Jessica Bowman
Calling all Turkeys! (& Turkey Lovers)

No need to wear yourself out making an entire meal. Join us at HVUUC for a Thanksgiving potluck from 2-5pm on Nov 27.

Sign up in the sanctuary or by emailing thanksgiving@hvuuc.org to tell us who’s coming & what you’re bringing.

Everyone is welcome!

Calling all Turkeys! (& Turkey Lovers)
Jessica Bowman
November Newsletter Deadline

Please email all submissions for the November newsletter by Monday November 3rd to newsletter@hvuuc.org.

November Newsletter Deadline
Jessica Bowman
Choir Rehearsal This Sunday - Everyone Welcome!

At our recent Listening Circle, it became very clear that choir deserves more energy and attention than it has been given. This coming Sunday, November 2, will be the first official rehearsal for our re-booted choir program! Please assemble in the sanctuary by the piano at 12:30, after relaxing for a while at Coffee Hour. Rehearsal will last approximately an hour. 

This Sunday we will begin working on two songs for the upcoming Festival of Lights: Pass on the Light and De Noche. If you have never joined the choir or are hesitant to sing, you are invited to sit with the choir and simply observe! New voices are always welcome. 

Email musicdirector@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Choir Rehearsal This Sunday - Everyone Welcome!
Jessica Bowman
What Happens at a Service Auction?

What happens at the Auction, besides purchasing items?

We will have lots of food while you peruse tables laden with Silent Auction Items. When you enter you will be given a bidder’s paddle. Use this number when purchasing items during the silent auction as well as the live auction.

The Silent Auction starts as you enter the church at 6 PM and after the first half of the Live Auction the Silent Auction ends, and all the winning bids are entered, and you can catch another snack.

How do you find out what is in the auction?

Click this link to to see what items and events have already been added to the auction. You can use the same link to enter your own auction items and events you may want to donate, as well.

Do want to spend another person’s money? You’ll need PROXY bidders so that people who can’t make the Auction but want to purchase items. If you can’t be at the Auction, you can ask about needing a PROXY bidder.

Can’t pay your whole bill that night? We can allow you to defer payments.

Email auction@hvuuc.org with any question.

What Happens at a Service Auction?
Jessica Bowman
Samhain Ritual, Astronomy Presentation, and ...

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.

Samhain Ritual, Astronomy Presentation, and Thanksgiving Potluck

Domestic Violence Awareness

Domestic Violence Awareness

Join us for church on April 7, 2024!

  • 9:30pm Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Domestic Violence Awareness”

What is domestic abuse, and how can HVUUC better support survivors by creating a safe space for healing and holding abusers accountable? We will be addressing some hard but very important topics and acknowledge they can be triggering for some people. There will be childcare for children 3rd grade through high school in the RE building up the hill if your family would like to use it.

Blue Plum Volunteers Needed

Blue Plum Volunteers Needed

HVUUC will have a booth at the Blue Plum festival again this year on Friday June 7th and Saturday June 8th. If you would like to help plan for these days of fun, music, and community art, please join us for our planning meeting.

Planning Meeting

Sunday April 21st at 12:30 in the REZ

If you would like to volunteer at the booth, please email blueplum@hvuuc.org to sign up.

Who is Jesus? - (NO RE this week!)

Who is Jesus? - (NO RE this week!)

Join us for church on March 31, 2024!

NO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION THIS WEEK.

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

  • 12:00pm Easter Egg Hunt

“Who is Jesus?”

This Easter we take a look at Jesus through a variety of sources including the mystical poetry of Kahlil Gibran. His book "Jesus the Son of Man: His Words and His Deeds as Told and Recorded by Those Who Knew Him" is an imaginative work that showcases the humanity and mystery of Jesus from the point of view of people who would have known him. Just as the characters of Gibran's book wrestle with the identity of Jesus, so do we.

Interview with an AI

Interview with an AI

Join us for church on March 24, 2024!

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Interview with an AI”

Questions abound about Artificial Intelligence. Are they beneficial for us or harmful? Are they going to take all our jobs? Are they going to take over the world? Where do they come from and what is their purpose? Rev. Tiffany interviews an AI with these pressing questions and more, and we hear from a friend of the congregation who is studying AI as part of her graduate studies.

Passing of Tom Burns

Passing of Tom Burns

With a heavy heart, we share with you the sad news that Tom Burns’ struggle with post-surgery complications came to an end as he passed away during the night between March 7th and March 8th.  Martha shares that he fought a valiant battle, and we share with her our astonishment that we would lose Tom over a surgery that had such a small change of complications.  Martha and their daughters are supporting each other right now.  Martha shares that she doesn’t need anything right now, but that cards, texts and messages are appreciated.  A Celebration of Life will be held at the church in June.

Social Justice 5th Sunday Speaker on 3/24/24

Social Justice 5th Sunday Speaker on 3/24/24

The Social Justice Committee invites DEI Alliance as its 5th Sunday speaker on 3/24/2024, due to the 5th Sunday being Easter. Since 2015, DEI Alliance has been working to create and build momentum for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the region. Their hope is to transform the environment of northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia, so its residents and visitors can thrive.

You can learn more at https://deialliance.org/

Universalist Love: Widening the Circle

Universalist Love: Widening the Circle

Join us for church on March 17, 2024!

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Universalist Love: Widening the Circle”

A dive into Unitarian Universalist history reveals classist roots that disenfranchised the poor and working class among our ranks, and within our communities. Together we will examine our past and discuss how to move forward in our mission to widen the circle for all.

HVUUC Nature Trail

HVUUC Nature Trail

Did you know that we have a walking trail here at HVUUC?

The idea of a walking trail on church property has been around for many years. There had been a couple of earlier unsuccessful efforts to cut one. In 2019, Charlie Mattioli took the lead in organizing a group of church members to plan, flag, cut and develop a trail that would be 5-8 feet wide and follow easy terrain. The trail starts in the far left-hand corner of the church’s front parking lot, winds through the woods to the lower parking lot and ends in front of the church.

Click here to learn more about this treasured feature of our grounds.

Why Pledge?

Why Pledge?

The only way to create a budget, which you will be voting on April 28th, is by each person at HVUUC to say how much money you can afford to keep the lights on and pay our wonderful staff. This is called a pledge. Please consider pledging, (donations collected during church do not help in determining the budget). Below is the pledge card. You can write to me by email to Stewardship@HVUUC.org. Please email me or call me if you have any questions, phone number is in the Directory. I need all pledges in by March 24th.
Thank you Greg Kramer

Pledge Letter
It is that time of the year when I, the Stewardship Trustee, ask all our church members and friends how much they intend to pledge to the church for our next fiscal year, June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2025.  I will then take this amount to the Board of Trustees to develop next year’s budget.  The budget that the Board proposes will be voted on at our annual congregational meeting on April 28th.

Why do I ask you to pledge?

If you are giving to the church when we pass the plate, Thank You! When you pledge, I can add this to our budget plan as I mentioned above. When we make our budget, the Stewardship Committee can only use pledges to make the Budget. We have an increase in our preliminary budget, what each committee asked for, and salary increases for our wonderful staff. Can I ask you to donate $4.00 a week or $200.00 a year?

We have so much to celebrate this past year! It is through your donations we have been able to afford the Church Services in person and on YouTube, wonderful music during services, Religious Classes led by Rev Tiffany, Covenant Groups, Religious Ed for our Adults and Children, Wednesday Night Suppers, the Giving Tree, Special Interest Groups and more!

If you are able, I would like you to fill out the pledge form below by March 24th and return it by mail or add it to the collection plate any Sunday or contact me via email or phone with your pledge amount.  Feel free to contact me anytime.  

Click here to download a pledge card.

Thank you,

Greg Kramer
Stewardship Trustee
Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
stewardship@hvuuc.org  

PO Box 8383
Johnson City TN 37615