Join us for church on January 26, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Social Justice Sunday”

Our annual Social Justice Sunday this year will focus on a couple groups that have been assisting victims of Hurricane Helene damage in our region. Artie Davis will tell us about outreach from the Tri-Cities Mutual Aid Network, and Kristina Rowles will talk about the work of the Appalachian Service Project. Join us to learn more about these organizations and how we can strive to help our community in trying times.

Please email all submissions for the February newsletter by Wednesday Jan 29 to newsletter@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.

Join us for church on January 19, 2024!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

• 4:00pm Youth Group

“A Tale of Two Kings: Politics and Religion”

What do Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and King John Sigusmund of Transylvania have to teach us about the intersection of politics and religion? Join Rev. Tiffany for this exploration of two important historical figures, how they impacted both Unitarian Universalism and the wider world.

Happy Birthday! Feliz Cumpleanos! Congratulations! Buon Cumpleanno! E ku asheye ojo ibi! Bon Anniversaire!

Long ago, when HVUUC (paper) newsletters arrived to (USPS) mailboxes, they included a list of member and friend birthdays occurring that month. Where did all the birthdays go? We’re not sure but we are proposing to bring them back.

Members, friends, and staff: Would you like to add your birthday (month and day only) to the monthly newsletter? It’s free! Discontinue at any time. If you would like to opt in, send your name that we know you by (first and last) and your birthday (month and day) to Membership@hvuuc.org  or contact Lori. Parents/caregivers opt in for folks under 18 years old.

Interest will be determined by the number of responses received in January, so please don’t wait until your birthday month to reply. Thank you and bring out the cake!

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.

There are so many opportunities for celebrating Martin Luther King Day in Johnson City! 

We are especially excited about participating once again in the Peace Walk that begins at the Carver Center in Johnson City at 1pm on January 20th.  We hope to see you there!

Click through for more details about MLK Day Events.

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?