Join us for church on December 14, 2025.
NO RE
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Potluck
An annual, intergenerational service to recognize different holidays of light celebrated throughout the year from different faith traditions, including Hanukkah, Diwali, Advent, Humanlight, Bhodi Day, Winter Solstice, and the history of our own Unitarian Universalist chalice. The entire service will be lit only by candles and includes a candle lighting ceremony for everyone to participate in. Join us for this beloved service full of stories and songs where we will discover how each of us has our own light to share for the world.
We are still collecting Giving Tree items for children, women, and men such as:
gloves
hats
scarves
socks
undies
individual snacks
hygiene items
hand warmers
Please join us after church service on Sunday, Dec. 21st from 12:30-1:30 p.m. to package items which will be hung from the Giving Tree.
If you would like to volunteer to re-stock the Giving Tree, please visit the following link to sign-up with details and instructions:
tinyurl.com/givingtreevols
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to givingtree@hvuuc.org.
Update on December's Potluck. Let's turn this month's potluck into a party! This Sunday bring holiday treats, hors d'oeuvres, snacks, or finger food.
In addition to your dish, please bring a printed recipe. We will place the recipe beside your dish. That way, anyone wanting the recipe can easily snap a pic. All are welcome!
Email potlucks@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Holiday Happenings around HVUUC
Saturday December 13
Greening of the Sanctuary, 10:00am-1:00pm
Sunday December 14
Festivals of Light Service—No RE, Performers arrive by 9:00am.
Second Sunday Potluck after service.
Sunday December 21
Come say farewell to James at this Sunday Service.
No Youth Group this month
Wednesday December 24
Christmas Eve Gathering, 6:00pm
December 23 and 25
The office will be closed this week!
Sunday December 28
Pancakes and Jam! Breakfast starts at 10:30. No traditional service or RE this week, just yummy eats and a jam session.
Thursday December 1
The office will be closed!
Join us for church on November 10, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Sunday Potluck
How do we dig deep to find our Resilience when times are challenging? Join us for a morning of poetry and song, hope and community, as we explore how to strengthen and support each other as we move through always changing times.
Our email forwarding system is temporarily down. If you have sent an email to an HVUUC address in the past three days it may not have arrived at its destination.
If you need to reach out to staff please use the direct emails below.
Office: hvuucoffice@gmail.com
Minister: tiffanysappuu@gmail.com
DRE: hvuucdre@gmail.com
Music Director: jshawcross700@gmail.com
Headlines
Minister’s Note
Disaster Relief Resources
Sunday Potluck
Thanksgiving Potluck
Service Auction
The Giving Tree
Green Arts Festival
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
Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this Sunday!
In honor of All Souls Day and Samhain, we will be remembering family, friends, and important figures who have passed away in the last year. Please bring photos or mementos for anyone you wish to honor, to place upon our altar.
Join us for church on November 3, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour and Youth Bake Sale
12:15pm Choir Rehearsal
All Souls Day, Samhain, and Dia de Los Muertos all happen around the first of November, and are different culture's ways of remembering those who have passed away but are still very much in our hearts. During this service we specifically remember those who have passed away since last year, both in our HVUUC community, and in the world at large. Please bring photos of departed loved ones for our altar.
Don't forget to come in costume this Sunday!
Join us for church on October 27, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:00pm Trunk or Treating!
The porch light is on and bowl of candy is prepared, who will come knocking on our door this year? We never know who is going to show up, but we know we always learn something when we see who we connect with enough to dress up as them! Come in costume and bring your kids, make sure to stay for the Trunk or Treat afterwards.
The Social Justice Committee is reminding everyone that it's the time of year for collecting Giving Tree items. Our tree will be in need of items for children, women, and men such as:
gloves
hats
scarves
socks
underwear
feminine hygiene items
washcloths
soap
lotion
shampoo and conditioner
On Sunday, November 3, the Giving Tree donation bin will be in the Fred Ball room next to the grocery card table. You may leave items as they are packaged. Or, if you choose, you may put items in ziploc bags, just not the zippered bags. We will collect items all through the holiday season to keep the tree replenished. Additionally, monetary donations are welcomed and we will do the shopping for you!
Everyone is invited to help decorate our tree on Friday, November 29 at 11am. A tall ladder would be a great help, as well. The tree lighting ceremony is at 6:30 on November 30.
If you have questions, please feel free to talk with Mary Williamson or Michele Markstrom-Frisch. Our email address is givingtree@hvuuc.org.
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
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.
Join us for church on October 13, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Potluck Luncheon
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
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
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.
