Jessica Bowman
Post Auction Sale!

A few seats to events from Auction are available. 

If you couldn't attend the auction or were there but want more opportunities, there are still some seats available to fun events. You can connect with others, and all proceeds go to the church! You can purchase them for a set price by emailing Auction@hvuuc.org with the item number and how many spots you want. We will extend the "post auction sale" to November 30th. You can look up these events on the Auction web page to read more about them. 

Contact Auction@HVUUC.org to purchase a seat to a fun event, or a service or item. First come, first served. 

Deadline: November 30th 2025.

Click here to see what events and items are still available.

See the Auction Catalog for Item descriptions

Post Auction Sale!
Jessica Bowman
Trans Day of Remembrance, Thanksgiving, & ...

Upcoming News and Events

Click through for a collection of upcoming news and events at HVUUC. Click the images to be directed to more information.

Trans Day of Remembrance, Thanksgiving, & Decorating the Giving Tree
Jessica Bowman
Phoenix Homeschool Group

We are excited to announce that we have entered into a contract with the Phoenix Homeschool Group for them to rent our Religious Education Zone building for their homeschool co-op from 12:30 to 4:30pm every Tuesday. 

The Phoenix Homeschool Group is closely aligned with our values, and are very excited to have a place to meet that is open and inclusive.

Phoenix Homeschool Group
Jessica Bowman
Partnership and Peace: From Polycrisis to ...

Join us for church on November 16, 2025. This Sunday is the last to donate holiday decor to the victims of Hurricane Helene.

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

  • 4:00pm Youth Group

“Partnership and Peace: From Polycrisis to Paradigm Shift”

A shift into the “Fifth Spiritual Paradigm” seemed all but certain at the end of the 20th Century. Today, the decline in democracy, the advance of AI, and other elements of the polycrisis threaten the future of the humanity. In this talk, Rev. Laura George, JD explores the stalled paradigm shift and offers hope that planetary Partnership and Peace are still possible! 

Partnership and Peace: From Polycrisis to Paradigm Shift
Jessica Bowman
Giving Tree Volunteers Needed this Sunday

Volunteers are needed to stay after service on 11/16 to bag items for the Giving Tree.

The Social Justice Committee is reminding everyone that it's the time of year for collecting Giving Tree items.  Our tree will be in need of items for children, women, and men such as:

  • handwarmers

  • gloves

  • hats

  • scarves

  • socks

  • underwear

The Giving Tree donation bin will be in the Fred Ball room next to the grocery card table.  You may leave items as they are packaged.  Or, if you choose, you may put items in ziploc bags, just not the zippered bags.

We will collect items all through the holiday season to keep the tree replenished. Additionally, monetary donations are welcomed, and we will do the shopping for you!

Volunteers are needed to stay after service on Nov. 16th to bag items in preparation for decorating the Giving Tree in downtown Johnson City on Fri. Nov. 28th at 11 a.m.  

Email givingtree@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Giving Tree Volunteers Needed this Sunday

Local MLK Jr Day Events in Johnson City - 2024

Local MLK Jr Day Events in Johnson City - 2024

Storytelling Event

Monday, 1/15/2024

9 am – 12 pm

Carver Recreation Center

Peace Walk

Monday, 1/15/2024

12 pm

Carver Recreation Center

Blood Drive

Monday, 1/15/2024

1pm – 6 pm

Carver Recreation Center

Community Information Session

Monday, 1/15/2024

1 pm – 3 pm

Carver Recreation Center

Community Dinner

Monday, 1/15/2024

6 pm – 8 pm

Carver Recreation Center

Food Drive

Timeframe: 12/13/23 – 1/15/2024

Locations: McKinney Center, Langston, Good Sam, etc.

Food supports Good Sam and JAMA Food Pantries

Vincent Dial Student Art Exhibit

Public Reception: Thursday, 1/18/2024

Exhibit Timeframe: 1/15/24 – 1/19/24

McKinney Center

2024 Event: The Importance of MLK to the Hispanic Community

Thursday, 1/25/2024

7 pm

Langston Centre

Community Building Conference

Saturday, 1/27/24

10 am – 1 pm

Location: Langston Centre

New Religious Education Semester!

New Religious Education Semester!

Our new RE semester begins this month! Welcome back to our kids and youth after a couple of weeks off for the holidays!

  • Our K-2 class begins on January 14 with a new curriculum focused on cultures around the world.

  • Our 3-5 grades class will be starting January 7, with some new teachers and a new curriculum focused on change!

  • Our 6-12 grade RE class will not be meeting January through March due to Stellar Sex ED taking place for our 6-8th graders.

  • Also, our Adult RE 1 and Adult RE 2 classes continue to meet.

Come on out to the REZ at 9:30 on Sunday mornings! We hope to see you there!

Email our director of religious education, Justin, with any questions at DRE@hvuuc.org

Fire Communion

Fire Communion

The end of this week’s service will include some celebratory drumming. If you have a personal drum (NOT a drum kit) please feel free to bring it.

Join us for church on January 7, 2024

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

“Fire Communion”

Begin the New Year by letting go of the old year! Fire Communion is a chance to contemplate what in your life you want to burn up and leave behind in 2024. This clears the way for what is good and new in the new year. Come celebrate the possibilities with us!

Taking Down the Giving Tree

Taking Down the Giving Tree

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.

Stellar Sex Ed Grades 6-8

Stellar Sex Ed Grades 6-8

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.

Passing of Gerald Keep

Passing of Gerald Keep

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.

If the Grinch had been Raises Unitarian Universalist

If the Grinch had been Raises Unitarian Universalist

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

“If the Grinch Had Been Raised a UU”

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?

The Variety of Religious Experience

The Variety of Religious Experience

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

“The Variety of Religious Experience”

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?"

Radon Information

Radon Information

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.