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.
Game Night, Movie Night, and Path to Membership
Lessons from the Silent Disco
Join us for church on February 16, 2025!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
4:00pm Youth Group
“Lessons from the Silent Disco”
Murmurations of starlings, schools of fish, and humans gathered at a silent disco all give the appearance of moving to an unseen beat or current. What can we learn about how we build community, from observing these trends?
Determining Interest for a Meal Brigade
HVUUC has been invited to consider whether we have the capability to occasionally feed work groups coming into the area for Helene repair. Rev. Tiffany is currently gauging interest to see if we have enough to move forward in our involvement.
The Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) of Washington County is organizing many of the relief and recovery efforts in Washington County. Many work groups (including a lot of church groups) are expected to come in during the spring, and some are coming already! The LTRG is developing a list of church groups that can provide food for these relief workers while they're here. Does our church have enough interest to form a Meal Brigade group for these efforts? Is there anyone interested in being the organizer and point of contact for this work?
If you have some free time and some interest, email Rev. Tiffany at minister@hvuuc.org and let her know!
Meet with your Minister
Have you noticed that our congregation is growing? While Sunday attendance varies from week to week, our official membership number has increased and our average Sunday attendance is up by about 10%!
It is a unique challenge to try to get to know everyone at this point, and that is true for member and minister alike! Dunbar's number says it's difficult to make a meaningful connection with more than 150 people in your life at one time, and the church's official membership is now at 146!
Whether you're an official member of the church, a friend of the church, or you are just visiting and considering how involved you want to be, Rev. Tiffany would love a chance to get to know you.
She has a convenient meeting scheduling app that tracks her availability. You can sign up for an hour or half an hour, and can indicate whether you want to meet at the office or on the phone or zoom.
Click here to schedule some time:
https://calendly.com/tiffanysappuu
Game Night, New Group Policy, & Religion in Appalachia
From Genesis to the Universe Story
Join us for church on February 9, 2025!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Potluck
“From Genesis to the Universe Story”
The Genesis Creation and Fall stories in the bible are foundational to our Unitarian Universalist Heritage. What does this 3000 year old myth mean to Unitarian Universalists today? Longtime member George Cross shares some of his thoughts about the Adam and Eve story.
Reimagining the Boundaries of Religion in Appalachia
BEYOND THE CHURCH WALLS: REIMAGINING THE BOUNDARIES OF RELIGION IN APPALACHIA
PRESENTED BY DR. JENNIFER AXSOM ADLER
Saturday, February 15th, 10:00 a.m. First Presbyterian Church Elizabethton 119 West F Street, Elizabethton, TN
First Presbyterian Church Elizabethton is sponsoring a free lecture on Sat , February 15, by Dr. Jennifer Axsom Adler, titled "Beyond the Church Walls: Reimagining the Boundaries of Religion in Appalachia." This event will be conducted at the church and also streamed live from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Refreshments will be offered. For a head count, please register by going to fpcelizabethton.org. Thanks go to the Christian Education Committee for coordinating the program.
According to Adler, religion in Appalachia is much more complicated than is commonly recognized. "It is often imagined as predominantly Christian, with Baptists playing a particularly central role," she asserts. "But a thorough examination of the history reveals a much more complex and diverse narrative. For church groups, this exploration could offer a fresh perspective related to their own congregations histories.
A native of Bloomington, Indiana, Adler is currently an assistant professor of history at ETSU. She holds a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard College and a master's and doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University. From the lecture, Adler would like attendees to gain deeper- appreciation for the rich diversity of religious practices and identities in the region. In addition, she plans to introduce the concept of 'vernacular religion," which scholars define as "religion as it is lived: as human beings encounter, understand, and interpret it." This concept offers a valuable framework for examining the lived experience of religion in Appalachia .
New Group Size Policy
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 the policy. It is then shared with the congregation along with an email address to submit comments to the Board about the proposed policy. After the comment period, 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 Policy Book.
The following policy has been voted by the Board of Trustees (BoT) to send to the congregation for comment:
The BoT has developed a new policy about types of groups within the church and the privileges granted to them. There are some groups at HVUUC that are integral to the operation of the church like Choir, Social Justice, Small Group Ministries, Youth Group, etc. There are other fellowship groups that use the church facilities but do not ask for funding from the Church as a line item on our budget like MACHO, Women’s Group, BUUK Group, etc. And there are, or may be, other fellowship groups that would like to use the Church facilities and be funded as part of the church budget. To address the differences in the way both fellowship groups would be handled, the Board proposes the following:
Types of Groups and Their Privileges
The definition of a ‘Group’ is the following:
· A number of people, including church members and friends
· People gather to do one or many activities for fellowship or education
· They are not a standing Committee of the church
· Their existence is acknowledged by Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
· To form a Group, a minimum of (5) church members or friends must be committed to being members of the Group. Group of this size is called a ‘Level One Group’.
Privileges of a Level One Group are the following:
· Having a church email address
· Receiving support from the office and minister
· Having the ability to reserve the building or rooms in the church building
· Having the Group’s events in the church calendar and e-news
· Level One Groups do not have a line in the church budget nor are they provided funding from the church.
If a Group would like funding from the church, they would have to become a ‘Level Two Group’. The requirements to become a Level Two Group are:
· At least five (5) members of the Group are church members and friends
· A written structure of organized leadership, including a process of rotating leadership
· A written internal covenant with the leadership and its members
· A written covenant with the Board
· A mission statement
· Meet at least four (4) times a fiscal year
· A record of attendance of every meeting submitted to their designated Board Trustee
· A yearly report submitted to their designated Board Trustee
The privileges of a Level Two Group are all privileges of a Level One Group as well as the ability to be funded by the church. In exchange for being funded by the church, Level Two Groups are required to do at least two (2) of the following every fiscal year:
· Conduct and clean up Coffee Hour at least four (4) times a fiscal year
· Provide a Sunday service one (1) time a fiscal year
· Provide a Sunday potluck and clean up at least two (2) times a fiscal year
· Offer at least one item or service at the annual church auction
· Have at least 75% of Group members participate in church work days
· Conduct a fundraiser where the proceeds will be donated to the church
· Any item(s) or service(s) that is approved by the current Minister
The Board has full oversight and final say on funding Groups and which Groups qualify.
If you have any comments for or against this policy, please email your comments to president@hvuuc.org by February 16, 2025, so that your comments can be reviewed prior to the Board's final vote on this policy.
Women's Night, Photo Archiving Event and Potluck
Brigid: Goddess and Saint
Join us for church on February 2, 2025!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
“Brigid: Goddess and Saint”
Across the sea, in an island of green, the figure of Brigid looms large. Is she a Goddess? Is she a Saint? What would it mean to be both? And what can that teach us about our Pluralism?
February 2025 Newsletter
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
Statewide Action Network (TUUCAN)
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.
Imbolc Ritual, Women's Night, and Potluck
Social Justice Sunday
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.
February Newsletter Deadline
Astronomy Presentation, Movie Night, and Ukelele Group
A Tale of Two Kings: Politics and Religion
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.
Newsletter Birthdays
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!