Sunday morning your Minister, Board President, and Facilities representative will assess whether we feel it is safe to have church open or not.  IF we decide to close church, you can find out about the closure in two ways:
-Our Facebook Page
-In the text of our Home Page at www.hvuuc.org

We are unable to share this timely information via ENews when it happens because of a delay built into our ENews system.  So please monitor these other sources of information on Sunday morning.

If church is cancelled we will post an abbreviated version of the church service to YouTube by Sunday night, you can access our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/HolstonValleyUnitarianUniversalistChurch/featured

Join us for church on January 12, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Potluck

“The Power of Personal Precepts”

How do we make principled decisions? Can we create a solid foundation so that we can go beyond reactions and triggers and live the life we want to live? Today Rev. Tiffany explores how Systems Theory approaches to life and community can help us in navigating the big questions of life.

We are watching the weather and want to inform you about how you can find out IF church is cancelled on Sunday morning.  Read on for more detail!

Sunday morning your Minister, Board President, and Facilities representative will assess whether we feel it is safe to have church open or not.  IF we decide to close church, you can find out about the closure in two ways:
-Our Facebook Page
-In the text of our Home Page at www.hvuuc.org

We are unable to share this timely information via ENews when it happens because of a delay built into our ENews system.  So please monitor these other sources of information on Sunday morning.

If church is cancelled we will post an abbreviated version of the church service to YouTube by Sunday night, you can access our YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/HolstonValleyUnitarianUniversalistChurch/featured

We’ve had several reports recently of HVUUC emails ending up in spam folders. If you’re missing communication from us please check your spam folder and mark HVUUC as a a safe sender.

Interested in learning and discussing Unitarian Universalist history?

George Cross and Bryan Kleske are facilitating a Small Covenant Group, starting on

February 4th, and meet on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays through April for a total of six meetings.

The first meeting will be at HVUUC.  We will discuss further meeting format to possibly include 

an in person and zoom combo.  

We will be watching Long Strange Trip, a six-part video series by Ron Cordes, that explores 

the history of Unitarian and Universalist thought and practice from the early, liberal strands 

in faith at the beginning of the Christian era to what we know today as Unitarian Universalism.

The video parts will be emailed out for viewing prior to the planned 2 hour meetings.

Only 8 spots are available so email uuhistory@hvuuc.org to claim your spot before the class fills up!

HVUUC will be hosting Comprehensive Sexuality Education for 3-5 graders beginning in January during normal RE hours. The program will begin with a Guardian Orientation on Sunday, January 12, from 9:30 - 10:45 AM in the Meditation Hall of the REZ. Subsequent workshops will begin on January 26 from 9:30 - 10:45 am. Please see the registration page for more information and full details and schedule. Registration is free and we are limited to 15 spaces so please sign up as soon as possible.

Please follow the link to the registration page: https://hvuuc-3.betterworld.org/events/our-whole-lives-sexuality-educat

If you have questions or would like more information please reach out to our DRE, Justin Ridley dre@hvuuc.org

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.

Please bring drums and noisemakers to share at Fire Communion this Sunday, January 5th! Towards the end of the service there will be a drum circle and we want everyone to be a part of the joyous noise. Bring hand drums (djembes, bongos, congas, frame drums, etc.), noisemakers (shakers, tambourines, etc.) and anything else you would like to share with the drum circle.

Join us for church on January 5, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Fire Communion”

Begin the New Year by letting go of the old year! Fire Communion is a chance to contemplate what in your life you want to burn up and leave behind as we move into the new year. This clears the way for what is good and new in 2025. Come celebrate the possibilities with us!

Because of the holidays we are having our Fifth Sunday Offering on the First Sunday of January instead!

This quarter's recipient of the 5th Sunday Offering is RISE: Healthy for Life

RISE has its origins in our very own congregation's OWL program when members of this community were inspired by a vision of offering comprehensive, evidence-based sexuality education to the wider community here in East Tennessee.  They work to change culture by educating and empowering youth as young as kindergarten through older adults.  Truly comprehensive sex ed (CSE) leads to healthier, more respectful relationships, self-confidence, and more responsible decision-making.

If you wish to support RISE's work in the Tri-Cities, please make your donation in the white envelope that will be included in this Sunday's bulletin.  

If you cannot attend on Sunday and still want to support their work, you can click on this link to donate directly to RISE: https://risehealthylife.betterworld.org/campaigns/support-our-work-today

Please bring drums and noisemakers to share at Fire Communion this Sunday, January 5th! Towards the end of the service there will be a drum circle and we want everyone to be a part of the joyous noise. Bring hand drums (djembes, bongos, congas, frame drums, etc.), noisemakers (shakers, tambourines, etc.) and anything else you would like to share with the drum circle.

Email musicdirector@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Headlines

• Minister’s Note

• UU History

• Music Corner

• Photo Archiving Event

• Women’s Night

• Geology and Astronomy

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

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.

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

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?

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

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!

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 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.

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

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 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.