Spiritual Direction: An Evolving UU Practice

Before I go, I'd like to offer a final recommendation for Spiritual Direction and share what it entails. While it is an ancient practice, it continues to evolve today.

What is Spiritual Direction?
At its core, Spiritual Direction is a focused conversation where two people (or sometimes a group) listen deeply for the presence of the sacred or genuine voice within the directee’s life.
It is not clinical counseling, nor is it governed by clinical regulations.

It is not coaching, though it may contain some elements of accountability or goal-setting related to spiritual practice.

It is distinct from general spiritual or pastoral care; it maintains its own dedicated focus on exploring the directee’s relationship with mystery and meaning.

Different forms exist, ranging from those rooted in Christian traditions (such as Ignatian spirituality) to broad interfaith/inter-spiritual approaches, like the one I have been trained in.

UU Connections and Resources
Spiritual Direction is seeing a resurgence in Unitarian Universalism (UU), with a growing emphasis on adding more trained practitioners.

Organization Description & Link

UU Spiritual Directors Network (UUSDN)
Connects UU directors and provides resources. https://www.uusdn.org/

Meadville Lombard Theological School
Offers a dedicated certificate program for spiritual directors.

Spiritual Directors International (SDI)
A global professional organization for directors. Many UU directors are members. https://www.sdicompanions.org/

UU World Article
For further reading on the current UU movement around spiritual direction: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/uu-spiritual-direction-about-resources-unitarian-universalism


My Personal Experience
I have been working with a spiritual director for over a year and can personally attest to the transformative impact this work can have. I am currently nearing completion of my own training program and am accepting clients under supervision.

If you or someone you know is interested in finding a spiritual director or learning more, please feel free to reach out to me in the future.

Take good care,

Justin Ridley

The social justice committee invites HVUUC to join us at TriPride for the parade and festival!

Parade:
Truck Decorating: 8:30am  
Arrive for line-up: 10am
Parade starts promptly at 11am

Location:  S. Roan onto Commerce St - Volunteers will be at this street entrance to place groups in their staging areas

Ways to join us in parade:
1. Ride in bed of truck  
2. Walk & hand out candy/stickers
3. Carry banner

Visit our tent during the festival 12pm-7pm. There are crafts of making friendship bracelets and drawing a patchwork of Pride hands!

The goal is to have fun, let our Patchwork of Pride, Rainbows Resilience shine through, dance in the streets and interact with our community.

It's going to be a great day!!

Email tripride@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Join us for church on Oct 5, 2025!

• NO RE

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

• 12:30pm Reclaim the Vote Postcard Writing Campaign

“Take This Soul and Make It Sing”

Andy Brown, Executive Director of the Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council (ARCD) presents an overview of ARCD’s three core programs and how these impact our community: Farmland Conservation, Agricultural Enterprise and Nutrition and Food Access for All. Emphasis will be on the Nutrition and Food Access for All because ultimately that program has an impact for all of us. Relating this theme of nutrition/ ‘feeding the hungry” to the gospels of Jesus, and emphasized by Lao Tzu, considered the father of Taoism. And, offering a call to action that is in keeping with our UU principle of worth and dignity of every person.

We had an ENews delivery outage for about a week. Here are some things you may have missed!

Auction Donations

Music Listening Circle

October Newsletter

Trunk or Treat

New Member Ceremony

During our Sunday service on October 12th, we will be welcoming new members with this season’s New Member Ceremony.

If you have taken the Path to Membership classes and would like to participate in the ceremony and become a member, email PTM@hvuuc.org by October 6th. Please include 3 or 4 sentences about yourself, written in third person, as an introduction to the congregation. Your introduction will be read to the congregation as you sign the membership book. (This portion of the Sunday service is not posted to YouTube.)

If you have taken the Path to Membership classes and would like to become a member this fall but cannot participate in this ceremony, a private signing can be scheduled.

We welcome you to our congregation and look forward to hearing from you!

Headlines

• Scammers Alert

• Voter Postcards Event

•  Listening Circle about Music

•  TUUCAN Fall Flock

•  Resistance to Authoritarianism

•  Service Auction Donations

•  Veteran’s Plaque

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.

Believe it or not. It's time to think about the Service Auction on November 8th.

If you’re new to HVUUC, our Service Auction is a much anticipated event every fall. Yes, it’s a fundraiser but really it’s more of a FUN raiser, where you and other congregants get together to offer a service, event, or item.

There’s no limit to the activities or the items you can “auction” off. You can offer handyman services, teach a paint party, host a dinner, auction off baked goods, original art, and more! Wherever your passion and talents lie, there’s room for it at the service auction.

Want to provide a meal but don't have the room? Use the churches kitchen for your event! You can check the church calendar on our website and reserve time and space by emailing office@hvuuc.org.

We would encourage you to donate items that can be redeemed any time during the next year.

Donate your services, event, or items using the Auctria website using the link below. Email auction@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Click here to donate now.

Join us for church on September 28, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Fools, Wise and Otherwise”

For years now, Rev. Tiffany has been obsessed with the archetype of the Fool. Whether it's Taoism's Wise Fool, the Fool of the tarot beginning a new journey of transformation, or a court jester who uses his outsider status to speak truth to power, the fool is often more than they seem.

The Music Committee and Rev. Tiffany will be hosting a Music Listening Circle after potluck on Sunday, October 12th.

This is your chance to help shape the future trajectory of our music program.  Whether you like to make music or just want to listen to it, we want your help and your input to make our future programming and staffing the best it can be for HVUUC.

Email minister@hvuuc.org with any questions.

The "Odd Fellow Cemetery" is a historical black cemetery in Elizabethton that has both enslaved people and freed blacks buried there.  The Helene flooding really messed it up and people are trying to restore this historical site.

There are currently two dates scheduled for a clean up. Saturday Oct 4th and Saturday October 11th. Folks will be meeting at Eastside Elementary in Elizabethton at 8:45am on these days.

For more info contact 423-737-5089

For more information about the cemetery visit this local news article:

/www.wjhl.com/news/local/elizabethton-community-members-working-to-restore-historic-black-cemetery/?

Please email all submissions for the October newsletter by Monday September 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 September 21, 2025!

• 9:00am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Hurricane Helene Remembrance”

In late September of 2024, Hurricane Helene changed the landscape of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina forever. A year later, we gather to contemplate our interconnectedness with the land, the weather, each other, and our wider community of East Tennesseans in a service that will make space for grief and gratitude. Rev. Tiffany will facilitate our experience.

First of all, thanks to the Let's Chat Covenant group for hosting coffee hour on September 7.  Much appreciated.

Secondly, a coordinator(s) is/are needed for the October 13 potluck,  If you can help or have questions, please contact fellowship@hvuuc.org. THANKS!

And, finally, coffee hour hosts are needed for Sunday, October 19.  Please sign up on the calendar beside the large coffee urn in the Fred Ball room or email coffeehour@hvuuc.org.
Thank you for all the help!

The Tennessee Unitarian Universalist Community Action Network (TUUCAN) invites all Tennessee UUs to Nashville for the Fall Flock on Saturday, October 18th, at First UU Church of Nashville (FUUN) from 9 am to 4 pm (Central Time)

We will share food, fellowship, and support each other during these difficult times in our cities, state, and country. We will learn how UU State Action Networks across the United States turn UU values into positive action. We will nurture deeper relationships, strengthen our social justice ecosystem, and create plans for a world with love at the center.

We hope to represent - in person or via Zoom - each of our 14 UU communities in Tennessee and beyond. Register at https://bit.ly/tuucan25 or email sjchair@hvuuc.org for questions or assistance.

If attending via zoom, keep in mind that the event will be 10:00-5:00 Eastern Standard Time

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 September 14, 2025!

• 9:00am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Potluck

“Small Group Ministries”

In this service, Covenant Groups will be defined and demonstrated by our trained Facilitators. Selected former Covenant Group members will also offer a brief testimonial about the benefits of being in a Covenant Group. Congregation will have an opportunity to participate in a mini session lead by Facilitators in order to experience how a Covenant Group works. Following the service, congregants will have the opportunity to enroll in several upcoming Groups.

Believe it or not. It's time to think about the Service Auction on November 8th.

If you’re new to HVUUC, our Service Auction is a much anticipated event every fall. Yes, it’s a fundraiser but really it’s more of a FUN raiser, where you and other congregants get together to offer a service, event, or item.

There’s no limit to the activities or the items you can “auction” off. You can offer handyman services, teach a paint party, host a dinner, auction off baked goods, original art, and more! Wherever your passion and talents lie, there’s room for it at the service auction.

Want to provide a meal but don't have the room? Use the churches kitchen for your event! You can check the church calendar on our website and reserve time and space by emailing office@hvuuc.org.

We would encourage you to donate items that can be redeemed any time during the next year.

Donate your services, event, or items using the Auctria website using the link below. Email auction@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Click here to donate now.

Join us in the parade and visit our booth at TriPride on October 11th at Founder Parks in Johnson City.

We need volunteers for both the parade and the booth. Anyone wanting to volunteer can reach out to tripride@hvuuc.org. Booth volunteering will be for 1 hour slots. We also need 2 volunteers for set up at 7 am, and 2 volunteers to take down at 7pm.

For anyone wanting to just attend the festival for fun, it is a free event. See more information at https://www.tripridetn.org/