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.
TN Environmental Council Tree Day is March 15, 2025. Order early for best selection.
Plant a tree!
The TN Environmental Council has announced its 2025 annual Tree Day event.
Planting trees benefits our environment in many ways including decreasing air pollution, filtering rainwater, and improving wildlife and pollinator habitats. For more information about the impact of native trees: https://www.tectn.org/tennesseetreeprogram.html
Tree orders are underway and continue through early March 2025. Order early for the widest species selection. To order seedlings visit: https://www.tectn.org/tennesseetreeday.html
HVUUC is serving again as a community pick-up location! The dates are March 14th and 15th, 2025. Volunteers welcome to help with bundling and distribution during morning hours. We will need a tall stack of newspaper to bundle seedlings. Newspaper donations appreciated early 2025.
For questions or to participate one or both days contact, environment@hvuuc.org
Join us for church on Sunday July 16, 2023
9:30 Religious Education
11:00 Sunday Service
12:30 Congregational Meeting
Join us after the service for Coffee Hour!
It's the Muppet Show!!! What can these strange creatures of polyfoam and fleece teach us about ourselves, and community?
To HVUUC congregation:
The HVUUC Board of Trustees approved the first reading of a new policies at our board meeting on June 10th. In accordance with HVUUC Policy, after the first reading is approved, the new policy must be submitted to the congregation. If anyone would like to comment on this policy, please email secretary@hvuuc.org before the August 16th meeting. At that meeting, the board will consider all comments and a final vote will be taken on the policy (with or without changes). The new policy is:
To ensure our values and covenants remain consistent in our environment, HVUUC requires approval before any item is displayed or handed out inside or outside of the church. This policy includes but is not limited to signs, pictures, icons, flags, figures, and symbols.
Approval can be given by the following people or groups: the Board of Trustees, the current minister, Facilities, or the Aesthetics Committee.
The aforesaid people or groups can only approve items that are relevant to their specific committee’s work.
Exceptions to this policy are promotions or sign-ups for church-specific events, items that the Religious Services Committee chooses to display for services, or items that church staff choose to display in their offices. These three exceptions are approved automatically.
Temporary hand-out items for special church services or events must be removed after two weeks of display. These temporary handout items include but are not limited to pamphlets, brochures, bumper stickers, pens, and postcards. Items left for more than two weeks may be disposed of. Approved First Reading: June 10, 2023
The Religious Education Collaborative is a group of volunteers that works with the Director of Religious Education to oversee all of Religious Education. This includes curriculum selection and implementation, volunteer recruitment, and special events such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, and the RE Teacher Appreciation Dinner.
From kids’ to adults’ classes it takes numerous volunteers to select, plan, and implement an RE program. As a volunteer teacher you will be at the forefront of our kids’ and youths’ Religious Education. This is a great opportunity to invest in the future of Unitarian Universalism and our community at large. You will have the opportunity to lead a group toward a deeper understanding of Unitarian Universalism and help them understand what it means to be in community.
Here’s an idea of what to expect:
Volunteer one Sunday per month; Religious Education runs from 9:30am - 10:45am.
Teacher Training is Saturday, August 12th from 1:00pm - 2:30 pm. And you will have the full support of the RE Collaborative and the DRE.
Classes are K-2; 3-5; 6-8; and 9-12.
Curriculum to be provided and determined by the RE Collaborative.
Volunteers are the backbone of RE programming! Thank you for considering committing your time. Please Contact our Director of Religious Education - Justin Ridley for more information or if you are interested. dre@hvuuc.org
This Sunday during the service we will explore what the Muppets teach us about ourselves and community. And we're going to start by voting for our favorite Muppet. Votes will be counted Friday July 14 at noon, so get those votes in!
If you want to show up on Sunday wearing any Muppet clothes or costumes that you have, it would be welcome!
We are looking for more volunteers at the Kitchen Hope in Kingsport to prepare meals, serve and clean up. This is a great opportunity to help the less fortunate in our community.
We need volunteers for the 1st Tuesday of every month. It is a 2 hour slot, mostly 3:00-5:00, but could use your services earlier as well.
To volunteer, or for more information, please contact: hunger@hvuuc.org
Join us for church on Sunday July 9, 2023
9:30 Religious Education
11:00 Sunday Service
Join us after the service for a special Kitchen Reveal Celebration!
Unitarian Universalism is an open path that embraces pluralism and draws the circle as wide as we can. While saying our sources of inspiration and guidance for how to walk that path are "everything" is accurate, but doesn't give us the specific pointers that we may need. Today is the first in a series on Exploring our Sources, and our first Source is "Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life”
Headlines
Minister’s Note: Update from GA
Summer RE Activities
Social Justice
Treasury Report
Kitchen Update
Click here to read the entire newsletter.
Click here for past newsletters.
Up to date church info is always available at www.hvuuc.org
Church Family,
I have returned from Pittsburgh’s General Assembly three days ago (as of the day I’m writing this, June 28th) and I am still marinating in the inspiring worship services, intriguing workshops, and the challenging but fulfilling work of governance for our Unitarian Universalist Association. There were several important votes that happened this year, and I want to let you know how they went.
Click through to read the full update about Article 2 Revisions
If the main way you experience our Sunday Services is through our YouTube services, we want to hear from you! We want to get feedback about how much of our services you watch, and what parts you watch, so that we can make good choices moving forward, please fill out this survey!
If you come to our services in-person fairly regularly, then please do not fill out this survey.
Click here to answer a few brief questions, it will only take a minute of your time.
Summer RE is in full swing and there is more to come in July! Here is the full list of activities for July RE.
July 2 - NO RE!
July 9 - Making Bird Houses w/Derek Sennes and Libby Ridley
July 16 - Surgery w/Stephanie Hart and Sophia Peterson
July 23 - A Window Between Worlds - RE and Covenant w/Justin Ridley and Jessica Bouchard
July 30 - Astronomy w/Mike Frisch
Please join us as you are able! Don't miss out on these RE opportunities!
Join us for church on Sunday June 25, 2023
9:30 Religious Education
11:00 Sunday Service
What is Evil? Where did it come from? How does it manifest in the world about us? How do we recognize in others and in ourselves? Can we do anything to stop it, or even avoid it? These are questions that have confounded us since the beginning of time. Let’s explore them using sacred writings, story, and art.
Soapbox Sunday is coming soon! If you have something you'd like to talk about on July 2nd, please talk to Bradley or email him at rscchair@hvuuc.org.
Ever since the Typhoon Mawar devastated the people of Guam, we have been hearing from people who want to help. This page is FULL of ways you can help. Please keep in mind that money donations are the most needed and most appreciated in these situations:
https://guamrecovery.com/how-you-can-help-typhoon-mawar-disaster-relief-efforts/
