News
You can get daily or weekly digests of news posts, delivered by email.
Just a reminder that scammers routinely try to impersonate staff to get sensitive info. If your receive a questionable email please report it to the office and be sure you only send emails to hvuuc addresses such as the ones listed below
office@hvuuc.org
minister@hvuuc.org
dre@hvuuc.org
musicdirector@hvuuc.org
Join us for church on December 22, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
“What Does it Mean to Be Promethean?”
Warmth in a cold world, light in a dark space - what do these mean to our species, our society, our community, and ourselves? What do these teach us literally and metaphorically? How can the physical flame inform us about altruism in rebellious acts? And why should we continue to carry these torches and fan these flames? Join us with local church member Alesha Chaffin to ponder the gift of fire granted from the gods as we explore the question: What Does It Mean To Be Promethean?
The Social Justice Committee would like to thank everyone who has volunteered and given presents for The Giving Tree. We should have enough items for the tree through Christmas. However, we plan to keep this tree stocked with warm and necessary items until our tree is taken down, Jan. 5th. Please keep items coming so we can show Tri-Cities that this is not just about the holidays, it’s about caring for those in need.
This would be a great time to regift holiday gifts that the needy can use. Below is a list of items needed. In addition to these items, we have received some great larger items that we can squeeze on the tree such as sneakers, sweatshirts, snacks, etc. We request that all items are new and unused to let folks know that we think they are worthy.
Recommended Donations
· gloves
· hats
· scarves
· socks
· underwear
· feminine hygiene items
· washcloths
· soap
· lotion
· shampoo and conditioner
For questions, please contact:
givingtree@hvuuc.org
We need coffee hour volunteers for January, specifically for January 05 as we begin the new year.
Please sign up on the calendar beside the coffee urn in the Fred Ball Room or email coffeehour@hvuuc.org.
We'd hate to start 2025 without coffee and conversation!
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 15, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:30pm Christmas Caroling
“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.
After our brief December series on Lovingkindness, several of you have expressed interest in resources to go deeper into this kind of practice. We all have different learning types, so hopefully you will find something that works for you on this list!
A comprehensive online guide to Lovingkindness with How-To instructions, both audio and video guided meditation, and links to more in-depth articles: https://www.lionsroar.com/metta-meditation-guide/
YouTube guided meditation on Lovingkindess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-TeW9CI0bc
A picture book for children, sold at the UUA’s bookstore: https://www.uuabookstore.org/Loving-Kindness-P19204.aspx
Book by a renowned Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron: https://pemachodronfoundation.org/product/awakening-loving-kindness/
Best app for guided meditations: https://www.headspace.com/
Small Group Ministry Session Guide on Lovingkindness: https://www.smallgroupministry.net/public/sessions/Loving_Kindness.Hayward.2.2021.pdf
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 8, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
12:00pm Green Arts Festival
“Together at the Table”
This time of year there's a lot of opportunities to sit at the table with people we may not agree with. This is true of both church life and family life, and both can be challenging. But both can also bring opportunities to grow: sometimes by opening us up to a new perspective, sometimes by challenging us to understand where our boundaries are. Come explore with Rev. Tiffany what it means to sit at a diverse table.
ROBERT CLARK HISTORIC MARKER DEDICATION
In 1891, Robert Clark was lynched in Bristol, Virginia near the current day United Company headquarters. A dedicated group of Bristolians, has worked through the Equal Justice Initiative’s Community Remembrance Project for a number of years to publicly acknowledge this tragic moment of local history. The Project includes community engagement and education of our nation’s darkest history and brings it to the local community level.
Our Social Justice Committee has been monitoring and supporting the progress of this effort for months.
As a part of the local effort, a permanent marker will be placed to honor Mr. Clark on Saturday, December 14 at 11am at Citizens Cemetery. Shuttles from State Street Methodist Church start at 10:30. We invite HVUUC members and friends to join us at the dedication.
You can learn more about the Community Remembrance Project and EJI at: https://eji.org/projects/community-remembrance-project/
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.
Headlines
Minister’s Note
Cookie Exchange
The Giving Tree
Christmas Caroling
Women’s Night
Greening of the Sanctuary
Green Arts Festival
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
This Sunday, in honor of All Souls Day and Samhain, we will be remembering family, friends, and important figures who have passed away in the last year. Please bring photos or mementos for anyone you wish to honor, to place upon our altar.
With great sorrow we report that Richard Boyd passed away last week, November 21st, 2024, while in Knoxville seeking a second opinion about a serious medical concern.
All are invited to his Celebration of Life on Saturday December 7th at 1pm here at Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. A reception will follow.
The following is Richard's Obituary:
Richard Porter Boyd passed on 11/21/2024 at 80 years. He was born in Wakefield, Mass 11/16/1944 to Bertha A. Thayer and her husband Gordon Boyd.
He loved playing sports and was part of a winning high school Massachusetts football team honored at the White House by President John F. Kennedy.
He served in the Air Force security service in Vietnam where he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. After an honorable discharge, he earned a BA in Accounting and his first position was in a tax firm. He actually enjoyed doing taxes and he often helped people without pay including volunteering to do community taxes with AARP. Later, he became the Comptroller of a hospital where he became the Senior Vice President for 15 years. During this time, he also earned his Masters in Healthcare Administration. The next 12 years he was the first CEO of a multilevel retirement community in San Antonio.
Richard is survived by his wife of 48 years Joy, and his Son, Marty Boyd and his wife Missy, of Bronte Texas, 2 Granddaughters, Cheyenne Vasquez and her husband Jesus, Whitney Jones and her husband Ryan, Sisters Wanda Conroy and Beverly Selway and her husband Brian, Brothers, George, and Ray and his wife Pat, and also 9 Nephews and 4 Nieces. He has 4 great grandchildren, Amaris Avery, Elias Samuel, Ana Grace, and Emilia Claire Vasquez.
Richard was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, 2 brothers, Gordon and Chet (Sylvia), a grandson, Branson Scott Boyd, Son of Marty and Missy, Brother-in-Law, John Conroy (Wanda), and Niece Karen Clark.
He was an active member of the Holston Valley UU Church in Gray, TN for 20+ years.
Richard Boyd never had an enemy and made friends wherever he went. He was a man of Honor, Responsibility, Generosity and Humor and he will be truly missed by many who were lucky enough to meet and know him.
Join us for church on December 1, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour and Cookie Exchange
“Filled with Loving Kindness
Part of HVUUC's Vision statement is that we "transform ourselves, our community and our world," but how do we do this? This Sunday Rev. Tiffany shares her personal story of how she has engaged with the Buddhist Metta meditation for over a decade now and how she has experienced this practice's transformative power in her life.
*this announcement was previously run but with incomplete information*
According to our Congregation's policies, any time a new policy is proposed to be added to our Board Policy book, there is a "first reading" during a Board meeting where the Board votes to approve, then the policy is shared with the congregation along with an email address to submit comments to the Board about the proposed policy, and then the Board will have a "second reading" where they can make amendments and vote on the policy. Only after going through this process does a new policy become part of the Congregation's policies.
The following policy has been voted to send to the congregation for comment:
"HVUUC disposes of all plastic kitchen utensils and use the Green Sanctuary Fund to purchase non-plastic kitchen utensils to replace them."
Research connected to this policy can be found here:
The study: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling - ScienceDirect
The news story reporting the study: Black-colored plastic used for kitchen utensils and toys linked to banned toxic flame retardants | CNN
The news story with Dr. Leonardo Trasande: Black plastic items could contain harmful chemicals, study finds (youtube.com)
If you have any comments for or against this policy, please email your comments to office@hvuuc.org by Monday December 16th so that your comments can be reviewed prior to the Board's final vote on this policy.
The office will be closed on the following dates:
Thursday, November 28
Tuesday, December 24
Thursday, December 26
There will be no RE on the following Sundays:
Sunday December 15 (Festivals of Light)
Sunday December 29 (Pancakes and Jam)
There will also be no Youth Group meeting in December.
Holiday Greetings!
We are continuing to collect items for the Giving Tree. Our donation bin is in the Fred Ball room at HVUUC. Suggested items are for children, men and women are:
· gloves
· hats
· scarves
· socks
· underwear
· feminine hygiene items
· washcloths
· soap
· lotion
· shampoo and conditioner
We have been given our specific spot for The Giving Tree at Kings Common, in front of the JC library. We are tree number 113, best accessed from W. King St., but Millard St. is good, too. This will be easy access for both decorating and restocking the tree. The Giving Tree will be decorated on Friday, November 29th, 11:00. We will have decorations, presents, and ladders coming. We just need volunteers with giving spirits.
We also need volunteers to restock the tree daily from November 29th to January 7. We will supply you with packages and the timing is up to you. Please email us at givingtree@hvuuc.org with dates that you’d like to volunteer for restocking. Consecutive dates would logistically be easier than scattered dates throughout the season. see you Friday! Thanks for your generosity.
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.
Proposal: HVUUC disposes of all plastic kitchen utensils and use the Green Sanctuary Fund to purchase non-plastic kitchen utensils to replace them.
Sources:
The news story reporting the study: Black-colored plastic used for kitchen utensils and toys linked to banned toxic flame retardants | CNN
The news story with Dr. Leonardo Trasande: Black plastic items could contain harmful chemicals, study finds (youtube.com)
Join us for church on November 24, 2024!
NO RE this week
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
“Touch the Wounds”
We can only become our truest selves, our most holy and hopeful selves, when we touch the wounds of God not by turning away from suffering but by confronting it. Join us this Sunday as Chaplain Michael Woods shares his thoughts on this important topic.
There’s a lot going on this Holiday season, here’s everything we know of at the moment!
Thanksgiving Potluck, Thursday November 28th at 2:00pm
Email thanksgiving@hvuuc.org. Come early to help with setup!
(office will be closed Thanksgiving Day)
Decorating The Giving Tree, Friday November 29th at 11:00AM
Tree #113 in Kings Commons Park, Johnson City.
Email givingtree@hvuuc.org
Tree Lighting Ceremony, Saturday November 30th at 6:30PM
Meet at The Giving Tree #113 in Kings Commons Park
Cookie Exchange during coffee hour Sunday December 1st
Bring a batch of favorite cookies to the kitchen before church and we’ll all get cookies during coffee hour. Email fellowship@hvuuc.org
A Giving Tree Women’s Night, Friday December 6th at 6:30PM. We will be packaging items for the Giving Tree and enjoying snacks.
Email womensgroup@hvuuc.org for location.
Green Arts Fest, Sunday December 8th at 12:00PM. Come ready to shop and support local craftspeople at this fun annual event.
Email greenarts@hvuuc.org
Greening of the Sanctuary, Saturday Dec 14th 9:30AM-12:30PM
Help us decorate for Festivals of Light. Email rosemary@hvuuc.org
Festivals of Light, Sunday Dec 15th at 11:00AM
Join us for our favorite, pluralistic holiday tradition. This service is a must see!
Christmas Caroling, Sunday December 15th at noon.
After Festivals of Light stay for soup and then we will carpool to sing Christmas Carols for some of our members and friends.
Email minister@hvuuc.org
Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24th time TBA
We will gather for cookies, carols, and candlelight again on the night before Christmas.
Pancakes and Jam, Sunday December 29th at 11:00AM
Our favorite casual “service” where we leave the sanctuary for the Fred Ball room to eat breakfast and enjoy some open mic music.
Email pancakesandjam@hvuuc.org if you’d like to sing or play.
TN Environmental Council Tree Day is March 15, 2025. Order early for best selection.
Plant a tree!
The TN Environmental Council has announced its 2025 annual Tree Day event.
Planting trees benefits our environment in many ways including decreasing air pollution, filtering rainwater, and improving wildlife and pollinator habitats. For more information about the impact of native trees: https://www.tectn.org/tennesseetreeprogram.html
Tree orders are underway and continue through early March 2025. Order early for the widest species selection. To order seedlings visit: https://www.tectn.org/tennesseetreeday.html
HVUUC is serving again as a community pick-up location! The dates are March 14th and 15th, 2025. Volunteers welcome to help with bundling and distribution during morning hours. We will need a tall stack of newspaper to bundle seedlings. Newspaper donations appreciated early 2025.
For questions or to participate one or both days contact, environment@hvuuc.org
Please email all submissions for the December newsletter by Monday November 25th to newsletter@hvuuc.org.
The office will be closed Thursday November 28th for Thanksgiving.
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.
Our guest speaker has requested that this service not be filmed and posted on YouTube, so we encourage you to come in-person if you can. But if you cannot make it, we would like to recommend you revisit this March 2021 service about Evolution, preached by our Minister Emeritus Rev. Jeff Briere:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeMNVhEXx5o
Join us for church on November 17, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Coffee Hour
“Before We Were Human: Celebrating Lucy’s 50th”
Join us in observing the 50th anniversary of the discovery of “Lucy”, a fossil which revolutionized our understanding of human evolution. We will be joined by Dr. Larry Bowman, ETSU Biology Faculty, who will help us appreciate the scientific significance and impact of this discovery. The Atheist Group is proud to organize a service that provides time for us all to reflect on the natural history of our species.
For the past week our church email system was down. The good news is it’s up and running again! The bad news is if you submitted a JotForm for News and Events or emailed anyone with an @hvuuc.org address in the past week it was not delivered.
Please resubmit anything that may have gotten lost.
Thank you!
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 November 10, 2024!
9:30am Religious Education
11:00am Sunday Service
12:00pm Sunday Potluck
“The Resilience Toolbox”
How do we dig deep to find our Resilience when times are challenging? Join us for a morning of poetry and song, hope and community, as we explore how to strengthen and support each other as we move through always changing times.
Our email forwarding system is temporarily down. If you have sent an email to an HVUUC address in the past three days it may not have arrived at its destination.
If you need to reach out to staff please use the direct emails below.
Office: hvuucoffice@gmail.com
Minister: tiffanysappuu@gmail.com
DRE: hvuucdre@gmail.com
Music Director: jshawcross700@gmail.com
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