Jessica Bowman
Annual Congregational Meeting this Sunday after ...

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 27th immediately following the church service in the sanctuary. Childcare will be provided. Anyone who has been an official member of HVUUC for at least 60 days as of April 27th is eligible to vote at the meeting. Items on the agenda will include:

Vote on the slate of Nominees for Board of Trustee positions recommended by the Nominating Committee.

Vote on the 2024-2025 Budget. Click here to see the proposed budget.

Any other items as needed.

The complete Agenda, nominations as well as a finalized budget for congregational approval are now presented to you. Voting at this meeting will be in person only. Please make plans to attend. For the vote to take place we must have a quorum of about 55 voting members.

Please contact Tish Kashdan if you have any questions at: president@hvuuc.org.

Congregational Meeting Agenda for April 27th

(1)    Establish that a quorum is present.

(2)    Vote on slate of new officers determined by the Nominating Committee:

          Vice President : Emily Hand

          Secretary: Chelsea Collea

          Programs: Alesha Chaffin

          Membership: Phyllis Cairnes

          Stewardship: Greg Kramer (returning for a second term)

          Officers who will remain on the Board:

          President: Noel Marshall

          Immediate Past President: Tish Kashdan

          Treasurer: Sarah Sanders

          Fellowship: Peggy Wolfe

          Facilities: Steven Roberts

(3)    Vote on Budget for 2025/2026

(4)    New Business

(5)    Meeting Adjourns

Click here to see the proposed budget.

Annual Congregational Meeting this Sunday after Service
Jessica Bowman
Call to Action Meeting, Appalachian Service ...

Upcoming News and Events

Click through for a collection of upcoming news and events at HVUUC. Click the images to be directed to more information.

Call to Action Meeting, Appalachian Service Project, and Blue Plum Volunteers Needed
Jessica Bowman
Easter - Four Perspectives

Join us for church on April 20, 2025!

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Egg hunt and Open Mic

  • 4:00pm Youth Group

“Easter - Four Perspectives”

An Easter celebration highlighting the diverse perspectives present within Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. This member-led service offers us an opportunity to hear about Easter, past and present, from four of our members, Denee Mattioli, Deb Helmer, Charlie Miller, and Lee Sinnot.

Easter - Four Perspectives
Jessica Bowman
Bring Flowers on April 27th!

Our annual Flower Communion service is on Sunday, April 27th! Please plan on bringing a flower for this very special service: store bought, from your garden, or a roadside wildflower: all are welcome!

If you'd like to volunteer to bring in an entire vase-worth of flowers to share with people who didn't bring a flower, email minister@hvuuc.org to volunteer!

Bring Flowers on April 27th!
Jessica Bowman
Women's Retreat

Registration closes April 30th, limited rooms still available as well as camping. INFO & REGISTRATION HERE: Www.tinyurl.com/hvuucwomen

THEME:
Radical Joy in Hard Times

PLACE:
The Peace Pentagon (www.peacepentagon.net)
88 Oracle Way, Independence, VA

We will have access to the entire campus which includes New River frontage, a babbling creek for water ceremony, turtle labyrinth, medicine wheel and peace pole as well as the picnic pavilion, bathhouse and, of course, the Peace Pentagon chapel.

CONVENER:
Rev. Becky Suzik, UU Peace Fellowship (https://uupf.org) Raleigh, NC;
Rev. Becky’s personal charity: www.joyfuel.org


The purpose of our gathering is to persist in bringing the frequency of JOY into our lives as we face difficult times. The greatest antidote to fear and separation is community, heart resonance and kindling JOY. And, yes, better together!

This gathering is flexible. Come Friday evening for a bonfire, drumming and stay on campus – rates ranging from $25/night camping to $100 for a private King bed and bath. Another option it to rent the whole house and share costs. Plus taxes.

OR – come for just Saturday.. arrive at 10 for a full day of JOY immersion.

PLANNING:
Are you interested in planning the details for the gathering? For example, food committee, leading a JOY activity, other?

REGISTRATION:
Fee: By Donation – No One Will be Turned Away;

INTERESTED? – More details as they are developed.

Email Noel:  VP@hvuuc.org

Register here: http://www.tinyurl.com/hvuucwomen

Women's Retreat

The Eighth Principle Additional Resources

The Eighth Principle Additional Resources

During Rev. Tiffany's Eighth Principle sermon she referenced some resources to go deeper into this topic. Here are a few great places to start.

Eighth Principle Website, specifically the "background" page: https://www.8thprincipleuu.org/background

A few really key blog posts from Shannon Lang:

https://www.uua.org/braverwiser/putting-armor

https://www.uua.org/worship/words/reading/doing-work-needs-be-done

Sermon from Rev. Paula Cole Jones, one of the authors of the Eighth Principle, about the Eighth Principle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUvJ3c1xSu8

And Ibram X. Kendi's book "How to Be Antiracist": https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Antiracist-Ibram-Kendi/dp/0525509283/

5th Sunday Offering May 29

5th Sunday Offering May 29

A 5th Sunday offering will be collected on May 29. In keeping with the second quarter focus on environmental issues, the Social Justice Committee has designated this offering to go to Jacob’s Nature Park.

A representative from the park will give a brief presentation during the service. Checks for donation should be made out to HVUUC with 5th Sunday offering in the memo line or donations may be made in cash. Checks can also be mailed to HVUUC.

Children and Youth RE

Children and Youth RE

Drum Roll, Please...

It's finally time to start recruiting for our Religious Education program! It has been a long, long 2 + years since our children and youth last had in person RE!

Here is what you need to know:

RE will be re-launching on August 21st. We will have classes on Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:45 in the REZ building. Kids in 4-6th grade will have the opportunity to take Our Whole Lives comprehensive sexuality education classes. Kids and youth of other ages will have classes inspired by Makerspaces and banned books. Please get registered!
For adults- We have one Adult RE class (fondly referred to as Adult RE1) that is already meeting Sunday mornings. Traditionally we have also had Adult RE 2 which has typically been the parents of kids in RE. This group can resume at any time!

In order to make these things happen, we need volunteers. Being a teacher in an RE classroom is not as scary as you might think! We like to have 6-8 volunteers in each group so that everyone is on an easy rotation so that your spiritual needs can also be met in Adult RE several Sunday mornings a month.

The RE Collaborative will be offering a teacher training after the church service on Sunday, August 14th. Pizza will be provided!

Please e mail Sarah at DRE@HVUUC.ORG with questions or to volunteer.

In fellowship

General Assembly Forum

General Assembly Forum

On Sunday June 12th at 6:30pm on Zoom, anyone interested will gather to meet with Rev. Tiffany Sapp and our three delegates to General Assembly.

Rev. Tiffany will share what she knows about the agenda items for General Assembly that our delegates will be voting on, and then any participants in this forum will be able to ask questions and share their thoughts with our delegates.

We believe in the right of conscience and the power of the democratic process. This is your chance to make sure your voice is heard at General Assembly!

For questions, email minister@hvuuc.org

To register for this Zoom meeting, click here.

Memorial Wall

Memorial Wall

Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church members and friends,

When we lose a member from our beloved community through death we honor their name and memory with our Memorial Wall. The Memorial Wall is located outside, to the right of the sanctuary and includes the name, year of our friend’s birth, and year of their death.

In the year 2021 we memorialized one from our beloved community: Michael Jones

If you would like the name of someone in our community that has died to be added, you can fill out the form found found here.

Click to read more.

REMINDER: The Shared Pulpit Seminar

REMINDER: The Shared Pulpit Seminar

This event has been POSTPONED

Do you have something to say? Maybe it's time to say it during a Sunday morning service.

The idea of public speaking can be intimidating, but it can also be quite a feeling of accomplishment to communicate your ideas in a way that can get your point across, sharing it with your religious community.

Rev. Tiffany will be hosting a "Shared Pulpit Seminar" to give you the tips and tools you need to put together a 15 minute message. Attending this seminar does NOT obligate you to do any speaking, but it might be a great opportunity to think about the possibilities. We can only accommodate 12 people in this seminar so sign up soon.

When

Saturday May 14 from noon until 4pm, in-person.

Email minister@hvuuc.org to sign up.

Beware of Text and Email Scams

Just a heads up to be wary of any communications via text or email asking for you to buy something or send money!

A congregant was contacted by someone via text claiming to be Rev. Tiffany asking them to buy gift certificates. This has also happened by email.

Rev. Tiffany’s correct email is minister@hvuuc.org. Neither she nor anyone from HVUUC office would contact you in this way with a request to send money or purchase anything. If you are concerned of any request, please confirm with her or the church office (office@hvuuc.org).

Fellowship and Farewells at the Farm

Fellowship and Farewells at the Farm

Religious Education, the Caring Team, and Dana York are collaborating to host an evening of fellowship at Grand Oak Farm. We invite everyone to come with their picnic blankets, chairs, and food to gather and say Farewell and Good Luck to Spencer Conco and the Livengood family as they relocate to new chapters in their lives.


Gift baskets will be presented by the Caring Team and Rev. Tiffany.

Weather permitting, we have have a bonfire and smores.

Please mark your calendars and join us at Grand Oak Farm.

Contact dre@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Coffee Hour Coordinator and Volunteers Needed

Coffee Hour Coordinator and Volunteers Needed

We are all thoroughly enjoying having Coffee Hour after church! Coffee Hour exists because of volunteers and a coordinator. We need someone who would take on the coordinator role and volunteers for each Sunday to make sure Coffee Hour happens. Mentoring will be provided so all volunteers and coordinator.

Please email Michele Markstrom-Frisch at membership@hvuuc.org to be part of a wonderfully interactive social opportunity.