Lives of the Spirit

We are calling this exciting program Lives of the Spirit. Each month, you will have multiple opportunities to participate: a worship service will discuss the spiritual biography of the religious leader; covenant groups in English and Spanish will provide an opportunity to reflect on the significance of their lives; a book group will engage one of the leader’s seminal works; then a lecture or workshop will bring a specialist on the individual to engage and enlighten us.
September Programs
Introduction to Lives of the Spirit,
Awe and Meaningful Life:
Abraham Joshua Heschel
Rabbi and social justice activist

Worship:
Sunday, September 10
Introduction to Lives of the Spirit
Sunday, September 17
We will observe Rosh Hashanah with a special service done in coordination with Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss and Cantorial Soloist Hannah Madeline Goodman of Congregation Shma Koleniu.
Sunday, September 24
Divine Pathos: Abraham Joshua Heschel
The text to Rev. Colin's Sermon can be seen HERE.

Tuesday, September 19, 6:30 PM
Grupos de alianza: (Spanish Covenant Group)
Thursday, September 21, 6:30 PM

September 26, 7:00 PM
Books to Read:
Abraham Joshua Heschel, Man’s Quest for God;
Albert Raboteau, American Prophets, xiii-25 (recommended).

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
"Awe and a Meaningful life: Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel"
led by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss and Craig Oettinger
October Programs
Borderlands:
Gloria Anzaldúa
Texas born queer scholar and spiritual activist.

Worship:
Sunday, October 15
"Borderlands: Gloria Anzaldúa"

Tuesday, October 17, 6:30 PM
Grupos de alianza: (Spanish Covenant Group)
Thursday, October 19, 6:30 PM

October 24 7:00 PM
Book to Read:
Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza

6:30 PM
"Spiritual Activism in Our Times: the Borderlands and Gloria Anzaldúa."
led by Professor Brenda Sendejo
Professor Brenda Sendejo, Ph.D. currently serves as Associate Professor and Chair of Feminist Studies at Southwestern University, and affiliate faculty in Anthropology, Latin American and Border Studies, and Race and Ethnicity Studies.
November Programs
Works of Mercy:
Dorothy Day
Founder of the Catholic Worker Movement

Worship:
Sunday, November 12
"Works of Mercy: Dorothy Day"

Tuesday, November 21, 6:30 PM
Grupos de alianza: (Spanish Covenant Group)
Thursday, November 23, 6:30 PM

November 28, 7:00 PM
Books to Read:
Dorothy Day, The Long Loneliness;
Albert Raboteau, American Prophets, 63-94 (recommended).

1:00 PM
led by Dawn McCarty of Casa Juan Diego.
Professor Dawn McCarty, Ph.D. is the Director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at the University of Houston-Downtown. She lives part-time in community as a Catholic Worker at Casa Juan Diego where she works directly with Houston's refugee, asylum seeking, and new immigrant communities.
December Programs
The Common Good:
Howard Thurman
Minster, theologian, and civil rights activist

Worship:
Sunday, December 3
"The Common Good: Howard Thurman"

Tuesday, December 19, 6:30 PM
Grupos de alianza: (Spanish Covenant Group)
Thursday, December 21, 6:30 PM

December 12, 7:00 PM
Books to Read:
Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited;
Albert Raboteau, American Prophets, 95-118 (recommended).

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
"Emancipatory Premises"
led by Omowale Luthuli-Allen.
Omowale Luthuli-Allen is a human rights activist and community activist, Along with a core group of student activists, he co-led the fight to bring democracy to the University of Houston, graduating from the University of Houston in 1970- B.A. Political Science.
January Programs
The Practice of Nonpractice:
Thich Nhat Han
Monk and spiritual activist who helped to introduce Zen Buddhism to the United States.

Worship:
Sunday, January 21
"The Practice of Nonpractice: Thich Nhat Han"

Tuesday, January 16, 6:30 PM
Sunday, January 21, 1:00 PM
Grupos de alianza: (Spanish Covenant Group)
Thursday, January 18, 6:30 PM

January 30, 7:00 PM
Book to Read:
Thich Nhat Han, The Miracle of Mindfulness;

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
"Engaged Buddhism"
led by Rebecca McIlwain
Rebecca McIlwain is the Community Outreach Coordinator at Texas Climate Jobs Project. A longtime community organizer, she spent ten years living as a Buddhist monk.