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.
Someone out there is posing as me in email, reaching out specifically to email addresses that are _____________@hvuuc.org.
I will never send vague and covert emails asking you all for money or gift cards, I promise!
You also will be able to tell it’s not me because it does not come from my email address.
Please spread the word!
Thanks! Rev. Tiffany
With our Risk Assessment Level currently at medium or high, every speaker and singer we have unmasked on Sunday morning takes a Covid test that morning before the service.
With our commitment to economic justice, we do not wish our service leaders, speakers, singers and staff to have to pay for this expense out of their own pockets. How sad would it be if someone couldn't contribute to our programming because of that expense! But the expense of the church providing these tests does add up when a higher risk level surge lasts a long time.
Here's how you can help!
You can get free rapid tests through the Postal Service by filling out an online form. You are able to order this up to three times.
IF you do not need these free tests for your own non-church use, and you are willing to fill out this form to get free tests and donate them to the church, we would greatly appreciate it!
Here's the link with the form, and thank you!
https://special.usps.com/testkits
What's Brewing Covenant Group led by Wanda Earp.
Covering a variety of topics:
joy milestones
porch conversations
making friends as we age
work of our hands
animal friends
small kindnesses
our legacy/gifts and more
Starting at 10:30 am and ending at 12:30pm in the Emerson Room of the REZ. Bring our morning beverage of choice and reap the joys of deep listening and sharing.
Dates: Sept 12, 19, 26, Oct 3, 10, 17, 24, 31.
Limit of 10 members. Email Wanda at whatsbrewing@hvuuc.org to sign up.
All beds are filled for the Women’s Group sleepover but please join us Saturday August 13 for an optional lakeside swim party! Bring your favorite towel & folding chair. Relax on the deck or swim in the lake.
When: 11am-6pm Saturday August 13
Bring a dish or favorite snack to share as food will be potluck style. Water and ice tea provided.
Please contact womensgroup@hvuuc.org with any questions.
There will be a Path to Membership Class on Sunday, August 28 from 12:30-2:30 pm. Childcare will be provided. This is a class that helps those considering membership learn more about our church and the opportunities for involvement. The class does not commit you to membership, but is a necessary precursor for joining our church. It also allows you to get to know a small group of people on a more personal level.
We would like for this class to be held in-person if comfort levels and restrictions allow. To that end, this class will be limited to 8 people. If more are interested, a second class may be planned. Get your name on the list early by emailing membershipdevelopment@hvuuc.org. There will also be a sign-up sheet on the side counter in the sanctuary.
Please provide the following information:
Name, email, phone, how you prefer to be contacted, and whether you will require childcare. If you require childcare, please provide the number of children and their ages.
We look forward to your participation!
Did you know we accept PayPal for pledges and donations? Go to hvuuc.org/donate to give! If you have any questions about how to use it contact our treasurer, Deb Helmer at treasurer@hvuuc.org.
HVUUC is seeking Sunday Morning Childcare workers. This is a paid position. Any member or friend can apply. Must be 18 or older. Please contact president@hvuuc.org for more information.
After a couple of years of pandemic absence, the TriPride Festival and Parade IS BACK!! It will be held this year on August 27th for the first time in Bristol. Once again, HVUUC will be a sponsor.
As TriPride says, this will be the first city-wide public Pride Parade and Festival in Bristol. We are making history again this year by having the parade down State Street in both Bristol, TN and Bristol, VA. We are the first Pride event in the nation to occur in two states simultaneously! The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. and the festival begins immediately after, around 12:00 p.m. The TriPride Festival, presented by Eastman, is a FREE, good for all ages event that will feature live performances, vendors and exhibitors, health services, food trucks, and beer and liquor drinks. Previous years in Johnson City (2018) and Kingsport (2019) had an estimated 10,000 attendees!
So, what does all of this mean for HVUUC? It means we need to get a group of volunteers to spend time at the HVUUC booth, march in the parade and generally just have a great time as we have in past years. For those who plan to march, you may bring your well-behaved dog this year! Please contact the Social Justice Committee or Dottie Blades to sign up for this great event!
Covenant Groups are a great way to meet others, you don't have to be a member of the church to join us.
“Let's Chat” topics are very variable. The next sessions are:
Hospitality
The Positive Side of Darkness
Centering as a Spiritual Practice and Healing.
We meet 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. We meet in the REZ (Religious Education Zone) the building up the hill from the Sanctuary. We have a covenant which describes on how we are to interact with each other, so you can feel safe.
Email letschat@hvuuc.org with any questions!
Rev Tiffany and our music director Charis Carter are planning a listening circle to discuss MUSIC at HVUUC after the service on July 24th.
We would love your feedback on your experience of music in the service in general. Hymns, Special Music, style, amount of music. Do you feel that music during our services offers a level of fulfillment to you? If so, how fulfilling on a scale of 1 to 5? In what ways is it fulfilling or not fulfilling?
In what ways would you be willing and interested in participating in music making at HVUUC? Choir? Music Committee? Special Music? Other ways? Do you feel like you're getting enough opportunities to contribute? Do you feel like you're being asked to contribute too often?
Kirtan is a Sanskrit word that has many loose translations in English. The music that comes to life in a Kirtan is designed to effortlessly guide a group of people through songs or mantras designed for storytelling, meditation, and a praise and worship to divinity.
This musical concert is designed to be an interactive experience for everyone in the family. It can just as easily be enjoyed solely through the listeners experience but encourages participation in its repetitive and meditative sounds.
The band's name is "Nambhava". Nam references the holy names and Bhava means bliss of existence generated from Bhakti
Sound healing is a practice that has been used for as long as we know and the activation of our inner divinity is at the core of this event. Please join us as we sing together and celebrate this sacred life <3
Suggested sliding scale for the concert is $1-$20.
Stay after the concert for coffee hours! Email any questions to musicdirector@hvuuc.org
The financial summary for the fiscal year 2021/2022 is shown below. Our income was above the budgeted amount due to strong support of the auction and pledges. Our expenses were only 82% of the budgeted amount giving a surplus for the year of $27,122. This surplus is critical for funding major spending that is not part of the annual budget. This year it was divided between the Capital Repairs fund ($14,000), the Capital Projects fund ($8,122), and the Board Discretionary fund ($5,000). Clearly the support of the congregation has us in a very strong financial position.
