Thank you to everyone who so generously donated to the Project Deck the Halls with new and gently used holiday decorations. One year ago, many families in Washington County suffered unbelievable losses due to Hurricane Helene. Many have begun the long journey to rebuild their homes and their lives. Because of your generosity, they will also be able to begin making new holiday memories with the decorations you donated.
It took 2 full SUV trunks to deliver the items to storage in Jonesborough. The Washington County Long Term Recovery Group will distribute to the hurricane survivors right after Thanksgiving. You've shared your holiday gifts and joy with neighbors who truly needed a kickstart to a Joyous Holiday Season.
Thank you HVUUC!
Please email all submissions for the December newsletter by Monday December 1st to newsletter@hvuuc.org.
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 November 23, 2025.
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Women miners changed the often stereotyped narrative of coal mining, coal miners, mine safety, race relations, and the gendered workplace. But their impact went far beyond mine portals. This movement was women-run, beginning with the lawyer who sued 153 coal companies, organized women miners around the country, and opened doors unimaginable to their UMWA brothers. Marat Moore shares with us on this interesting and important piece of history.
Join us for church on November 30, 2025.
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
Rev. Tiffany facilitates an interactive service where we explore and actually "do" spiritual practices of Gratitude and Wonder. This service is highly accessible for all ages, and should be a lot of fun.
Headlines
· Minister’s Note
· Re News
· Ukulele Group
· Photo Archiving Event
· Women’s Night
· Potluck
· TUUCAN
· Movie Night
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
The Social Justice Committee would like to celebrate a big joy - after almost two years in the works, a statewide UU Action Network is being formed: The Tennessee UU Congregational Action Network (or TUUCAN).
Noel, Bob, Don, and Alesha attended a retreat this month where almost all of the 14 TN UU churches were represented. The goal is to have TN UUs work together collectively by pooling our resources and helping each other, in order to face issues that affect all of us across the state such as natural disasters or legislative concerns.
We would like to thank Don and Alesha for volunteering to be on a formative steering committee for TUUCAN as the group formalizes its processes and procedures, and they are happy to hear from you if you have questions or opinions. We are excited for future developments and hope you'll stay tuned about this ongoing joy!
Email sjchair@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Join us for church on January 26, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
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.
Join us for church on January 19, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
4:00pm Youth Group
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!
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
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
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
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
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
