Annual Stewardship Campaign: Pledge Forms are due!

Our Annual Pledge Campaign ran from April 14 to April 21, 2024. We are still missing about seven pledges from members. Friends and visitors, consider making a Pledge to GNUUC for our July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Fiscal Year.

This year, we celebrate Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s 30th Anniversary. In the summer of 1994, we first met as a congregation and were recognized officially by the Unitarian Universalist Association. Since then Greater Nashville has been a home for those seeking a liberal religious community, a place to raise their children, a supportive institution, a gathering of friends.

Now is the time to make a commitment. If you are member, now is the time to strengthen your support. If you are a new visitor, new friend, now is the time to consider joining us and pledging your support — and consider joining us as a member. Reverend Denise would love to talk to you.

By giving our time, our talents, and our money, we can support those in need, and serve as a voice of love, acceptance, and hope in a world that needs to hear these things. Our pledges this spring will resource the first year of the NEXT 30 years of our congregation’s mission: to transform ourselves, our community, and our world through the power of love; to embody a sanctuary of compassion, integrity, and respect; and to champion justice, equity, and peace.

Pledge what you can for the new year. Know that if your circumstances change, you can adjust your pledge. If you can give more, do so, knowing that you are contributing more in a time when others can contribute less.  Please visit https://www.nashvilleuu.org/pledge and pledge as generously as you are able.

Now is the time. This is your invitation.

To read this year’s pledge letter, click Invitation to Pledge.

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May Share the Plate: Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi

Our May Share the Plate organization is Planned Parenthood - Tennessee & North Mississippi, a nonprofit healthcare agency. They provide essential reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming care. Abortion is still legal in many states, and it's legal to go to a different state to get an abortion. If you live in Tennessee or Mississippi and need an abortion, our Patient Navigation team offers needed resources.

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Summary of Extra Board meeting on April 24, 2024

The Board discussed the extension of the A New Leaf school lease for an additional 12 months and received an update on the annual stewardship drive. The Board discussed the importance of welcoming and membership in the coming year. The Board planned the agenda for the upcoming May 5th briefing of the congregation and confirmed that the meeting will be hybrid. This is a preliminary Q&A session in advance of the Congregational Meeting on May 19. The Board put plans in place to start congregational visioning for the next 30 years with a progress assessment scheduled around December 2024.

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NOAH’s Tenth Anniversary Banquet on June 18 Keynote Speaker Dr. Michael Eric Dyson! “A Decade of Justice: Building a Legacy and Charting a Way Forward”

Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) is celebrating ten years of building community and power in Nashville. Our work has transformed communities in our city by funding more affordable housing, supporting meaningful social-emotional support in schools, getting mental health care in place for folks otherwise facing criminal charges, and building economic power for Nashville's workers. How did we do this? Through the time and resources of people like YOU! 

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April Board Meeting Summary

The board confirmed that the current members are all likely willing and able to continue to serve on the board if asked. The board discussed the ongoing occupancy of the RE building by A New Leaf school. The board began making plans for congregational meetings and training priorities for the upcoming 2024/2025 fiscal year.

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GNUUC Italian Lunch & 2024 Live Auction is Sunday, April 28, at 12:15 PM: Website Catalog is Live. Purchase Tickets Now.

DETAILS:

Date: Sunday, April 28, 2024
Lunch: 12:15 PM
Cost: $10 (Guests to the Service and children under 13 are free.)
Live Auction: 1:30 PM
Location: 374 Hicks Road, Nashville, TN 37221

TICKETS & WEBSITE

Auction Website: Purchase Tickets and View Catalog
Purchasing Tickets online does not require a credit card - just choose the option: Write a check to GNUUC and put "Auction" in the memo.

Tickets can also be purchased onsite, however, there is usually a bottleneck - just a forewarning!

CAN’T MAKE THE AUCTION?

The Auction is our largest fundraiser of the year. We count on your participation to make this a successful event. Our fundraising goal is $5,200!

If you can't make the Auction date/time:

  • Consider using a Proxy bidder.
    Peruse the online auction catalog and your proxy can make bids for you. You will be sent an invoice after the Auction, which you can pay online. Need help or a proxy? Contact Kristin at kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org.

  • Some "Intermission" concerts/events can also be purchased online on Sunday.
    There are upcoming concerts and events that are discounted if you purchase tickets at the Auction. 

  • Or consider making a donation to Greater Nashville UU with "Auction" in the memo.
    Go to the Donate page at our website and choose "Give to the Auction" in the box.

WE STILL NEED SOME FOOD DONATIONS

Click to the Details page and scroll to bottom for suggestions. (Updated as of Wed morning.)

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April Share the Plate: Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)

Our April Share the Plate partner is the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible and equitable energy choices to ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. As a leading voice for energy policy in our region, SACE is a regional organization focused on transforming the way we produce and consume energy in the Southeast.

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GNUUC Work Day, Saturday, April 6, 9 am - noon

If able bring a wheelbarrow, garden wagon, or bucket. Gloves, a shovel, hat, and sunblock are recommended. We will clear out the mulch pile, moving it to landscaping areas in the breezeway, along garden trails and the remainder to the playground. We have rakes for those who prefer less strenuous activity. We will move two cement benches from the trail to the garden if time allows. Come for as much time as you are able. Happy gardening!

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Board Update March 2024

We discussed ways to improve communication and simplify and open up processes at the church to better reflect our current staffing and volunteer capacity. We discussed the open slots for delegates from the congregation to UUA General Assembly 2024. The Board will encourage interested people to contact Rev. Denise. Board members will inform Tina about their wishes as far as continuing to serve during the coming year.

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This Saturday, March 16! Come to an Affordable Housing Community Meeting 

NOAH's Affordable Housing Task Force will kick off a new series of community meetings this Saturday, March 16th, at 10:00 am at Fifteenth Ave Baptist Church, 1203 9th Ave N, Nashville, TN. This event aims to educate the community on the property tax freeze and relief programs available to senior and disabled homeowners in Davidson County. It is estimated that about 16,000 households qualify for these programs, but only about 6,000 of these actually take advantage of them.

The Metro Trustee's Office will be there to explain the steps to apply. If you know a senior or disabled homeowner who may be interested, please download the flyer and share it with them!
There will also be a showing of the short film, “Segregated by Design” (based on the book by Richard Rothstein, The Color of Law), which “examines the forgotten history of how our federal, state, and local governments unconstitutionally segregated every major metropolitan area in America through law and policy.”

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This Week in NOAH!

Rally at the Capitol with organizations from across the state! Next Tuesday, March 12th, TN4ALL is hosting a Day on the Hill in partnership with unions, labor councils, and other organizations across Tennessee including NOAH.

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Now Accepting Donations for the Live Auction and Intermission Events, Services, and Items plus Italian Lunch Food

We are now accepting Live Auction and Intermission Items, Events, and Services. We are accepting food donations for the Italian lunch as well.

For the Live Auction Items

For Live Auction items we need donations of the following:
-Hosted meals
-Sporting event tickets
-Music tickets (concert or symphony)
-Art gallery tickets
-Expensive digital devices
-Fine art or high-quality artisan items, and more!

A good indicator if an event or item is a good match for the Live Auction is if it can generate at least $75.

For the Intermission Items

For the Intermission Items, we need events with a set price that multiple people (at least 8-10+) can attend. The set price is usually $10 - $20.

Event Ideas:
-A Movie & Popcorn Night at GNUUC
-Hosting a Local Tour
-Hosting a Congregation Birthday Party
-Hosting a Park Picnic

For the artists out there, if you can create multiple items (at least 8-10+), all at a single set price of $10 - $20, they are a good fit as intermission items. They do not need to be unique but do need to be in the same genre. (Think Sandy’s birds from last year.)

Artisan Ideas:
-A set of paintings based on a theme
-A set of sculptures that fit in the same genre.
-All items are at a set price.

No Silent Auction

Remember - no silent auction items this year!

Italian Lunch

Do you have a favorite Italian food to share? Sign up to donate an appetizer, entree, salad, side, dessert, or beverage for eight people! We look forward to sharing.

TO DONATE ITEMS

To donate items/events/food, use the Auction Donor Form.

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February Board Meeting Summary

The treasurer presented the finance report, noting pledge income may come in lower than budgeted. Insurance and asphalt repairs have increased expenses significantly. Getting additional asphalt repair quotes was discussed.

Discussing the congregation's 30th anniversary coming up in 2024, suggestions included celebrating with a special pledge drive theme highlighting the past 30 years and vision for the next 30. A homecoming event in the fall was also proposed.

The Board conducted a self-assessment. The facilitator closed by thanking the Board for their self-reflection.

Continued progress on visioning the future and sustainability goals will help ensure GNUUC's next 30 years are as strong as the past 30 have been.

Please email board@gnuuc.org if you have any questions or suggestions.

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Early Voting Ends Next Tuesday, February 27

Early voting for the March 5 primary election is underway at all locations, including new locations at the Bellevue Community Center, Goodlettsville Library, Hillwood High School, and South Inglewood Community Center. In addition to the presidential preference primary, there are important races for Circuit Court Judge, Division IV, 20th Judicial District, Assessor of Property, and School Board. A schedule is here.

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