Jessica Bowman
Lost Phone

We have a friend of the church who has lost their work phone. Her name is Nancy, and it's very important for her to get her phone, otherwise she could lose her job. If you found it, please email office@hvuuc.org.

Lost Phone
Jessica Bowman
Game Night, New Group Policy, & Religion in ...

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.

Game Night, New Group Policy, & Religion in Appalachia
Jessica Bowman
From Genesis to the Universe Story

Join us for church on February 9, 2025!

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Potluck

“From Genesis to the Universe Story”

The Genesis Creation and Fall stories in the bible are foundational to our Unitarian Universalist Heritage. What does this 3000 year old myth mean to Unitarian Universalists today? Longtime member George Cross shares some of his thoughts about the Adam and Eve story.

From Genesis to the Universe Story
Jessica Bowman
Reimagining the Boundaries of Religion in ...

BEYOND THE CHURCH WALLS: REIMAGINING THE BOUNDARIES OF RELIGION IN APPALACHIA

PRESENTED BY DR. JENNIFER AXSOM ADLER

Saturday, February 15th, 10:00 a.m. First Presbyterian Church Elizabethton 119 West F Street, Elizabethton, TN

Click here to register

First Presbyterian Church Elizabethton is sponsoring a free lecture on Sat , February 15, by Dr. Jennifer Axsom Adler, titled "Beyond the Church Walls: Reimagining the Boundaries of Religion in Appalachia." This event will be conducted at the church and also streamed live from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Refreshments will be offered. For a head count, please register by going to fpcelizabethton.org. Thanks go to the Christian Education Committee for coordinating the program.

According to Adler, religion in Appalachia is much more complicated than is commonly recognized. "It is often imagined as predominantly Christian, with Baptists playing a particularly central role," she asserts. "But a thorough examination of the history reveals a much more complex and diverse narrative. For church groups, this exploration could offer a fresh perspective related to their own congregations histories.

A native of Bloomington, Indiana, Adler is currently an assistant professor of history at ETSU. She holds a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard College and a master's and doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University. From the lecture, Adler would like attendees to gain deeper- appreciation for the rich diversity of religious practices and identities in the region. In addition, she plans to introduce the concept of 'vernacular religion," which scholars define as "religion as it is lived: as human beings encounter, understand, and interpret it." This concept offers a valuable framework for examining the lived experience of religion in Appalachia .

www.FPCelizabethton.org

Reimagining the Boundaries of Religion in Appalachia
Jessica Bowman
New Group Size Policy

According to our Congregation's policies, any time a new policy is proposed to be added to our Board Policy book, there is a "first reading" during a Board meeting where the Board votes to approve the policy. It is then shared with the congregation along with an email address to submit comments to the Board about the proposed policy. After the comment period, the Board will have a "second reading" where they can make amendments and vote on the policy.  Only after going through this process does a new policy become part of the Congregation's Policy Book.

The following policy has been voted by the Board of Trustees (BoT) to send to the congregation for comment:


The BoT has developed a new policy about types of groups within the church and the  privileges granted to them. There are some groups at HVUUC that are integral to the operation of the church like Choir, Social Justice, Small Group Ministries, Youth Group, etc. There are other fellowship groups that use the church facilities but do not ask for funding from the Church as a line item on our budget like MACHO, Women’s Group, BUUK Group, etc. And there are, or may be, other fellowship groups that would like to use the Church facilities and be funded as part of the church budget. To address the differences in the way both fellowship groups would be handled, the Board proposes the following:

 

 

Types of Groups and Their Privileges 

 

The definition of a ‘Group’ is the following: 

·         A number of people, including church members and friends 

·         People gather to do one or many activities for fellowship or education 

·         They are not a standing Committee of the church 

·         Their existence is acknowledged by Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 

·         To form a Group, a minimum of (5) church members or friends must be committed to being members of the Group. Group of this size is called a ‘Level One Group’.

 

Privileges of a Level One Group are the following: 

·         Having a church email address 

·         Receiving support from the office and minister 

·         Having the ability to reserve the building or rooms in the church building 

·         Having the Group’s events in the church calendar and e-news 

·         Level One Groups do not have a line in the church budget nor are they provided funding from the church. 

 

If a Group would like funding from the church, they would have to become a ‘Level Two Group’. The requirements to become a Level Two Group are: 

·         At least five (5) members of the Group are church members and friends 

·         A written structure of organized leadership, including a process of rotating leadership 

·         A written internal covenant with the leadership and its members 

·         A written covenant with the Board 

·         A mission statement 

·         Meet at least four (4) times a fiscal year 

·         A record of attendance of every meeting submitted to their designated Board Trustee 

·         A yearly report submitted to their designated Board Trustee 

 

The privileges of a Level Two Group are all privileges of a Level One Group as well as the ability to be funded by the church. In exchange for being funded by the church, Level Two Groups are required to do at least two (2) of the following every fiscal year: 

·         Conduct and clean up Coffee Hour at least four (4) times a fiscal year 

·         Provide a Sunday service one (1) time a fiscal year 

·         Provide a Sunday potluck and clean up at least two (2) times a fiscal year 

·         Offer at least one item or service at the annual church auction 

·         Have at least 75% of Group members participate in church work days 

·         Conduct a fundraiser where the proceeds will be donated to the church 

·         Any item(s) or service(s) that is approved by the current Minister 

 

The Board has full oversight and final say on funding Groups and which Groups qualify. 

 

If you have any comments for or against this policy, please email your comments to president@hvuuc.org  by February 16, 2025, so that your comments can be reviewed prior to the Board's final vote on this policy.

New Group Size Policy

The Two Paths of Awe

The Two Paths of Awe

Join us for church on February 18, 2024!

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:15pm Music Committee

  • 12:15pm Garden Club

  • 12:30pm Social Justice Committee

“The Two Paths of Awe”

What do you think of, when you think of those "Wow" moments we experience in life? Do you want to whoop and cheer and clap? Or do you want to sit in awestruck silence? Come explore with your community how both of these approaches work, and both do something important for the human experience.

Scam Email Alert

Scam Email Alert

Church family, it appears that someone is phishing again: pretending to be a leader in our congregation in order to access sensitive information. This time, pretending to be our board President in order to access our directory. Please don’t ever give out passwords or buy gift cards for anyone in our congregation via email. Please always make a phone call to verify, or just ignore it!

Speaker from Final Exit Network

Speaker from Final Exit Network

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.

Contemplation Through Photography

Contemplation Through Photography

Join us for church on February 11, 2024!

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:15pm Choir Rehearsal

“Contemplation Through Photography”

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.

Ash Wednesday Gathering

Ash Wednesday Gathering

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

Change: The Only Constant

Change: The Only Constant

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? 

Choir Rehearsal

Choir Rehearsal

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.

Activism as a Spiritual Practice

Activism as a Spiritual Practice

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 & 5th Sunday Collection

Social Justice Sunday & 5th Sunday Collection

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

Gerald Keep Photo Project

Gerald Keep Photo Project

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.

Special Guest Speaker after Church this Sunday - Amerika Grewal

Special Guest Speaker after Church this Sunday - Amerika Grewal

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.