November 8  – “Angels”

Held at Pecan Grove MUD building, 751 Pitts Road, Richmond.

Not every messenger from beyond our understanding has wings or otherwise looks unusual. Rev. Daniel O’Connell in the pulpit.

Join us in person for our weekly gathering at Pecan Grove MUD Building in Richmond, TX while our building undergoes renovations.

Kids & Youth Religious Exploration (K–8)
Kids & Youth Religious Exploration is offered at the same time and at the same location for children and youth in grades K–8.

Interested in joining us in person? Get in Touch!

November 8 – “Where’s the Beef (Coming From)” 

Held at Pecan Grove MUD building, 751 Pitts Road, Richmond

Jim Sheridan will lead this discussion of the Paul Krugman video on this topic. https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/wheres-the-beef-coming-from  

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

AE Lunchitarians

This is a recurring virtual meeting every Wednesday from noon - 1:30 PM.

Thoreau Lunchitarians discuss books, or other matters arising

Check your email for topic details and the Zoom link!

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

From the beloved New York Times bestselling author Laurie Frankel, an exuberant and timely new novel

At seventy-seven, Pepper Mills is too old to be a stranger in a strange land. She didn’t choose the Vista View Retirement Community of Austin, Texas—that would be her three grown children—but when she grudgingly moves in, she not only makes new friends, she falls in love. Then the exhaustion, vomiting, and confusion start. She fears it’s cancer, dementia, a stroke. But a raft of tests later, the news is even more shocking: She’s pregnant.

As word gets out, everyone wants a piece of her: the press and paparazzi, activists and medical researchers, belly-rubbers and rubber-neckers all descending on Vista View while Pepper struggles to determine her next move. Soon she has some hard decisions to make—and some she’s not allowed to make.

Enormous Wings is an urgent novel about female agency and bodily autonomy, morality and mortality. It’s about what happens when you don’t get to choose anymore. It’s about motherhood and family, sex and love and friendship, and how those bedrocks—even so late in the day—can still change, and then change everything.

Books are selected by the members of the Women’s Book Club

Reoccurring monthly on the First Monday, starting at 1:00 PM; we meet in members’ homes.

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

November 1 – “Ancestors, Resolve, Determination, Connection Across Differences”
At the astronomical midpoint between the Fall Equinox and the Winter Solstice, for many of us, Nov. 1st also marks various cultural, religious, and/or spiritual practices for acknowledging mortality and beloved ancestors.  Emeritus Minister Rev. Dan King returns to share observations & reflections with us. After the service we will have a Day of the Dead celebration.  

Join us in person for our weekly gathering at Pecan Grove MUD Building in Richmond, TX while our building undergoes renovations.

Kids & Youth Religious Exploration (K–8)
Kids & Youth Religious Exploration is offered at the same time and at the same location for children and youth in grades K–8.

Interested in joining us in person? Get in Touch!

November 1 – “From Not So Much…To It Has Been Better:  A History of Voting”

Held at Pecan Grove MUD building, 751 Pitts Road, Richmond

Voting was not considered a natural or Constitutional right in 1787, though a series of campaigns and amendments in the ensuing years have tried to make it so. This uneven route to universal suffrage has often been stymied by national and international events, punctuating the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November with a question mark. Prof. Garna Christian will present.

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

AE Lunchitarians

This is a recurring virtual meeting every Wednesday from noon - 1:30 PM.

Thoreau Lunchitarians discuss books, or other matters arising

Check your email for topic details and the Zoom link!

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

October 25 -- “Nature Nurtures Us”

Held at Pecan Grove MUD building, 751 Pitts Road, Richmond.

Monica Taylor of the Cullinan Park Conservancy will speak about the importance of nature to our well-being.

Join us in person for our weekly gathering at Pecan Grove MUD Building in Richmond, TX while our building undergoes renovations.

Kids & Youth Religious Exploration (K–8)
Kids & Youth Religious Exploration is offered at the same time and at the same location for children and youth in grades K–8.

Interested in joining us in person? Get in Touch!

October 25 – “How Badly Will Trump Punish America”

Held at Pecan Grove MUD building, 751 Pitts Road, Richmond

Ron Masters will lead this discussion on Economist Paul Krugman’s look at Donald Trump's declining political leverage warning that a diminishing leader facing power loss may lash out and inflict retaliatory damage on the nation.

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

AE Lunchitarians

This is a recurring virtual meeting every Wednesday from noon - 1:30 PM.

Thoreau Lunchitarians discuss books, or other matters arising

Check your email for topic details and the Zoom link!

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

Please join us for the Men's monthly dinner group.

Location: Beck’s Prime 1822 Hwy 6 Sugar Land, TX 77478

Let us know to look out for you! Get in Touch.

AE Lunchitarians

This is a recurring virtual meeting every Wednesday from noon - 1:30 PM.

Thoreau Lunchitarians discuss books, or other matters arising

Check your email for topic details and the Zoom link!

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

October 11 – Blessing of the Animals

Held at Pecan Grove Park, 800 Pitts Road, Richmond (next to the MUD building)

Bring your creatures big and small, for the Thoreau Blessing of the Animals. Everyone is invited to bring their pets (or if they prefer, pictures or belongings of their pets) to be blessed. Dogs must be on a leash. Cats must be in a carrier. Snakes, lizards, small mammals, fish, and birds must be contained to keep them safe. NO REACTIVE DOGS PLEASE!  We will be meeting under the trees in the park just next to the MUD building. After the presentation of the animals, we will have a potluck lunch, so bring a food to share.  Extra points if you bring a vegetarian dish in honor of the animals we are blessing.

Join us in person for our weekly gathering at Pecan Grove MUD Building in Richmond, TX while our building undergoes renovations.

Kids & Youth Religious Exploration (K–8)
Kids & Youth Religious Exploration is offered at the same time and at the same location for children and youth in grades K–8.

Interested in joining us in person? Get in Touch!

Saturday, October 9th,  6:00-9:00 pm 🎲 Thoreau Game Night 🎲

Join us for an evening of fun, connection, and friendly competition at 9ers Grill in Richmond, TX! Whether you’re a board game enthusiast, a card game casual, or someone who just enjoys good company, this night is for you.

We’ll have a variety of games available, and you’re welcome to bring a favorite to share. Come solo, bring a friend, or make new ones as we gather for laughter, low-pressure play, and community building.

No prior game experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and your playful spirit.

When: Saturday Oct 3rd, 6:00-9:00PM

Where:
9ers Grill
1800 Fm 359
Richmond, TX 77406

👉 Interested in attending? Get in Touch!

We can’t wait to play with you!

2nd Friday Discussion Group will meet on October 9th at Becks Prime:
1822 SH-6 S, Sugar Land, TX  77478.  
Near the Sugar Land Whole Foods.  
Here’s the menu: https://www.becksprime.com/menu/menu.pdf

TOPIC: TBD

Reoccurring monthly on the Second Friday.

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

AE Lunchitarians

This is a recurring virtual meeting every Wednesday from noon - 1:30 PM.

Thoreau Lunchitarians discuss books, or other matters arising

Check your email for topic details and the Zoom link!

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this “profound, resplendent novel”* from Pulitzer Prize–winning author Elizabeth Strout, a chance incident sparks a powerful realization in a beloved teacher’s life.

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE • ONE OF BARACK OBAMA’S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE SUMMER

“Strout’s capacious empathy and rigorous attention to the nuances of human behavior and psychology are as evident as ever.”—The Boston Globe

“Artie Dam is someone you may never be able to forget.”—Financial Times*

Artie Dam is living a double life. He spends his days teaching history to eleventh graders, expanding their young minds, correcting their casual cruelties, and lending a kind word to those who need it most. He goes to holiday parties with his wife of three decades, makes small talk with neighbors, and, on weekends, takes his sailboat out on the beautiful Massachusetts Bay. He is, by all appearances, present and alive. But inside, Artie is plagued by feelings of isolation. He looks out at a world gone mad—at himself and the people around him—and turns a question over and over in his mind: How is it that we know so little about one another, even those closest to us?

And then, one day, Artie learns that life has been keeping a secret from him, one that threatens to upend his entire world. Once he learns it, he is forced to chart a new course, to reconsider the relationships he holds most dear—and to make peace with the mysteries at the heart of our existence.

Elizabeth Strout, as we have come to expect, delivers a moving exploration of the human condition—one that brims with compassion for each and every one of her indelible characters. With exquisite prose and profound insight, The Things We Never Say takes one man’s fears and loneliness and makes them universal. And in the same breath, captures the abiding love that sustains and holds us all.

Books are selected by the members of the Women’s Book Club

Reoccurring monthly on the First Monday, starting at 1:00 PM; we meet in members’ homes.

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

October 4 – “Finding Greater Meaning Through UU Values”

Held at Pecan Grove MUD building, 751 Pitts Road, Richmond.

It's a nearly-universal human trait to try to construct a narrative story which allows us to find a degree of satisfaction about how our lives have brought meaning to the world.

Like a bent penny, our Emeritus Minister Rev. Dan King follows our Thoreau congregation to yet another location to share reflections on how we may find greater meaning by living our lives consistent with Unitarian Universalist values and principles.

Join us in person for our weekly gathering at Pecan Grove MUD Building in Richmond, TX while our building undergoes renovations.

Kids & Youth Religious Exploration (K–8)
Kids & Youth Religious Exploration is offered at the same time and at the same location for children and youth in grades K–8.

Interested in joining us in person? Get in Touch!

October 4 – “The Long Road to MAGA-land”

Held at Pecan Grove MUD building, 751 Pitts Road, Richmond

The current administration did not drop, fully developed, from the sky. It is the result of more than fifty years of careful planning by ideologues, moneyed interests, and pliable politicians. We'll trace the obscured path and note significant markers toward the destination. Our speaker is Prof. Garna Christian.

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

AE Lunchitarians

This is a recurring virtual meeting every Wednesday from noon - 1:30 PM.

Thoreau Lunchitarians discuss books, or other matters arising

Check your email for topic details and the Zoom link!

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

September 27, 11am - “Walking with Rosemary: Faith, Power, and Who Gets to Interpret”
Rosemary Radford Ruether spent much of her life asking uncomfortable questions about Christianity. What happens when we look beneath inherited religious teachings and ask who interpreted them, whose voices were included, and whose were left out? And what happens when ideas about God become entangled with ideas about power?  Amanda Ayles will be our speaker presenting this topic.

Join us in person for our weekly gathering at 9er’s BBQ in Richmond, Texas while our building undergoes renovations.

Kids & Youth Religious Exploration (K–8)
Kids & Youth Religious Exploration is offered at the same time and at the same location for children and youth in grades K–8.

Interested in joining us in person? Get in Touch!

AE Lunchitarians

This is a recurring virtual meeting every Wednesday from noon - 1:30 PM.

Thoreau Lunchitarians discuss books, or other matters arising

Check your email for topic details and the Zoom link!

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

September 20, 11AM - "Interfaith Examination of UU: How Would YOU Answer These Questions About UU?"

At the recent Fort Bend Interfaith Dinner, each table had people from a mix of faith communities, and the groups were asked to discuss a series of questions about their faith. How would you answer some of these big questions about Unitarian Universalists? Lead by Cassey Crouch.

Join us in person for our weekly gathering at 9er’s BBQ in Richmond, Texas while our building undergoes renovations.

Kids & Youth Religious Exploration (K–8)
Kids & Youth Religious Exploration is offered at the same time and at the same location for children and youth in grades K–8.

Interested in joining us in person? Get in Touch!

Please join us for the Men's monthly dinner group.

Location: Beck’s Prime 1822 Hwy 6 Sugar Land, TX 77478

Let us know to look out for you! Get in Touch.

AE Lunchitarians

This is a recurring virtual meeting every Wednesday from noon - 1:30 PM.

Thoreau Lunchitarians discuss books, or other matters arising

Check your email for topic details and the Zoom link!

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

September 13, 11AM - "Creative Aging: Lotería Intergenerational: Reimagining Aging, and End of Life Legacy with Joy”

In this presentation, Diana Muniz, Thoreau’s new Director of Family Programs, will share the vision and heart behind Lotería Intergenerational™ . Through this reimagined version of the traditional Mexican game, Diana will facilitate a trauma-informed "bridge" to lower barriers and invite healing conversations about creative aging, life cycles and family legacy. Discover how a beloved cultural ritual can turn into a "Sanctuary of Dialogue" where different generations can share wisdom and build civic solidarity as we approach life's deepest transitions.

For more information on Diana  and her Loteria game follow this link: https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/N7vaL8f2UP43h

Join us in person for our weekly gathering at 9er’s BBQ in Richmond, Texas while our building undergoes renovations.

Kids & Youth Religious Exploration (K–8)
Kids & Youth Religious Exploration is offered at the same time and at the same location for children and youth in grades K–8.

Interested in joining us in person? Get in Touch!

2nd Friday Discussion Group will meet on September 11th at Becks Prime:
1822 SH-6 S, Sugar Land, TX  77478.  
Near the Sugar Land Whole Foods.  
Here’s the menu: https://www.becksprime.com/menu/menu.pdf

TOPIC: TBD

Reoccurring monthly on the Second Friday.

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

AE Lunchitarians

This is a recurring virtual meeting every Wednesday from noon - 1:30 PM.

Thoreau Lunchitarians discuss books, or other matters arising

Check your email for topic details and the Zoom link!

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig. 

When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook and no plan.

Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend’s life, and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth, Grace must first come to terms with her past.

Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.

Books are selected by the members of the Women’s Book Club

Reoccurring monthly on the First Monday, starting at 1:00 PM; we meet in members’ homes.

Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!