronte Texas, 2 Granddaughters, Cheyenne Vasquez and her husband Jesus, Whitney Jones and her husband Ryan, Sisters Wanda Conroy and Beverly Selway and her husband Brian, Brothers, George, and Ray and his wife Pat, and also 9 Nephews and 4 Nieces. He has 4 great grandchildren, Amaris Avery, Elias Samuel, Ana Grace, and Emilia Claire Vasquez.

Richard was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, 2 brothers, Gordon and Chet (Sylvia), a grandson, Branson Scott Boyd, Son of Marty and Missy, Brother-in-Law, John Conroy (Wanda), and Niece Karen Clark.

He was an active member of the Holston Valley UU Church in Gray, TN for 20+ years.

Richard Boyd never had an enemy and made friends wherever he went. He was a man of Honor, Responsibility, Generosity and Humor and he will be truly missed by many who were lucky enough to meet and know him.

Richard Boyd Memorial
Jessica Bowman
Filled with Loving Kindness

Join us for church on December 1, 2024!

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour and Cookie Exchange

“Filled with Loving Kindness

Part of HVUUC's Vision statement is that we "transform ourselves, our community and our world," but how do we do this? This Sunday Rev. Tiffany shares her personal story of how she has engaged with the Buddhist Metta meditation for over a decade now and how she has experienced this practice's transformative power in her life.

Filled with Loving Kindness
Jessica Bowman
Proposed Kitchen Utensil Policy

*this announcement was previously run but with incomplete information*

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, then the policy is shared with the congregation along with an email address to submit comments to the Board about the proposed policy, and then 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 policies.

The following policy has been voted to send to the congregation for comment:

"HVUUC disposes of all plastic kitchen utensils and use the Green Sanctuary Fund to purchase non-plastic kitchen utensils to replace them."

Research connected to this policy can be found here:

The study: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling - ScienceDirect

The news story reporting the study: Black-colored plastic used for kitchen utensils and toys linked to banned toxic flame retardants | CNN

The news story with Dr. Leonardo Trasande: Black plastic items could contain harmful chemicals, study finds (youtube.com)

If you have any comments for or against this policy, please email your comments to office@hvuuc.org by Monday December 16th so that your comments can be reviewed prior to the Board's final vote on this policy.

Proposed Kitchen Utensil Policy
Jessica Bowman
Holiday Closures

The office will be closed on the following dates:

  • Thursday, November 28

  • Tuesday, December 24

  • Thursday, December 26

There will be no RE on the following Sundays:

  • Sunday December 15 (Festivals of Light)

  • Sunday December 29 (Pancakes and Jam)

There will also be no Youth Group meeting in December.

Holiday Closures
Jessica Bowman
Decorating the Giving Tree

Holiday Greetings!


We are continuing to collect items for the Giving Tree.  Our donation bin is in the Fred Ball room at HVUUC.   Suggested items are for children, men and women are:

· gloves

· hats

· scarves

· socks

· underwear

· feminine hygiene items

· washcloths

· soap

· lotion

· shampoo and conditioner


We have been given our specific spot for The Giving Tree at Kings Common, in front of the JC library.  We are tree number 113, best accessed from W. King St., but Millard St. is good, too.  This will be easy access for both decorating and restocking the tree.   The Giving Tree will be decorated on Friday, November 29th, 11:00.  We will have decorations, presents, and ladders coming.   We just need volunteers with giving spirits.  


We also need volunteers to restock the tree daily from November 29th to January 7. We will supply you with packages and the timing is up to you.  Please email us at givingtree@hvuuc.org with dates that you’d like to volunteer for restocking. Consecutive dates would logistically be easier than scattered dates throughout the season.  see you Friday!  Thanks for your generosity.

 

Decorating the Giving Tree

Hogwarts Camp Donations Needed

Hogwarts Camp Donations Needed

Hogwarts Camp staff would love donations to create the imaginative atmosphere for the immersive experience! They are looking for strands of lights, Halloween decorations, fabric, felt, glass jars, pipe cleaners, costumes, or anything else that would create the magic of Hogwarts. Please leave in the labeled box by the library in the sanctuary.

Celebration for Tiffany

Celebration for Tiffany

On Sunday, May 19, our congregation will be celebrating the very successful internship and Ministerial Fellow shipping evaluation process of Tiffany Sapp.

Tiffany will be in the pulpit that Sunday.  The Internship Committee has planned a brief acknowledgment of her time with us with a presentation during the service.  After the service, a special time with food and music is planned.  Come help all of us celebrate!

Email Scam Alert

Email Scam Alert

Rev. Briere wanted our congregation to be alerted to a scam that is currently being reported in other churches. The scammers send emails from an account that looks to be from the minister and asks for gift cards.

Please be aware that no staff member from HVUUC will ever contact our congregants by email to request donations be sent electronically to an individual.