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.
Spam Email Alert
Just a reminder that scammers routinely try to impersonate staff to get sensitive info. If your receive a questionable email please report it to the office and be sure you only send emails to hvuuc addresses such as the ones listed below
office@hvuuc.org
minister@hvuuc.org
dre@hvuuc.org
musicdirector@hvuuc.org
What Does it Mean to Be Promethean?
Join us for church on December 22, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
“What Does it Mean to Be Promethean?”
Warmth in a cold world, light in a dark space - what do these mean to our species, our society, our community, and ourselves? What do these teach us literally and metaphorically? How can the physical flame inform us about altruism in rebellious acts? And why should we continue to carry these torches and fan these flames? Join us with local church member Alesha Chaffin to ponder the gift of fire granted from the gods as we explore the question: What Does It Mean To Be Promethean?
Giving Tree Donations still Needed
The Social Justice Committee would like to thank everyone who has volunteered and given presents for The Giving Tree. We should have enough items for the tree through Christmas. However, we plan to keep this tree stocked with warm and necessary items until our tree is taken down, Jan. 5th. Please keep items coming so we can show Tri-Cities that this is not just about the holidays, it’s about caring for those in need.
This would be a great time to regift holiday gifts that the needy can use. Below is a list of items needed. In addition to these items, we have received some great larger items that we can squeeze on the tree such as sneakers, sweatshirts, snacks, etc. We request that all items are new and unused to let folks know that we think they are worthy.
Recommended Donations
· gloves
· hats
· scarves
· socks
· underwear
· feminine hygiene items
· washcloths
· soap
· lotion
· shampoo and conditioner
For questions, please contact:
givingtree@hvuuc.org
Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed
We need coffee hour volunteers for January, specifically for January 05 as we begin the new year.
Please sign up on the calendar beside the coffee urn in the Fred Ball Room or email coffeehour@hvuuc.org.
We'd hate to start 2025 without coffee and conversation!
Lovingkindess Resources, Christmas Eve Gathering, and Pancakes and Jam
Festivals of Light - NO RE
Join us for church on December 15, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:30pm Christmas Caroling
“Festivals of Light”
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.
Lovingkindness and other Meditation Resources
After our brief December series on Lovingkindness, several of you have expressed interest in resources to go deeper into this kind of practice. We all have different learning types, so hopefully you will find something that works for you on this list!
A comprehensive online guide to Lovingkindness with How-To instructions, both audio and video guided meditation, and links to more in-depth articles: https://www.lionsroar.com/metta-meditation-guide/
YouTube guided meditation on Lovingkindess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-TeW9CI0bc
A picture book for children, sold at the UUA’s bookstore: https://www.uuabookstore.org/Loving-Kindness-P19204.aspx
Book by a renowned Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron: https://pemachodronfoundation.org/product/awakening-loving-kindness/
Best app for guided meditations: https://www.headspace.com/
Small Group Ministry Session Guide on Lovingkindness: https://www.smallgroupministry.net/public/sessions/Loving_Kindness.Hayward.2.2021.pdf
Greening of the Sanctuary, Christmas Caroling, and Office Holiday Closures
Together at the Table
Join us for church on December 8, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:00pm Green Arts Festival
“Together at the Table”
This time of year there's a lot of opportunities to sit at the table with people we may not agree with. This is true of both church life and family life, and both can be challenging. But both can also bring opportunities to grow: sometimes by opening us up to a new perspective, sometimes by challenging us to understand where our boundaries are. Come explore with Rev. Tiffany what it means to sit at a diverse table.
Robert Clark Lynching Historical Marker
ROBERT CLARK HISTORIC MARKER DEDICATION
In 1891, Robert Clark was lynched in Bristol, Virginia near the current day United Company headquarters. A dedicated group of Bristolians, has worked through the Equal Justice Initiative’s Community Remembrance Project for a number of years to publicly acknowledge this tragic moment of local history. The Project includes community engagement and education of our nation’s darkest history and brings it to the local community level.
Our Social Justice Committee has been monitoring and supporting the progress of this effort for months.
As a part of the local effort, a permanent marker will be placed to honor Mr. Clark on Saturday, December 14 at 11am at Citizens Cemetery. Shuttles from State Street Methodist Church start at 10:30. We invite HVUUC members and friends to join us at the dedication.
You can learn more about the Community Remembrance Project and EJI at: https://eji.org/projects/community-remembrance-project/
Women's Night, Green Arts Fest, and Giving Tree Donations Needed
December 2024 Newsletter
Headlines
Minister’s Note
Cookie Exchange
The Giving Tree
Christmas Caroling
Women’s Night
Greening of the Sanctuary
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
Bring Photos for Remembering Service
Richard Boyd Memorial
With great sorrow we report that Richard Boyd passed away last week, November 21st, 2024, while in Knoxville seeking a second opinion about a serious medical concern.
All are invited to his Celebration of Life on Saturday December 7th at 1pm here at Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. A reception will follow.
The following is Richard's Obituary:
Richard Porter Boyd passed on 11/21/2024 at 80 years. He was born in Wakefield, Mass 11/16/1944 to Bertha A. Thayer and her husband Gordon Boyd.
He loved playing sports and was part of a winning high school Massachusetts football team honored at the White House by President John F. Kennedy.
He served in the Air Force security service in Vietnam where he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. After an honorable discharge, he earned a BA in Accounting and his first position was in a tax firm. He actually enjoyed doing taxes and he often helped people without pay including volunteering to do community taxes with AARP. Later, he became the Comptroller of a hospital where he became the Senior Vice President for 15 years. During this time, he also earned his Masters in Healthcare Administration. The next 12 years he was the first CEO of a multilevel retirement community in San Antonio.
Richard is survived by his wife of 48 years Joy, and his Son, Marty Boyd and his wife Missy, of Bronte Texas, 2 Granddaughters, Cheyenne Vasquez and her husband Jesus, Whitney Jones and her husband Ryan, Sisters Wanda Conroy and Beverly Selway and her husband Brian, Brothers, George, and Ray and his wife Pat, and also 9 Nephews and 4 Nieces. He has 4 great grandchildren, Amaris Avery, Elias Samuel, Ana Grace, and Emilia Claire Vasquez.
Richard was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, 2 brothers, Gordon and Chet (Sylvia), a grandson, Branson Scott Boyd, Son of Marty and Missy, Brother-in-Law, John Conroy (Wanda), and Niece Karen Clark.
He was an active member of the Holston Valley UU Church in Gray, TN for 20+ years.
Richard Boyd never had an enemy and made friends wherever he went. He was a man of Honor, Responsibility, Generosity and Humor and he will be truly missed by many who were lucky enough to meet and know him.
Filled with Loving Kindness
Join us for church on December 1, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour and Cookie Exchange
“Filled with Loving Kindness
Part of HVUUC's Vision statement is that we "transform ourselves, our community and our world," but how do we do this? This Sunday Rev. Tiffany shares her personal story of how she has engaged with the Buddhist Metta meditation for over a decade now and how she has experienced this practice's transformative power in her life.
Proposed Kitchen Utensil Policy
*this announcement was previously run but with incomplete information*
According to our Congregation's policies, any time a new policy is proposed to be added to our Board Policy book, there is a "first reading" during a Board meeting where the Board votes to approve, then the policy is shared with the congregation along with an email address to submit comments to the Board about the proposed policy, and then the Board will have a "second reading" where they can make amendments and vote on the policy. Only after going through this process does a new policy become part of the Congregation's policies.
The following policy has been voted to send to the congregation for comment:
"HVUUC disposes of all plastic kitchen utensils and use the Green Sanctuary Fund to purchase non-plastic kitchen utensils to replace them."
Research connected to this policy can be found here:
The study: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling - ScienceDirect
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)
If you have any comments for or against this policy, please email your comments to office@hvuuc.org by Monday December 16th so that your comments can be reviewed prior to the Board's final vote on this policy.
Holiday Closures
Decorating the Giving Tree
Holiday Greetings!
We are continuing to collect items for the Giving Tree. Our donation bin is in the Fred Ball room at HVUUC. Suggested items are for children, men and women are:
· gloves
· hats
· scarves
· socks
· underwear
· feminine hygiene items
· washcloths
· soap
· lotion
· shampoo and conditioner
We have been given our specific spot for The Giving Tree at Kings Common, in front of the JC library. We are tree number 113, best accessed from W. King St., but Millard St. is good, too. This will be easy access for both decorating and restocking the tree. The Giving Tree will be decorated on Friday, November 29th, 11:00. We will have decorations, presents, and ladders coming. We just need volunteers with giving spirits.
We also need volunteers to restock the tree daily from November 29th to January 7. We will supply you with packages and the timing is up to you. Please email us at givingtree@hvuuc.org with dates that you’d like to volunteer for restocking. Consecutive dates would logistically be easier than scattered dates throughout the season. see you Friday! Thanks for your generosity.