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Join us for church on February 1, 2026.
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
“Social Justice Sunday”
An exploration of immigration rights and local impact, and how it is concern for all of us based on our core UU principles.
Headlines .…
• UU History Group
• Chili Cook Off
• Imbolc Ritual
• Women’s Night
• Baked Potato Fundraiser
• SOUUL Summit
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
Our Church has a Ministerial Discretionary Fund so that Rev. Tiffany can help people in need connected to our church when a need arises. That fund needs a little extra love this winter, so we are providing the congregation an opportunity to make a special donation to that fund on Sunday February 1st.
We will have white envelopes available for the offering on that day, and anything given in the white envelopes will go directly to the ministerial discretionary fund. Thank you for your generosity!
Email minister@hvuuc.org with any questions.
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.
With a winter storm heading our way, we want to share with you what could change about Sunday mornings, and what has already changed, and where you can expect to get that information.
According to our policy, the decision to close our physical location on Sunday morning due to weather is made by the Minister, President and Facilities Trustee no later than 8am Sunday morning, and notice goes out to the congregation no later than 8:30am Sunday morning. But we can and will make that decision earlier if we have enough reason to cancel earlier (like a huge Saturday blizzard). When we make that decision it will be posted by email and on facebook, and we will notify two key local television stations as well. Keep an eye out on those information sources! But also, whether we have officially cancelled or not, if things look unsafe to you, please stay home and stay safe!
On Sundays when we have closed the building due to weather, there will still be a Sunday service posted to YouTube.
For this Sunday in particular, we have already postponed the baked potato fundraiser and Risk Discernment workshop until February 15th. We have also changed the subject of this Sunday's service to "Stories and Prayers for Social Change," where Rev. Tiffany and Alesha Chaffin will explore our local history of social change as a way of giving us hope for our collective futures! We hope that if you end up snowed in, that you'll hop on YouTube late afternoon/early evening on Sunday and still connect with your community online!
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.
Due to concerns about possible inclement weather, we are postponing the Risk Discernment Workshop and the Youth Group Potato Bar Fundraiser until Sunday February 15th after church.
This is NOT a cancellation of church or RE. That decision will be made later in the week.
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.
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 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.
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!
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).
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.
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.
Headlines .…
· Discerning Risk
· Safe Here Task Force Report
· Metaphysics Group
· MACHO Social and Planning
· Women’s Night
· Risk Assessment Workshop
· Path to Membership
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 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.
Due to illnesses and scheduling conflicts we’re sadly having to cancel our Christmas Eve Gathering. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Please email all submissions for the January newsletter by Monday December 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 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:
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!
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.
NOW FORMING: Do you have an interest in metaphysics? There is a new fellowship group forming with the purpose of discussing metaphysical concepts, teachers, books, videos, experiences and more.
If you have any interest, please email metaphysics@hvuuc.org and put Metaphysics in the subject line.
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.
We are still collecting Giving Tree items for children, women, and men such as:
gloves
hats
scarves
socks
undies
individual snacks
hygiene items
hand warmers
Please join us after church service on Sunday, Dec. 21st from 12:30-1:30 p.m. to package items which will be hung from the Giving Tree.
If you would like to volunteer to re-stock the Giving Tree, please visit the following link to sign-up with details and instructions:
tinyurl.com/givingtreevols
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to givingtree@hvuuc.org.
Update on December's Potluck. Let's turn this month's potluck into a party! This Sunday bring holiday treats, hors d'oeuvres, snacks, or finger food.
In addition to your dish, please bring a printed recipe. We will place the recipe beside your dish. That way, anyone wanting the recipe can easily snap a pic. All are welcome!
Email potlucks@hvuuc.org with any questions.
Holiday Happenings around HVUUC
Saturday December 13
Greening of the Sanctuary, 10:00am-1:00pm
Sunday December 14
Festivals of Light Service—No RE, Performers arrive by 9:00am.
Second Sunday Potluck after service.
Sunday December 21
Come say farewell to James at this Sunday Service.
No Youth Group this month
Wednesday December 24
Christmas Eve Gathering, 6:00pm
December 23 and 25
The office will be closed this week!
Sunday December 28
Pancakes and Jam! Breakfast starts at 10:30. No traditional service or RE this week, just yummy eats and a jam session.
Thursday December 1
The office will be closed!
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.
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