Join us for church on June 15, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

• 4:00pm Youth Group

“Who do you think you are?”

Marina Munjal, co-founder of Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center in Johnson City and long-time HVUUC member invites us to consider the possibility that who we think we are is merely a product of our history and environment, and not a fixed unchangeable self to protect, defend, and hold onto tightly. What is behind the carefully crafted mask we wear to meet the expectations of those around us? Can we find the space to let go of the tight grip and relax into the liberating flow of life?

The Music Committee and the Facilities Team have worked together to transform the music room into a dual purpose hospitality room for people who need it.  The glass window plus a speaker inside the room makes it possible for folks with a higher needs kid, or adults with sensory overwhelm, or anyone who might find it useful, to tend to their needs with a little more privacy, should they wish it.

In our desire to be hospitable and inclusive, Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church has a variety of tools to support families:

The nursery is available with two childcare professionals during services for ages 6 and under.

Our new fidget station has a variety of quiet fidgets for people of all ages who need something to do with their hands while they are in the service.

And we have this hospitality room!

Interested in participating in a Circle Supper?  If so, please send your name to circlesuppers@hvuuc.org.  Interested participants will meet, probably via Zoom, to discuss details and procedures.  Details and procedures will naturally depend on the number of interested participants.

Suppers, if we get enough interest, will start in September.  You are expressing your interest, not your commitment!

What's a Circle Supper?

It is a group of 4, 5, or 6 people who select a date within a month to meet for dinner.  The entire group, not just the group that eats together,  will decide if each person brings something or if the host supplies the food. You may be able to use the church occasionally if hosting is a problem. The next month the people eating together will be changed  (Couples will stay together unless they choose to separate), so that by the end of the cycle, you have met many new friends. A cycle may include three, four, or five months, depending on how many participants there are. At the beginning of the cycle, you will receive an email listing who meets with whom and when.

If interested email circlesuppers@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 June 8, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Potluck

• 12:15pm Music Committee

“Barbara Gittings: From Learning Alone to Teaching the World”

After a lifetime of activism, Barbara Gittings' last action for the LGBTQ+ movement was to come out in her nursing home newsletter: "As a teenager, I had to struggle alone to learn about myself and what it meant to be gay. Now for 48 years I've had the satisfaction of working with other gay people all across the country to get the bigots off our backs, to oil the closet door hinges, to change prejudiced hearts and minds, and to show that gay love is good for us and for the rest of the world too. It's hard work — but it's vital, and it's gratifying, and it's often fun!" This Sunday Rev. Tiffany kicks off Pride month with an exploration of this incredible woman's life, and we commission our newly elected Board into their year of service.

As part of the Music Room/Hospitality Room clean up, we discovered a few dozen old CDs of music created by members and friends of HVUUC.

We don't know how old the CDs are and don't recognize a few of the names on the CDs, but this music is worth celebrating! (rather than just collecting dust and taking up space)

They are on a table in the Fred Ball Room, please take one next time you're at church!

Join us for church on June 1, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

• 12:15pm Choir Rehearsal

“A View from the Barber's Chair”

Everyone we meet has a different perspective. How do we seek out these perspectives, and what do we learn when we search beyond our own comfort zones and echo chambers? This Sunday Rev Tiffany explores the people we meet on our quest for truth and meaning, with some help from Steven Roberts who will be reflecting on his practice of getting haircuts in foreign countries.

Headlines

• · Minister’s Note

• · Ukulele Group

• · Potluck

• · GA Feedback Session

• · Veteran’s Plaque

• · Auction Equity

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.

Join us for church on May 25th, 2025!

• NO RE this week

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“A Wild and Holy Vision”

As a prophetic people, Unitarian Universalists have often been at the front of transformation and liberal change. But what the heck does it mean to be prophetic? What is prophesy? Is this about the end of the world? And don’t we have enough doomsayers? Let’s explore the idea of faithfully imagining the kind of world we long to see with Shawn Gibson, UU Ministerial candidate.

Our church is going to create a plaque honoring congregants who served in the military.

If you have served and would like your name to be on the plaque, please email veterans@hvuuc.org with your name, dates of service, and military branch.

Things are always a little different in the summer. Here are a few things you may want to keep in mind as we move into a slightly different rhythm.

Dates Reverend Tiffany will be out:

• Sunday 6/15 through 6/22: Ministry Days & General Assembly, Professional Development

• Monday 6/30 through 7/6: Vacation Week

• Monday 7/21 through 7/27: Vacation Week

When Rev. Tiffany is out she is available by cell phone in the case of emergencies to church staff and board leaders. Be aware that this is a time when a lot of scammers target the church, we will never ask for sensitive information, money or gift cards via email.

No RE:

• May 25th

• July 6th

All kids and youth will participate in combined Summer RE on the back deck at the regular time at 9:30. Lots of fun topics and activities are planned! Email DRE@hvuuc.org with any questions or to volunteer.

Fall RE resumes on August 10th.

Office closed:

The office will be closed Thursday July 3rd.

Church Picnic:

Our annual church picnic will be Saturday August 23rd at 5:00pm. The Church will supply the burgers, hot dogs, buns, drinks, and condiments. Please bring a snack, side dish, salad, or dessert! Email fellowship@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Please email all submissions for the June newsletter by Wednesday May 28th 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 May 18th, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

• 4:00pm Youth Group

“Shel Silverstein”

The poetry of Shel Silverstein has captured the imagination of several generations. This Sunday, Rev. Tiffany and some of the biggest Shel Silverstein fans in the congregation see what we can learn from this unique and much beloved source.

Fellowship Funds available for Auction Equity

In order to allow as many congregants as possible to participate in our Annual Service Auction fundraiser, the Stewardship Team is happy to offer the opportunity to work volunteer hours in lieu of paying for service auction events.  

Here are the details:
-An hour of volunteer work is worth $20/hr. for auction credit
-There is a cap of 15 volunteer hours for credit per person
-The volunteer hours cannot be volunteer work that you are already doing for the church, but will be high-need volunteer areas determined by Rev. Tiffany and/or the Stewardship Team, but you will get some say in what you do.

How it works:
-You attend the service auction and bid like everyone else does.  Make sure not to bid more than $300 total or you will exceed the cap on hours.
-When it's time to check out, let the person checking you out know that you are going to pay with volunteer hours.
-Post auction someone will follow up with you to set up a time to review the list of high-need volunteer work, and together you will choose what to do.
-You will get an occasional follow-up from that person to see how you are making progress in your volunteer hours.

For additional information or clarification please contact stewardship@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 May 11th, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Potluck

“Mothers Day for Peace”

Parenting can feel especially hard when the world doesn't feel worthy of holding your children. How do we parent as authentic, faithful, Unitarian Universalist when the world feels like it is on fire? The origins of Mother's Day is intertwinned with the Peace movement, and it gives us some clues about how we can do this. On this day Rev. Tiffany explores the challenges of parenting, the hope that we still have, and dedicates a new Peace Pole for the congregation.

Registration has been extended to May 10th, limited rooms still available as well as camping. Scholarships available, no one will be turned away!

Dates: May 30 --June 1st

INFO & REGISTRATION HERE: Www.tinyurl.com/hvuucwomen

THEME:
Radical Joy in Hard Times

PLACE:
The Peace Pentagon (www.peacepentagon.net)
88 Oracle Way, Independence, VA

We will have access to the entire campus which includes New River frontage, a babbling creek for water ceremony, turtle labyrinth, medicine wheel and peace pole as well as the picnic pavilion, bathhouse and, of course, the Peace Pentagon chapel.

CONVENER:
Rev. Becky Suzik, UU Peace Fellowship (https://uupf.org) Raleigh, NC;
Rev. Becky’s personal charity: www.joyfuel.org


The purpose of our gathering is to persist in bringing the frequency of JOY into our lives as we face difficult times. The greatest antidote to fear and separation is community, heart resonance and kindling JOY. And, yes, better together!

This gathering is flexible. Come Friday evening for a bonfire, drumming and stay on campus – rates ranging from $25/night camping to $100 for a private King bed and bath. Another option it to rent the whole house and share costs. Plus taxes.

OR – come for just Saturday.. arrive at 10 for a full day of JOY immersion.

PLANNING:
Are you interested in planning the details for the gathering? For example, food committee, leading a JOY activity, other?

Email Noel:  VP@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Register here: http://www.tinyurl.com/hvuucwomen

It is time to get ready for Summer RE!

In the summer we combine our K-12 programming into one class. Each week we have a different topic or activity suitable for all ages. Last summer we had paper airplanes, dutch oven cooking, wildflower seed bombs, ecobricks, homemade pizza and more!

If you have a subject you’d like to share one week please sign up in the entryway of the church or e-mail Justin Ridley, dre@hvuuc.org if you are interested.