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Inside This Issue

The Results Are In!
-- Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell, Lead Minister

On Sun., Jun. 6, an insert in the Order of Service asked whether we should keep or drop the offering jokes; whether we should keep kids in the first part of the service the first Sunday of the month, or any other comments on the services.

We'll plan on doing this two or three times per year on various issues. It is good to hear from you. I got a couple good ideas for sermons (more world religious themes and more emphasis on the great spiritual questions.)

The overwhelming majority of you want the offering jokes and kids to stay. Some of you pointed out that the taste of some of the offering jokes was questionable, and maybe we didn't need to do them every Sunday (agreed). Some of you said you liked a church that could laugh about money and itself; others of you said you preferred a quieter sanctuary with more emphasis on reflection and less jocularity. Still others commented that they liked the jokes but that the jokes or the time of greeting was occasionally disruptive to the service flow (duly noted.)

A lot of you were neutral or kind of liked the handholding but it wasn't a big issue for you; for those who did not like the handholding - it was a big issue for them.

Several of you said you'd like more world religions referenced during services. A few of you said you'd like the youth to attend more frequently (I'll see what I can do.) One or two of you wanted more announcements; several wanted fewer, saying, they took too long. A couple people pointed out that three hymns, one with six verses, and two responsive readings were too many. Overall, people like the services - whew!

Lead Minister Relations Committee
-- Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell, Lead Minister

I have felt for a while that it would be good to have another group to get feedback from and with whom I could discuss ministry ideas. Tue., Jun. 9, Rich Vaughn, Julie Triplett, Luis Ortiz, and Kathleen Mead (all listed in the directory) met with me in my office to discuss this. They have since agreed to serve, and to be available to you for your comments.

The purpose of such a group is to, as Rich Vaughn put it: "strengthen the family tree within the community." Several of the questions that a Lead Minister must engage are: How do we deal with an impassioned minority view? How do we acknowledge people's emotions? How do we let folks know their contributions are significant, that we care for them, that they are important?

In what ways do we or can we let people know they have been heard, that their thoughts and feelings are listened to, understood, and affirmed, even if someone's opinion does not ultimately win the day on a particular issue - when a majority (or a person who holds the responsibility) decides otherwise? How does a Lead Minister or lay leader model humility and loving kindness - some of these areas have steeper learning curves than others!

Folks need to know they are valued and affirmed; they are significant and cared for. Leaders need to lead, but with the full cooperation and ownership of those who consent to consider being led.

I am grateful for the opportunity, and for the LMRC's willingness to help out!

Father's Day Request
-- The RE Committee

For the intergenerational Father's Day service on Jun. 20, we invite everyone young, old, and in between, to bring something that represents your father (a picture, a medal, a baseball - whatever). The item will be returned at the end of the service. There will be a special time to honor our fathers or other significant male influences in our lives during the service. We hope to see you there.

Welcome!
-- Rev. Dr. Susan Videen - May 16, 2004

Each Sunday, a member of the Eliot community delivers the Sunday Morning Welcome. They share a personal story about how they came to be at Eliot Chapel, or what is meaningful here for them, or how they are living their faith.

I'm one of two community ministers at Eliot Chapel. Instead of working in the church, I work out in the community as your representative.

I have been a chaplain for eight years, primarily at St. Louis University Hospital, but also at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. I also officiate at weddings, preach now and then, do the occasional memorial service, teach Japanese, and bless animals! I like variety!

I've been a member of the chapel for 16 years. Actually, I started life as an Episcopalian, and ironically, it was a wedding that set me on the road to Unitarianism.

Unfortunately, it was my own wedding! I was so angry with the priest who performed my wedding that I vowed never, EVER, again to set foot in a church.

I'm a stubborn sort, and I gave churches a wide berth for many years. But in my mid-thirties I had to admit there was something missing in my life, that there were bigger issues than Japanese grammar that I needed urgently to figure out. I tried going back to the Episcopal Church, but it soon became clear to me that I was no more an Episcopalian in 1985 than I had been in 1965. WHAT TO DO??

Well, I knew there was a Unitarian church down the street. And I remembered that Sue Craig had been a Unitarian. Sue Craig was a very odd girl I knew in high school in Minnesota, and in my advanced maturity at 35, "odd" seemed a much more promising possibility than it had 20 years before.

So I went to the library and looked up Unitarianism in the Encyclopedia Britannica. There I first read about Michael Cervetus, the patron saint of Unitarians - who had been burned at the stake by the Protestants, and I decided to give it a try.

The reading on that first Sunday was, "And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street!" Michael Cervetus and Dr. Seuss - I was a convert!

It's interesting to me that in just the time I've been here, four members have dropped what they had been doing in life and headed off to seminary! Two of us have been ordained already, and the other two will follow in good time.

I've grown up here, and I know I'm still growing. Eliot Chapel is just that kind of place.

Our Sympathy

To David Maguire, Lisa Dahlgren, and their family on the death of David's brother.

To Carol Moreland, Steve Lawrence, and their family on the death of Carol's father.

Family Social Justice

Join other Eliot families for fun while we work for social concerns. We will meet at the Manchester Pool (Hanna and Old Meramec Station Rd.) on Fri., Jul. 2., at 11:00 a.m., when the pool opens, to decorate pots and plant flowers to be given to the veterans at the VA Hospital. At 12:30 p.m. we'll break for lunch. Admission to the pool is $4 for residents and $6 for non-residents. Later this summer, we will work for the Humane Society and the Wolf Sanctuary. Look for more details of upcoming events on the RE bulletin board at church or contact Lisa Dahlgren.

Give Yourself a Special Present
-- Joan Clarke

Recently I was a host for Room At The Inn. As I was driving home in the morning I was thinking, "Wow, it's only 7:00 a.m. and I've already done something worthwhile, something to help others." It was a good feeling; but I didn't think anything more would come of it. I was wrong, I discovered I was a little different all day, a kinder, gentler me. I was reminded of the saying, "Give and you will receive." So give yourself a gift and volunteer for Room At The Inn.

Musicians and Readers Needed

The Music Committee will be presenting the service on Sep. 5, Labor Day Weekend. The theme will be "music that reflects the seasons of our lives." If you would like to participate or have ideas for music or readings that reflect the theme, contact Kate Magrath or Sue Stivers.

Volunteers Needed

Seeking volunteers for the July 18 service. We need three people to read short passages aloud during the service. If you can help, please contact Lynn Murphy. Thank you in advance.

Swim Season is Here! -- Pat Lee

For the past 17 years I have opened my pool to Eliot women for an open swim day each week throughout the summer. This year it will be on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 5:00 with the first day on Jun. 16. Any friend or member is invited and children are welcome. There is plenty of shade available, a large shallow end for the younger set, and a pool slide and diving board for the older kids. I even have a small wading pool for the babies.

I will also be having special family swim parties for some of the younger children. They will be held on Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. as follows:

• Jul. 11 - Kindergarten (Fall)
• Jul. 18 - 3 year olds
• Jul. 25 - First Grade
• Aug. 8 - 4 year olds
• Aug. 15 - 2nd Grade

Class members, RE teacher, parents, and siblings are invited (even grandparents). There are usually enough adults around to help if you have more than one non-swimmer. It is a great time to visit with other Eliot adults and make friendships that will last through the years. All I ask is that you give me a call if you want to come and a call if you have to cancel; a message on my machine is fine. Aug. 4 is the only blackout day. Please bring something to share for the snack table. It can be as simple as ice water. I supply the glasses and plates. I live east off Ballas, between Clayton and Manchester.

The Hidden Destruction of the Mountains of Appalachia
-- Lori Allen for the Social Action Committee

On Wed., Jun. 23, at 7:30 p.m., in Eliot's sanctuary, environmental activist David Cooper, from Lexington, Kentucky, will present a beautiful and stunning 20-minute slide show featuring Appalachian culture and music and a short video about the devastation and flooding caused by "mountaintop removal" mining. Coal companies blast as much as 600 feet off the top of a mountain, then dump the rock and debris into the mountain streams. Over 300,000 acres of the most beautiful and productive hardwood forests in America have already been turned into barren grasslands. "Mountaintop removal" mining increases flooding, contaminates drinking water, cracks foundations, and showers nearby towns with dust and noise from blasting. A discussion will follow. Please join us and bring a friend. This presentation is free and open to the public. [More information.]

Dining Out for Meacham Park

Support Eliot Chapel's fundraiser for the Meacham Park Ministry. Take your friends and family to Kirkwood's Blue Water Grill on the last Wednesday of the month this summer: Jun. 30, Jul. 28, and Aug. 25 and mention that you are "Dining out for Eliot." The Blue Water Grill will donate 20% of your bill to Eliot Chapel for this very important cause. For reservations please call (314) 821-5757.

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. in Adams Hall, unless otherwise noted.

Tues. Jul. 6 - Mark and Livy: The Love Story of Mark Twain and the Woman Who Almost Tamed Him by Resa Willis. Carol McKirgan, Leader.

Tues. Jul. 13 - (Replaces Jul. 20 meeting) Book Selection for 2004-2005. Sue Webster, Coordinator.

Tues. Jul. 27 - (Replaces August discussion) The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Julie Triplett, Leader.

Diversity and Gay Marriage
--The Constructive Engagement Team: CJ Larkin, Roz Marx, Luis Ortiz, David Roundy

Most of us are very aware of the media attention a public gay marriage, performed by Rev. Daniel, received last March. Although this ceremony was a personal statement on Daniel's part, and was not intended to be a statement by Eliot Chapel on gay marriage, the press coverage that the event received could give the impression that Eliot Chapel was taking a political position on the issue.

Freedom of religious thought is central to our beliefs at Eliot. We are aware that there may be many nuances of opinion about this, as well as other, social issues. Since a proposed Missouri constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage will be on our ballots on Aug. 3, we thought it would be productive to have an open congregational conversation on our various questions and comments about gay marriage.

The Constructive Engagement Team will facilitate this conversation on Sun., Jul. 18, at 11:30 a.m. (Bring a brown bag lunch.) The intention of this meeting is not to take a survey of what most Eliot people think about this issue, or to come to any official Eliot position about it. The intention is simply to listen and learn from each other, to appreciate our various opinions, and to help us all come to a thoughtful, faith-filled decision when we cast our ballots or engage in conversation on this issue. We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your thoughts.

Voter Registration and Voter Information
-- Social Action Committee

We were glad to see that Eliot members lived up to our expectations and were happy to help the two people we registered in May. Both had moved recently. If there are others of you who need to update your registration, here are a few tips: If you have moved across county or state lines, you need to register at least 28 days in advance of an election in Missouri, and 27 days in advance in Illinois. In Missouri, new voters can register before they are 18 years old, but one must be at least 18 to vote. Many libraries and city halls, as well as the Board of Election Commissioners, offer voter registration. The Missouri Primary Election is August 3. Project Vote Smart is a non-partisan source for information on candidates for most national and state offices. It also offers information on voter registration for all states.

Book Fair 2005

Please hold all Book Fair donations until the end of July, while the Library Committee and Women's Alliance recuperate from this year's successful event! When doing your spring cleaning and summer weeding just set those books aside and wait for our announcement! Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Library Reminder

Library patrons are reminded to sign out books borrowed from the DuBois and Barbara C. Nutt Children's Libraries. Use as many lines on the card as necessary to include your name and current phone number. The Libraries' collections represent the love and labor, and are the property, of the Eliot Chapel community. It is important that you help us keep our collection available and useable for everyone. The end of the church year is here! So please take a few moments to gather up and return any library books you have been enjoying for over a month

2004 Outreach Nominations
-- Lori Whiting (2004 Outreach Chairperson)

Each year, the Board of Trustees of Eliot Chapel allocates funds from its general operating budget for the Outreach Support Fund. The Social Action Committee recruits an Outreach Committee, representative of the church community, which researches and determines the recipients of the Outreach Support funds. The Eliot congregation is asked to submit applications on behalf of charitable organizations. Those organizations in which Eliot members/friends are involved are generally given preference and the approved candidates receive donations ranging from $150.00 to $400.00.

This year, thanks to the efforts of those involved, Eliot Chapel was able to distribute a total of $4,050.00 to the following charities:

• SPROG (Special Programs, Organizations and Groups)
• Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (MORCRC)
• The Peace Pantry
• SSDN: A Family & Community Organization (South Side Day Nursery)
• Good Shepherd School for Children
• Self Help Center
• Meacham Park Housing Ministry
• Interfaith Legal Services for Immigrations (ILSI)
• Great Rivers Environmental Law Center
• Citizens for Missouri's Children
• University City East., Inc.
• The Mitrata-Nepal Foundation - (OUEST/Mitrata-Nepal)
• Straight People Supporting Gay Marriage

This year's committee members are: Lorraine Langdon-Hull, Tim McIntyre, Anne Meneely, Becky Rauvola; and Nancy Rubin. Thanks to the committee members for their great work. I would also like to thank Eliot members and friends for continuing to support our involvement in the larger community and for inspiring generosity.

Please see the bulletin board for detailed information on the distribution of this year's Outreach Support Fund.

Religious Education News
-- Joan Casey, RE Director, , and the RE Committee

A final reminder for the last Eliot newsletter until July:

• We still have one fall teaching spot open for 10:45 Pre-kindergarten. Please call or email right away to sign up.
• If you'll be attending summer services with your children, be sure to register them (yellow forms available in church foyer, my office, or visitors' corner).
• If you want your children to participate in our Summer Camp experience, don't forget to register them no later than Jun. 30 (blue forms available in church foyer, my office, or visitors' corner).
• Teachers who didn't pick up their appreciation gifts should stop by my office as soon as possible to pick them up.
• I will be on vacation from Jun. 28 through Jul. 17. I will be back in my office Sun., Jul. 18 if you want to see the most recent photos of my grandchildren!

Have a wonderful summer.

Scrip Summer Sales

Scrip will be sold on Sun., Jul. 18 and Sun., Aug. 1. Please note that scrip will be sold only before the service, from 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. Please show up a bit early on those days, check in hand, to make this effort worthwhile for our tireless volunteers. Eat for Eliot!

Summer Services

Summer services begin on June 20, Father's Day, with one service at 10:00 a.m.

Where are You?

We will be preparing a new member/friend directory this summer. Please make sure that the office has your current address and phone number. Information change slips are available in Visitors' Corner, or email changes to , or call the office at (314) 821-0911.

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