Emerson Unitarian Universalist church's presentation for Leap of Faith in October.

1. LEAP OF FAITH Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church, Houston, Texas

2. Where are we? Here we are!

3. Houston is the nation’s 4th largest city, with a pop. of 2.25 million . Emerson Downtown Emerson is 10 minutes from Downtown .

4. Downtown Houston

5. Houston is the 2 nd busiest port in the U.S. and an intensely international city. For instance, Houston is behind only New York, NY, and Washington, D.C. in foreign consulates. Houston is the energy capital of the world. We are home to the Texas Medical Center, which is the largest medical center in the world, and employs over 75,000 people. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOUSTON

6. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOUSTON

7. Emerson Galleria Emerson is in the Galleria/Tanglewood area. We are about a mile away from the Galleria itself.

8. The Galleria’s skyline.

9. The Galleria/Tanglewood area is filled with single-family homes, townhomes, restaurants, parks, boutique stores, and is a very busy place!

10. And we’re in the middle!

11. Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church just celebrated our 50 th Anniversary! We were chartered in 1960 to serve the growing western suburbs of Houston. EMERSON’S HISTORY

12. Our newest building is Delaney Hall. It was built in 2004 and is LEED certified. EMERSON’S HISTORY

13. It’s the first LEED Certified church building in the nation, and Houston’s first!

14. Our current Co-Ministers, Becky and Mark Edmiston-Lange have been here since 1999. We have a full-time Business Administrator, Communications Administrator, Sexton, and Interim Director of Religious Education. We have a part-time Music Director and Assistant Music Director. STAFF

15. Our Sanctuary holds 400.

16. Our Gathering Place is open and bright. And is home to our Bookstore.

17. Westwood Hall is our original Sanctuary. We have lush grounds with trees.

18. Who are we?

19. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world.

20. We’ve got about 450 members who are mostly Anglo, over 40, and college educated. Religious Education registration is around 150. DEMOGRAPHICS

21. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world.

22. What do we do?

23. We meet in worship every Sunday. Worship is the center of our life as a religious community. It is important for us to stress our being One Church, lest our diverse interests divide us into “silos.” Explaining the core message of Unitarian Universalism as it relates to both personal issues and substantive concerns of the wider community provides opportunity for us to explore a common spiritual identity. WORSHIP

24. We seek a diversity in the elements of worship. WORSHIP It is our hope as religious people to become more inclusive of the ways by which the holy can be encountered.

25. We have many music programs…including a choir, a rock band, a small choral group, and an intergenerational orchestra… MUSIC

26. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. … and monthly Saturday night performances during the church year by artists brought in from across the country for our UniTunes Coffeehouse series. Pictured are some of our UniTunes artists.

27. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. Currently, an interim DRE is in charge of religious education while we search for a permanent Director. CHILDREN & YOUTH The YRUU group is very active. They performed during Youth Sunday, and went to Galveston over the summer.

28. We include kid-friendly activities at many of our functions, like a moonwalk and snow cone machine at our Homecoming picnic. We also offer professional childcare at all our events.

29. Our Adult Ed committee provides a variety of classes every Sunday during the church year. Speakers present a variety of subjects that deal with our UU principles and interests, such as world religions, justice and social action causes, environmental issues, interpersonal relationships and spiritual development. Once a month, “Exploration Sunday” offers four topics, including a multigenerational class about water. ADULT EDUCATION

30. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. ADULT EDUCATION

31. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. We are a Welcoming Congregation and participate in many GLBT events, including the Gay Pride Parade. WELCOMING CONGREGATION

32. We’re beginning our 2 nd year of the monthly Welcome MAT movie and discussion series.

33. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. We have a “Culture Caravan” which goes out to different functions about once a month. We also have a dinner theater group, who recently performed an Agatha Christie play. PERFORMANCE AND CULTURAL ARTS

34. We have Solstice and Equinox services, with receptions following. SPECIAL SERVICES

35. We have a Labyrinth on New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day.

36. FUNDRAISING We have a service auction in the Spring and have our Canvass in the Fall.

37. FUNDRAISING We recently had our first Green Bazaar, Book & Bake Sale.

38. What do we have to give?

39. We provide many opportunities for people to grow their faith and give expression to it through activities at Emerson and in the wider community. The best gift we have is helping people see how their faith can make a profound difference, both for themselves and others. Our dedication to building a better world is not merely a sentiment but our most eager aspiration.

40. Covenant groups are becoming increasingly important as a venue for people to encounter questions of meaning and value through conversations with other members of the congregation. We currently have six active Covenant groups, and are continuously creating more. COVENANT GROUPS

41. Our Coming of Age program exemplifies the heart of our Religious Education for Children and Youth. Between a year-long relationship with a mentor and class work, each student strives for a sense of increased clarity about who they are and what they believe. COMING OF AGE

42. We have a strong Lay Pastoral Ministry team. Trained volunteers from the congregation establish long-term relationships with church members undergoing life transitions. We have semi-annual training for those who wish to participate. We also have a support group for spouses and children who are responsible for the care of their seriously ill spouses or parents. LAY PASTORAL MINISTRY

43. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. SOCIAL ACTION COUNCIL We donate more than $30,000/year to the community.

44. MINISTRY FOR EARTH We have a Green Sanctuary Certification from the UUA.

45. What’s our mood?

46. Apprehensive WE ARE… Proud

47. Excited WE ARE… Engaged

48. What do we need?

49. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. More young families and young adults!

50. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. More participation!

51. Our Identity Statement: Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. Higher attendance! Stated earlier, “Our Sanctuary holds 400.” But, it rarely does.

52. Lower membership turnover. More people making better connections. sooner.

53. We need to take our beloved community into the world! Thank you for helping us!