The Social Justice Committee has selected the State Line Abortion Access Partners as our 5th Sunday recipient on August 31st. Throughout August we will be collecting menstrual supplies for SLAAP.

SLAPP Board Members Barbara Schwartz and Stephanie Rosenwinge will describe the work that they do in our region to help women. They will give a brief presentation and will table afterwards providing information and welcoming volunteers to their work.

There will be a donation barrel for supplies throughout August. You may also donate electronically through our website: https://hvuuc.org/donate and designate 5th Sunday-SLAAP

Join us this Labor Day weekend, on Saturday August 30th at 4pm, for a free concert at HVUUC. Our own local musicians will be performing many classic tunes for you to enjoy. There is no ticket charge, but donations for our performers and our music team are greatly welcomed at the door. Fresh drinks and snacks will be sold as well.

Email musicchair@hvuuc.org with any questions.

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.

The August NUTs community ukulele group meeting is August 23, at 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (just one meeting in August).

All ukulele enthusiasts of any level are welcome to attend. Are you curious or just want to sing along for now? Join us. We might even have an extra ukulele to loan out at the meeting.

Information about the meetings and NUTS group is on the official web page: https://sites.google.com/view/northeastukesters/home

Check out the Music page for the upcoming month's playlist where you can download chord sheets, and review play-along videos.

NUTs Facebook group:
www.facebook.com/groups/nuts.uke.group/

This is a community event, held at the HVUUC campus. It is not an HVUUC event.

Email ukulele@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Hey all, the next board game group is Friday the 22nd.  Beginners and first timers super welcome.

Email gamegroup@hvvuc.org

The HVUUC Youth Group will meet Sunday, August 17, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm in the REZ. Please bring your arts and crafts materials as we will continue working on our items for the upcoming Arts and Crafts Sale fundraiser. If you do not have materials some will be provided. Please come out for fun, crafts, art, snacks and hanging out!

If you have questions please contact Justin Ridley, dre@hvuuc.org

How do we understand religion in Appalachia beyond familiar church steeples and denominational labels? Join Dr. Jennifer Axsom Adler, a historian of religion at East Tennessee State University, for a workshop that explores the surprising diversity of religious life across the Appalachian region. Dr. Adler invites participants to explore how sacred landscapes, lived experience, and vernacular religious practices have shaped Appalachian identity, often in unexpected ways. This workshop offers an opportunity to challenge stereotypes, reflect on your own community’s religious history, and gain new insight into what religion has meant—and continues to mean—in Appalachia.

Dr. Jennifer Axsom Adler is an assistant professor of history at East Tennessee State University, where she teaches courses in world religions, American religious history, and religion in Appalachia. Her research focuses on sacred space, material culture, ritual practice, and lived religion in American life. A first-generation college student and native of Indiana, she earned her A.B. in Government from Harvard College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Religion from Vanderbilt University.

Additional Information: Childcare is available for both the service and the workshop. The Youth Group will be hosting a Pizza Sale Fundraiser between the service and workshop during coffee hour -- 12:00 - 12:30.

The Youth Group will be hosting a Pizza Sale Fundraiser after the service on Sunday, August 10, from 12:00 - 1:00 pm.

This is their second fundraiser in a series of fundraisers to raise money for their trip to Dollywood this fall. Please stop by and grab some pizza to support their cause after the service.

$5 suggested donation.

Contact DRE, Justin Ridley, if you have any questions. dre@hvuuc.org

Our Annual RE Teacher Training will be held Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at HVUUC in the Fred Ball Room.

Please come if you are a new or returning teacher. We will go over the RE Teacher Training Packet, review curricula for Fall RE, and you will have a chance to collaborate and plan with you co-teachers.

Please reach out to our DRE, Justin Ridley, at dre@hvuuc.org if you are interested in teaching this Fall, or if you are unable to attend. New teachers are always welcome!

Hey all, game nights are back on starting August 8th and should run regularly every second and 4th Friday of the month.  Starting time moved up slightly to 6:00pm to allow more fun to be had!  Come as early as 5:30 for pre-game warm up, snacks, and chatter.

Email gamegroup@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Please join CUUPS in celebrating the first harvest ritual; commonly called Lughnasadh or Lammas.  

We will hold ritual at 6 pm followed by a potluck dinner. Please bring a dish to share. All are welcome.

Email cuups@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Friday August 1st, 6:30 p.m. All who identify as women are welcome to the first-Friday Women's night. Hosted by Dana E. in her north-Jonesborough home. Come be energized by the support of other women.

Sharing of easy finger-food snacks and libations are always welcome, but it is not required to bring something to attend; bringing food should never be a barrier. For the host's comfort, please bring all food and drink home with you when you leave. For questions, contact womensgroup@hvuuc.org.

The address can be accessed by contacting WomensGroup@hvuuc.org.

Alternatively, it is posted on the private women's group FB page. www.facebook.com/groups/womensgrouphvuuc/

The Youth Group will hold their monthly meeting on Sunday, July 20, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.

This month they will continue planning for their Dollywood trip and fundraisers. They will be working on arts and crafts for their upcoming Arts and Crafts Sale Fundraiser. Please bring any materials you would like to use for creating your artwork.

Please reach out to our DRE, Justin Ridley, if you have any questions. dre@hvuuc.org

Join us for a trip to Natural Tunnel State Park to explore the train tunnel.

There is a tunnel that a train goes through in Virginia, and there's a cave within the tunnel, but you can't normally go in because of the train. One day out of the year, they don't have a train go through so people can see the cave, and that day is July 19th!

Carpool at 9am at HVUUC or meet at the park yourself. The drive from the church is 1 hr 15 mins away.

$7 per car admission

If you don't want to walk, the chair lift is $5 per person

Bring a picnic lunch, railway walking shoes, a flashlight, and maybe rain gear. Some will go rain or shine!

Our guide is Michael Jones, a 30 year Appalachian geologist.

Email bradley@hvuuc.org to sign up.

Get on Board! All are welcome to attend the HVUUC Board Meeting. This is a great way to contribute to our community, learn about our leadership opportunities, volunteer and just be "in the know"! All Welcome.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/94naHdgQR72tjohfHO9F_w

Email president@hvuuc.org with any questions.

July's potluck Sunday is July 13 directly after the service.  Please bring a dish to share and join us for a time of fellowship and fun.

Email potlucks@gmail.com with any questions.

DATE: July 11, 2025, 6:30-9:00
At the JC home of Elsa J.

All who identify as women are welcome to the second-Friday Women's night. Come as you are, and be energized by the support of other women.

p.s. This event is the 2nd Friday this time due to the first Friday falling on a national holiday.

Our host, Elsa, is having a Southern Ladies Night with Peach Cobbler and a fun beverage provided. In addition, sharing of easy finger-food snacks and libations are always welcome, but it is not required to bring something to attend; bringing food should never be a barrier. For the host's comfort, please bring all food and drink home with you when you leave.

The address can be accessed by contacting WomensGroup@hvuuc.org. Alternatively, it is posted on the private women's group FB page. www.facebook.com/groups/womensgrouphvuuc/

Driving and parking: there is plenty of street parking.

The July NUTs community ukulele group meetup is July 8th 7 pm to 8:30 p.m. (Just one meeting in July)

All ukulele enthusiasts of any level are welcome to attend. Are you curious or just want to sing along for now? Join us. We might even have an extra ukulele to loan out at the meeting.

Information about the meetings and NUTS group is on the official web page:

https://sites.google.com/view/northeastukesters/home

Check out the Music page for the upcoming month's playlist where you can download chord sheets, and review play-along videos.

NUTs Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/nuts.uke.group/

This is a community event, held at the HVUUC campus. It is not an HVUUC event.

Email ukulele@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Join us to look at common experiences from history, discuss how we can show that we are safe and welcoming to others, and explore ways to make our communities more supportive and healthy for everyone. Free and open to the public.

Throughout history, people have found ways to connect with others who have similar experiences or skills. For those who face danger, like people escaping slavery in the U.S. or early Christians, these connections could be a matter of life or death. Queer people have also developed subtle ways of figuring out who is safe to trust and who is not.

Please arrive 15 minutes early if you do not complete the pretest ahead of time.

Please expect to spend about 10 minutes after the workshop completing the assessment.

Please feel free to bring a meal to eat during the workshop.

In this workshop, we will look at common experiences from history, discuss how we can show that we are safe and welcoming to others, and explore ways to make our communities more supportive and healthy for everyone.

FREE and open to the public.

Join Matthew Gardenhour (TriFACETS) and Cindi Huss (RISE: Healthy for Life) for "The Secret Life of Queer Folks." Please register ahead of time so Matthew can send the research information to you.

You are welcome to participate in the workshop whether you engage with the research or not. The workshop is appropriate for high schoolers as well, but only folx 18 or older are eligible to participate in the research.

ETSU student Matthew Gardenhour worked with RISE: Healthy for Life to develop this trans-affirming program for community members in Appalachia. This summer he is researching its effectiveness.

Our annual Soapbox Sunday is coming up on July 6th. We need speakers to give a 3-5 minute talk about a topic important to your heart. You are "getting up on your soapbox" to tell it like it is. Our youth are invited to participate, as well!

Soapbox Sunday is a long-standing annual tradition where we - friends and members of HVUUC - exercise our freedom of speech. This right is not to be taken for granted.

If you have questions or want to run a topic by me, or explore a creative method of delivering your Soapbox talk, please contact Rosemary at soapboxsunday@hvuuc.org

The 2nd June community ukulele group meeting is the 28th at 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

All ukulele enthusiasts of any level are welcome to attend.

Are you curious or just want to sing along for now? Join us. We might even have an extra ukulele to loan out at the meeting.

Information about the meetings and NUTS group is on the official web page: https://sites.google.com/view/northeastukesters/home

Check out the Music page for the upcoming month's playlist where you can download chord sheets, and review play-along videos.

NUTs Facebook group:
www.facebook.com/groups/nuts.uke.group/

This is a community event, held at the HVUUC campus. It is not an HVUUC event.

Email ukulele@hvuuc.org with any questions.

The HVUUC Social Justice Committee is seeking volunteers for the 4th annual Rainbow Festival in Johnson City to celebrate Pride!  

The Pride Community Center will host its 4th Annual Rainbow Festival this year to celebrate Pride Month at Founders Park in Johnson City, TN.

The Social Justice Committee at HVUU will have a table and crafts available for the community. Volunteers will be needed for 2-hour shifts throughout the event to manage the table and engage with the community.

Please use this form to sign up for shifts: https://forms.gle/QN5SVP9gumAn47Vq7

Email lgbtqia@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Join CUUPS for a celebration of the summer solstice; commonly called Midsummer or Litha.  At 6 pm we will hold ritual space.  

Please bring a dish to share in our potluck meal.
All are welcome.

Email cuups@hvuuc.org with any questions.

The Youth Group will meet this month on Sunday, June 15, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.

Come join us for our first Youth Group of the summer! Please welcome our rising 6th graders this month.

If you have questions please reach out to our DRE, Justin Ridley, dre@hvuuc.org

Are you curious or just want to sing along for now? Join us. We might even have an extra ukulele to loan out at the meeting.

Information about the meetings and NUTS group is on the official web page: https://sites.google.com/view/northeastukesters/home

Check out the Music page for the upcoming month's playlist where you can download chord sheets, and review play-along videos.

NUTs Facebook group:
www.facebook.com/groups/nuts.uke.group/

This is a community event, held at the HVUUC campus. It is not an HVUUC event.

Email ukulele@hvuuc.org with any questions.

Whatcha' bringing to share at 2nd Sunday Potluck?  The next one is Sunday, June 8, right after church.

Bring a dish to share and join in the conversation. Please bring your dish to the kitchen between 10:30 and 11:00  Your dish will be kept warm until lunch at noon.

Email potlucks@hvuuc.org with any questions.

We will have a Zoom meeting at 6:30pm on Tuesday June 3rd to learn about the voting agenda at this year's General Assembly (the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association). Your delegates will be present and will be ready to listen to your feedback so that they can represent you.

Please use this zoom link to attend:

https://zoom.us/j/99453195963?pwd=8GqP5gMLkb0iU3WXQqgeRTHVkdPpQG.1

Friends and members of HVUUC have been meeting for over a year about revising the current policies around domestic abuse. Join us on the first Sunday of the the month 12:30-1:30pm in the REZ if you like policy work!

Email safehere@hvuuc.org with any questions.

We are setting up the Music Room so that it can also be used as a respite room during our Sunday Services if they have a screaming baby, a toddler that won't settle down, or simply for an adult that is having sensory overload.

This is an optional tool that many church's have to provide additional hospitality for anyone who needs it. With a glass wall directed at the pulpit, and a speaker to bring in the sound, we are hoping that this resource will be helpful for growing families.

On June 1st after church, Rev. Tiffany and the music team will be arranging the space so that it can serve this purpose while continuing to provide storage and practice space for our music program every other time besides the 11-noon hour.

If you would like to help out, just show up after church on the 1st! You can email Rev. Tiffany at minister@hvuuc.org if you have any questions or if you would like to help.

We will meet at the church at noon, drive 1hr 15 min to the mountain, have lunch, visit excellent fossil sites, and come back by 6pm.

We will be visiting several excellent fossil sites that represent a wide range of time. We will meet at the church at noon, drive up to Clinch Mountain Bakery and Restaurant for lunch (1 hr 15 min drive), view the sites, then arrive back at the church by 6pm. The trip should take a total of six hours. We will be carpooling, so prepare for that, and you might be the driver, depending on how many people come!

Wear outdoor shoes and clothing and sunscreen. No hiking is going to happen, so all ages can take part in this. Ages 8-80.

If rain is forecasted, we will cancel and reschedule.

The admission fee is a donation to the church of your choosing and money for lunch.

Please RSVP with Michael Jones as soon as possible by emailing clinchmountain@hvuuc.org