All presentations are at 10:00 Sunday in Westwood Hall, except as noted.

Summer Vacation Ends with Immigration Discussions

The UUA has selected Immigration as an issue for study for the next four years. In part the current statement says:

The dignity of all the world's peoples is core to Unitarian Universalist (UU) principles and values. Given the justice-oriented nature of UU faith, UUs are called to be leaders in the struggle for immigrant and refugee rights, and to view immigration not only as a legal issue but also moral issue.

The statement is found at http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issuesprocess/currentissues/152647.shtml

Emerson's Adult Ed will sponsor three sessions to present information that has led to the speaker's position regarding this complex issue. We anticipate that there will be time for questions and general discussions after each presentation.

August 22: Jose Perez, Jr., an immigration attorney with the Foster Quan group, will speak first. Mr. Perez immigrated from Cuba with his family at the age of ten. He has practiced exclusively inU.S. immigration and nationality law for nearly 24 years and is board certified in that law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is host of a weekly radio show "Coming to America" on Pacifica Radio 90.1.

August 29: Emersonian Joann Hendrick will present views that lead her to support the Arizona law.

September 5: Labor Day, No Adult Ed

NOTE change of time beginning September 12: Church starts at 11 am. Therefore, time for Adult Ed has been cut to 45 minutes and we will begin exactly at 10 am.

September 12: Frequent op-ed contributor to the Houston Chronicle Bill King will summarize and comment on the facets of this important issue. Mr. King currently serves numerous charitable and community boards including the Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston, Galveston Bay Foundation, Interfaith Ministries, Bay Area Houston Economic Partners and the HGAC Transportation Policy Council. During his years in public service he has developed a keen interest in public policy issues. He has served on numerous committees and task forces studying issues related to the efficient delivery of public services, especially in the areas of public infrastructure, mobility, environmental stewardship and emergency preparedness.

September 19: Third Sunday @ Emerson continues:

Emerson Poetry Group - a casual gathering of those who love poetry or at least hope to like poetry.  Bring something you have written or a poem you wish you had written.  No critique, unless requested.  Just lots of fun and encouragement in a poetic community. Carolyn Truesdell, facilitator

Spirit in Practice provides guidance for deepening individual spirituality and promoting spiritual growth in the congregation. Participants are invited to reflect, share and grow together, exploring many ways to nurture their connections with the sacred in everyday life. Nancy Lipp, facilitator

Other Faiths View Enviornmentalism offers a look through a short video at how the various world religions participate in environmental concerns. Ann May, facilitator

Parenting, facilitated by Barbara Stoddard HOW DOES A UU PARENT?  Hmmm…Come join us this year as we consider this question and more.  Sessions will be based on the new book by Michelle Richards, Tending the Flame:  The Art of Unitarian Universalist Parenting.  Mother and experienced religious educator, Michelle Richards encourages a practical and proactive approach to raising Unitarian Universalist children.  Using the book as an outline we’ll consider our own beliefs and discuss how to turn the questions we get from children into “teachable moments.”  We’ll look at Rituals and Spiritual Practices in the home and we’ll attempt to develop a deeper understanding of our UU Seven Principles.  We’ll finish out the year exploring the “Tough Stuff,” i.e. God and the Bible, Death and Grief, Sexuality and Love and Letting Go.  Parents with children of all ages, those hoping to have children some day, those that work with children, grandparents…let’s face it everyone is invited to join in the adventure.  Classes begin Sept. 19 and end on May 15.  (Exception:  no class in December) and will be led by Barbara Gay Stoddard, Interim DRE.  Barbara has been a UU parent for 39 years, a grandparent for 11 years and is an experienced religious educator.  She is hoping to learn what she wishes she’d known years ago as well as how to be a better grandparent and a better religious educator for your children.  She hopes you’ll join her on this journey.

Participants are encouraged to purchase the book:  Tending the Flame available at www.uua.org/skinner for $14.00.  We will also have a small supply of the books available for purchase at the Emerson Book Store.

September 26: In the Spirit of Building a Multi-generational Community at Emerson, the Adult RE and Children & Youth RE Committees are offering a new multi-generational curriculum this year during the 10:00 hour entitled “Gather the Spirit.” The course will begin on Sept. 26, and then every 2nd Sunday October - May (excluding December).  Gather the Spirit is an eight-session, multigenerational program that teaches stewardship with a focus on WATER. Perhaps, today, there is no more compelling focus for our stewardship than the clean, drinkable water all life on Earth requires. Through a lens both scientific and religious, using activities a wide range of ages can do together, this program addresses the importance of water, the inequity of access to clean water, and actions we can take as Unitarian Universalist stewards. It asks: Can water sources be owned? Why is clean water scarce in parts of the world? If clean water is abundant where I live, what difference does it make if I conserve it? What can I do to promote global water equity?