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.
National Coming Out Day
Join us for church on October 6, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service and New Member Ceremony
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Voter Postcard Writing Campaign
“National Coming Out Day”
On this Sunday, before Tri-Pride, we celebrate National Coming Out Day with the story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag. Whoever you love, however you love, however you understand your gender, whether you're questioning, or certain or still in the closet. The love of this community is broad enough to hold you and your experiences.
Collecting Items for Disaster Relief
Many of you have been asking how you can help, and one of the simplest ways you can help right now is to donate supplies specifically requested by some of our area disaster relief shelters.
These are the items that are most needed at this moment:
· Cleaning supplies
· Socks
· Underwear
· Toilet Paper
· Baby formula
· Diapers and wipes
· Feminine hygiene products
· Shampoo
· Soap
· Lotion
· Shovels
· Rakes
The MVP items are currently: socks, underwear, rakes and shovels.
Bring your donations by the church on Sunday, or during office hours (Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 2:30pm), or if you have key access bring them by anytime.
We would also LOVE a few volunteers to organize the donated supplies and deliver them to the shelters we know of in Elizabethton, Hampton and Roan Mountain.
Please bring your donations in boxes so that we can repack for distribution!
Please email relief@hvuuc.org for more information, or to volunteer.
Astronomy and Geology Event Postponed
Postcard Writing Party, Astronomy and Geology, and Sunday Potluck
Climate Justice Revival
Join us for church on September 29, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
“Climate Justice Revival”
The UU Climate Justice Revival, “Reimagine Together: From an Extractive Age to a New Era” is a project of the UU Climate Justice Coalition and Friends. The Revival builds on decades of faithful and visionary UU climate and environmental leadership and is designed to encourage collaboration amongst congregational teams and break down silos. Together, we can move past systems and cultures of extraction to usher in a new era with love and justice at the center of our climate actions.
October Newsletter Deadline
Owning Your Religious Past Covenant Group
The Owning Your Religious Past Covenant Group will be starting on October 14, 2024. In this group we will get to know each other by sharing memories about significant points in our religious journey.
The group will meet from 7pm-9pm on the second and fourth Mondays of October and November. There are a limited number of slots available, so please sign up to reserve your place by contacting either Wendy H. or George C. As this is a short-term group, the expectation is that if you sign up, you commit to coming to all four meetings.
Email owningcg@hvuuc.org to sign up or with any questions.
New Member Ceremony, Sunday, October 6
We will devote a segment of the service on October 6 to the induction and welcoming of new members. If you have taken the Path to Membership classes (recently or in the past) and would like to sign the book, become a member, and participate in this ceremony, please contact PTM@hvuuc.org by or before Oct. 1. Please include a brief 50-word biography (written in 3rd person) which will be read aloud to introduce you to the congregation.
For anyone who has taken the Path classes and would like to join, but cannot or does not wish to participate in the New Member Ceremony , a private signing of the membership book can be arranged.
We are happy you have found this church and we welcome you to become a member of our congregation
Wayne Johnson
With great sorrow we report that Wayne Johnson passed away early this week at home. Wayne has experiencing decline for some time and was on hospice at the time of his passing.
A member of Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church since 2019, Wayne was a vital part of the Religious Services Committee. He especially loved our church's music, and the outdoors, and always had a positive encouraging word for the people he would meet.
Save the date for Saturday October 26th at 1pm for a memorial service and reception. Wayne's ashes will be scattered here at HVUUC privately after the service.
Climate Justice Revival, Astronomy and Geology, Coming Out Day
Repentance, Repair, and Peace
Join us for church on September 22, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:15pm Choir Rehearsal
“Repentance, Repair, and Peace”
How can we create and preserve a meaningful peace that goes beyond silencing opposition, but is rooted in justice? This International Peace Day we explore the wisdom of "Repentance and Repair" by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg to understand a path toward lasting and authentic peace, and the hard work it takes to get there.
Coming Out?
Our congregation is celebrating National Coming Out Day on Sunday October 6th and we are looking for some help for the service.
If you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community in any way, and would like to help with the service, we are looking for readers and candle lighters.
Rev Tiffany has a variety of poetry, readings and reflections you could choose from to read during the service or you could even suggest your own favorite piece for the service.
Email minister@hvuuc.org to join in the celebration, no later than 9/29, but sooner would be better as this is a first-come-first-serving opportunity
Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed
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.
Sign Up for Service Auction
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!
MACHO BBQ, Mabon Ritual, and Service Auction
We Belong
Join us for church on September 15, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
4:00PM Youth Group
“We Belong”
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.
MACHO BBQ, Climate Justice Revival, and Let's Chat Covenant Group
Can I Speak to the Architect
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!)
“Can I Speak to the Architect”
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.
Service Auction
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.