September 2024 Share the Plate: Nashville Cares AIDS Walk. Donate and/or Join the Walk on October 19!

At GNUUC we have a long-standing tradition of supporting Nashville CARES through our enthusiastic participation in its annual AIDS Walk fundraising. Their mission is to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee.

Our Team Goal is to raise $500 through Share the Plate in September to sponsor our Team at the AIDS Walk on October 19 at Shelby Park at 7:30 AM.

All September Share the Plate donations under $100 will be split 50/50 between sponsoring our Team and Greater Nashville UU's plate.

All September Share the Plate donations over $100 will go 100% to support our GNUUC team for the Nashville AIDS Walk.

To join our Team of Walkers (or runners - there is a 5K run), or to donate directly any amount to our team online, go to: Greater Nashville UU Congregation (GNUUC) Team

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Board Meeting Summary - August 21, 2024

The GNUUC Board met on August 21, 2024 to discuss various matters related to church operations and planning. Key points included:

1 - Financial Update: The church ended the 2023-2024 fiscal year with income $2,431 over expenses, avoiding the need to move funds from contingency. This positive outcome was largely due to rental income from A New Leaf. For the current fiscal year (2024-2025), 34% of pledges have already been paid.

2 - Board Retreat: A retreat is scheduled for August 31st from 11am-2pm. Board members will bring mixed media items for a group project.

3 - Board Service: The board will lead the service on October 27th, which will be followed by a shared ministries meeting.

4 - Greeters: Carol shared insights from UUA greeter training and suggested implementing a monthly rotation for greeters. The board discussed incorporating safety training into the greeter role.

5 - Memorial Garden: The board discussed concerns about the Memorial Garden space.

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Women’s Group Food Drive in August for the Bellevue Community Food Bank

Last day for donations is this Sunday!

The GNUUC Women’s Group is sponsoring a food drive in August.  Please bring items to church in paper or plastic bags.  Please check the “best by” or expiration date on any donations. The food bank cannot accept anything past those dates. Leave your donations on the table against the wall farthest from the kitchen.

Here is a link to the Bellevue Community Food Bank.  Needed items are listed there as well as items they cannot accept.

Let’s help our neighbors who are food insecure.

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NOAH News August 2024

NOAH is committed to educating Nashvillians about how they can be involved in the democratic process. One way we plan to do so is through a Text Banking and Postcard Feast!

Join us on August 22 from 6-8 pm at Edgehill UMC as we remind voters to register before the November elections. We encourage you to bring a friend to help out! Dinner will be provided. Register here.

Not free on the 22nd? Come canvass with NOAH in September! More details to come.

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Our August Share the Plate Partner: Organize Tennessee

Organize Tennessee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization driven to uphold safe, secure, and accessible elections for every eligible voter. We advocate for voting rights protections, build coalitions, provide legal support and prioritize grassroots organizing to eliminate barriers and empower disenfranchised Tennesseans. Organize Tennessee is the only 501(c)(3) providing statewide voter protection year-round - from municipal elections to statewide elections.

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Share the Plate for July: Americans United for Separation of Church and State: ‘Freedom Without Favor, Equality Without Exception’

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.

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Rev. Denise on Vacation for Month of July

Rev. Denise Gyauch will be on vacation for the entire month of July (July 1-31). During that time, our wonderful affiliated ministers, the Revs. Dr. Michelle Pederson and Cynthia Stewart will be available for pastoral emergencies. If you find yourself needing to talk with a minister, please contact the church office by email (gnuuc@gnuuc.org) or phone (615-673-7699; leave a voicemail message). Our administrator, Kris, will connect you with the minister on call.

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Wed, June 12, 6:30 PM: Nashville Pride Spirituality at First UU

Rev. Denise will be leading a meditation during the event. This interfaith community-wide service will lift up how we all find our sacredness. We’ll share traditions and rituals from our respective groups. And much singing and love will be shared. Sunday Assembly, Music City Sisters, The Table, Congregation Micah, Covenant of the Cross, Nashville in Harmony, Nashville Pagan Coven, FUUN, and Major Minors will be present. Come celebrate and be celebrated. Sponsored by Nashville Pride.

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Tue., June 18: 6:30 PM: NOAH Banquet, Keynote Speaker Dr. Michael Eric Dyson! “A Decade of Justice: Building a Legacy and Charting a Way Forward”

Join us for a fun-filled night to commemorate a decade of NOAH on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Boone Convocation Center on the campus of Trevecca Nazarene University, 333 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville TN 37210. The theme is "A Decade of Justice: Building a Legacy and Charting a Way Forward." We are hosting our biggest celebration yet, with dinner (including a vegan option) and live music, plus a special presentation from our keynote speaker Dr. Michael Eric Dyson! For tickets contact Nancy or Doug.

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June 22 - 23: Nashville Pride Festival & Parade

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
Saturday June 22, 2024 (11a-9p)
Sunday June 23, 2024 (11a-7p)

The Nashville Pride Festival returns to Bicentennial Park on Saturday June 22nd and Sunday June 23rd. Nashville Pride is a two-day LGBTQI+ festival featuring top-rated entertainment on multiple stages, a Kids and Family Area, Youth Area, Community Art Installations, and over 225 vendors featuring local not for profits, artists, and businesses.

Nashville Pride is committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for all members of the LGBTQI+ community.

Tickets start at $10. Ages 10 and under do not require a ticket to attend

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June Share the Plate Partner is Anera - Gaza Emergency Response

Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in Palestine (West Bank and Gaza), Lebanon and Jordan. We mobilize resources for immediate emergency relief and for sustainable, long-term health, education, and economic development. Our staff serve in their communities, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most.

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Auction and Italian Dinner Success in 2024

This year's GNUUC auction exceeded our goal bringing in over $8000! Sincere thanks go out to all our members who donated food or auction items, attended the auction lunch or bought items at the auction.  It was a fun event, and we all helped with the church's budget!

Seats are still available at the Ken Sizemore concert on June 9 and the Roger Wiesmeyer recital on August 18. Email gnuuc@gnuuc.org for more information.

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Update from Finance

This past Sunday we met for our Annual Congregational Meeting and passed our annual budget for the GNUUC 2024-2025 Fiscal Year. Please drop me an email at jesse.spencersmith@gmail.com if you’d like to have a copy of the approved budget.

It’s important to note that we do not draw on contingency funds for our budget for the year! Thanks to your generous pledges, a well-planned and successful auction, and New Leaf Preschool renting our RE space for the full year, we are able to plan a budget that is balanced for the first time since the pandemic.

Some important highlights of the budget:

We are budgeting support for the Unitarian Universalist Association after not being able to budget for this last year. The UUA depends on congregations for their support, so this is an important improvement.

We have increased the budget for Buildings and Grounds to help address the cost of painting our building.

Due to a technical glitch, pledge request letters went out AGAIN on Tuesday, May 21. Know that we HAVE gratefully received and recorded your pledges. As I noted in a follow-up letter, I would not mind this technical problem, except for the fact that it went out before we had a chance to send out our thanks to each of you for your loving, generous support of GNUUC.

--

Jesse S-S

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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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