CURRENT NEWS
New Member Orientation: Are you interested in becoming a member of Emerson? Do you want to learn more about Unitarian Universalism? There will be a new member orientation on Sunday, May 17, after service from 12-1:30 PM. This will be a chance to chat with Rev. Chloë and the membership committee, learn more about our faith, and get to know each other. A Zoom link can also be made available if you would like to join electronically. Please contact Rev. Chloë with questions or requests. The new member ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, May 31.
_________________________
_______________
_________________
Difficult Words: A New Faith Development Class: For more information about this, two other online UU classes, and other events, see this website’s News in More Detail page.
______________________
Congregational Meeting: Sunday, June 7th after the service. Budget overview and question and answer session: Sunday, May 24 after service in person and Wednesday, May 27 at 6pm on Zoom2.
____________________
Any Saturday, 10 am – 12 pm, Topanga & Victory, Woodland Hills: Join Emerson’s Environmental Justice Ministry, Indivisible & Mobilize to speak up for our constitution, fairness, a livable planet, clean energy, democracy, science, the rule of law, etc., etc., etc., etc., Free parking at adjacent Topanga Westfield mall. Your own sign, hat, sunscreen, water, and Emerson shirt are recommended.
_______________________
Climate Grief? Individual & group counseling available through the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth. More information on this website’s News in More Detail page.
_______________________
To learn about the Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry, see this website’s News in More Detail page and UUAM’s website).
________________________
Like to Hike? See our Hiking page and/or contact Jim Wallis. If you are interested in easier-going strolls, see our Amblers page and contact LindaBeth.
_______________
Help spread the word about Emerson UUC! Find out more on this website’s Outreach page and/or contact Tess Lotta at outreach@emersonuuc.org
____________________
Emerson UU Board Meetings (Open to All)
1st TUESDAY of each month, 6 – 7:30 pm. (Zoom 1)
NO meeting in May this year.
Next Meeting: TUESDAY, June 2 at 6 pm (Pavilion & Zoom 1)
February 2025 Congregational Meeting Minutes
June 8, 2025 Congregational Meeting Minutes
Current Board Meeting Minutes are available by request.
_______________
LINK to EMERSON FACEBOOK PAGE: HERE.
LINK to EMERSON INSTAGRAM: HERE.
Also, Emerson has a private FaceBook page for members and friends of the church. If you would like to join the Emersonians Facebook page, please ask a church member to invite you.
___________________
?? If you have difficulty with this website’s links or otherwise accessing online information about our church, please contact LindaBeth or our Communications Team.
____________________
Find out about upcoming Events at Camp de Benneville Pines! Visit the De Benneville Pines website.
_________________
UPCOMING EVENTS – Open to All
All events are on Pacific Time.
Scroll down to find out about our upcoming and other group events. Scroll to the bottom for more information about how to join us online on Zoom 1 or 2.
THIS WEEK:
– If you haven’t already made your new pledge to help support our congregation, here’s our Pledge Link and Information about Pledging HERE.
– Thursday, May 14 – 7 to 8 pm: Deep Breaths Meditation Group (Sanctuary/Zoom 2).
– Friday, May 15 – 7 pm: Improv for Your Soul (Sanctuary)
– Saturday, May 16 – 1 pm: Spring Garden Tea Party fundraiser (offsite; contact LindaBeth).
– Saturday, May 16 – 6:00 pm: Unperceived Media Club (Zoom2)
– Sunday, May 17 – 11:45 am: Elemental Meditation (Emerson garden).
– Sunday, May 17 – 12 to 1:30 pm: New Member Orientation. For more information see News in More Detail page.
– Sunday, May 17 – 12 pm: Theology Discussion Group. (Sanctuary)
– Monday, May 18 – 5 pm: Emerson Amblers: Orcutt Ranch. Contact LindaBeth Nelson
– Monday, May 18 – 7 pm: Book Discussion Group, (Zoom 2)
ANY WEEK:
Hiking. See this website’s Hiking page. Contact Jim Wallis.
– Every Saturday, 10 am – 12 pm: Weekly Protest (corner of Victory & Topanga; lots of parking & some shade). More information via Indivisible or Mobilize.US. Find other events and actions at Mobilize.US website
– Every Tuesday, 12 – 1 pm: Weekly Prayer Vigil for the Disappeared (LA Federal Building, 300 N. Los Angeles St., LA 90012).
SAVE THESE DATES for SPECIAL EVENTS:
– Sunday, May 17, after service from 12-1:30 pm: New Member Orientation. For more information see News in More Detail page.
– Sunday, May 31 during service: New Member Ceremony.
– Sunday, May 24 after service in person and
– Wednesday, May 27 at 6pm (Zoom2): Budget overview sessions with Q&A in preparation for Emerson Congregational Meeting June 7.
– Sunday, June 7, following service: Emerson Congregational Meeting.
– Saturday, June 27: Valley Pride Parade & Festival. Contact Christi Kelli or Tess for more information at outreach@emersonuuc.org
– Sunday, July 12: Concert in the Park – Valley Cultural Center event. Contact Christi Kelli for more information at outreach@emersonuuc.org
_____________
Check out what our UU neighbors are doing: Sepulveda UU Society information at https://sepulvedauu.org
ONGOING EVENTS – Open to All:
More details about these groups may be found in this website’s Community Activities & Groups menu.
First Sunday of the month, after the service (Pavilion)
Friends, please join us after our Sunday Service to share food, drink, and companionship at our Potluck Lunch. You’re welcome to bring a dish to go around. Drinks will be provided. Be ready to fill out a card describing your dish. If you forgot to bring something, don’t worry – we will share. And be sure to stick around afterwards to help clean up; we could always use a few hands to make light work. It’s a great way to get to know people at church.
—
– Currently meeting 3rd Sunday of each month following church services.
Next Meeting: Sunday, May 17, following services.
—
Second Sunday of the month, after the service (Sanctuary – Online by Request.)
Emerson’s Environmental Justice Ministry team meets once a month to take action for climate justice. Whether it’s local clean energy initiatives, national or global campaign projects with environmental movement partners, or writing letters to encourage voters to support environmental justice – there’s something we can each do to build a better future. Whether a new or longtime member – you are welcome and your action is needed! For more information, see the Environmental Justice Ministry page in this website or contact Rhonda or Andrea.
—
EMERSON AMBLERS: Join us on Monday afternoons-evenings for an easy going stroll on mostly flat ground. We alternate weekly between North and South in the western SF Valley. When the weather is pleasant, we typically meet about 1-1/2 hours before sunset either at Orcutt Ranch or in Chatsworth. When it rains or is too hot (above 85), we meet inside an air conditioned mall at 4 pm (to avoid crowds) or dance at LindaBeth’s home. Check notices weekly and/or with LindaBeth to verify time and place.
EMERSON BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Join us on the third Monday of each month (except December) from 7 to 9 on Zoom 2 Zoom Meeting ID: 343 977 3791, or call (669 900-9128) and enter ID.
Next Meeting: Monday, May 18, 7 – 9 pm (Zoom 2)
– Fiction book for Monday, June 15: Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke..
____
DEEP BREATHS: Drop-In Meditation.
Every Thursday, 6 – 7 pm, in person @ Emerson, or on Zoom 1.
During this anxious and exciting time, take an hour of relaxation and reflection for yourself. We start with a short reading, allow some space for silent meditation, and finish with check-in and reflection. This group is open to anyone, whether you are new to meditation or have been doing it for years
–—
IMPROV FOR YOUR SOUL
Every Friday, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm (Sanctuary)
Join us for community, laughter and growth.
Classes are free but donations are appreciated. No need to sign up, just show up!
Led by Katie Kirkpatrick
—
EXPLORATORY PAGAN GROUP
– 1st Tuesday of each month at 7 pm (Zoom 2: live2.emersonuuc.org).
– 3rd Sunday of each month after church: Meet in Emerson’s Garden for a brief elemental meditation.
This discussion group explores paganism from a UU perspective. With enough participation from our congregation there is the potential to become a local chapter of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS). We occasionally pair with the Worship Committee to bring fun and meaningful content to the Sunday worship. We encourage all to come and check us out! For more information, see the Pagan Chat & Study Group page in our Community menu.
—
MOSTLY VEGGIE LUNCH CLUB!
1st Wednesday of the month, 11:45 am – 2 pm
Next Gathering: Wednesday, June 3, 11:45 am
Location: Tomato Patch, 20970 Warner Center, Woodland Hills 91367 (Across from Kaiser Permanente) 818-456-4977
Join with friends, old and new, to enjoy good company and explore the advantages of plant based dining with the Mostly Veggie Lunch Club. All are welcome. Contact Tracy Watson.
—
UNPERCEIVED MEDIA CLUB:
– Third Saturdays of each month at 6 pm on Zoom 2
Unperceived Media Club’s goal is to broaden member horizons through the consumption and discussion of various types of media. The Unperceived Media Club is centered around expanding member knowledge of the world and learning from new perspectives we otherwise would not have thought about. We examine various types of media, from documentaries to music to books to art pieces. Contact: Christi Kelly.
—
EMERSON CHOIR
A place where you can connect, listen, and sing. All are invited to participate, even those who are not currently members of Emerson’s Choir. See the Music & Choir page in the Community menu for more information.
—
SMALL COMMUNITY CIRCLE
One of the ways we connect with each other at Emerson is in our Small Community Circles—which are the core of our adult spiritual development program at Emerson. Each month, our small groups explore the monthly theme in greater depth. It allows each person a chance to share if they choose and to be heard and held by the group. Learn more on our Small Community Circle page under our Community menu, or by contacting Tracy Watson or Rene Lancon via Emerson Office.
—
Be Part of EUUC OUTREACH! Volunteer for an EUUC Outreach Project – we welcome your time and talent! Outreach projects are short-term volunteer-run activities. You can volunteer to work on an outreach project through from development to completion. Or, you can offer any time you have to a project. For each outreach project, the EUUC Outreach Coordinator will send out an email sign-up. If you are interested in volunteering for that particular project, you just sign up! The Outreach Coordinator will follow up with details! For more information, see this website’s Outreach page. To add your name and email address to the EUUC Outreach Volunteer List, email Christi Kelli at outreach@emersonuuc.org
____________
Password: chalice
Enter ID # 941 8596 3035
Passcode: 1410162
(if link doesn’t work, enter live2.emersonuuc.org into your search engine (Google, Safari, etc.) or open Zoom and scroll down to or enter the Zoom ID.)
Zoom ID: 343 977 3791
Password: chalice
OR call (669) 900-9128 and
enter ID # 343 977 3791 and
Password: chalice
_____________________________
SUPPORT EMERSON UU COMMUNITY
Your individual donations of time, talent and treasure make it possible for Emerson to continue to thrive.
– Make your 2025-6 fiscal year PLEDGE HERE. To learn about Pledging, go to our “PLEDGE” page. DONATE HERE. To find out different ways you may donate, go to our DONATE page. To update your Breeze autopay account go to the Breeze app or this website’s Donate Page) (Learn how to Update Breeze Donation HERE).
– Share the Plate Sunday Collection: As part of our commitment to serve our community, we share half our offering with local organizations whose work furthers our mission. May Share the Plate Recipient: Sky Valley Volunteers. A group of dedicated environmental stewards, working diligently to preserve, protect and restore the Mountains above Chatsworth and the West Valley. The Sky Valley Volunteers are identified in one of two ways, depending on who you talk to. Either we are a ragtag group of misfits, fighting overwhelming odds against an implacable foe, in order to save the world… OR… We’re a dedicated group of local stakeholders planting forests in order to protect our little corner of the world… Maybe we are a bit of both? We’ve also been viewed as, “little ants carrying watermelon”. https://www.skyvalleyvolunteers.org/
– Our Congregation decided that all months with a fifth Sunday, we will use the fifth Sunday as a way to contribute to our UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) Annual Program Fund. Formerly known as the UUA Fair Share Fund, the UUA Annual Program Fund (formerly Fair Share) is the primary source of funding for the Unitarian Universalist Association. We give so that our spirits will be enriched by the practice of generosity in community, and so that Unitarian Universalism can flourish. For more information on the APF please visit the UUA website at the following link: UUA Annual Program Fund.
– Emerson also partners with the West Valley Food Pantry, which works to end hunger in the San Fernando Valley by providing food and supportive services for individuals and families in need. They serve people who are food insecure, including those who are homeless and families and elderly people living on a fixed income; providing them not with just food, but basic necessities as well as infant supplies, school supplies, hygiene items and toys. They also host vaccination clinics, mobile pet clinics and family holiday parties and have a mobile shower for those who don’t have access to water.
The Food Pantry has moved into their new building, and are again accepting most food donations. Most needed: cash donations and single serve, ready to eat, UNEXPIRED food items. You may bring your donations to Emerson or to the Food Pantry (it is a few miles southwest of Emerson and typically open weekday mornings – check their website for updated times). Website for West Valley Food Pantry: https://www.westvalleyfoodpantry.org/
2025-6 Share the Plate Recipients (chosen during our annual June Congregational Meeting):
- West Valley Food Pantry
- Haven Hills
- Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy
- SFV Refugee Children Center
- Sky Valley Volunteers Pink Haven Coalition
_________________________
TECH ASSOCIATES NEEDED!
If you’ve attended Emerson Sunday Worship on Zoom, you have no doubt noticed the many different elements – both live and recorded – that come together to make up the service. The Tech Associate is key to presenting a professional and worshipful online service. Emerson’s Tech Associates are volunteers who step up when guest speakers take to the virtual pulpit to produce the service, coordinating the sequence of elements, including live video and PowerPoint slideshow. If you are familiar with PowerPoint, or live online meeting platforms, and would like to help with presenting Sunday services, talk with Adam or contact our office at office@emersonuuc.org
__________________________
Bear Hugs From Camp de Benneville Pines
to Donate Please Click Here
We believe in the power of love, community, and the transformative impact of nature. Camp de Benneville Pines has been a sanctuary for campers of all ages, providing a space where friendships are forged, spirits are renewed, and lasting memories are created. Even before the fires, pandemic and inflation, the Camp was not able to balance its budget on camper fee revenues alone, since we charge less than the cost so that everyone can participate. We ask you to join us in this heartfelt appeal to ensure that Bear Hugs From Camp continue to be shared for generations to come. For More Information on How You Can Help or to Donate Please Click HERE.
_______________________