Keep up with all the upcoming events: www.nashvilleuu.org
Follow us! Twitter: @nashvilleuu Facebook: @GNUUC
Submit an announcement here.
“Your life is the poem.”
~ Naomi Shihab Nye
Beloveds,
One of our congregation’s cherished practices is “Summer Song”-- the practice of filling our Sunday pulpit with volunteers from the congregation willing to share their thoughts, expertise, personal experiences, and wisdom during the months of July and August.
Every year, I am (almost) sad to take vacation during July, because I will miss so much. And every year in August, I am glad not to have missed all the goodness of Summer Song. Every summer, we are gifted with a wide variety of topics presented by people we know and love, and every year we remember and reflect throughout the year on what we’ve learned together. The poet says that your life (singular) is the poem, but my experience of Summer Song is that our lives–collectively and in conversation with each other–are a magnificent poem.
I am grateful for the speakers who volunteer their thoughts, preparation time, and presence, and I am in awe of this congregation which gathers over and over again to listen, support, affirm, and be challenged by each other.
Yours in the poetry of community,
Rev. Denise
RevDenise@gnuuc.org
P.S. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about creating worship for Unitarian Universalists, please consider participating in Worship Well, a new online (Zoom) program created by the UUA, designed to equip lay leaders with a variety of skills for leadership in worship. Look for the announcement below, and click through to read more and get detailed information. If you are interested (no experience necessary!), please let me know by next Wednesday (8/19/26), as we hope to assemble a team who will participate together.
In July and August, we host a Summer Song series of Worship services lay-led by members of our congregation. Summer Song services are a great way to learn more about a topic of interest from a member of our community.
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’s Programming
Children and youth will be dismissed to programming after the Time for All Sages.
Curious about Children's RE or the schedule for a specific summer Sunday? Contact Kristin R. at kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org.
Join Us for Potluck Lunch
After the service, join us for a potluck lunch.
The UUA's Worship Arts team is launching Worship Well, a new program for lay worship leaders — and because GNUUC is an Honor Congregation this year, it costs us nothing.
Five monthly Zoom gatherings, late August through November, focused on building confidence, trading ideas, and connecting with UUs across the country. Each 75-minute session includes small-group conversation, with an optional 15 minutes afterward for our own team to talk through what we've learned. Come to as many as your schedule allows.
Sessions meet 4:15–5:30 p.m. Central on August 31, September 28, October 14 (a Wednesday), October 26, and November 30.
Have you led worship here, or wondered what it would be like? This is a warm place to grow into it. Take a look at the sample session, then let Rev. Denise know by Wednesday, August 19.
Cricut Makerspace Party for 12 – A Creative Afternoon of DIY Fun!
Date: August 29, 2026
Time: 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Location: Greater Nashville UU Congregation, 374 Hicks Road, Nashville, TN 37221
Donation: $25
Spots Available: 8
Get ready to unleash your creativity at the Cricut Makerspace Party, hosted by The Reveals, The Baileys, and Gina Achtmann! Whether you're a crafting pro or a total beginner, this hands-on workshop is your chance to design and print custom items using state-of-the-art Cricut printers.
What’s Included:
Expert guidance from Lindyne & Eddie, Kristin & Nathanael, and Gina, who will bring their Cricut machines.
Personalized design assistance – create your own custom item!
All materials for printing.
A fun, creative atmosphere with fellow DIY enthusiasts!
We'll vote: Should we print cards, T-shirt Iron-Ons, Stickers, or mugs? Several options will be available due to supplies.
Sign up now for a spot at this exclusive crafting experience! Whether you’re making a one-of-a-kind gift or a fun keepsake, this event promises an afternoon of creativity, laughter, and hands-on fun.
Contact: Kristin R.
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.
Our August Share the Plate partner is The Equity Alliance.
Founded in 2016, The Equity Alliance is Tennessee's most influential Black-led organizing force, building culturally rooted civic engagement in Black communities year-round. They have registered over 90,000 voters and organize across Nashville, Memphis, and Clarksville, with plans to grow statewide. Their work meets people where they are, giving them tools to shape the systems that govern their lives — through voter education, policy advocacy, campaigns, and economic power building.
This year, The Equity Alliance is leading three priority campaigns: Universal Childcare, which fights to cap costs and expand state funding for Tennessee families; Housing Justice, which creates pathways to homeownership and keeps new development benefiting existing communities; and Environmental Justice, which ensures Black communities have a voice in decisions affecting their health and safety.
Please give generously this month to our Share the Plate partner, The Equity Alliance.
How to give
Each Share the Plate gift is divided evenly: half supports Just Us, and half supports GNUUC's general fund. To direct your gift to Share the Plate, use the keyword "share":
In the sanctuary: cash or check in a provided envelope (memo: share)
Online: visit NashvilleUU.org, click Donate, then Give to and choose the “Give to Share the Plate” fund
By text: text 615-246-5553 with "[Amount] share" (example: $50 share)
By mail: GNUUC, 374 Hicks Road, Nashville, TN 37221 (memo: share)
Each summer, worship at GNUUC becomes a chorus of our own voices. From July through Labor Day weekend, members of our congregation take turns leading Sunday services — each offering a story, a passion, or something they've come to understand over a lifetime. It's a season to know one another more deeply and to celebrate the gifts woven through our community.
We're delighted to share this year's lineup of ten members. Join us:
Sun., July 5 — Lisa Gunner, "An Exploration of Identity Through Acknowledgement and Consecration"
Sun., July 12 — Susan Timmons
Sun., July 19 — Mike Morgan, "Sharing Our Stories"
Sun., July 26 — Mir Stoedter
Sun., Aug. 2 — Denise Graves
Sun., Aug. 9 — Charles Pettigrew
Sun., Aug. 16 — Hashim Salameh
Sun., Aug. 23 — Kayla Zumbrunnen
Sun., Aug. 30 — Elizabeth Marlowe
Sun., Sept. 6 — Nathaniel Berle
In July and August, we host a Summer Song series of Worship services lay-led by members of our congregation. Summer Song services are a great way to learn more about a topic of interest from a member of our community.
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’s Programming
Children and youth will be dismissed to programming after the Time for All Sages.
Curious about Children's RE or the schedule for a specific summer Sunday? Contact Kristin R. at kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org.
Join Us for Potluck Lunch
After the service, join us for a potluck lunch.
In July and August, we host a Summer Song series of Worship services lay-led by members of our congregation. Summer Song services are a great way to learn more about a topic of interest from a member of our community.
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’s Programming
Children and youth will be dismissed to programming after the Time for All Sages.
During the summer months, we shift into a more relaxed summer rhythm. Each Sunday will bring something a little different — wiggle-room play, time on the playground, arts and crafts, or games — shaped week to week by the volunteers who share their time and creativity. On Sundays when our volunteers are away, the Wiggle Room will be open with parent supervision, so families always have a welcoming space.
Curious about Children's RE or the schedule for a specific summer Sunday? Contact Kristin R. at kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org.
Join Us for Potluck Lunch
After the service, join us for a potluck lunch.
In July and August, we host a Summer Song series of Worship services lay-led by members of our congregation. Summer Song services are a great way to learn more about a topic of interest from a member of our community.
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’s Programming
Children and youth will be dismissed to programming after the Time for All Sages.
Curious about Children's RE or the schedule for a specific summer Sunday? Contact Kristin R. at kristin.reveal@gnuuc.org.
Join Us for Potluck Lunch
After the service, join us for a potluck lunch.
