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.
Click through for a collection of upcoming news and events at HVUUC. Click the images to be directed to more information.
Proposal: HVUUC disposes of all plastic kitchen utensils and use the Green Sanctuary Fund to purchase non-plastic kitchen utensils to replace them.
Sources:
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)
Join us for church on November 24, 2024!
NO RE this week
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
We can only become our truest selves, our most holy and hopeful selves, when we touch the wounds of God not by turning away from suffering but by confronting it. Join us this Sunday as Chaplain Michael Woods shares his thoughts on this important topic.
There’s a lot going on this Holiday season, here’s everything we know of at the moment!
Thanksgiving Potluck, Thursday November 28th at 2:00pm
Email thanksgiving@hvuuc.org. Come early to help with setup!
(office will be closed Thanksgiving Day)
Decorating The Giving Tree, Friday November 29th at 11:00AM
Tree #113 in Kings Commons Park, Johnson City.
Email givingtree@hvuuc.org
Tree Lighting Ceremony, Saturday November 30th at 6:30PM
Meet at The Giving Tree #113 in Kings Commons Park
Cookie Exchange during coffee hour Sunday December 1st
Bring a batch of favorite cookies to the kitchen before church and we’ll all get cookies during coffee hour. Email fellowship@hvuuc.org
A Giving Tree Women’s Night, Friday December 6th at 6:30PM. We will be packaging items for the Giving Tree and enjoying snacks.
Email womensgroup@hvuuc.org for location.
Green Arts Fest, Sunday December 8th at 12:00PM. Come ready to shop and support local craftspeople at this fun annual event.
Email greenarts@hvuuc.org
Greening of the Sanctuary, Saturday Dec 14th 9:30AM-12:30PM
Help us decorate for Festivals of Light. Email rosemary@hvuuc.org
Festivals of Light, Sunday Dec 15th at 11:00AM
Join us for our favorite, pluralistic holiday tradition. This service is a must see!
Christmas Caroling, Sunday December 15th at noon.
After Festivals of Light stay for soup and then we will carpool to sing Christmas Carols for some of our members and friends.
Email minister@hvuuc.org
Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24th time TBA
We will gather for cookies, carols, and candlelight again on the night before Christmas.
Pancakes and Jam, Sunday December 29th at 11:00AM
Our favorite casual “service” where we leave the sanctuary for the Fred Ball room to eat breakfast and enjoy some open mic music.
Email pancakesandjam@hvuuc.org if you’d like to sing or play.
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.
