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Inside This Issue

Feeling Introverted at Eliot?
-- Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell, Lead Minister

You're not alone. While many people have found an abundance of friendship and social interaction here, we also hear from those who find Eliot a difficult place to "break in." Some of these people are newcomers, and some have been around for a while. Some have tried volunteering here and there, and while they meet nice people, they get the sense that the people they meet already have a full social set. Even those who aren't truly introverts may end up feeling introverted at coffee hour or the Sunday service.

One of our more interesting balancing acts is taking on the advantages a "resource size" congregation, like Eliot, brings (more staff, excellence in programs, volunteers, diversity of interests and affiliations) while not giving up the benefits of a smaller church (intimacy, easy access to involvement and leadership.) The reality is that Sunday morning coffee hour is not an ideal time to meet new friends.

So what can we do? One idea is a Coffee Break for Introverts. On May 16 we'll have a special coffee time in Children's Chapel for 20 minutes after each service. Those who typically find themselves standing awkwardly around Adams Hall during coffee hour are invited to come see who else feels awkward and introverted. Believe me, you won't be the only one!

Opportunities to get involved at Eliot include: Covenant Groups (contact Rev. Bonnie), Circle Suppers (contact Sally Gronier, or sign-up in the hallway), or groups such as Bridge, or Hikers, or Life Enrichment Groups (all of these have information on the website, or call the office for the contact person.) But sometimes you need to meet a few interesting people before you take the plunge into one of these groups. We'll see you at Coffee Break for Introverts, May 16!

2004-05 Pledge Campaign
-- Gary Gray, Pledge Campaign Chair

As you read this, our Pledge Campaign will be drawing to a close. Through April 9, 329 members and friends have made pledges totaling $363,000. About 75 pledges are still expected so final results are not yet available. If our hardworking canvassers failed to contact you, or if there has been some other reason keeping you from finalizing your pledge, please contact JoAnn Stephan, our church administrator.

Talking Points
-- Susan Maginn, Intern Minister

After my Apr. 4 sermon ( "Civil Marriage, Civil Right"), a few people were interested in knowing some biblical talking points in support of civil rights for gay people. Even though we live in a society that reveres the separation of church and state, people will often look to the Bible for reasons why gay people do not deserve equal rights under the law.

Here are some alternative biblical interpretations of homosexuality:

• There are more passages in the Bible that condone slavery than there are passages that condemn homosexuality.
• Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. His primary focus was on loving others and the sin of hoarding money.
• The historical context of writings like Leviticus (which condemns homosexuality) must be considered. At that time, there was a concern about the community's survival, so reproduction was crucial. Living in an overpopulated world, this is not our concern.
• The Bible supports polygamy, the execution of brides who are not virgins, and the execution of adulterers.

Board Of Trustees Nominees

Michael Pelot-Hobbs and his wife, Vickie, have been attending Eliot Chapel for over six years. Michael co-chairs the Youth-Adult Committee, helped with the annual book fair, worked on Madrigal Dinner clean up, and has spent the last 5 years teaching junior high RE. He has a 30+ year career in information technology, the most recent 25 with May Dept Stores, which included management posts at data centers in Washington, DC and Los Angeles. Michael has three daughters. Sarah is completing her junior year at Kirkwood High, Lydia is a freshman at Oberlin College, and Dana graduated from the U of Kansas, got married and has 2 beautiful daughters. Hobbies include theatre, studying history, exercising, and gardening.

Jan Erdman and her husband, Bill, have been members of Eliot Chapel for five years. Jan has worked on the Ushering Committee, been a 5-year member of the Seder Dinner Committee, and recently participated in Room at the Inn with her Covenant Group. Jan is an administrator at the Eden Lab Preschool, and serves as Chairperson of the Webster Groves School District "Achievement Gap/Success for All Students" Committee. Jan and Bill have a son, Nathaniel, who recently graduated from the U of Illinois and will start optometry school in the fall. Their daughter, Maggie, is a freshman in the College of Education at Mizzou. In her spare time, Jan enjoys gardening; reading; her Golden Retriever, Carolina; and her Covenant Group.

Mary Quinn has been a member of Eliot since 1999. Her first committee work was with the Aesthetics Committee where she served for two years. As Chair of the Transition Committee, she led a group in supporting the arrival of Bonnie and Daniel to Eliot. She is currently a member of the Third Monday Covenant group, the Strategic Planning Committee, and is a greeter at the early service. Her career has been spent in the corporate world where her focus has been on employee training and leadership development. Mary and her husband share their home with two well-loved Airedales. In her spare time, she is a weaver.

Larry Ross and his wife Debbie have been members of Eliot for over 20 years. During that time they've both taught RE. Debbie has been active in Social Concerns. Larry has been involved in Program Council, Choir, and the Finance Committee. He has spent many hours at Bergfried, serving wine at the Madrigal Dinner, and participating in the Seder Dinner. He has had a 30-year career is in banking, including a stint in Singapore where their daughter Allison, who will be graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design, was born. Devin, their son, is a freshman at Antioch College. They have a cat, Oreo. Their family has been committed to Eliot and spends many Sundays here.

Congratulations

To Greg and Susan, and big sister Alina, Duncan, on the birth of Sarina Noelle Duncan, born on April 16.
To Eva Merrell on the birth of Rachel Elizabeth Merrell on March 9.

Welcome, New Members
Claire Robertson, People Committee Chair

We welcome to membership in Eliot Chapel Bob Coulter, Susan Duncan, and Diane O'Leary, who signed the membership book on Apr. 4.

Welcome!
-- Bruce MacKenzie - September 28, 2003

In reflecting on what 1,000 Sundays - and countless other days here - have meant to me, I found myself humming, like Pooh I suppose, humming a little tune. The tune buried in the middle of our old hymnal, #159, in our new hymnals is now, happily #1:

"Prayer for This House"

May nothing evil cross this door,
And may ill fortune never pry
About these windows; may the roar
And rain go by.

By faith made strong, the rafters will
Withstand the battering of the storm.
This hearth, though all the world grow chill
Will keep you warm.

Peace shall walk softly through these rooms,
Touching our lips with holy wine,
Till every casual corner blooms
Into a shrine.

With laughter drown the raucous shout
And, though these sheltering walls are thin,
May they be strong to keep hate out
And hold love in.

The first time I sang this hymn I could rub my fingers along the outside pages of the hymnal and pick up soot, could still smell the fire that burned through here in 1978 - the hymn has always been, for me, a prayer for this house - Eliot Chapel. But it has been my hymn too, a prayer that has sustained and continues to sustain. In welcoming you to this house this morning, I pray that you too will find something just as sustaining here. Welcome to our house, Eliot Chapel!

In Our Thoughts

Peter Raible, our former interim lead minister, is in hospice care with heart failure.

In Memoriam

Lorraine Heider, Rudi Heider's wife of 62 years, died on Friday, April 2. Lorraine was a long-time member of Eliot Chapel. A Memorial Service will be held at Eliot at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 8.

Our Sympathy

To Tim Gardner on the death of his father on Friday, April 9.

Thanks!

To Don and Virginia Sery for donating a large coffee pot to Eliot. It's being put to good use.

To Lori Allen for donating a high chair for use by Room at the Inn.

To the members of the Buildings and Grounds Committee: Tom Gayer, Todd Michael, Dave Seidensticker, Erv Steinberg, Brent Vaughn, as well as Larry Reutter, the Board liaison to the Committee, for their work on the Office Wing Project.

To Daniel and Jan Baldenweck, Jerry Higginbotham, Bill Fitzgerald, Tom Gayer, Christi and Kelsey Maginn, Luis Ortiz, Rich Vaughn, and Brent Vaughn who took part in the first Meacham Park Housing Ministry workday.

Help Eliot Youth Help Themselves
-- Scott Elliott, Youth Programs Director, ,

Did you know that youth "cons" (conferences) held at Eliot provide a major portion of the funding for youth programs? Everyone who attends pays a fee; the excess of fees received over costs of the "con" help to fund subsequent years' youth programs at Eliot.

But the youth need adult help to make this happen. Your commitment can be for one activity, for a couple of hours - it need not be for the entire weekend.

From April 30 to May 2, we again are hosting a multi-state youth conference at Eliot. In particular, we need help with the following: meal making, meal serving, food/ice runs, clean up, workshop leaders, home hospitality, transportation to/from homes, chaperones (especially at night so out-of-town drivers can get rest.) We also need donations of all sorts including neckties, and the loan of coolers and trash cans. To help our youth with these important tasks, contact May Hoehne or Michael Pelot-Hobbs. You can also sign up in Adams Hall each Sunday after services.

Meacham Park Workdays
-- Susan Maginn, Intern Minister

Workdays are scheduled the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of May and June. If anyone wants to sign up for the workdays, they should contact Lee Streett.

Share the Gift of Shelter
-- Joan Clarke

Spring is here and I am looking forward to spending time outside in the fresh air and sunshine, although lately it has been cool and the outdoors is not so enticing. I am one of the fortunate ones who can choose between inside and out because I have a home. As much as lawn mowing and leaf raking seem chores at times, I know I am among the lucky ones. Eliot Chapel, I discovered, offers a wonderful opportunity for me to share my good fortune through Room at the Inn. By being a host, cook, launderer or driver, I can share the shelter of our church with those who do not have a place of their own. However temporary one night's stay may seem, it is part of a program sponsored by churches all over St. Louis that serves an immediate need while our guests work toward a more permanent solution. Join me in sharing our good fortune by signing up on the RATI volunteer sheets on the bulletin board or contact me at home.

Want to Preach?

It's time to start planning for this year's Summer Services. Both presenters and musicians are needed. Presenters, if you have already made arrangements for musicians for your service, there is a space on the sign up sheet to so indicate. If you have never presented a Summer Service before but are thinking about it, please give me a call and we'll talk about the service guidelines so you will know what to expect. There are separate blue sign up sheets, one for presenters and one for musicians, on the bulletin board outside Adams Hall. No procrastinating allowed! Three dates are already spoken for! Please contact me if you have any questions. Jane Larson.

Welcoming Congregation Forum

Welcoming Congregation Forum will be an introspective and interactive journey exploring our thoughts, feelings, and current knowledge about sexual orientation. We will have monthly workshops starting in the fall. If you are interested in co-leading one of these workshops, please come to our next meeting on May 15 or contact Susan Maginn at .

Eliot Youth Orchestra
-- Judy Lindquist

We're going on the road! Emerson Chapel has invited the Eliot Youth Orchestra to play at their service on May 30. All musicians through high school age are encouraged to participate, whether you were in the group for the Youth Service or not. This is a great opportunity to reach out to another UU church in our community.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you would be interested in joining us. We will have 2-3 rehearsals immediately preceding that Sunday. All ability levels are welcome.

Men's Advance

All men of Eliot Chapel are invited to the Men's Advance, a weekend to relax and connect at our Bergfried property in Gasconade County. You can come out Friday evening Apr. 30 and stay the weekend, or just come out for Saturday. We have rough camping facilities and they'll suit you fine - bring your tent or camper and your meals (except for Saturday supper.)

The weekend activities usually involve a hike around the perimeter of the property, good talk around the fire at Lingenfelder Shelter, a shared dinner Saturday evening, and the world's best coffee.

Come and enjoy the great outdoors. If you would rather just come for the day and need a ride, contact Mark Nissen.

The cost is $10.00. Sign up on the board that leans against the wall in the passageway to Adams hall.

Newcomers' Dinner
-- Claire Robertson, People Committee Chair

The People Committee Newcomers' Dinner, honoring New U alums, new members, and new friends of the past two years, will take place on Fri., May 7, at 6:30 p.m. in Adams Hall (child care will be provided if reservation is received by Apr. 22.) If we inadvertently missed you with an invitation and you'd like to share the food (our lasagna and "go-withs"; your appetizers, salads and dessert) and good company, please don't hesitate to contact Claire Robertson for details and reservations.

Raising a UU Child

New Date: we will be meeting Sun. May 23, at 7.00 p.m. at the home of Hilary Babcock. We will be discussing how to incorporate UU rituals at home: finding table graces, bedtime prayers, and chalice images for you family. Please contact Hilary Babcock for directions. See you there!

Bergfried Family Weekend
-- Mark Nissen, Kate Magrath

Family camping at Bergfried is Memorial Day weekend, May 28 through 31. Come out for all or any part of the event. We will have worship services with children's activities on Sunday at 11:00 a.m., followed by a potluck picnic.

There are special events in Hermann Thursday, Friday and Saturday as the Corps of Discovery II makes its way up the Missouri River commemorating the 1804 Lewis and Clark exploration. The reenactment camp is in Jefferson City. There is a boat launch ramp in Gasconade, so bring your boat and join the river trip. More information about Bergfried is available on the website, including driving directions.

The committee holds open meetings in the Bergfried Room the third Sunday of the month.

Women's Alliance

The Women's Alliance meets on the first, third, and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Tues., Apr. 27 - Shaw's Missouri Botanical Garden. Meet at Eliot 9:15 a.m. to carpool or meet at the garden at 10:00 a.m. Dot Brownfield, coordinator.

Tues., May 4 - John Adams by David McCullough. Sue Stivers, leader.

Partner Church Scholarship Program

The Partner Church Committee is again soliciting donations for Scholarships. Click here for information and a donation form.

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