Our Varied Ministry
There are many ways that the church and our members serve each other as individuals, serve the congregation and serve the community beyond our walls. Here are some of our ministries. These are opportunities for our members and friends to be involved.
Befrienders: Trains volunteers who "befriend" church members and friends in a peer counseling and support during a two-year commitment of service.
Beginners Yoga: Provides weekly yoga instruction and practice for beginners and those interested in developing a better mind/body integration. Individual needs and adjustment to each person’s limitations are included.
Care Team: Provides practical assistance, such as meals or rides to doctor’s appointments for members, families and caregivers who would like extra help when they have an acute or chronic health care need.
Changing Women: Meets on Sunday mornings, exploring women’s lives in relation to the natural world.
Channing Book Cart: Sells books related to Unitarian Universalism, philosophy, religion and personal development on Sunday mornings.
Choirs (Adult, Children and Youth): Provide music for church services and special events.
Covenant Groups: meet regularly for support, spiritual growth and building community. These small groups are led by a trained facilitator.
Early Morning Book Group: Reads and discusses non-fiction books -- both new and old -- whose topics include, but are not limited to, religion, science, morality, ethics, biography, philosophy, history, and current events. Books are chosen by participants. For more information see www.kpgoo.com/fuubookgroup.html.
Faith in Action is the way we get involved in our own community at large, the ways we make relationships, get involved and contribute to organizations that are doing the work we value in the community.
Fundraising Team: Makes meals for homeless, plans dinner concerts, arranges for Sunday morning baked goods and other fundraising activities.
Great Ideas Group: Studies the great thinkers, great writers, great religions and great ideas of the past and present.
Holidays and Celebrations: Celebrations of special events and holidays, each having its own history and tradition.
Library Team: Organizes and operates the church library.
Lifespan Faith Development Programs and Classes:
- Adult Programs Team: Plans and provides courses and special events on spiritual/theological topics, social justice, UU history and traditions, personal growth and skill development.
- Young Learners and Youth Advisory Team: helps provide our children and youth with opportunities to grow spiritually, to develop a sense of personal and social responsibility, and to experience joy as a central part of a living community.
- Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education
Men’s Group: Provides men with support and an opportunity to discuss life issues and current events.
Music Team: Facilitates communication between the congregation, the ministers, the professional music staff and the choir.
Office Volunteers: Provide administrative support during the week, Monday through Friday and on Sunday mornings.
Parents’ Group: Support, education and connection for parents
Partner Church: Supports and develops programs to expand our association with our partner church in Arkos, Romania. For more information on the work in Arkos, please see Planting Seeds.
Poetry in Motion: Poetry sharing and discussion that moves, delights and enriches. Members choose the selections.
Rosen Movement: Move with joy to the rhythm of a variety of music. Increase range of motion, encourage natural, free breathing, improve alignment and flexibility and enhance spontaneity and creativity.
Saturday Morning Yoga: Unites the mind with the body to create muscular balance and improve flexibility and strength. The class is gentle and open to beginners and intermediate level students.
Services Auction: Organizes and develops this major supplemental fund raiser held in early November each year.
Spring Retreat: Organizes and develops the annual spring weekend retreat held at the Piney Woods Conservation Center, in East Texas.
Spirituality and Nature Chalice Circle: Facilitates monthly day trips to locations that provide a retreat from the urban environment and a respite from the work of life. Meditation, readings, conversation, solitude, walking, bird watching, and a great pot luck lunch are standard elements of the outings.
Stewardship: Organizes and develops the annual pledge drive from which we obtain the money for salaries, programs, and maintenance of the church.
UU Houston Network: Helps to identify needs and provides support to local churches, working together through representatives from the Unitarian churches in the Houston metropolitan area, including Galveston and The Woodlands.
Web Committee: Designs and maintains the church web site.
Welcoming Team: Welcomes guests on Sunday morning and makes follow up connections as guests become interested in becoming members and in finding their place in our community. This team also serves as greeters and ushers.
Young Adults: Meets monthly following the church service, in the courtyard near Fannin. All 20's and 30’s are invited for fun, fellowship, and food.