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
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 13, 2025!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Potluck
Jeremy Bentham's panopticon has handed us a surprisingly relevant concept for understanding how social media is increasing our self-consciousness to an oppressive degree. Rev. Tiffany explores how we are using technology as a weapon against ourselves, and makes some suggestions about healthy boundaries we can set with ourselves.
It’s time to say goodbye to the Giving Tree until next November. If you can help remove and pack up our decorations from the tree, please meet us at the tree (near the end of McClure St, Johnson City) at 4:00pm Monday 1/8/24. If you can transport an 8-9’ ladder, it would be most helpful as well. Thanks so much everyone for a wonderful year of giving to our community! Email thegivingtree@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Headlines
Minister’s Note
Religious Trauma Workshop
Treasury Report
·Women’s Gift Exchange
·Social Justice Initiatives
MLK Day Activities
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
Stellar Sex Ed for Grades 6 - 8
Dates and Time
January 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 3
9:30 - 10:45 at HVUUC REZ - Meditation Hall
Guardian Orientation - Required
Sunday, January 14, 9:30 - 10:45 am at HVUUC - REZ Meditation Hall
Guardians, we want to make sure we have your informed consent for your youth to participate in Stellar Sex Ed, so please plan to attend this meeting if you’re thinking about signing them up. We will have consent forms for you to fill out after the meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting, please reach out to Justin Ridley at DRE@hvuuc.org.
What is Stellar Sex Ed?
Stellar Sex Ed engages participants in an expansive exploration of their inner and outer space. It fundamentally changes the way we approach sexuality education. Free of judgment, Stellar Sex Ed dismantles stigma and invites honest, compassionate curiosity about bodies, identities, and relationships.
Over the course of seven lessons, participants will cover whole people, basic internal and external anatomy, intersex, body image, gender, orientation, power dynamics, healthy relationships, bias and discrimination, pregnancy, STIs, and prevention methods.
HVUUC is offering Stellar Sex Ed, developed by RISE: Healthy for Life, to this age group because it is a contemporary, inclusive, affirming approach to sex ed.
It is with great sorrow we inform you that Gerald Timothy Keep passed away during the morning of December 21, 2023, having lost his battle with stage 4 sarcoma. Gerald opted to have his body donated to science via Restore Life, USA. Linda and Nic plan to hold a memorial service once his ashes are received in approximately 30 days.
Join us for church on December 24, 2023! No RE this week!
11:00am Sunday Service
Come join us at our regular Sunday morning time to celebrate Christmas Eve the UU way with some classic Christmas stories and songs, and maybe something new that you haven't heard before!
Join us for church on December 17, 2023 and stay after for coffee hour!
9:30 Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
The Grinch started out with poor values. He hated other creatures being happy. Everything had to conform to his desires. Would his values have been better with UU parenting and a UU religious education?
Come on out and re-stock Giving Tree in Kings Common, park JC. This is a great way to boost your holiday spirit. This involves placing items on the tree several times in one week. Packages are already available and ready to go. Volunteers needed through January 7. Email thegivingtree@hvuuc.org to volunteer.
Join us for church on December 10, 2023 and stay after for coffee hour!
9:30 Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
1:00pm Caroling
There's an odd demarcation in the 3rd and 4th Sources of Unitarian Universalism. The third names "wisdom from the world's religions" as a source of inspiration and ethical guidance, while the fourth names "Jewish and Christian teachings" specifically. It seems strange to separate those out. But when you look at Unitarian Universalist history, it makes a certain kind of sense. And it challenges us with an important question, "Are we truly a post-Christian religion?"
In August of this year, a congregant had testing for Radon completed in the basement of the church. It was found to have a Radon level of 5.4 pCi/L. Subsequent testing found 3.6 pCi/L. Remediation is generally advised if the long-term level is above 4.0 pCi/L in homes. Tish Kashdan, Vice President, called the Radon Hotline with our radon numbers and the exposure times. They suggested we do a long exposure test but that since the exposure duration is short and Radon levels are relatively low, exposure is not great enough to be a problem.
Click through for the full article.
Headlines
Minister’s Note
Christmas Caroling
The Giving Tree
Women’s Group
Pancakes and Jam
Endowment
Music Director Note
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
The Giving Tree is Back!
Join the Social Justice Committee in restocking and supplying gifts for “The Giving Tree” in Kings Common park in Johnson City. The HVUUC Giving Tree has items on it for those in our community who are in need. We will be restocking the tree until January 7. If you would like to be involved with restocking the tree, please contact givingtree@hvuuc.org.
The collection box is in the Fred Ball Room.
Items needed (new please):
caps
gloves
scarves
underwear
socks (all sizes)
men and women’s hygiene products
Please leave items unwrapped. You may put items in clear ziplock type bags (this helps) or leave them in the box unpackaged.
Also, monetary donations are also accepted. Please put money or check in an envelope in the box. One of our elves will happily do the shopping for you.
If you know of a business or group that would like to donate, please have them contact us at givingtree@hvuuc.org
Join us for church on November 26, 2023 and stay after for choir practice!
11:00am Sunday Service
12:10pm Choir Rehearsal
Guest Speaker from our own congregation, Steven Roberts, will share a brief history and lyrical explanation. The service will include a few video presentations, a Quaker style contemplation and an in-service HVUUC discussion time. In Steve's own words "Guaranteed not boring!"
There will be no Religious Education on Sunday, November 26, due to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Please contact the DRE, Justin Ridley, if you have any questions.
Also the office will be closed Thursday November 23 for Thanksgiving so if you have anything important to communicate please do so by Tuesday Nov 21 during regular office hours.
