Click through for a collection of upcoming news and events at HVUUC. Click the images to be directed to more information.
Headlines
Minister’s Note
Disaster Relief Resources
Sunday Potluck
Thanksgiving Potluck
Service Auction
The Giving Tree
Green Arts Festival
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
Click through for a collection of upcoming news and events at HVUUC. Click the images to be directed to more information.
Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this Sunday!
In honor of All Souls Day and Samhain, we will be remembering family, friends, and important figures who have passed away in the last year. Please bring photos or mementos for anyone you wish to honor, to place upon our altar.
Join us for church on November 3, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour and Youth Bake Sale
12:15pm Choir Rehearsal
All Souls Day, Samhain, and Dia de Los Muertos all happen around the first of November, and are different culture's ways of remembering those who have passed away but are still very much in our hearts. During this service we specifically remember those who have passed away since last year, both in our HVUUC community, and in the world at large. Please bring photos of departed loved ones for our altar.
Don't forget to come in costume this Sunday!
Join us for church on October 27, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:00pm Trunk or Treating!
The porch light is on and bowl of candy is prepared, who will come knocking on our door this year? We never know who is going to show up, but we know we always learn something when we see who we connect with enough to dress up as them! Come in costume and bring your kids, make sure to stay for the Trunk or Treat afterwards.
Help take care of our future! HVUUC is in need of Childcare Providers on Sunday mornings. Generally, hours range from 1.5 to 4 per Sunday with additional hours requested for special events. If you or someone you know LOVES kids, this is the job for them. Contact vp@hvuuc.org for more information.
Your Social Justice committee is working diligently to roll out our second quarter's topic, Climate Change. Acknowledging that there is much work to be done to secure the future of our planet, committee members decided that our March focus will be "Trees". We can't think of a more fitting monthly topic since March is typically a month of rebirth in nature's realm. Following are a few "Tree" items of interest.
"The Overstory" by Richard Powers - novel about nine Americans whose unique life experiences with trees bring them together to address the destruction of forests.
Tennessee Tree Program: www.tectn.org. Program's goal is to plant and care for one million native trees in Tennessee by 2025.
Thinking of planting trees? Here is a list of trees native to Tennessee. https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/documents/sp515.pdf
You could provide snacks for Robinson Middle School's new GSA! There are four more meetings before the end of the year. Schedule your giving here: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/z247qd
Join us for LIVE ZOOM church on Sunday, March 6 at 11:00 a.m. Pre-register for Zoom at this link:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAkdumhpjMrHNWOlvBVrPnuIOWj-gtHtock
Know anyone who plays piano? Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (Gray, TN) is searching for a pianist. The position is available immediately. Hourly rate commensurate with experience. Up to 4 hours per week. Must have ability to read music. Come join us in ALL types of music: hymns, folk, rock and choral.
Email vp@hvuuc.org with inquiries.
March 2022 nUUsletter highlights:
Message from the Minister
Religious Education Updates
Fellowship Art Pop Up
Social Justice News
Reopening Plan
Click here to read the full newsletter.
Click here for past newsletters.
Up to date church info is always available at www.hvuuc.org
The Religious Education Collaborative is offering a COVID Reflection and Community Mural Pop Up on Saturday, March 12th. This seems especially appropriate since we first suspended in-person services on March 15, 2020 and are planning to resume them on March 13, 2022!!!
This is an all-ages, intergenerational opportunity that will allow participants to examine individual and community COVID feelings. Children and youth are encouraged to create in a different room from their own adults so everyone gets to participate fully in the process.
To reserve your spot, select the quantity for the time you would like (one ticket per person) and click the "RSVP" button. Click here to reserve your spot now.
This event will involve RE programming and ART!
There are two time slots available.
12:00-2:00PM
2:30-4:30PM
…we welcome your creative contributions that reflect some part of your COVID experience.
Child-sized masks your kids outgrew
Cloth masks you no longer use
Take-out menus
Magazines/calendars from the last 2 years
Photos, photos, photos! Photos of how you have grown/changed, things you’ve been doing, pod gatherings, and outdoor HVUUC events you’ve been at
We also will have paint, crayons, colored paper, March 2020 church newsletters, markers, glue, double-sided tape, etc—more than enough stuff to get our art on!
Remember that masks are still required. We hope to see you all at this meaningful community Pop Up!
To resume in-person services, we need some cheerful volunteers. If you’re planning to join us in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings, please consider being part of the action. We need volunteers for the following activities:
Outdoor greeter—take touchless temperatures, make sure folks have masks & sanitize their hands, direct parents with children under 5 to Childcare
Indoor greeter/usher — hand out bulletins, help folks find seats, collect offering at end of service & direct folks to the deck for Social Hour
Video camera operator/tech — record the service, help Rev Tiffany prepare it for on-line use
Child Care Coordinator — help find & organize Child Care workers
Child Care Workers — ANY leads for these paid positions will be most appreciated!
If you’re looking forward to in-person church, & are willing to lend a hand to make that happen, please email reopeningtaskforce@hvuuc.org today. Tell us which of these activities you’d like to do—or ask questions. Details & training will be provided.
Join us for LIVE ZOOM church on Sunday, February 27 at 11:00 a.m. Pre-register for Zoom at this link:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJModO6ppzovGNf5PO1qEY1LK5ZyZ56cAuNx
New Covenant Group beginning Tuesday March 1.
Facilitators: Denee Mattioli and Beth Calvert
Dates: March 1, 8, 22, 29 and April 5 and 12.
Place: In person at the church
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Sign up: By e-mailing denee@hvuuc.org
The term “radical hospitality” can be defined as the practice of putting an emphasis on making people feel welcome and focuses on breaking down barriers which prevent people from participating in any effort, event or community.
Like most other universally desirable virtues, we are never done with hospitality. It requires commitment and practice. It is a central and inaugural event in the world’s great wisdom traditions. Most religions share a sacred commitment to hosting the stranger.
At each group meeting, an anecdote about radical hospitality with the view of hospitality as a spiritual practice will be read This will be followed by group members sharing experiences with receiving or being denied hospitality or giving hospitality.
We expect to open in Covid Response Plan Level 3 - High.
At that time, the building will open for:
Worship service (with online Zoom and YouTube option)
Meetings and group gatherings
Memorial Services
Rentals (COVID-19 waiver required)
Click here to read the full reopening plan.
As we prepare for our dual-platform reopening we want to continue to meet the needs of those in our community who need to stay online.
Because our location does not provide strong enough internet to allow streaming of our in-person services, we expect to hold a "Zoom Watch Party" with some interactive elements later in the day using recorded elements of the morning in-person service hosted by Rev. Tiffany or one of our service leaders as well as a recording posted on Youtube.
If you plan to attend online instead of in-person please take this short, two question survey. Your feedback is important so we can better serve you.
Survey closes Tuesday March 1st.
Religious Education is offering a Community Mural Pop Up on Saturday March 12th. March will mark two years since we first suspended in-person services. This will be an all ages opportunity that will allow participants to examine individual and community COVID feelings.
Click here to learn more and reserve your spot.
As we prepare for our dual-platform reopening we want to continue to meet the needs of those in our community who need to stay online.
Because our location does not provide strong enough internet to allow streaming of our in-person services, we expect to hold a "Zoom Watch Party" with some interactive elements later in the day using recorded elements of the morning in-person service hosted by Rev. Tiffany or one of our service leaders as well as a recording posted on Youtube.
If you plan to attend online instead of in-person please take this short, two question survey. Your feedback is important so we can better serve you.
Survey closes Tuesday March 1st.
Join us for LIVE ZOOM church on Sunday, February 20 at 11:00 a.m. Pre-register for Zoom at this link:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMpf-GvpzotH9LUeZekWwH67pgGdvgUYfRY
On Wednesday February 16th, 2022, Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church's Board of Trustees voted to approve a new Covid Response Plan recommended by the Reopening Task Force.
These changes reflect new recommendations issued by the Unitarian Universalist Association on January 21st, and our desire to give our congregation members more choices as people's risk tolerances and safety needs vary widely during this phase of the pandemic.
Click below to read more.
Food City and Ingles grocery cards are available and can me mailed or delivered to you!
We will happily accommodate your needs so that we can continue to generate a wee bit of income for the church. If you are interested, please email grocerycards@hvuuc.org for more information.
Thank you for continuing to participate!
Youth Conventions or “CONs” are weekend long events planned by youth with adult support for youth from third grade to high school. At heart, a youth con is an experience in building covenantal community and empowering youth leadership.
Supported by the larger work of The Mountain, each con has a different theme and focus, but they all incorporate community building, fun, worship, and exploration of spirituality. Each event has its own covenant and is in covenant with The Mountain’s safety policies. Youth experience both the safety of being in a covenantal community and the responsibility to repair relationships when difficult situations arise.
Youth have the opportunity to serve in leadership roles to help plan events, help run events, help the CON community live in covenant, or be peer chaplains for emotional support.
Intermediate (6th – 8th graders): March 4 - 6 -2022
Elementary (3rd – 5th graders): March 18 - 20 - 2022
Senior High (9th – 12th graders): March 25 - 27 -2022
Registration deadline: February 25th 2022
Click here for more information or to register.
