Greater Nashville UU News Update
Sept. 9, 2026
Keep up with all the upcoming events: www.nashvilleuu.org
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Submit an announcement here.
Minister’s Note
“If the path before you is clear,
you’re probably on someone else’s.”
~Krista Tippett
Dear Ones,
My path through the next few weeks is pretty clear: I’ll be going to Memphis with a few of you to participate in TUUCAN’s Solidarity Summit (TUUCAN = Tennessee UU Community Action Network, and its members are the UU congregations across the state) and preparing for my formal installation as your called and settled minister later this month. Both are very exciting and leaving me little time to think about what comes after September…
AND at the back of my mind, I’m holding the expectation that October will bring opportunities for various GNUUC groups (the Board, the Worship Team, the Shared Ministries Council, and more) to reflect on the year behind us and plan for the current church year (which officially started in July). More importantly, the task for each group is to wonder what our congregation’s path could be through the coming months, to look for where we are called to do the work we chose and affirm in our covenant: to be a welcoming congregation.
Over the last five years, I have noticed that we are continuously reassessing, reaffirming, redesigning, and re-envisioning the ways in which we practice welcome and embody love, sanctuary, and justice. The path in front of us is only sometimes clear–for example, come spring we will most likely have a balanced budget for the next church year as usual, but how we manage to do that isn’t precisely the same every year–but that path is always our own. I am looking forward to seeing how we wind our way through the coming seasons.
Yours in love and possibility,
Rev. Denise
RevDenise@gnuuc.org
THIS WEEK
This hybrid service will be in the Sanctuary at Greater Nashville UU Congregation and on Zoom. See How to Join a Virtual Service at GNUUC.
Children and youth will be dismissed to programming after the Time for All Sages.
After service, please join us for a potluck lunch.
Join us for UU Compass, a multi-generational small group (teens through adults).
Upcoming Dates: Sept 20, Oct 18, Nov 15, Dec 20
What is UU Compass Small Group?
Join us for UU Compass, a multi-generational small group (teens through adults) that explores how to use our UU Values as we interact with the world.
Together, we’ll practice deep listening, share our personal journeys, and explore Unitarian Universalism as a living path of meaning and connection.
Who is UU Compass Small Group 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.
Facilitators: Kristin R. and Nathaniel B.
Want more information? Contact Kristin R. (kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org)
You are Invited to the Installation of
Reverend Denise Gyauch
as the settled minister of
Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
Saturday, September 26, 2 PM.
Reception to Follow.
An installation is the congregational act of formally entering into shared ministry with their professional minister. Offering and accepting a call to parish ministry is a life-changing event that gives us the opportunity to embody our Unitarian Universalist history and theology in a meaningful way.
Rev. Denise Gyauch joined Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation as a contracted minister in the Fall of 2021 as we started to meet again in person after the pandemic. During these years together, our congregation has grown and become more grounded. Earlier this year, our congregation held a vote to call Rev. Denise as our settled minister.
We invite everyone to participate in the preparation of the installation service and join us that day as we celebrate this important milestone for GNUUC, our third permanently called minister in our 34 year history.
During lunch, we’ll be making 32 snack bags for our Room In The Inn (RITI) guests to take with them after they spend the night.
To sign up contact Kristin R. (email kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org or via Slack.)
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
A New Whole Church Curriculum for Greater Nashville UU!
This year, GNUUC is moving from Soul Matters to a new curricular series from the UUA called Woven Faith. We're excited to be part of its inaugural pilot year!
Woven Faith is built on a simple idea: the congregation is the curriculum. Rather than treating faith formation as something that happens only in a classroom, Woven Faith weaves a shared monthly theme through every part of congregational life — worship, religious education, small groups, fellowship, and justice work alike. Wherever you find your place in our community this year, you'll find the same thread running through it.
Each month centers on one of our UU shared values. This year's themes are:
September — Interdependence
October — Living the Questions
November — Covenant
December — Pluralism
January — Courageous Love
February — Equity
March — Transformation
April — Generosity
May — Expressing Our Faith
June — Justice
September’s Theme: Interdependence
We're kicking things off in September with Interdependence — the recognition that our lives, our choices, and our well-being are bound up with one another and with the wider world. You'll see this theme show up throughout September: in worship, in our small groups, in the Fellowship Hall, and beyond. We hope you'll find your own thread to add to the weaving.
We're excited to come together to participate in The 34th Nashville AIDS Walk & 5K Run, a fundraiser supporting Nashville CARES. Our collective passion for this cause drives us, and we need your support to make a difference! Every donation—big or small—helps us reach our fundraising goal and directly impacts this important cause.
Here's how you can help:
Donate: Contribute whatever you can. Every dollar counts!
Spread the Word: Share our Greater Nashville UU fundraising page with your friends, family, and social networks. Let’s spread awareness so we can raise more!
How to Donate
Help Greater Nashville UU raise funds to support the critical mission of Nashville CARES. Our goal this year is to raise over $500! Here are ways to donate:
Most members of the congregation will be giving to Nashville CARES through the regular Share the Plate fundraiser. You can donate via Breeze to “Share the Plate”, or by paper check, made out to “GNUUC”, with “Share the Plate” in the memo. 50% of your donation will go to our Greater Nashville UU fundraising pageand 50% of your donation will go to the GNUUC general fund.
On the other hand, if you can contribute $100 or more, your generous donation will go 100% to our Greater Nashville UU fundraising page. If you want your donation to be in memory of someone, please let us know.
Thank you so much for your support! We couldn’t do this without you!
An installation is the congregational act of formally entering into shared ministry with their professional minister. Offering and accepting a call to parish ministry is a life-changing event that gives us the opportunity to embody our Unitarian Universalist history and theology in a meaningful way.
Rev. Denise Gyauch joined Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation as a contracted minister in the Fall of 2021 as we started to meet again in person after the pandemic. During these years together, our congregation has grown and become more grounded. Earlier this year, our congregation held a vote to call Rev. Denise as our settled minister.
We invite everyone to participate in the preparation of the installation service and join us that day as we celebrate this important milestone for GNUUC, our third permanently called minister in our 34 year history.
NOAH News
ICE & DHS are taking our land & building a call center facility for law enforcement agencies to expedite their cruel, harmful, and costly mass deportation across the nation!
Join Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition at Metro Nashville City Council on Tuesday, September 15th to speak out against the cruelty, surveillance, and stopping the development of a national immigration call center.
NOAH is working with Tennessee for All on Ending the Grocery Tax. Please join us on Wednesday, September 16 at Scarritt-Bennett to learn more!
NOAH’s annual public meeting will be on Sunday, September 27th, at 3 pm at Riverside Seventh Day Adventist Church, 800 Youngs Lane, Nashville, TN 37207. Make plans to join with your fellow GNUUC friends to attend and to act on our values and fight authoritarianism in our city, state and country! Register here.
SAVE THE DATE (click links for more information)
This hybrid service will be in the Sanctuary at Greater Nashville UU Congregation and on Zoom. See How to Join a Virtual Service at GNUUC.
Children and youth will be dismissed to programming after the Time for All Sages.
After service, please join us for a potluck lunch.
Join us for UU Compass, a multi-generational small group (teens through adults).
Upcoming Dates: Sept 20, Oct 18, Nov 15, Dec 20
What is UU Compass Small Group?
Join us for UU Compass, a multi-generational small group (teens through adults) that explores how to use our UU Values as we interact with the world.
Together, we’ll practice deep listening, share our personal journeys, and explore Unitarian Universalism as a living path of meaning and connection.
Who is UU Compass Small Group 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.
Facilitators: Kristin R. and Nathaniel B.
Want more information? Contact Kristin R. (kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org)
You are Invited to the Installation of
Reverend Denise Gyauch
as the settled minister of
Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
Saturday, September 26, 2 PM.
Reception to Follow.
An installation is the congregational act of formally entering into shared ministry with their professional minister. Offering and accepting a call to parish ministry is a life-changing event that gives us the opportunity to embody our Unitarian Universalist history and theology in a meaningful way.
Rev. Denise Gyauch joined Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation as a contracted minister in the Fall of 2021 as we started to meet again in person after the pandemic. During these years together, our congregation has grown and become more grounded. Earlier this year, our congregation held a vote to call Rev. Denise as our settled minister.
We invite everyone to participate in the preparation of the installation service and join us that day as we celebrate this important milestone for GNUUC, our third permanently called minister in our 34 year history.
This hybrid service will be in the Sanctuary at Greater Nashville UU Congregation and on Zoom. See How to Join a Virtual Service at GNUUC.
Children and youth will be dismissed to programming after the Time for All Sages.
After service, please join us for a potluck lunch.
All members and friends, join us at 1 PM for the Shared Ministries Meeting, where we organize and plan our upcoming events.
Please make sure that we have a representative from each of the following Teams/Groups. If you are interested in joining/working with any of these teams, show up too!
- Greeters
- Worship Team
- Lunch Team
- Religious Education Team
- Building and Grounds Team
- Women’s Group
- Fellowship/Fun Events Team
- Room In The Inn Team
- NOAH Team
- TUUCAN Team
- Climate Justice Team
- Membership Team (NEW Potential)
- Social Media Team (NEW Potential)
Join us on Saturday, October 17 at 4 PM for Game Night! Bring your favorite board game to share. Bring your favorite board game to share. Pizza will be provided!
All ages are welcome.
Questions? Contact Ryan / Kristin
Join us at GNUUC on October 18th at 3PM for a concert by Shawn Tairyu Head. Attendance is free and open to the public.
https://www.tairyushakuhachi.com/
With an active performing and recording schedule, and a growing studio of students, Shawn Tairyu Head has dedicated himself to bringing the shakuhachi to new audiences around the world. While he embraces the traditional melodies of the ancient repertoire known as honkyoku, his classical conservatory training and Western spiritual perspective make him equally at home composing and commissioning new works that explore the unique sonic possibilities of the shakuhachi. As a performer, composer, and teacher, his goal is nothing less than a shakuhachi revival.
Join us on Saturday, November 7 at 4:30 PM for Movie Night with pizza and popcorn!
Cost: This is an Auction Fundraiser Event. If you purchased tickets at the Auction, you are set. Otherwise, we encourage a suggested donation of $10.
We’ll be watching Wicked For Good, the continuation of the Wicked series. It is rated PG.
Adults - you will enjoy this movie too! Please come! Wicked reframes a familiar fantasy based on The Wizard of OZ, through complex moral, political, and social questions. It challenges the ideas of good and evil, showing how systems of power define morality to maintain control. The main character, Elphaba refuses to conform when she sees injustice, choosing truth over reputation. Wicked also explores how propaganda, fear, and bureaucracy sustain power. The Wizard’s regime depends on controlling narratives and silencing dissent. In short, Wicked asks profoundly adult questions: What does it cost to stay true to your values? How do we tell truth from illusion when authority shapes the story?
Join us for a potluck chili dinner and to decorate the building for the holidays! All ages welcome.
We need 5 people to bring a pot of chili to share. The rest of y’all can bring sides/desserts.
After dinner, we will decorate the building for the holidays.
Then, join us for an evening of Trivia! We’ll form teams and have several fun (and random!) categories to choose from. Prizes too!