Jessica Bowman
Songs for the Animals

Join us for church on February 22, 2026.

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Songs for the Animals”

The Unitarian Universalist commitment to love, empathy, and the inherent worth and dignity of all is always drawing the circle wider. Many of us understand that these values are for more than just humans, but all living beings who call this Earth home. Today, guest musicians PossumTrot Road and Rev. Tiffany reflect on our relationship with the rest of the natural world in this very special service, "Songs for the Animals".

Songs for the Animals
Jessica Bowman
K-5 Religious Education Volunteers Needed this ...

Hello You Gorgeous Souls!

Our Religious Education program is seeking two volunteers to help facilitate the K–5 class this Sunday, and this is a beautiful opportunity to step into shared ministry with our youngest community members!

One of our beloved facilitators is currently taking time to heal following the passing of her husband, and several of our regular volunteers will be attending the Guardian Orientation for the upcoming Stellar Sex Health (RISE) program. This creates an opening for others in our community to step forward and help hold this meaningful space.

If you have already completed a background check, wonderful — we would be so grateful for your support!

If you have not yet completed a background check, but have been attending HVUUC for three months or more, we can get that process started lickety-split! This includes a simple background screening and a brief discernment conversation with Rev. Tiffany and Jess. Our goal is always to create a safe, welcoming, and well-supported experience for both our volunteers and our youth.

You would not be stepping into this alone — curriculum and guidance are provided, and support is always nearby. What matters most is your presence, care, and willingness to be part of the whole that nurtures our children.

If you feel called to help this Sunday, or would like to begin the volunteer process, please contact Jess Ox, Director of Religious Education, at dre@hvuuc.org

Thank you for helping create a space where our children — and our entire community — can continue to grow, connect, and thrive together!

Jess Ox, DRE

K-5 Religious Education Volunteers Needed this Sunday and Beyond
Jessica Bowman
Women's Retreat Planning Committee

Last year there was the first Women's Retreat since COVID. It was a great event and fully subscribed. Is it time to do this again? If so, where/when? May 29-31? This is a call for those interested to join a planning committee hosted by Noel.

Interested parties should email president@hvuuc.org for more information.

Women's Retreat Planning Committee
Jessica Bowman
UUA General Assembly 2026

HVUUC is sending four individuals to UUA's virtual General Assembly this year, June 14-21! If you are interested in leadership development and building connections with other HVUUC folks as well as the wider UU community then please submit your application here: https://tinyurl.com/HVUUC-GA2026

Learn more about UUA's General Assembly here: https://www.uua.org/ga

Email vp@hvuuc.org with questions

UUA General Assembly 2026
Jessica Bowman
TUUCAN Safety and Security Workshop

Please join the Tennessee Unitarian Universalist Community Action Network (TUUCAN) Safety and Security Workshop at Westside Unitarian Universalist Church at 616 Fretz Rd, Knoxville, TN 37934 on Saturday, February 21st. It will also be on Zoom. The program will start with a section to reflect on individual risk assessment and then shift to conversations and best practices around protest safety, digital safety, and congregational safety.

The event runs from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM ET, with a potluck lunch and childcare provided. Home hospitality is available if needed. Registration is required to attend, and you can do so using this link-https://tinyurl.com/yc7ts8cp

Schedule of events:

9:30 AM ET- Coffee and conversation

10:00-12:00 PM ET- Spiritual grounding and discussion of risk assessment

12:00-12:45 PM ET- Potluck lunch

1:00- 3:00 PM ET- Discussions around protest, digital, and congregational safety- includes Q&A opportunity

Families/Couples attending: Please complete one form for each adult attending. If childcare is required, only complete that information on one form.

Registration link-https://tinyurl.com/yc7ts8cp

TUUCAN Safety and Security Workshop

Pledges Vs Plate Offerings - Why Pledge?

Pledges Vs Plate Offerings - Why Pledge?

What's the difference between Pledging and putting a donation in the plate to the church?

When the Board of Trustee's makes the budget for next year (we are in that process right now), we can only use Pledged Money to build that Budget. Money donated to the plate can only be spent at the end of the fiscal year. We run from June of this year to May of next year.

What if I can't give my whole pledge? We do build into the budget for possible lost pledges. Please Pledge what you can fulfill and add to the plate if you’re feeling generous.

Email stewardship@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Queer Communion

Queer Communion

Join us for church on January 18, 2026.

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

  • 4:00pm Youth Group

“Queer Communion”

Queer Communion is a practice of spirituality and ritual that reclaims the center of faith from the margins. As the editor of a collection of storytelling voices around the question of one's queerness and faith in the context of Appalachia, Davis Shoulders seeks to call into question the limiting narratives of what counts as spirituality and who is "worthy enough" to receive the benefit of a spiritual community. Breaking outside traditionalist notions of church and religion, this communion expands into the concept of place, healing, pageantry, reckoning, and hopefulness where radical communities of various faiths are centered on queer expression and acceptance.

Attachment, Connection, and Covenant

Attachment, Connection, and Covenant

Join us for church on January 11, 2026.

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Service

  • 12:00pm Potluck

“Attachment, Connection, and Covenant”

Rev. Tiffany explores the human impulse to connect, looking specifically at the different ways humans form attachments and relate to each other. We will look at the Unitarian Univeralist tool of Covenant and how that can inform the ways we connect with each other as a community.

Leadership Development Opportunities

Leadership Development Opportunities

HVUUC is expanding and it is the Board's desire to support individuals interested in taking a more substantial leadership role. To do so, the Board is offering stipends for leadership opportunities.

SOUUL Summit is quickly approaching on March 19-22, 2026 in Atlanta, GA (https://www.uuca.org/souul/). If you want to submit an application for a stipend for this leadership development, the deadline is 2/7/26.

Complete the application here: https://tinyurl.com/HVUUC-Leadership or email questions to vp@hvuuc.org.

We, the Board, are excited to support you stepping into leadership!

Risk Discernment Workshop

Risk Discernment Workshop

Make your wishes known as the congregation discerns which risks we want to take together as a community to transform ourselves, our community and our world!

On Sunday January 25th after church, Rev. Tiffany and team of our church leaders will be facilitating a Risk Discernment workshop sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist's social justice organization Side with Love. 

This workshop is designed specifically for us to gauge the risk tolerances of congregation members so that we can make better decisions about what is worth doing and what is too risky for our congregation when it comes to social justice matters.  But we can't do that unless you come and let us know where you're at.  We hope this workshop will be very well attended to help us get a clear sample of congregational values, hopes, and boundaries.

The youth group will be providing lunch as a fundraiser right after church, and the workshop itself will go from 1-3pm.

Please use the sign up sheet on the back table of the sanctuary, or email risk@hvuuc.org to let us know you're coming (and to help the youth prepare enough food).

Fire Communion & Drum Circle

Don’t forget to bring small drums or rhythm instruments this Sunday as a part of Fire Communion!

Join us for church on January 4, 2026.

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Fire Communion”

Join us for an interactive multi-generational New Year's service where we burn away what we want to leave in 2025 and imagine a better future for all of us in 2026.

Pancakes and Jam

Pancakes and Jam

Join us for church on December 28, 2025.

  • No RE

  • No Sermon

  • 10:30am Breakfast

  • 11:00am Musical Talent and Jam Session

“Pancakes and Jam”

Our beloved End-of-Year/New-Year tradition returns! A group of our HVUUC men and others volunteer to cook a pancake breakfast with common breakfast sides - 10:30 for food. Alongside the eating is an informal show of talent starting at 11 a.m., and if musicians choose, it wraps up in an on-the-spot jam session. This is not a traditional service: rather, it is a wonderful end-of-year event, an opportunity for fellowship. There will be no sermon or RE.

The Peace of the Season

The Peace of the Season

Join us for church on December 21, 2025.

  • 9:30 Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

  • 12:30pm Giving Tree Donations Packing

  • 12:45pm Christmas Caroling for homebound members and friends.

“The Peace of the Season”

During this darkest time of the year, many religions and traditions call us to peace and rest.  And yet, this is often the busiest time of the year for many.  How can we listen to our needs for rest and better care for ourselves and each other?  Join Rev. Tiffany for this exploration of rest and peace, and come to say farewell to James as his time as our Music Director is coming to an end.

Leadership Development Opportunities

Leadership Development Opportunities

Leadership Development Opportunities:

Do you want to serve in a leadership position at HVUUC, but want more training before diving in? Would you like to development your existing leadership skills?

There are a number of trainings coming up:
Southern Region UUA- Lead with Love 2/7/26 in Greenville, SC (https://uua.wufoo.com/forms/qkqkmlm0mhvfl4/)

SOUUL Summit March 19-22, 2026 in Atlanta, GA (https://www.uuca.org/souul/) - early bird registration by 12/31/25!

General Assembly (GA) June 14-21, 2026 online (https://www.uua.org/ga)

UU Institute online training programs (https://uuinstitute.org/).

If you want to submit an application for financial assistance for any of these options, complete this form: www.tinyurl.com/HVUUCleaders or email questions to vp@hvuuc.org.

We are excited to see you step into leadership!

Festivals of Light - NO RE

Festivals of Light - NO RE

Join us for church on December 14, 2025.

  • NO RE

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Potluck

“Festivals of Light”

An annual, intergenerational service to recognize different holidays of light celebrated throughout the year from different faith traditions, including Hanukkah, Diwali, Advent, Humanlight, Bhodi Day, Winter Solstice, and the history of our own Unitarian Universalist chalice. The entire service will be lit only by candles and includes a candle lighting ceremony for everyone to participate in. Join us for this beloved service full of stories and songs where we will discover how each of us has our own light to share for the world.