First of all, thanks to the Let's Chat Covenant group for hosting coffee hour on September 7. Much appreciated.
Secondly, a coordinator(s) is/are needed for the October 13 potluck, If you can help or have questions, please contact fellowship@hvuuc.org. THANKS!
And, finally, coffee hour hosts are needed for Sunday, October 19. Please sign up on the calendar beside the large coffee urn in the Fred Ball room or email coffeehour@hvuuc.org.
Thank you for all the help!
The Tennessee Unitarian Universalist Community Action Network (TUUCAN) invites all Tennessee UUs to Nashville for the Fall Flock on Saturday, October 18th, at First UU Church of Nashville (FUUN) from 9 am to 4 pm (Central Time)
We will share food, fellowship, and support each other during these difficult times in our cities, state, and country. We will learn how UU State Action Networks across the United States turn UU values into positive action. We will nurture deeper relationships, strengthen our social justice ecosystem, and create plans for a world with love at the center.
We hope to represent - in person or via Zoom - each of our 14 UU communities in Tennessee and beyond. Register at https://bit.ly/tuucan25 or email sjchair@hvuuc.org for questions or assistance.
If attending via zoom, keep in mind that the event will be 10:00-5:00 Eastern Standard Time
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 September 14, 2025!
9:00am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Potluck
In this service, Covenant Groups will be defined and demonstrated by our trained Facilitators. Selected former Covenant Group members will also offer a brief testimonial about the benefits of being in a Covenant Group. Congregation will have an opportunity to participate in a mini session lead by Facilitators in order to experience how a Covenant Group works. Following the service, congregants will have the opportunity to enroll in several upcoming Groups.
Believe it or not. It's time to think about the Service Auction on November 8th.
If you’re new to HVUUC, our Service Auction is a much anticipated event every fall. Yes, it’s a fundraiser but really it’s more of a FUN raiser, where you and other congregants get together to offer a service, event, or item.
There’s no limit to the activities or the items you can “auction” off. You can offer handyman services, teach a paint party, host a dinner, auction off baked goods, original art, and more! Wherever your passion and talents lie, there’s room for it at the service auction.
Want to provide a meal but don't have the room? Use the churches kitchen for your event! You can check the church calendar on our website and reserve time and space by emailing office@hvuuc.org.
We would encourage you to donate items that can be redeemed any time during the next year.
Donate your services, event, or items using the Auctria website using the link below. Email auction@hvuuc.org with any questions.
To our wonderful Holston Valley UU families,
Religious Education and Rev. Tiffany want to hear from you. We are offering two Listening Circles in April to give you an opportunity to share what you would like to see in our future Religious Education programming.
Friday, April 15th from 6-7:30
Saturday, April 23rd from 10-11:30
Both of these will be hosted on Zoom. Please mark your calendar and get registered!
Once on the event page, pick the time slot you would prefer and then click "RSVP".
Informational slides on the preliminary budget and pledge target referenced on February 27th and in the pledge letter are now available in the members area of the church website.
Please see the file titled "2022 Preliminary Budget and Pledge Info". This will provide context for how the pledge target was calculated and some information on determining a pledge amount.
The link is here:
https://hvuuc.org/members-area
If you need the password, email office@hvuuc.org.
"We work together as a church to transform ourselves, our community, and our world by sharing love, pursuing justice, and seeking wonder" That's our church's vision statement. How are we living it?
Join us for in-person church on Sunday, March 13 at 11:00 a.m.!!!
Click for for more info.
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.
