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.
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.
Let's Chat Group Looking for New Members
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.
Tom Burn's Celebration of Life
Tom Burn's Celebration of Life will be at Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church on June 1, 2024 at 3:00pm with a reception at 4:00pm.
Because we will not have an "open mic" at this service, we are inviting people to share their memories, stories and photos of Tom to tomburns@hvuuc.org
You can view his obituary here:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/thomas-burns-obituary?id=54720518
Women's Night, Flower Communion, and Nursery Volunteers
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.
April 2024 Newsletter
Headlines
• Minister’s Note
• Blue Plum Festival
• Coffee House Concert
• Flower Communion
• HVUUC Walking Trail
• UUA Ceasefire Statement
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
Flower Communion April 14th
All these beautiful early spring flowers around the congregation and in our yards mean it must be getting time for Flower Communion! On Sunday April 14th everyone will be invited to bring their own flower to share, in this ceremony that celebrates the beauty of community.
Bring your flower on April 14th!
Nursery Volunteers Needed
Easter Egg Hunt Next Sunday
Adjusted Office Hours for First Week of April
Our Office Manager will have adjusted hours for the first week of April. Instead of Tuesday and Thursday she will be working Tuesday (4/2) and Wednesday (4/3) that week and will not be in the office on Thursday.
Any important information needs to be submitted by Wednesday April 3rd or it will not be addressed until the following week during normal office hours.
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
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.
April Newsletter Deadline
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/
Game Night and Ostara Celebration
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
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?
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