Are you interested in becoming a member of Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation (GNUUC)? 

If yes, talk to Rev. Denise. If you’re not sure, read on!

People become members of our congregation by signing our Membership Book and pledging to support the congregation with their time and resources. The privileges of membership include voting at congregational meetings and eligibility for elected or appointed service on the congregation’s Board, Finance Team, or as a GNUUC delegate to the General Assembly of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations). 

To vote in any particular congregational meeting, a member must have signed the Membership Book at least three months prior to the meeting date and must have a recorded contribution to the congregation within the prior twelve months. (To be “recorded”, your contribution must be received with your name attached–as a check or cc contribution, or as cash in a labelled envelope.)

New Members who sign the book during the New Member Signing on February 22, 2026, will be eligible to vote at the May Annual Meeting, as long as we have a recorded contribution. Reach out to Rev. Denise about participating! 

To learn more, email Rev. Denise at revdenise@gnuuc.org.

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. The Board has created a Contract to Call task force composed of Kristin Reveal, Carol Looney, and Ryan Davison to implement this process.

Last November we had a special Sunday service, “The Call We Make Together,” that introduced the meaning and purpose of the Contract to Call Process. For a Video Recording of this service, see: The Call We Make Together Sermon.

Then, in late November and December we held Small Group Discussion sessions where members and friends reflected on these questions:

How does our Mission, Covenant, and/or Vision of Ministry guide our shared ministry?

What is working well in our church community?

What do we need to work on? Where do we feel called to grow?

How do we experience our relationship with Rev. Denise in this shared ministry?

What hopes do you have for our future together?

Is there anything else you would like to share?

The Contract to call Task Force then compiled a Summary Report that it presented to the Board and Rev. Denise in late December. 

You are invited to a Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, February 1, from 1 PM - 2 PM, for a presentation of the Summary Report and to receive a copy of the report itself.

To join online: https://tinyurl.com/gnuuczoom

This Town Hall Meeting will be hosted by the Contract to Call Task Force, Ryan D., Kristin R., and Carol L.

There will be time allocated for questions and comments.

After the Town Hall Meeting, the Board will call a Congregational Meeting to hold a vote on whether to call Rev. Denise as our settled minister. Voting members will vote by paper ballot. During the Congregational Meeting there will NOT be time allocated to questions, discussion, and comments. Please come to the Town Hall Meeting to ask questions and make comments.

Why This Matters

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

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

Come to GNUUC on Sunday, January 18, from 1:00 - 2:00 PM for our next Auction planning session.

New and previous auction planners - join us!

Our theme this year is: Going, Going, Greek!
The lunch will be Greek food - think gyro, falafel, Greek salad, dolmades, marinated veggies, feta, hummus, spanakopita, baklava, etc.

Dan L. is our Auction coordinator.

Mir S. is in charge of lunch. Ryan D. will reach out to local Greek and Mediterranean restaurants for donations. Allie W. will be also be helping. Reach out to Mir to find out how you can help with food.

Carol L, Theresa K., and Sandy B. are in charge of decorations. The Women’s Group will help. They will also make sure the bid paddles have all numbers 1-50.

Ryan D. is in charge of Gift Cards - if you have a place you would like to recommend to donate a gift card, or to recruit yourself, just reach out to him.

Kristin R. is in charge of e-blast updates and marketing to members. She will also recruit Live, Silent, and Intermission events. If you would like to help in this capacity, please reach out. Also, if you are an artisan and could make 10-15 items for donation to the Silent Auction, let her know.

Kris T. and Kristin R. will enter donations into the Auction software and be in charge of tech.

ABOUT THE AUCTION

At GNUUC, the Auction is more than just a fundraiser. We decorate, have food and entertainment, and have a great time! It is one of the best social events of the year. Items are priced so that everyone goes home with something. Join the Auction team - we have so much fun planning this event!

The date of the 2026 Auction is set for the afternoon of Sunday, March 29, 2026. It will include a themed lunch, a live Auction, and fun intermission events and silent action items.

Our January Share the Plate partner is Side with Love, the organizing strategy team of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Side With Love confronts exclusion, oppression, and violence rooted in identity. With the goal of building Beloved Community, they pursue social change through advocacy, public witness, and solidarity with those whose lives are publicly demeaned.

Through education, organizing, and collective action, Side With Love supports work for democracy, climate justice, racial and immigration justice, and LGBTQIA+ and gender justice—reminding us that these struggles are deeply connected, and that lasting change happens when we act together, grounded in love.

Side With Love has also supported our wider Tennessee UU community, including a recent grant that helped make the TUUCAN Fall Flock in Nashville possible.

We invite you to give generously today as a way of choosing, together, to Side With Love.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State Nashville will be hosting Andrew Seidel, attorney and author, to speak about "Tennessee: The Tip of the Sword of Christian Nationalism. What Can We Do?" on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Glendale Baptist Church, 1021 Glendale Lane. The event with be emceed by Monte Mader, Deconstructed former Alt-Right Christian Nationalist. Doors open at 6:30 PM.  Light refreshments will be served. 

Middle Tennessee Humanists are hosting national executive director of the American Humanists Association, Fish Stark on December 13, 2025, at 7:00 PM at First UU. The event is being cohosted by Americans United for Separation of Church and State Nashville.

Jan. 4th, 4 pm at Immanuel Baptist Church, 222 Bellemead Blvd, Dr. Ryan Burge is presenting a lecture on "The State of American Religion." He is also speaking that morning at 10 am at First Unitarian Universalist Church. This event is free to the public.

GNUUC is one of several local congregations sponsoring this event.

Our December Share the Plate partner is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) through its Guest at Your Table program. For half a century and counting, UUSC has worked with faith communities across the country to bring our partners’ stories and experiences to your family table. The long-running Guest at Your Table program is a chance to learn about our partners’ work and support our shared efforts to advance human rights.

Now is the time for us to build voter momentum ahead of the December 2 General Election for the 7th Congressional District. Early voting begins today and continues through November 26. A schedule of early voting times and locations can be found here.

After a successful canvassing action last month, NOAH is ready to build on that good work. Two more canvassing dates have been scheduled for November 22 and November 30, so mark your calendars and save the dates! Register now! The more hands and feet we have, the more voters we will reach!

To register for the Lee Chapel (1722 Scovel St, 37208) event on November 22, use the QR code on the attached flyer or click here: 11/22 Lee Chapel Registration

To register for the Muslim American Cultural Center (1513 Jefferson St, 37208) event on November 22, use the QR code or click here: 11/22 MACA Registration

To register for the Riverside Seventh Day Adventist Church (800 Youngs Ln, 37207) event on November 30, use the QR code or click here: 11/30 Riverside Registration

Contact Nancy C with any questions.

Members are invited to sign up for one of our upcoming small-group Contract to Call discernment sessions.

We would like ALL MEMBERS to sign up! The report generated from these sessions will give us a snapshot of our Shared Ministries today. We can only accurately reflect that with participation from all members.

These groups will offer space for deep listening and honest conversation about our ministry with Rev. Denise and the future we envision together.

Remaining Zoom Sessions:

-Wednesday, December 3, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Remaining In-Person Sessions:

-Sunday, November 23, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. (Wiggle Room, Sanctuary, CRE Building)
-Sunday, November 30, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. (Wiggle Room, Sanctuary, CRE Building)
-Sunday, December 7, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. (Wiggle Room, Sanctuary, CRE Building)

Each group will open with a chalice lighting and covenant, and will use a shared set of reflection questions prepared by the Contract to Call Task Force.

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.

Click Read More below to sign-up and to see the reflection questions.

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 can use the Contract to Call Sign-Up Form to choose your date, or you can sign up during lunch.

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)