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
During Sunday, February 25th's service we will have a speaker presenting from the Final Exit Network. There will also be a presentation following the service with a slideshow and question and answer time.
Please bring a brown bag lunch if you plan to stay for the session after the service. For more information on the FEN please visit their website: https://finalexitnetwork.org/
Email dre@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Join us for church on February 11, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:15pm Choir Rehearsal
Lent has traditionally been a time of contemplation and fasting in the Christian tradition. Unitarian Universalist Christians have taken a broader view of this time, with the #UULent photo-a-day spiritual practice. Last year Rev. Tiffany managed to participate in every day of the observance, taking photos and writing reflections based on the key word given for the day. She shares what she learned last year as she gears up for another season of practice, and reflects on how times and practices of intentional contemplation can be beneficial to people of every belief and no belief.
For our UU Christians and for those who are just curious, we will be having an Ash Wednesday gathering with ashes and communion on Wednesday 2/14 from 5:45pm to 6:45pm. The liturgy we will be using was created by Unitarian Universalist Minister and UUA Board Member Rev. Sam Trumbore, and is designed for small group contemplation.
For more information contact Rev. Tiffany at minister@hvuuc.org
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
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.
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.
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.
Join us for church on January 21, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
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.
