West End Synagogue will present a forum on Nashville’s affordable housing crisis on Thursday, February 2, at 7:00 pm. WPLN News Director Chas Sisk will moderate. Panelists will address the need, what is being done, some challenges to moving forward, and what more we can do. Audience Q&A after the presentation, with a dessert reception to follow.

Starting January 18, 2023, Greater Nashville UU Congregation will offer a new Adult Religious Education series on Spiritual Practices. Each month, we will explore a different spiritual practice – both learning about and then experiencing the practice. The practices chosen are aligned with the Soul Matters monthly theme.

The January theme is Finding our Center and the spiritual practice we will explore is the Labyrinth where we will have hands-on experience navigating to the center of a Labyrinth. Join us tonight at 6 PM in person at Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation 374 Hicks Road, Nashville, TN or online via zoom https://uuma.zoom.us/j/92840637625

Teachers and facilitators will be meeting after lunch to plan out classes and fun events for Spring. Parents and interested classroom helpers are welcome to join us! The meeting will last about an hour. If you would like to join via Zoom, contact Kristin R and she can send you a link (kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org).

Our next scheduled Winter Shelter is Wednesday, Feb. 1st. We need a volunteer to serve breakfast at 5 AM on Feb. 2nd before the men are taken back to Room In The Inn. Please contact Nathaniel B. for more information.

Our Credo group is a discussion group addressing ethical and moral issues of current interest and events. We meet every Sunday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM via Zoom. You can Zoom from your home or from the RE building at church.

At GNUUC, the Auction is more than just a fundraiser. We decorate, have food and entertainment, and have a great time! Last year our theme was “Country Fair.” In the past, we’ve had themes like “Broadway” and “Mardi Gras.”

The Auction is traditionally in late March to late April.

We need many different strengths in our Auction team: volunteers to plan the silent and live auction, volunteers to organize food, volunteers to organize entertainment, volunteers to help with marketing, and volunteers in charge of decorations.

Come on Sunday, January 8, after lunch, to figure out the best way for you to help. We will pick our Auction date top choices, and brainstorm themes and other auction ideas.

If you are interested in joining via Zoom, let Kristin R. know. Questions? Contract Kristin R.

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 January, defending freedom of religion, and freedom of belief.

Let’s all help take care of our community!

We’ve added the Campus Incident Report Form to the nashvilleuu.org website under the Member’s menu so that you can let us know about any incident, damage, or trash you have seen on the campus.

The form is also accessible in Breeze to all members now.

Check it out: Campus Incident Report Form

If you signed up to volunteer for RITI Winter Shelter tonight, please check your email for information from Nathaniel B.! Wednesday, December 7 is our first night to host for the season and we are looking forward to meeting our guests.

Our Share the Plate partner for December is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Guest At Your Table Program. UUSC works around the world to advance human rights and social justice, transforming our UU values into action. GNUUC has a long tradition of celebrating our UUSC Guests. The theme of this year’s program is “Hope. Courage. Action.”

Nathaniel B. is our coordinator for Room In The Inn Winter Shelter for the 2022-2023 year. We will be acting as hosts to eight guests on the first Wednesday of each month, from December to March. Those dates are December 7, 2022, January 4, 2023, February 1, 2023, and March 1, 2023. Click Read More for volunteer positions needed and a sample schedule. Contact Nathaniel B. with questions or to volunteer.

Open Table Nashville takes a stand on the side of people experiencing homelessness, and works for justice by fostering personal and systemic transformation. In July, Tennessee became the first state to enact a law that makes it a misdemeanor if a person camps on or near a state roadway, and makes it a felony to camp on public property. Please give, to provide urgently needed help.

Thank you for your extraordinary generosity toward Nashville Cares this year. At GNUUC we have a long-standing tradition of generous support for Nashville CARES through our enthusiastic participation in its annual AIDS Walk fundraising. Their mission is to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee.

Friends,

With great sadness, I write to inform you of the death of Geoff Achtmann last night, Monday, October 17, at 9:20 p.m., at Alive Hospice. His beloved wife, Gina, was with him.

We will gather sometime soon to celebrate Geoff’s life and the gift of his presence at Greater Nashville UU Congregation; details will follow when that celebration is planned.

In grief and gratitude,
Rev. Denise

Rev. Denise Gyauch

Minister, GNUUC

“The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it.” (John Lewis)

Early voting has started in Nashville. Make a plan to vote in the critical midterm elections! Click Read More for voter information.

A Panel discussion on what is happening in Public Schools in Tennessee and the nation.

Every fall, NOAH (Nashville Organized for Action and Hope) holds its annual Public Meeting. These meetings are a time for accountability – from our city leaders and from ourselves. This year, NOAH will hold its first in-person annual meeting since 2019! We will gather at 3:00 pm on Sunday, October 9, at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, 2708 Jefferson St. Mayor Cooper and other decision-makers will be present to see how NOAH is "Building the Beloved Community" and to answer our questions.

We’ll be making snack bags for Room In The Inn (RITI) as part of our 5th Sunday Service Project. The snack bags will be provided to the RITI community members. They give out 150-175 each week. Creating snack packs is a simple way to provide practical help to an individual experiencing homelessness.

We will have a table set up with notecards you can write an encouraging note on to include in the pack as well.

Email gnuuc@gnuuc.org items you are able to bring, plus quantity so Kris T can make sure we have a variety of items.

Click Read More below to see a list of needed items.

GNUUC has only recently completed needed repairs to its main buildings. We are also rebuilding our programs in the wake of the disruption caused by the pandemic. We are now at a stage of rebuilding that we can host RITI-served homeless men overnight at GNUUC, yet RITI certainly needs our financial support all the more this year. Please give generously!