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
Volunteers are needed to host coffee hour on October 20 and October 27. If you can help, please sign the calendar posted beside the large coffee urn in the kitchen. If you want to learn how to set up coffee hour, please contact coffeehour@hvuuc.org.
It’s your turn to have fun at the Service Auction! The Auctria Website is up and running, so you can add your items to the auction. You can go to https://auctria.events/2024HVUUCauction! The first page has a DONATE button, click on it. You will be asked to fill in information about your item and you.
Please choose a date for your activity, it is impossible to get everyone who bids on your item to agree on a date after they purchase it. We accept items for silent auctions as well as a paper items (the bidding). If you’re not sure call Greg Kramer or email auction@hvuuc.org.
Pool parties, game nights, specialty meals, movie nights, and the sky is the limit, it’s your turn to make the service auction fun!
Join us for church on September 15, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
4:00PM Youth Group
The Unitarian Universalist value of Equity invites us to contemplate how we can create an environment where people of all backgrounds and identities to thrive. While we are doing this in our congregation, our local DEI Alliance is doing it in our wider community. Explore the diverse faces and stories of East Tennessee with us today.
Join us for church on September 8, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:15pm Choir Rehearsal (all welcome!)
Was this existence planned or did it just happen? What role to chaos and intentionality play in the world we live in? Today's service invites us to explore some big unanswerable questions. Maybe we'll find awe. Maybe we'll find grief. But we'll definitely find our own power to shape our world.
Our Annual Service Auction is November 16th!
Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church’s biggest fund raiser is our service auction. Anybody can offer a service and on Auction Night that service will go to the highest bidder or bidders.
What services have been offered before? Do you have a favorite hike you’d like to share with others. Do you have a special meal you like to make? Can you offer handyperson services, gardening, decluttering, or other household services. We have several murder mystery dinners where you play a character in a thrilling play as you run through your meal courses. Pool parties, Superbowl, New Years, St Patrick’s Day, July 4th, or unbirthday parties.
There is much more to come, that will be in the News and Announcements. If you have any questions contact Greg Kramer auction@hvuuc.org.
"Let's Chat" Covenant Group is looking for new members! We discuss a variety of topics; Individuality, authenticity, joy, laughter, and many other topics. This is a discussion of how you feel about the topic. The session is a page or so of light reading will prepare you for the meeting. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Monday's of the month! If you are interested please contact Greg Kramer if you're interested. Come Let's Chat.
email letschat@hvuuc.org
Headlines
·Minister’s Note
Climate Justice Revival
Astronomy and Geology
Service Auction
bUUk Club
Wednesday Night Supper
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
Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church is seeking applications for our next Music Program Director through Friday September 6th. Please spread the word to talented people that you know!
Resume and cover letter should go to minister@hvuuc.org and pastpresident@hvuuc.org
You can also email for pay information or any other questions you have.
Read the full job description at the link below.
The Social Justice Committee will be hosting another voter postcard writing campaign after Coffee Hour this Sunday starting at 12:30. Be sure to stick around for refreshments and fellowship for another fun post card event!
Join us for church on August 25, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:30pm Reclaim the Vote Postcard Writing Campaign for the November election.
Around here in East Tennessee, it's not uncommon to hear a sentence start with "The Bible says... " But does it? So often people are putting words, or beliefs, into the Bible that just aren't there. This Sunday Rev. Tiffany dusts off her Bible-scholar hat to explore five things that the Bible never said, and one thing that it absolutely does say.
Are there any history buffs in the house? Our church office is undergoing a re-organization and part of that is consolidating and storing church archives and church history information. If you are a fan of history or are curious about our church's history, join our newly forming church history team by emailing history@hvuuc.org
We anticipate this project may take 2 or 3 meetings max, involving sorting through old church materials and deciding what needs to be preserved and what needs to be recycled. All are welcome, though those with a longer history with the church will be especially appreciated.
It is time for a major clean up of the church office! If you or your committee have used the office to store items please arrange with our Office Manager Jessica to come by and help us tidy by removing unnecessary clutter.
Items may include but are not limited to:
yard signs
holiday decor
posters
books
Thank you so much for helping out. Email office@hvuuc.org with any questions.
In case you missed our big news during Candles time this last Sunday, we want you to keep you informed:
Our longtime Music Director Charis Carter shared during this Sunday's candles time: 'It is with a heavy mind and heart that I announce that my majestic companion in life, my 91 year old Nana is meeting her most challenging task of losing independent life. I will be stepping down as your Music Program Director and transitioning to be her full-time caretaker. I am joyous for the opportunity to honor this role with Nana and to watch from afar as this community continues to grow." Charis' last day will be on September 8th, please join us to celebrate her and the considerable ways that she has made HVUUC a joyous and inspiring place to gather together on Sunday mornings.
Jenna, our Nursery Supervisor, is also moving on to other opportunities. Just last week, after receiving applications and conducting interviews, our Personnel Committee has determined that the best person for our open Nursery Supervisor position is our own nursery worker Olivia Leath. We all feel really good about her leadership in this position, and are confident that your kids are in very good hands.
We will be working on hiring additional nursery personnel and a new Music Director soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that information!
This Sunday, August 18th, is our Water Communion. Bring water from your travels or from a meaningful location in the area, to participate in this this much beloved tradition.
Join us for church on August 18, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Our annual interactive and intergenerational service where we celebrate our interconnectivity.
Here's your chance to volunteer with UU the Vote.
They have a number of opportunites to get involved. And many of them are phone banking opportunites that you can do from the comfort of your own home.
"UU the Vote" is a non-partisan branch of Side with Love that provides us with a thoughtfully crafted “plug-and-play” opportunities to bring our democratic values to life in the crucial struggle to build a genuine multiracial democracy. UU the Vote engages people in voter registration, issue education, get-out-the-vote drives, voter protection, state leadership development, and more.
They have a number of opportunites to get involved. And many of them are phone banking opportunites that you can do from the comfort of your own home.
Action creates Hope! So we wanted to connect you with the opportunities to explore that you might be interested in. Visit this website for a list of events:
This Sunday, August 18th, is our Water Communion. Bring water from your travels or from a meaningful location in the area, to participate in this this much beloved tradition.
In the water communion ceremony, everyone pours water into a shared bowl, showing that we are one interconnected and ever-changing community. You do not have to bring your own water to participate as some will be provided. But people often bring water that holds some significance for them.
