Dear friends,

For the past four years, Rev. Denise Gyauch has served our congregation as our contract minister. Together, we have grown in trust, deepened our shared ministry, and clarified who we are becoming as a community of faith.

Now, we are entering a new and meaningful phase: discerning whether it is time to call Rev. Denise to settled ministry with the Greater Nashville UU Congregation.

The Contract to Call Process, recommended by the UUA, invites the whole congregation into learning, reflection, and conversation. Over the next several weeks, we’ll explore together what it means to call a minister to settled ministry. The Board has created a Contract to Call task force composed of Kristin Reveal, Carol Looney, and Ryan Davison in implement this process.

Step 1: Sunday, November 9, 11 am.: Worship Service and Sermon “The Call We Make Together” (Hybrid)
This special service will introduce the meaning and purpose of the Contract to Call Process. We’ll reflect on how congregations and ministers discern together, and how covenant, trust, and shared ministry form the heart of this decision. Please make sure to attend, either in person or on Zoom.

Step 2: Small Group Conversations

Following the November 9 service, we’ll hold small-group sessions where every member is invited to share hopes, concerns, and reflections. This is the time we can discuss your questions.

Each group will begin with a chalice lighting, covenant, and deep-listening guidelines. We hope all 51 members and new members will attend one of the following sessions. The sessions will be facilitated by Kristin Reveal, Carol Looney, and Ryan Davison.

If you would like to have an individual session with a member of the Contract to Call Task Force (Kristin, Carol, or Ryan), you can arrange this after attending a small group meeting.

You’ll receive a sign-up link in next week’s e-blast to choose your date.

Step 3: Your Voice Matters

After all small groups meet, the Contract to Call Task Force — Kristin Reveal, Carol Looney, and Ryan Davison — will compile a summary report for the Board and Rev. Denise. 

The Board will then use this report to determine if the congregation is ready to hold a vote to call Rev. Denise as our settled minister. If we are ready, a congregational meeting will be set in 2026. 

Why This Matters

Whether you’ve been here for years or are a new member, your presence and perspective are essential to this discernment.

Let us approach this time with open hearts, deep listening, and gratitude for the ministry we share.

In faith and community,
The Contract to Call Task Force
Kristin Reveal
Carol Looney
Ryan Davison

Save the Date: November 9, 3 - 5 PM

Location: Scarritt-Bennett Center, 1027 18th Ave S.

NOAH will be hosting a General Election Candidates Forum on November 9th for the winners of the primary for Congressional District 7. A strong turnout at this critical public meeting will make a statement to our candidates that we care about the future of our community! This is a great opportunity to exercise our power as we raise our voices and our concerns, as we make our priorities clear to those representing us.

Save the Date: Sunday, November 23, during Lunch

We’ll be making snack bags for Room In The Inn (RITI) guests to take with them after spending the night here at GNUUC.

We will be hosting 8 guests on the 1st Wednesday of the month, from December to February, plus we might accept extra emergency nights, so we’ll need at least 32 snack bags.

To see what is needed, go to the Build Room In the Inn Snack Bags Event.

Email kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org what you can contribute!

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to the food and resources people in our community need to thrive. For nearly 50 years, we have welcomed our neighbors with radical hospitality, empowering them to live free from the daily burden of food insecurity. We prioritize innovation and remain committed to sustainability as we strive for a future where everyone is food secure, and no food is wasted.

GNUUC Women’s Group has provided requested toys, games, books, weighted blankets, etc. to the new Children and Youth ER Psychiatric unit at the Mental Health Cooperative in Nashville. 

The need for mental health services for children is urgent and growing.  Left untreated, mental health disorders can cause severe and long-lasting problems

We hope to make this an on-going service project and will inform the congregation of future opportunities. 

Vision Presentation Success The Board celebrated the successful presentation of our 2025 vision to the congregation, with excellent feedback from members who found it engaging and thought-provoking.

Preschool Milestone Exciting news! The preschool received zoning approval. Thanks to a $4,000 grant to New Leaf, the remaining fence cost is only $1,100, which the Finance Committee will address. The Board recommended keeping the gates open by default unless security issues arise, and will add reflectors for safety.

Labyrinth Project The Board approved exploring a parking lot labyrinth, proposed by Larry Blanz. We'll start with spray chalk to test the concept, consult with Buildings & Grounds, and potentially coordinate with Reverend Michelle for a labyrinth-focused service in spring 2026.

Next Meeting: November 19, 2025

Date: Saturday, October 25th

Location: Greater Nashville UU Fellowship Hall

Time: 6 PM - 9 PM

Bring your own Pumpkin! Some carving tools are available to use, but feel free to bring your own knife or pumpkin-gut scoop if you prefer.

You may choose to bring a 2-liter, a side, or a dessert if you wish, but not required! Pizza will be provided.

Please stay for the group photo with all the beautiful pumpkins if you can!

Please RSVP to Kayla ASAP so we can get a rough count of how much pizza we need!

This October, GNUUC’s Sharing the Plate partner is Room In The Inn. The program provides safe shelter, warm meals, and fellowship for our neighbors struggling with homelessness during the coldest months of the year.

This year, we will continue to host overnight guests as part of RITI’s Winter Shelter program. Contact Nathaniel B for more information on volunteering.

The October GNUUC Climate Justice Revival has been postponed until Winter / Spring 2026.

With the TUUCAN meeting also happening in October, we felt we had too much going on this month.

Time: 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM (in Sanctuary)
Dates: September 21, October 26, November 16, and December 14.

This fall, we’re offering UU Compass, a multi-generational small group (teens through adults) based on the Starting Point curriculum from Soul Matters.

UU Compass is not a lecture series — it’s an experience.

Together, we’ll practice deep listening, share our personal journeys, and explore Unitarian Universalism as a living path of meaning and connection.

Together we’ll:

Explore Our Journeys – reflect on our own spiritual paths and what brought us here.

Discover Our Tradition – learn the unfolding story of Unitarian Universalism through the lens of healing disconnection.

Build Connections – practice the deep listening and sharing that make small groups so life-giving in UU congregations.

Find Our Next Step – discern how each of us can walk more deeply with this community, whether as a newcomer or a longtime member.

Who is UU Compass for?

Newcomers who want more than information — a real taste of UU community.

Long-time members seeking to reconnect with UU values and practices.

Teens and adults alike, eager to walk together across generations.

Whether you’re brand new or have been here for decades, UU Compass will help you find your bearings, discover companions, and chart the next step of your journey.

Facilitators: Kristin R. with Nathaniel B.

Want more information? Contact Kristin R. (kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org)

Welcome to the 2025 -2026 Academic Year!

Greater Nashville UU uses an emergent faith formation space to build community and faith formation with our children and youth. We know that time is a precious resource for parents and volunteers. An emergent faith formation space is a less structured, more experiential approach to spiritual growth that prioritizes relationships, authenticity, and community over traditional curricula and rigid doctrines. These spaces allow for co-creation, collaboration, and opportunities for individuals to explore and "own" their faith in authentic and transformative ways.

What does this look like? On some Sundays we have One-Room Schoolhouse, on others multigenerational services, and on some staffed Wiggle Room/Playground free-play.

Here is a General Calendar

For details on what is happening on what Sunday, contact Kristin R. (kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org)

Multigenerational Sundays (1st Sundays): Sept 7, Oct 5, Nov 2, Dec 7

Very family friendly. These services do not have a “sermon,” but instead have short, interactive components.

One-Room Schoolhouse: Sept 21, Sept 28, Oct 26, Nov 16, Nov 23, Dec 14, Dec 21

Children leave service after the Time for All Sages and exit to class. Teens can help in the One-Room Schoolhouse or attend service.

Multigenerational RE: UU Compass (Teens - Adults): September 21, October 26, November 16, and December 14.

After lunch, Teens go to the UU Compass small group. (See more information below.)

Wiggle Room/Playground Sundays:

Once a month we have free-play staffed by two trained Children’s RE volunteers. There isn’t a lesson on these days; we will have free play, either in the Wiggle Room or the playground.

Sept 14, Oct 12, Nov 9, Dec 28 (staffed)

Nov 30, Dec 28 (parent supervision only)

Community Events: Join us for community Game Nights, Movie Nights, Trivia Nights, and Hanging of the Greens! Some of these events are on Saturday evenings and some on Sunday mornings. Teens also participate in Climate Justice Workshops, as well as other Social Justice events.

Sunday, September 21, 7 PM

First UU Nashville at 1808 Woodmont Blvd.

The annual Robert C. Palmer Lecture on Human Rights was established by the church’s Board of Directors in 1983 to honor the legacy and service of the Rev. Robert Palmer, our first called minister. Rev. Palmer was a social activist on many fronts, including the United Nations, nuclear disarmament, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Sunday, September 28, 11:30 am-2 pm.

First UU Nashville at 1808 Woodmont Blvd.

We have an invitation from First UU’s new minister, Rev. Charlotte Arsenault, to FUUN’s Epic 75th Anniversary Cook-Out. It’s on September 28, and overlaps a bit with our service, but might be a good opportunity for those interested to pop over, meet Rev. Charlotte Arsenault, and say “hi” from Greater Nashville UU.

Folks will be invited to enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs, and we'll provide all the fixings as well as gluten-free and vegan options. Everyone attending is encouraged to bring their favorite side dish, and we'll have lots of yummy desserts available to help commemorate this great milestone. In addition, we'll have several bands playing, so everyone is welcome to bring their lawn chairs. And, this is a family affair as we'll have facepainting and a Foamboree party available (be sure to bring flip flops or water shoes, goggles, a towel, sunscreen, and bug spray if you plan to participate in the foam!).

Read more to see flyer and video invitation.

Saturday, October 18th

First UU Nashville at 1808 Woodmont Blvd.

9 am to 4 pm

We are calling people from UU communities across the state to Nashville on Saturday, October 18th, to join in the spirit of our shared values and Side With Love. We are building relationships between our communities to ground our spirits, grow our skills, and act strategically for justice to build a world where everyone thrives. We are meeting to nourish our minds, bodies, and souls.

Register to join us in person or via Zoom as we meet at The First UU Church of Nashville (FUUN). We will share meals together, we will provide home hospitality, and we will help cover travel expenses.

Registration URL: https://bit.ly/tuucan25​

At GNUUC we have a long-standing tradition of supporting Nashville CARES through our share the plate program. Their mission is to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee, and help in care for those with HIV/AIDS. Nashville CARES works to achieve their mission through education, advocacy and support for those at risk for, or living with, HIV.

The GNUUC Board held their annual retreat on August 30th, bringing together seven board members for a day of reflection and planning focused on the congregation's future direction. 

Through structured exercises and collaborative discussion, the board crafted this year's Vision of Ministry statement: 

"This year we will be a sanctuary where every person is known, fed, and transformed through authentic connection and courageous action." 

Key themes that emerged throughout the day included 

-radical hospitality, 
-the unique strengths of being a small congregation (such as nimble decision-making and deep personal connections), and
-the importance of accessibility in all forms. 

The board also discussed transitioning toward a more hands-on "working board" model that better fits the congregation's current size, including plans to open portions of monthly board meetings for congregational input. 

The retreat highlighted core values of community care, witnessing each other's humanity, and maintaining flexibility to respond quickly to both congregational and community needs - all while celebrating the distinctive advantages that come with being a close-knit congregation.

Want to learn about the inequities in Nashville's criminal legal system? Attend Transformational Justice's Town Hall on August 28th!

This Thursday, August 28, the NOAH Transformational Justice Task Force is hosting a panel of experts to address mass incarceration, cash bail, and racial profiling in our criminal legal system. Our panel includes representation from CALEB (Gamaliel organization in Chattanooga, a counterpart to NOAH), Nashville Community Bail Fund, Unheard Voices Tennessee, and Freehearts.

If you're interested in learning more about the state of these issues in our city, join us at Clark Memorial United Methodist Church, 1014 14th Ave. N., from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm on August 28th! You can register here.

On August 17, 2025, we had a Shared Ministries meeting after service to talk about volunteer opportunities, covenant groups, and upcoming events. I’m very excited about our programming and events this Fall!

To download a PDF copy of the following, click: Shared Ministries Notes & Calendar.

If you are interested in finding out more about any of the following, reach out to the associated contact. If you need the contact’s name, let Kristin R. know (kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org).

United Volunteers of TN (UVOTN) is hosting a protest picnic during Sen. Marsha Blackburn's event at the Tennessee State Museum on Saturday, 8/23.

For months, ICE has been operating in Nashville, separating families and forcibly removing members of our community without any trial. We will not be silent as our neighbors continue to be dehumanized and disappeared.

Join NOAH for a powerful inter-faith rally to uplift the dignity, safety, and humanity of immigrant communities in Middle Tennessee. We invite people of all faiths and backgrounds to show up for justice and compassion. The demonstration will be held at Richland Park at 3:00 pm.

Together, we can send a clear message: We will not be silent. We will stand with those most affected by fear, displacement, & injustice.