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
Music Fest will not be happening this Saturday May 18th. When a new date has been picked it will be announced. Email musicdirector@hvuuc.org or fellowship@hvuuc.org with any questions.
CUUPs Full Moon ritual has been rescheduled for May 23rd at 6:00PM. Email cuups@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Join us for church on May 12, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Throughout this church year Rev. Tiffany has been exploring the Six Sources of Unitarian Universalism as listed in the current version of Article II. But there have been changes proposed to Article II which will remove the listing of the six sources. What will replace it, and is it an improvement?
Supporting liberal religion is a challenge! Compared to megachurches nearby, our resources sometimes feel small. That is why we need to be smart about how we financially support our principles.
Annual pledges are the largest source of HVUUC’s income. In good years pledges often rise, but when the economy falters, pledges may drop.
HVUUC’s endowment fund can reduce funding volatility. This money is intended to provide long-term, stable income to the church. The fund’s bylaws require it to donate 4% of the rolling 3-year balance to the church each year. Real growth of the endowment fund therefore relies on continued donations from the congregation over time.
The endowment fund has a bit over $163,000 invested and will contribute $6,435 to next year’s annual operating budget.
Historically, the largest donations to the endowment fund have been from estates and similar donations. Wills can be written to bequeath a specific amount of money, or a specified percentage of the available funds.
Some donations have been made by businesses. For example, Lynn and Paulette Byrd, owners of the RE/MAX Results Real Estate Team, provide a percentage of any commission associated with congregants.
And lastly, individual congregants make donations designed to honor life events (e.g., graduations, marriages or even divorces). Gifts are also made to memorialize someone who passed away. In 2024 so far, 10 such donations (ranging from $25 to $250, with a median of $75) have been contributed, and they add up – over $900 just this year so far.
Honorary gifts are easy! Write a check to HVUUC with “endowment fund” written on the note line. You can attach a note to identify an honoree. Turn it in with the weekly plate or mail to the church. The endowment committee will write you an acknowledgement and inform the honoree (or their surviving family) of your generosity.
If you have any questions about the endowment fund and how it operates please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing endowment@hvuuc.org.
Join us for church on May 5, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Under G-d Film Screening
The Sixth Source of Unitarian Universalism is "Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature" Today we explore those rhythms by exploring mythologies from around the globe, and pondering what they mean for us as Unitarian Universalists.
HVUUC, the RE Collaborative, and RISE: Healthy for Life invite you to a documentary film screening of Under G-d, on Sunday, May 5, at 1:00 pm. A light meal will be provided after the service before the screening begins.
Under G-d
A film by Paula Eiselt
Under G-d is a documentary short about the national Jewish response to the Dobbs Decision woven through the lived experiences of impacted women and the various lawsuits currently being launched by Jewish and interfaith leaders to challenge the overturning of Roe v. Wade, state by state.
We will watch the film together, then facilitators from RISE will lead a discussion on the film and what actions we can take together in our community/state/country.
See the trailer below and visit the Facebook page to RSVP:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1137351984178387/?ref=newsfeed
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4aB-3Bxw3c
For questions or more information contact Justin Ridley - dre@hvuuc.org
Headlines
Minister’s Note
Game Nights
Coffee House Concert
Sunday Potluck
Beltane Ritual
Women’s Night
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
Join some key church leaders at the DEI Summit 2024 Conference on May 17th. Scholarships are available!
This is DIFFERENT from our Thursday night DEI workshop on May 9th.
DEI Alliance Summit in Kingsport
The 2024 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit will be on Saturday May 17, 2024 from 7:30 am – 3:00 pm at the MeadowView Convention Center in Kingsport, TN. Rev. Tiffany and our Social Justice Chair will be attending to gain essential insights and skills for fostering a more inclusive and equitable religious community. as well as network with community leaders committed to creating positive change in your organization and beyond.
And we would like to invite you to join us!
Registration cost is $45 but the Social Justice Committee is offering two partial scholarships of $25 for the first two people who request them, to make this program more accesible. Please reach out to sjchair@hvuuc.org to request this scholarship opportunity. Visit this website for more information about the program and speakers, and to register: https://deialliance.org/summit/#register
If you can't commit the entire day but are still interested in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, you can join us for a briefer, more focused free workshop here at HVUUC on Thursday, May 9th. Click here for more information on that opportunity: https://hvuuc.org/events/2024/5/9/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-food-workshop
Join us for church on April 28, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Congregational Meeting
May 1 is International Labor Day. And yet, we never hear about this holiday here in the United States. We have a separate Labor Day in September. Did you ever wonder why? Come explore the Labor movement with us today in story and in song.
And stay after church for our Annual Meeting!
Our April 28, 2024 Annual Congregational Meeting will be held in person only.
Listed below is our final slate of Board Candidates that will be voted on at our April 28 2024 Annual Meeting.
Immediate Past President – Dottie Blades
President – Tish Kashdan
VP – Noel Marshall
Treasurer – Sarah Sanders
Secretary – Alisha Culbertson
Facilities – Steven Roberts
Stewardship – Greg Kramer
Programs – Bradley Quick
Membership – Lori Krause
Fellowship – Peggy Wolfe
Nominating Committee – 2024 – 2025/2026
Michele Markstrom-Frish (2025)
Dana York Ensor (2025)
Jen Corbin (2026)
Ellen Barker (2026)
Emily Hand (2026)
Remember how much we all loved monthly Sunday Potlucks after church? It's time to get them going again! But we need a coordinator to make sure the notice gets published (so people know to bring in food that Sunday), and to line up folks to set up and clean up.
Call Kim Ray or email potlucks@HVUUC.org if you're interested.
Join us for church on April 21, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Stephen Gallagher, a philosopher living in North Carolina, believes that tolerance is passè. He thinks "Tolerance is, by definition, one-sided. The tolerator graciously decides to tolerate the Other. The Other has no say in the matter, nor does the Other have the power to return the favor. Tolerance is thus a more or less naked deployment of power." Is he right? You decide.
SAVE THE DATE!
Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 28th immediately following the church service in the sanctuary. Childcare will be provided. Anyone who has been an official member of HVUUC for at least 60 days as of April 28th is eligible to vote at the meeting. Items on the agenda will include:
A congregational vote on adding a new Trustee position: Membership Trustee. This Trustee position is being added as we are splitting the Fellowship Trustee into two (Fellowship Trustee and Membership Trustee). The Fellowship Trustee position alone has become unwieldy for one person.
Vote on the slate of Nominees for Board of Trustee positions recommended by the Nominating Committee.
Vote on the 2024-2025 Budget. Click here to see the proposed budget.
Any other items as needed.
The complete Agenda, nominations as well as a finalized budget for congregational approval are now presented to you.
We are not sure at this time if the Annual Meeting will be set up for a hybrid Zoom/In-person Annual Meeting so that members who do not want to attend in-person meeting will still be able to be involved. We’ll let you know about that option as soon as possible.
Please contact Dottie Blades if you have any questions at: president@hvuuc.org.
(1) Vote on the new position of Membership Trustee
(2) Change Bylaws to reflect the addition of a Trustee as described below:
Article VII: The Board
1. The Board will consist of ten (10) members, four (4) Officers: President, Vice President Secretary, and Treasurer, five (5) Trustees: Facilities,
Fellowship, Membership, Programs, and Stewardship; and the Immediate Past President. The Minister will be a non-voting member of the Board. The terms
of office for the President, Vice President, and Immediate Past President will be one (1) year. If the Immediate Past President is unable to serve on the
Board, the Nominating Committee will nominate another Past Present to serve. The terms of office for the Secretary, the Treasurer, and each Trustee will be
two (2) years.
(3) Vote on slate of new officers determined by the Nominating Committee:
Vice President : Noel Marshall
Treasurer: Sarah Sanders
Fellowship: Vacant
Facilities: Steven Roberts
Membership: Lori Krause
Officers who will remain on the Board:
President: Tish Kashdan
Immediate Past President: Dottie S. Blades
Secretary: Alicia Culbertson
Programs: Bradley Quick
Stewardship: Greg Kramer
(4) Vote on Budget for 2024/2025
(5) Meeting Adjourns
We are seriously in need of volunteers for coffee hour. This is an easy way to show your love to your church community. Training is available for first-timers, and all needed supplies and snacks are provided.
Sundays we need covered specifically are:
April 21
April 28
May 19
May 26
Please email coffeehour@hvuuc.org to sign up
We have a guest musician coming for our Sunday Service April, 21. Laurel Hells Ramblers. From the Hills of Virginia, this 3 piece string band presents gothic mountain bluegrass. "How blue is my grass? Pretty darn blue, as it turns out – but not totally. The pickin’ is righteous and the tune has a pedigree so steeped in Appalachia that its author is lost to the mists of time, but the singing is far from high and lonesome: raw, raspy, scoured. It works like gangbusters." By Christopher Treacy and Dale Henry Geist of Country Gueer.
