💜 A Note from the DRE | One Fantabulous Year!
🌟 Youth Group Gathering!
🍲 From Vision to Action | Youth Feed the Hungry Project!
🏳️ ⚧️Trans Day of Remembrance | Service & Nursery Care
📚 Free Library Spotlight | A Celebration of Youth Service!
✨ Wonder Worship | What a Wonderful Turnout!
🤝 Religious Exploration Collaborative (REC)
🍂 No RE Programming November 29th
🎂 November Birthdays!
🌈 Gratitudes Across the Bridge
Click through for a collection of upcoming news and events at HVUUC. Click the images to be directed to more information.
As winter approaches, so does Festivals of Lights on Dec 13! This is an annual, intergenerational service that recognizes different holidays around light that are celebrated by people in our congregation and people who have come before us. We are looking for speakers, candlelighters, and singers. This is a wonderful chance to get involved and there are opportunities for all ages and interests.
Email Sarah or Cathrine at festivals@hvuuc.org to volunteer!
We will also be decorating the sanctuary on Dec 12 from 9a-12pm and welcome all help. If you have any fresh evergreen trimmings, please bring them!
Join us for church on Nov 8, 2026.
9:30am RE
11:00am Service
12:00pm Potluck
1:00pm Metaphysics Group
What do the characters of the Medusa myth and the characters of the Moana Disney movie have in common? They can teach us a lot about the paths to healing, both when they work and when they don't work. Come explore these complexities with Rev. Tiffany.
(content warning for trauma stories and a brief mention of sexual assault)
A HUGE thank-you to the groups that have stepped up to help host Coffee Hour! The Men's Group, Social Justice Committee, and BUUK Club have all answered the call, and we truly appreciate their support! And of course, all of the other individuals that routinely step up to help.
However, we still need volunteers to fill in the gaps. Never hosted Coffee Hour before? No worries! An experienced volunteer will show you the ropes and make sure you know everything you need to know. Not able to bring food? That's okay, too! We can provide the refreshments.
Hosting Coffee Hour is an easy way to help out, connect with fellow members, and make everyone feel welcome. All you need to bring is a little time and a willingness to help! For more information, please contact coffeehour@hvuuc.org or speak to Debbie after church.
Join us for church on November 5, 2023
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Our All Souls Day service invites us to gather to remember those who have passed away within the last year. Bring a photo, name, or memento for the altar if you have someone you wish to honor. Together, we will remember and reflect on those we have lost.
Headlines
Minister’s Note
Green Arts Festival
The Giving Tree
Wednesday Night Suppers
Plant a Tree
Click here to read the entire newsletter.
Click here for past newsletters.
You can also find a few printed copies at our visitors table in the sanctuary.
Up to date church info is always available at www.hvuuc.org
Join us after church on Nov 12 for the Green Arts Fest. Local artisans will have homemade items for sale. Find treasures for yourself & for gifts. From chocolate to greeting cards, wood to crochet--something for everyone!
Do you make homemade food, art, or craft items you'd like to offer for sale? If you’d like a table to sell your wares, email Kim at greenarts@hvuuc.org No fee to vend or attend--vendors are asked to donate 10% of any sales to the church's Green Initiative.
Potpourri, pine cones, tie dye, paintings, pickles, leather, wood, cocoa bombs--more treasures than a pirate's lair -- without the pesky pirates. Whether you're shopping for yourself or a gift, come join the merriment at the Green Arts Fest right after church on Nov 12 -- in the Fred Ball Room
As part of Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church's commitment to economic justice within our walls, we offer the opportunity to pledge volunteer hours for auction credits. This allows our members who might not be able to afford to bid in our auction to still take part in the fun!
This is a little complicated. If you think you may want to participate in this program, please take a look at the details below:
We will credit you $15 per hour for your volunteer hours
We must cap the number of hours you can pledge at 10 hours this year, allowing for up to $150 worth of volunteer credit
Your volunteer hours cannot be for things you've already committed to. If you're already on a committee or teaching a class, those things don't count. But things like cleanup days and coffee hour kitchen duty will always count, and new volunteer efforts of any sort would be welcome
Rev. Tiffany, Jessica our Office Manager, and the volunteer receiving payments will be the only people who know you are participating in this program
On the day of the auction or in the days leading up to the auction, contact Rev. Tiffany at minister@hvuuc.org (or in person at the auction) and let her know that you would like to participate in this program so that the office can follow up with you after the auction.
Bid on items in both the live auction and silent auction like any other bidder, but don't exceed $150 total worth of bids.
When it comes time to pay, let the money collector know that you are paying with volunteer hours
Rev. Tiffany or the Office will follow up with you the following week to confirm the hours that you are committed to (and Rev. Tiffany may even have some suggestions about how you could volunteer)
You will be instructed on where to send reports of your completed volunteer hours
Volunteer hours must be completed by August 2024
Join us for church on October 29, 2023
9:30am Combined RE - Mask Making!
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Trunk or Treat
When you knock on the door to trick-or-treat, you never know who is going to answer the door. Who will answer? And what will they teach us? Dressing up in costume for this service is encouraged, and be prepared for a trunk or treat to follow.
This Sunday after the service we will be hosting a Trunk or Treat event!
Currently only 7 cars have signed up to participate.
Please email Justin at DRE@hvuuc.org if you’d like to decorate a trunk and hand out candy this Sunday.
Let’s make this a great event for our kids! Don’t forget to wear your costumes!
The auction is quickly coming upon us, Saturday November 4th at 6:00PM!
Things you may need to know:
Sunday October 28th 2:00PM Auction Donations Closed!
If you can't be at the auction, you can request a proxy bidder!
Please update your name and emails on the Auctria Website. Find link under Auction News or Stewardship Tab on the website and then Auction.
Drop off Auction Items Friday Evening 2 to 8.
Drop off Auction items Saturday noon to 4.
Auction Doors open at 5.
Email auction@hvuuc.org with any questions.
We are also in need of folks to bring snacks to share to help make this a fun time of fellowship. Email fellowship@hvuuc.org with questions about snacks.
Who has been working to save the Nolichucky River?
Who has been serving justice issues for over 40 years?
Who has been holding a MLK gathering for decades?
Who won the Gorbachev/Schultz Youth Leadership award?
Appalachian Peace Education Center and Yogev Von Kundra!
Please support this important local organization!!!
Halloween is going to be a blast this year at HVUUC! Join us for several fun events.
Join us to carve pumpkins and watch family friendly Halloween movies. A limited number of pumpkins and tools will be provided. We recommend bringing your own materials to be sure you have the opportunity to carve. Feel free to bring a snack to share, as well! Email cuups@hvuuc.org with questions.
We are combining our youth RE classes for a fun mask making event in the Fred Ball Room / Deck. Email DRE@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Please be encouraged to wear a costume for this fun service as Rev. Tiffany brings us a Halloween message.
Directly after the Halloween service we will be hosting a Trunk or Treat event in our parking lot. Please contact our DRE to let him know if you will be decorating a trunk for this event. A prize will be awarded to the favorite trunk, as voted by our kids!
Join CUUPs to celebrate these two pagan traditions. Click here for more info.
Join us for church on October 22, 2023
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
1:00pm Intersexion Film Screening
All of us have certain habits of thinking when it comes to problem-solving, brainstorming and discussions. But we don't all think the same way, and that's a good thing. The Six Thinking Hats, a tool developed by psychologist and philosopher Edward de Bono, invites us to consider the what we bring to the table, and the perspectives that can benefit group work.
Every auction we have a special item that we ask the bidders to donate to. This year we had two items that the Board could not decide on. So, we are asking you, the bidders, to decide!
We will have two items to donate to and which item gets the most donations will be the item that gets all the money. These items were suggested by our facilities Trustee, these are the things that he gets the most questions about during the last year.
The first item is: The front garden is a lively collection of flowers and plants, that is high maintenance and not much maintenance is happening. Would you like to have a professional designed garden with native plants to attract native pollinators.
The second item is: The Covered Deck has no lights nor any sockets to plug fans or other equipment into, limiting our ability to keep bugs at bay.
Which item interests you? By donating to the item you choose will determine which is chosen.
Last year new furniture for the deck was the item selected for the donation.
Do you make homemade food, art, or craft items you'd like to offer for sale?
Our Green Arts Fest will be held from noon-2 on Sunday, Nov 12 at HVUUC. (Set up 8:30-10:45 AM)
No fee to vend or attend--vendors are asked to donate 10% of any sales to the church's Green Initiative.
Interested in a table? Or have questions? Contact Kim greenarts@hvuuc.org
Join us for church on October 15, 2023
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:30pm Generational Strengths Workshop
Life keeps moving in an endless flow, and as it does, the torch of humanity is passed from one Generation to another. Churches are one of the few Intergenerational places left in American society. Here at Holston Valley UU, five generations work side by side: The Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. What does each generation have to offer our community, and what can we learn from each other?
We will devote a segment of the service on November 12 to the induction and welcoming of new members.
If you have taken the Path to Membership classes and would like to sign the book, become a member, and participate in this ceremony, please email membership@hvuuc.org by or before Sunday, October 22.. Include a three or four sentence (50 word) introduction of yourself, written in third person, to be read to the congregation.
For anyone who has taken the Path classes and would like to join, but cannot or does not wish to participate in the New Member Ceremony, a private signing of the membership book can be arranged.
We are so pleased you have found this church. We welcome you to become a member of our congregation.
The Social Justice Committee will once again decorate and supply gifts for “The Giving Tree” this upcoming holiday season in downtown Johnson City. Last year was our first Giving Tree and it was enthusiastically supported both by HVUUC and others in our community. Our larger community heard about it on the news and in the newspaper. They came baring gifts and put them on the tree. Also area businesses helped out as well. The presents are bagged in clear plastic and hung on the tree for those in need to take.
Click through to read more about specific items needed.
