We embrace diversity within the congregation’s membership and in theology. We are committed to being a vital and growing progressive congregation within our larger community. And we promote spiritual growth, religious freedom, and ethical action.
We hope you will visit our church. Our worship services are at 11:00am; children’s and adult religious education classes are at 9:30am.
Sunday Schedule
9:30 a.m. Religious Education Classes
11:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service
12:00 p.m. Coffee Hour
Past Services: HVUUC YouTube
Upcoming Services (Sundays @ 11 a.m.)
As Gary Mongillo has traveled down several spiritual paths, he has come to a realization that the foundation of these spiritual paths is really the same: the quote from Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong, “To live fully, love wastefully and be all we were created to be."
Unitarian Universalists love asking the big questions! At the Question Box service, you get to submit your questions to Rev. Tiffany ahead of time, and at the service she will answer as many questions as she can during the allotted time. Serious or silly, simple or complex, submit your questions to minister@hvuuc.org.
This is a yearly tradition in which a handful of your very own friends volunteer to "get up on their soapbox" to speak to us about something they feel is of great importance to them. This is our church's nod to the 1st amendment rights of the people of this country.
A service about bugs, spiders, and snakes. What can we learn from these little creepy crawlies that inspire fear in so many people?
Come learn about the life and work of Charles Francis Potter, a pivotal figure in Unitarianism, Universalism, Humanism, and early religious debates about Darwin's theory of natural selection. Rev. Tiffany hits the highlights of this figure's important contributions to modern thought and theology.
Historians pine about the ancient knowledge lost in the Library of Alexandria, but how much is legend and how much is fact? Guest speaker Bradley discusses the history of the library, why people like it so much, and whether or not its reverence is justified.
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.
Unitarian Universalists love asking the big questions!
At the Question Box service on June 29th, you get to submit your questions to Rev. Tiffany ahead of time, and at the service she will answer as many questions as she can during the allotted time.
Serious or silly, simple or complex, submit your questions to minister@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 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.