Join us for church on February 4, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

• 1:00pm Religious Trauma Workshop

“Change: The Only Constant”

There’s no question: 2024 is going to be a year of change. Of course - what year isn’t? When change feels unsettling or scary, how do we shift our relationship with anticipation of change? Our faith calls us to the work of transformation. How can we work to embrace the change that is coming? How can we learn from our own relationship and reactions to change how to deepen our call to transformation within ourselves and our faith communities? 

Headlines

•  Minister’s Note

•  Coffee Hour Help Needed

•  BoT Meeting Change

• Path to Membership

• Choir Rehearsal

• Social Justice Initiatives

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

Volunteer Choir Leader, Rachel Reece, will be hosting Bi-weekly Choir Rehearsals for a 3-month trial period from February to May on the 2nd and 4th Sunday following Sunday Services. Grab your coffee and hugs then head over to the piano with your hymnals for some exercises and fun community time with other music lovers as part of our Music Program.

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.

Join us for church on January 28, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:20pm Special Presentation by Amerika Grewal about the injustice at the Texas border.

“Activism as a Spiritual Practice”

Annual Social Justice Sunday: Mark will speak about the significance of having a spiritual foundation for our civic activism and the intersection of UU Principles with our civic responsibilities.

Social Justice Sunday - January 28th

On our annual Social Justice Sunday – January 28 – we welcome Mark Mohundro from the Tennessee Valley UU Church in Knoxville, speaking on “Activism as a Spiritual Practice.” Mark is a well-known speaker at Churches across the state and is the organizer of the TN State UU Action Network, an embryo network coming together for state collective action by TN UUs on matters of significance, including advocacy in social justice matters. His message will highlight the significance of having a spiritual foundation for our civic activism and the intersection of UU Principles with our civic responsibilities.

League of Women Voters – 5th Sunday Collection

Our intended 5th Sunday Collection for December will be postponed to January 28, when we will show our support for the good work of the Northeast Tennessee Chapter of the League of Women Voters. Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. This is the non- partisan mission of the League. Many believe American democracy is on the ballot in 2024. League President Gywnn Mettetal, a UU supporter, will be with us, along with other League members, to chat with us during Coffee Hour.

Interested in joining our Social Justice team? Email any questions to sjchair@hvuuc.org

Holston Valley UU Church is collecting photos of Gerald Keep for a slideshow that will play during his Memorial Service on February 3rd.

If you have any digital photos to share, please share them to this Google Drive folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VzqRZtK93cj3gl0qA40pYai-g5OQxHHD?usp=drive_link

The deadline for photo sharing in order for them to be added to the slideshow is Tuesday, January 30th.

This Sunday, January 28th after the service at 12:20PM

Amerika Grewal will host a 30-minute interactive presentation with Q&A session, totaling about 1 hour. Attendees will emerge with a better understanding of the situation at the US border in Texas, as well as a solid plan to counter hate at home and in the community.

Amerika is a former HVUUC member who has lived all over the world. She currently bears direct witness to injustice at the border and Texas policy. The influx of asylum seekers and economic refugees into Texas coupled with the defiance of the State of Texas towards Homeland Security and numerous lawsuits about this have the potential to radically reshape the culture, economy, environment, and politics of the United States. The arrival of militia groups in Eagle Pass only underscores the need to address these issues in public forums and work on identifying and acting on our values.

Click through for further details and information.

Please email all submissions for the February newsletter by Tuesday January 30th to newsletter@hvuuc.org.

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.

Due to inclement weather and hazardous road condition church will be closed Sunday, January 21st.

A virtual version of the sermon will be recorded and posted to our YouTube page by the end of the day so watch for social media updates.

Stay safe and warm and we’ll meet together again soon!

Join us for church on January 21, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

“Seven Types of Rest”

Are you tired? You're not alone. Google searches for "why am I tired all the time?" reached an all time high this year. This Sunday we explore Seven Types of Rest and contemplate which Rests we may each actually need. And will explore how we can support each other in getting what we need when we are Not the ones who are tired.

The "Fellowship Committee" will operate as a social program to expand social activities and complete current Coffee Hour functions. The committee will also review and complete kitchen tasks with training and volunteering.

At the first meeting the Fellowship Trustee will offer guidance and advise on leadership, new social function ideas, varied responsibilities and current volunteer needs.

Many small tasks are vital to create any church social time.

Coffee hour and kitchen tasks, as just one example, requires many helping hands.

The first meeting will review tasks requiring immediate help, and the need for more participation discussed.

A chairperson/coordinator to assist in organizing the group, to regularly review procedures, train new volunteers, review the current church fellowship activities, discuss how and where volunteer help is needed right now.

To learn more and/or to join the Fellowship Committee

EMAIL: FELLOWSHIP@HVUUC.ORG

A mutual date to meet up in person or future zoom meeting, will be the first item to be decided.

Thank You.

Cynthia Goodman

Fellowship Trustee

HVUUC

The Gerald Keep family has requested a Memorial Service to be held at church on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

Reception immediately following.

All HVUUC members and friends are cordially invited.

For any further information please contact

Minister@hvuuc.org

Or memorialreception@hvuuc.org

Thank you.

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.

Ann and Wayne Johnson have a tree near their house that needs to be taken down. We will meet Saturday February 3rd at their house at 10:00 AM. If you have a chainsaw please bring it to help cut the tree up once we have it down. Please wear safety gear! I'm going to get a rope in the trees branch's to pull the tree away from the house. If you have a way to get a string up and over 60 feet branches please respond. If it's not safe we will not take the tree down.

Email macho@hvuuc.org with any questions and for location details.

Join us for church on January 14, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00PM Coffee Hour

• 12:30PM Social Justice Call to Action Meeting

“The Man, the Dream, the Movement.”

Hear the story of the Civil Rights movement in a way you never had before. This script for many voices, written by Unitarian Universalists of color, invites us to hear this important part of our collective history as told by those who participated in these changes from their center.

The Church is getting ready for our upcoming pledge drive! Before the Stewardship Team can ask for a pledge the Board of Trustees needs to know how much money we need to spend. Our fine staff and minister need to be paid and receive healthcare insurance. All Church groups who receive money to fund your activities. I'm asking to have a budget submitted by the Board of Trustee meeting in February!

Email stewardship@hvuuc.org

Registration is now open for 6-8th grade Stellar Sex ED.

In collaboration with RISE: Healthy for Life, HVUUC is offering Stellar Sex ED for 6-8 grade youth. Beginning January 14, with a guardian and student orientation. Classes will then run from January 21 - March 3 on Sundays at HVUUC. The cost is free. Please follow the link for more information and to register.

https://risehealthylife.betterworld.org/events/middle-school-stellar-sex-ed-at

Email dre@hvuuc.org with any questions.

A Meal Train has been set up for the Chaffin Family who are currently going through a difficult time.

We all know the Chaffins who are always helping others and are very active in all HVUUC activities including Social Justice, MACHO, the Giving Tree, Pancakes & Jam, the Music Program, etc.

Now it is our turn to give back.

Kim’s Mother is currently hospitalized with a serious illness & then this Thursday, Jan 11th, Alesha is having hip surgery which will require recovery time with limited activity.

We can help with a Meal Train beginning this Thursday. As requested, restaurant gift cards are even available on the Train for non cooks.

Please review all details under "Recipient Info" on the Meal Train! You are invited to join at the link below:

Mealtrain.com/wdege0