Join us for in-person church on Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.! Plan to stay after the service for Coffee Hour.
Click for more service details and events.
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 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 April 20, 2025!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Egg hunt and Open Mic
4:00pm Youth Group
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.
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!
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
We are looking for a few good women to host our monthly Women's Nights gathering.
So what does hosting involve? Maybe cleaning up a bit, putting out some set ups/drinks and then our great group of women will bring the party to you.
We need hosts for the rest of this year (except October) starting July 1. If you haven't experienced Women's night and you identify as female, come join us, first Friday night of each month.
Email womensgroup@hvuuc.org for more info.
There are many helpful resources found on our website hvuuc.org.
You can find the Members Area at the bottom of the site. Here you’ll discover an assortment of useful links including tax exempt certificate, reimbursement forms, and more. This is a password protected feature of our website. For log in information contact the office at office@hvuuc.org.
An up-to-date version of our church directory is also located in the members area of our website. Please take a moment to download the most recent version and be sure your information is correct. If a change is needed, email the office at office@hvuuc.org with the relevant details.
This congregation has really showed up and showed off with volunteering to be RE teachers this year! I have been overwhelmed with gratitude. We only need 6-8 more people to fully staff all classes and give us a substitute or two.
The RE Collaborative likes to have 8 teachers for each class so that the rotation is full enough to provide plenty of Sundays every month for teachers to meet their own spiritual needs by attending Adult RE.
We will be hosting a teacher training after the service on August 14th, and its going to be a fun time. Please reach out to me at DRE@hvuuc.org if you would like to help guide the future leaders of Unitarian Universalists!
Let's Chat Covenant Group is a discussion group with no specific topic but is wide ranging discussion group where we explore how we, as people in this ever confusing world choose to be in harmony with other people for a time together.
We meet 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, from 6:30 to 8:30. We are now meeting in the Susan B Anthony room in the REZ (Religious Education Zone) which is the building to the left of the main church building. Come check us out.
If interested please contact Greg Kramer before you come. letschat@hvuuc.org
All who identify as women are invited to the monthly Women's BrUUnch Bunch on Monday, June 13th. This group meets every month on the second Monday, beginning at 10:00am, in the Fred Ball Room.
This event gives HVUUC women an opportunity to socialize in an informal setting. The host for June is Michele Markstrom-Frisch. We ask that each person bring a brunch item to share. Beverages will be provided.
Please email Michele Markstrom-Frisch at brunch@hvuuc.org for more information or to let her know that you will be attending.
June 2022 nUUsletter highlights:
Click here to read the entire newsletter.
Click here for past newsletters.
Up to date church info is always available at www.hvuuc.org
As General Assembly approaches, I am reflecting on how a key part of our Unitarian Universalist identity is that we are a democratic religious movement. General Assembly is the annual meeting where delegates from all over the nation gather to vote on the direction our movement will take, elect representatives to the UUA's Board, and also get a chance to learn from amazing speakers, workshops and worship services.
In Unitarian Universalism, the goal is for everyone to have a voice and a vote. This year, we have three delegates serving as the voice and vote of Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
Our delegates are going to General Assembly to REPRESENT YOU, which means that listening to our community is an essential part of how they do that representing.
Click to read more important details.
Calling all weed whackers, root diggers and anyone else that wants to help get our playground ready for our Religious Education sign-up day!
If you have a weed eater, loppers, hand tools or just want to use your hands to pull those imposing weeds, come on out to be a part of this work day. Other tasks include mulching and some things that require mechanical skills, if that’s more your skill.
Anyone willing to use their truck or trailer to haul mulch is much appreciated. If you can’t come on this day, no worries, there are plenty of open dates that you can pick from. Please contact me to work out another date/time.
Light snacks and water will be served. Lunch will NOT be served.
Thanks, Doug (Facilities Trustee)
faciliates@hvuuc.org
Fall Adult Religious Education Special Class series co-facilitated by Rev. Tiffany Sapp and Director of Religious Education Sarah White
This specially designed Unitarian Universalist workshop series is for people who are wanting to examine their past religious connections in a way that invites them to bring the positive elements of those experiences forward, and release those that need to be left behind. The workshop provides some simple tools for processing personal experiences, some with group sharing and some through private exploration.
This five session class will meet on Sunday afternoons from 12:30pm to 2:30pm. We would like a commitment to attend all classes, but if one must be missed we can provide make-up materials.
Dates:
9/4
9/18
10/2
10/16
11/6
To sign up for the class please email minister@hvuuc.org
Soapbox Sunday is coming up and we want to hear from you!
Each Sunday that's closest to the Fourth of July, we invite members and friends of our congregation to take to the pulpit for a brief (4 minutes long, 400-500 words) presentation on a topic that you are passionate about.
In opening the floor to speakers, the congregation is celebrating an American tradition - freedom of speech. We hold that a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning" is a key Unitarian Universalist value that we embrace on this day.
Space is limited so email Rev. Tiffany with your topic idea to minister@hvuuc.org
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!
Click here to see the General Assembly Business Agenda. This Agenda describes the Business Resolutions and Election Candidates that our delegates will be voting on. Business Resolutions and Candidates start on page 80 of the pdf.
For questions, email minister@hvuuc.org
To register for this Zoom meeting, click here.
Religious Education is hosting a pizza party for our children and youth immediately after the service on June 14th, outside on our deck.
This will be an opportunity for the kids to gather, eat, and play outside for a bit. And, for their adults to get them registered for RE!
Email dre@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Join us for a pop up 4th Saturday game night on May 28th! Your game host's focus is on games considered a bit more 'involved.' This means games with maybe more rules or fiddly playing pieces than a simple party game... DiceForge, RoboRally, SmallWorld, Clank, Skull King, etc. all come to mind as potentials. No, we aren't limited to only those involved type of games, though. People can come and pitch all sorts of favorite games. If you want to lead a favorite game, you should be fluent in the rules and mechanics to be able to teach it to others.
Through the generosity of HVUUC and a few community members, we have successfully reserved a bus to the Poor People's Campaign! Now we need to fill the seats!
We need riders to represent HVUUC and Northeast TN to attend the Poor People's Campaign June 18th in Washington, DC. This will be a truly historic event and offers a unique learning experience that cannot be found in our educational systems.
It's a long day.. and so worthwhile! We meet at the Pinnacle Shopping parking lot at 1:00AM., arrive in DC about 9:00AM, return about 3:00PM and arrive home again at Pinnacle about 11:00PM.
We are planning a gathering June 12th to make signs. The buses have bathrooms, wifi and most have electrical outlets. It's uber comfortable ;)
If you want to learn some heart-breaking statistics about poverty issues in our state... watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSlG2AsM4P4
Sign up after church or email SJchair@hvuuc.org or call Bob Warner. Let's make history together!