Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 27th immediately following the church service in the sanctuary. Childcare will be provided. Anyone who has been an official member of HVUUC for at least 60 days as of April 27th is eligible to vote at the meeting. Items on the agenda will include:

Vote on the slate of Nominees for Board of Trustee positions recommended by the Nominating Committee.

Vote on the 2024-2025 Budget. Click here to see the proposed budget.

Any other items as needed.

The complete Agenda, nominations as well as a finalized budget for congregational approval are now presented to you. Voting at this meeting will be in person only. Please make plans to attend. For the vote to take place we must have a quorum of about 55 voting members.

Please contact Tish Kashdan if you have any questions at: president@hvuuc.org.

Congregational Meeting Agenda for April 27th

(1)    Establish that a quorum is present.

(2)    Vote on slate of new officers determined by the Nominating Committee:

          Vice President : Emily Hand

          Secretary: Chelsea Collea

          Programs: Alesha Chaffin

          Membership: Phyllis Cairnes

          Stewardship: Greg Kramer (returning for a second term)

          Officers who will remain on the Board:

          President: Noel Marshall

          Immediate Past President: Tish Kashdan

          Treasurer: Sarah Sanders

          Fellowship: Peggy Wolfe

          Facilities: Steven Roberts

(3)    Vote on Budget for 2025/2026

(4)    New Business

(5)    Meeting Adjourns

Click here to see the proposed budget.

Many of you know that Raj and Sharmi Mehta were long time active members of our congregation before moving to Northern VA after Raj’s retirement from Eastman. Raj served as President here, and he and Sharmi have continued to stay in close contact with our congregation here.

Sharmi passed away on March 22nd at the age of 91. All of us are invited to attend her celebration of life service which will be on You Tube on April 27th at 3:00pm. You can watch the live service on that day at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/live/TXii2YSD0oU

The Johnson City Blue Plum festival is June 6th   and 7th this year. We have joined in the fun and met new friends from our booth for the past two years and are excited for 2025. The festival is all about music and art. The HVVUC theme this year is SONGBIRDS! Would you like to join our crew? A sign-up form is available at the link below.

Service times are 2 or 2 ½ -hour blocks with a buddy. There will be chairs at the booth for intermittent sitting down. We are likely to have warm weather. Art and music talent is not required; just bring your smile and love for HVUUC. For questions, talk with Lori or email Membership@hvuuc.org

https://forms.gle/Hz8TVEYpydGwabY67

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 March 30, 2025!

• 9:Join us for church on April 6, 2025!

  • 9:30am Religious Education

  • 11:00am Sunday Service

  • 12:00pm Coffee Hour

  • 12:00pm Postcards to Voters Event

  • 12:30pm Social Justice Committee Meeting (all are welcome!)

  “Invitations to Empathy”

  Compassion, empathy, kindness and love. These things are the foundation of what we do. This Sunday Rev. Tiffany explores stories that invite us to activate our empathy.30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour & Youth Bake Sale Fundraiser

• 12:30pm Social Justice Committee Meeting (all are welcome!)

“Trans Day of Visibility”

Every day, we strive to recognize and empower the trans community, both here and abroad. This Sunday, we will strengthen that deliberate effort by once again celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility. All are welcome in this intentionally inclusive space, and all are invited to commune with our trans friends as they bring their knowledge and talents, their history and experience, their journeys and lessons to this service.

Fifth Sunday Offering

This quarter's recipient of the 5th Sunday Offering is Johnson City Recovery Center (JCRC). JCRC is a peer-led and operated recovery community center. All services are free and provide advocacy training, recovery information, mutual aid support, recovery and health information, technology and internet assistance, resource mobilization, employment assistance, recovery coaching, volunteerism, yoga for recovery, social activities, etc. JCRC is a ‘recovery hub’ offering a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for those seeking recovery where all paths to recovery are welcomed, affirmed, and celebrated.

JCRC's website: https://jcrecoverycenter.org/

The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held in person on April 27th at 12:15 pm in the Sanctuary. Only people attending in person will have the ability to vote on the candidates for the Board of Trustees and the Nominating Committee. Those candidates are listed below. They will also be voting on the 2025-2026 Budget which will be sent out prior to April 17 th .

Listed below is the final slate of Board Candidates that will be voted on at this meeting:

• Immediate Past President – Tish Kashdan

• President – Noel Marshall

• Vice President – Emily Hand *

• Treasurer – Sarah Sanders

• Secretary – Chelsey Collea *

• Facilities – Steven Roberts

• Stewardship – Greg Kramer *

• Programs – Alesha Chaffin *

• Membership – Phyllis Cairnes *

• Fellowship – Peggy Wolfe

Nominating Committee – 2025-2026/2027

• Jen Corbin (2026)

• Ellen Barker (2026)

• Linda Waltner (2027) *

• Lori Krause (2027) *

• Sophia Peterson (2027) *

The * indicates the person is starting a new term of office which lasts for two years: the VP will serve for a total of 3 years.

People completing their term of office in the Board of Trustees include: Dottie Blades (Past President), Alicia Culbertson (Secretary), Greg Kramer (Stewardship), Bradley Quick (Programs), Lori Krause (Membership).

Nominating Committee Members who have completed their term of office include: Michele Markstrom-Frish and Dana York Ensor.

Please thank these people for the time they have spent in the betterment of our church community.

Tish Kashdan

Headlines

• · Minister’s Note

• · RE News

• · Ukulele Group

• · Potluck

• · Women’s Night

• · Appalachian Service Project

• · Game Night

• · Women’s Retreat

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

A member of our congregation has been made aware of a local grief group and we’re passing it along for those who may be interested in this service. It is not affiliated with the church.

Where:

Slater Community Center

325 McDowell St

Bristol VA

When:

Third Thursdays at 2:00PM

For more information contact Rebecca Blalock at 276-494-0465 or email Rblalock@carishealthcare.com

Join us for church on March 30, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour & Youth Bake Sale Fundraiser

• 12:30pm Social Justice Committee Meeting (all are welcome!)

“Trans Day of Visibility”

Every day, we strive to recognize and empower the trans community, both here and abroad. This Sunday, we will strengthen that deliberate effort by once again celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility. All are welcome in this intentionally inclusive space, and all are invited to commune with our trans friends as they bring their knowledge and talents, their history and experience, their journeys and lessons to this service.

Fifth Sunday Offering

This quarter's recipient of the 5th Sunday Offering is Johnson City Recovery Center (JCRC). JCRC is a peer-led and operated recovery community center. All services are free and provide advocacy training, recovery information, mutual aid support, recovery and health information, technology and internet assistance, resource mobilization, employment assistance, recovery coaching, volunteerism, yoga for recovery, social activities, etc. JCRC is a ‘recovery hub’ offering a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for those seeking recovery where all paths to recovery are welcomed, affirmed, and celebrated.

JCRC's website: https://jcrecoverycenter.org/

Please email all submissions for the April newsletter by Monday March 31st to newsletter@hvuuc.org.

The Social Justice Committee invites Johnson City Recovery Center, a peer-led and operated recovery community center. All services are free.

This quarter's recipient of the 5th Sunday Offering is Johnson City Recovery Center (JCRC). JCRC is a peer-led and operated recovery community center. All services are free and provide advocacy training, recovery information, mutual aid support, recovery and health information, technology and internet assistance, resource mobilization, employment assistance, recovery coaching, volunteerism, yoga for recovery, social activities, etc. JCRC is a ‘recovery hub’ offering a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for those seeking recovery where all paths to recovery are welcomed, affirmed, and celebrated.

JCRC's website: https://jcrecoverycenter.org/

With any questions email sjchair@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 March 23, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

“Will the Real Rumi Please Stand Up?”

Many know and love the poetry of Persian mystic Rumi, but most of our experiences of Rumi's poetry come from translations that separate his poetry from his Muslim identity. This week we get to know the real Rumi, and see what he has to teach us.

Our website and email forwarding system was down for several days over the weekend. If you’ve emailed an @hvuuc.org address in the past few days it may not have been delivered or had a delayed delivery. Everything is back up and working now! We apologize for the inconvenience.

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 March 16, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Coffee Hour

• 4:00pm Youth Group

“Spirit, Grant Healing: The Art of Pastoral Care & Chaplaincy”

Join us for a transformative service exploring the sacred practice of pastoral care and chaplaincy. Together, we will reflect on the art of healing through spirit, presence, and compassionate guidance. In a world marked by struggle, this sermon illuminates the path of understanding, empathy, and kindness. How do we offer solace to those in need? How do we create a community of love and support? Let us embrace the healing power of spirit and cultivate a ministry of radical love and care.

On Saturday, March 22, the Keep TN River Beautiful crew be taking volunteers in their 26-foot jon boats to clean the shorelines of Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tenn!
 
Our 7th annual Tennessee River Grand Slam Cleanup Series will kick off with a cleanup on Douglas Lake of the French Broad River. Our friends at Living Lands & Waters will join this cleanup with three of their boats to add to our two work boats, making this one huge cleanup!
 
This lake has a lot of debris from the outfall from Hurricane Helene, so we will need many hands to help clean these shorelines! Fill out the form below to register! This cleanup will be held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

**Please be sure to register at https://www.keeptnriverbeautiful.org/douglaslake2 to reserve your seat as space in our boat is limited!**

The Let's Chat Covenant Group is looking for New members. We meet 2nd and 4th Monday's in the REZ we start at 6:30 and runs to 8:30.

Want to meet other church members on a more personal level? That's the purpose of Covenant Groups. Latest topics were, Acceptance, Scarcity or Abundance, Humor, Gratitude, and Aging.

We will hold your information private. I do ask that; are you willing to commit to make as many sessions as possible. A copy of our Covenant is available upon request to me, Greg Kramer.

Email letschat@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.

Join us for church on March 9, 2025!

• 9:30am Religious Education

• 11:00am Sunday Service

• 12:00pm Potluck

“Mental Makeover”

Every thought we have is a neural pathway in our brain, which is why sometimes our thinking becomes a bit of a rut. But we have the power to train our brain, to make over our mind. Today Rev. Tiffany explores neuroplasticity and how it's never too late to change our brains.