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.

Join us for church on October 20, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

• 4:00pm Youth Group

“Sweet Mysteries of Life”

In a church such as ours we encourage all spiritual journeys. This is as it should be for human spiritual searches are timeless and their landscapes areas varied as the earth’s. As sentient creatures who seek meaning and purpose, we are faced with enduring mysteries that stretch back to the beginning of our species. We have wondered about the Universe, about what God or gods control it, about our mortality, and even what it means to be human. This week Charlie Mattioli shares thoughts and stories on these mysteries that are drawn from the varied sources our church respects. They are given with the desire to encourage you to look widely and deeply with the openness and courage these mysteries deserve to find your faith.

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.

Join us for church on October 13, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Potluck Luncheon

“Wholehearted Living in Difficult Times”

It's always something isn't it? And lately, it's been a LOT.

This Sunday Rev. Tiffany Anderson explores how Brene Brown's wisdom about imperfection and vulnerability can give us the tools we need to build community, especially when things are challenging.

There are many ways to access relief and to volunteer. Some that our Social Justice Chair have gathered are below.

Hurricane Helene Volunteering in East TN Area https://www.facebook.com/groups/1308205933896305/

United Way: NE TN Volunteer- https://www.volunteer-united.org/

SW VA Volunteer- unitedwayswva.org

Access Services- call 211

Rise Erwin:https://www.instagram.com/riseerwin/?hl=en

TN Dept of Health flood safety hotline: 423-979-4689

SAMHSA Disaster Relief Hotline: Call or text 800-985-5990

Tri-Cities Mutual Aid database:https://etn-helene-response.github.io/ and Hurricane Helene Response page. They are currently requesting monetary donations be sent to Venmo: @allixTCMAN. Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, associated with the Highlander Center, is a good outlet for aid.

East TN Counseling Collaborative: short term Free or reduced counseling services - https://summitcounselingtn.com/hurricane-helene-counseling-response/

New Disabled South: Financial assistance for Helene- https://www.instagram.com/newdisabledsouth/p/DAmfZC1SkM-/

Suicide or Crisis Hotline: call or text 988

May you be healthy, safe, and find a way to bring hope into action 💜

Email sjchair@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Lots of info incoming for Tri-Pride!

The parade itself starts at 11:00 am sharp on Saturday, October 12th at Cumberland Park in Bristol. We will line up in the Bristol TN City Hall/Court House parking lot off of Anderson St and encourage everyone to be there no later than 10:45 am, since they will start without you if you aren't there!

We will not have a float this year, but we will be passing out candy! 

The festival is from 12 pm - 7 pm. We need volunteers to sit at the booth throughout the day for 1 hour at a time, anyone wanting to volunteer can reach out to lgbtqia@hvuuc.org. We also need 2 volunteers for set up at 7 am, and for take down at the end of the festival. 

For anyone wanting to just attend the festival for fun, it is a free event. 

Shuttles for patrons attending the TriPride Parade and Festival will run from Virginia High School. The shuttles will drop off at the corner of Cumberland St. and Lee St. Patron shuttles will begin at 10:00 a.m. and run every hour until 8:00 p.m. 

The municipal parking lot at the corner of Cumberland Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (WCYB) will be open to the public and designated as accessible parking on a first-come first-served basis. Although this is at the end point of the parade, it may make it easier later in the day for you!

The Auction seems to be a long way off (11/16), but we will stop taking in items by the 1st. So we have only the month of October to submit items. I'm sure everyone is busy and concerned about Hurricane Helene relief and concerned about Milton.

If you have an questions you can email auction@hvuuc.org

Please use the following Auctria link to submit your items:
https://auctria.events/2024HVUUCauction

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.

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.

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.

With regrets, we will be postponing Saturday's (10/5) Astronomy and Geology Event.  Please be watching for rescheduling information.

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.

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.

Please email all submissions for the October newsletter by Monday September 30th to newsletter@hvuuc.org.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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