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Announcements can be added to this list, to the weekly e-blast, or to the Order of Service by submitting the Communications Form - Add Announcement form.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the separation of religion and government as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all. Please donate to Americans United through Share the Plate in July, defending freedom of religion, and freedom of belief.
Read MorePlease help us by bringing bottled water to church during July. We will deliver to the Nashville Rescue Mission. If you have a large vehicle and can help with delivery, please let us know. Please put the water bottles on the table at the back of the Fellowship hall.
Read MoreOn Sunday, June 15, members from FUUN joined GNUUC for Music Sunday. More than 100 people attended in person, and over 30 attended online! After the service, refreshments were shared in the Fellowship Hall. This event was a great success for both congregations, and we look forward to more co-hosted events in the future.
Click Read More to see pictures of Music Sunday.
Read MoreThe GNUUC Board held its monthly meeting on June 18, with members gathering via Zoom to discuss congregational matters and plan for the future.
Financial Update
Treasurer Jesse Spencer-Smith reported excellent financial news. The congregation exceeded budget projections with pledge income at 110% and plate income at 131% of budgeted amounts. The positive financial position will allow GNUUC to prepay next year's UUA Annual Fund contribution ($6,600) and add $2,000 to the building capital fund for future AC unit replacements.
Annual Meeting Reflection
Board members reflected on the recent annual meeting, acknowledging that some discussions became heated, particularly around budget matters. The board identified key learnings:
-Share the budget with congregants well before the annual meeting to allow time for questions and discussion
-Implement regular "meet your board member" opportunities during Sunday announcements
-Better prepare congregants for productive participation through resources like the "Be Prepared, Be Kind" guide to annual meetings
Contract to Call Update
Claire S. reported on the Contract to Call Task Force progress. The team is working to schedule a meeting with UUA representative Christine Purcell to clarify next steps.
Looking Ahead
Board Retreat: Scheduled for Saturday, August 30, 9 AM - 2 PM at Jesse S-S's home.
Shared Ministry: Rev. Denise will provide updates during Shared Ministry meetings about her ministerial activities to help congregants better understand the breadth of her work.
Appreciation
The board expressed deep gratitude to outgoing members Tina and Carol for their years of dedicated service and welcomed new members Nathaniel B. and Gabby to their roles. A special congregational meeting to officially elect Gabby to the board was scheduled for August 24, following the Sunday service.
The meeting concluded with members feeling optimistic about GNUUC's financial health and committed to improving communication and processes for the congregation's continued growth.
Read MoreThe Belonging Fund was established by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Conexión Americas, and Tennessee Justice For Our Neighbors, in conjunction with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and will be used to support families impacted by civil immigration enforcement operations in Middle Tennessee that began on May 4, 2025, and are ongoing. This fund will be responsive and evolving to the community's needs as determined by the founding organizations and will be flexible to adjust to the shifting policy landscape.
Read MoreThis month we are honored to share our offering with Free Hearts, a Tennessee-based organization led by formerly incarcerated women. Rooted in Nashville, Free Hearts works to support and reunite families impacted by incarceration through education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing.
In partnership with the National Bail Out collective, Free Hearts is participating in the 2025 campaign to free as many Black mothers and caregivers as possible in time for Mother’s Day—offering not only release, but reunion, dignity, and healing.
Free Hearts also leads Nashville’s Participatory Defense Hub, a powerful community initiative where families and loved ones come together each week to learn about the court system and advocate for justice. Since 2017, these efforts have resulted in more than 1,100 years of incarceration avoided—a testament to the transformative power of collective care and resistance.
Your generosity today helps Free Hearts continue this vital work: reuniting families, shifting power within the criminal legal system, and imagining a world where love and liberation prevail.
To learn more about Free Hearts, visit https://freeheartsorg.com/.
Read MoreThis year’s banquet will again take place at the Boone Center at Trevecca Nazarene University, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Charlane Oliver, District 19 Senator in the Tennessee legislature, will be our keynote speaker. Tickets may be purchased here. The deadline is MAY 15 for ticket purchase. GNUUC folks can share a table. For information about NOAH and some of its recent accomplishments, opportunities to purchase ads in the banquet program, as well as different levels of sponsorship, click here.
Read MoreThe Nominating Committee currently includes Nathanael R (past-president), Caren S-S, Ryan D, Gina A, and Elizabeth M. The committee faces a challenge finding a President from among the congregation, and board members are encouraged to consider suggestions.
The Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 18th. The board voted to move their regular meeting from May 21st to Wednesday, May 14th to prepare for the Annual Meeting.
Draft budget was discussed, but will be finalized after all pledges forms are returned.
The meeting concluded with appreciation for the successful auction fundraiser, which exceeded expectations.
Read MoreThe American Civil Liberties Union originated in 1920 as a response to the Palmer raids, in which thousands of people were arrested without warrants or regard to constitutional protections against unlawful search and seizure, then brutally treated and held in horrible conditions before deportation. The ACLU today is the nation's largest public interest law firm, with a 50-state network of staffed, autonomous affiliate offices. It appears before the United States Supreme Court more than any other organization except the U.S. Department of Justice. About 500 ACLU staff attorneys collaborate with about 2,000 volunteer attorneys in handling close to 2,000 cases annually.
Read MoreMark your calendars now for NOAH’s annual banquet on May 29 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This year’s banquet will again take place at the Boone Center at Trevecca Nazarene University, with Charlene Oliver, District 19 Senator in the Tennessee legislature, as keynote speaker. More details to come. Watch this space!
Read MoreThe mission of the Tennessee Justice Center is to use the law to advance economic, racial, and social justice by relentlessly working for and with Tennesseans seeking better lives for themselves and their neighbors.
Read MoreSecond 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, they have welcomed our neighbors with radical hospitality, empowering them to live free from the daily burden of food insecurity. They prioritize innovation and remain committed to sustainability as they strive for a future where everyone is food secure, and no food is wasted.
Read MoreWe will be having a themed “Souper Bowl” Sunday Potluck Lunch after ther service on February 9. We are asking for 4-5 soups and sides you would bring to a Superbowl Party. We are also hosting a canned soup drive for the food pantry at the same time. Any questions, contact Gina.
Read MoreCommemorating National Religious Freedom Day
Read MoreSince its founding, TIRRC has grown from an informal network of community leaders into one of the most diverse and effective coalitions of its kind, a model for immigrant rights organizations in the Southeast and throughout the United States. TIRRC’s vision is a stronger, more inclusive Tennessee where people of all nationalities, immigration statuses, and racial identities can belong and thrive.
If you know or discover such an organization, please nominate it by using the form found with the Share the Plate Nomination form..
Read MoreOur December Share the Plate partner is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) through its Guest at Your Table program. Since it began in 1975, the Guest at Your Table program has introduced generations of Unitarian Universalists to our grassroots partners working for justice around the world with your support.
Read MoreThank you to all who contributed to the GNUUC Vision of Ministry for this year!
GNUUC Vision of Ministry 2024-25 (as stated and approved by our Board):
Cultivating a safe space in our community by welcoming & caring for each other, both inside and outside our walls, and celebrating the unique gifts of each person.
Read MoreHurricane Helene is now the second deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. and has left a trail of devastation across the southeastern states. Just days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 Hurricane. Communities are grappling with catastrophic landslides, historic flooding, and relentless rainfall. Millions of people remain without power, and homes, streets, and businesses have been damaged or destroyed.
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