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Inside This Issue

Our Whole Lives
-- Rev. Bonnie Vegiard, Program Minister

If you've had a junior high student in Eliot's program over the past ten years, you are probably familiar with the Our Whole Lives (OWL) curriculum. This is a values-based, abstinence-based sexuality education curriculum that we offer at the junior high level every other year. Youth and families have both found this program to be extremely valuable. I recently heard one youth encourage another to take OWL, saying, "My parents made me take it, and I'm so glad they did." Not words you hear every day from youth!

The program is intensive, requiring 6-7 Sunday afternoons (from noon-4:00 p.m.) and one lock-in (overnight at the church). We plan to offer it in Feb-March 2005.

We are in need of two adults - one male, one female - to facilitate this program. You will need to attend a weekend of training in the Chicago area. Training is offered in Sep. and Dec. Our previous OWL facilitators, Rachel Spann and Tim Gardner, are available for support.

What you need to be a facilitator:

• a belief that sexuality is a natural part of Our Whole Lives,
• a belief that youth need good information about sexuality in order to make good decisions,
• a willingness to learn how to communicate about these issues comfortably and openly.

Stewardship
-- Larry Ross, Stewardship Committee Chair

What does steardship mean for Eliot? It's the individuals who are entrusted to care for our church.

It's not just about money. It has a deeper meaning for us and the generations that will follow. For decades, this responsibility has been handed down from member to member, friend to friend. Now it's our turn to carry the torch. We are looking for your talent, energy and wisdom. Please contact me with your ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

Vote ...

With primaries and an election in the near future, many at Eliot are actively involved in political campaigns.This is a good thing! Please keep in mind that, because the IRS treats churches as not-for-profit corporations, Eliot Chapel can neither endorse nor be used to promote any individual candidate's campaign. Campaign materials cannot be distributed or left in the Chapel.

Please also keep in mind that not everyone at Eliot has the same political outlook; let's hope we all have a commitment to diversity of opinion.

Welcome!
-- Bob Coulter - June 6, 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 a nine week veteran of Eliot. Like many here, I landed at Eliot after being part of other religious communities. I grew up Catholic in Massachusetts, was active in the church as a teen and through college. For a while, I thought I might even become a priest, but…filled with young adult doubts, I drifted into liberal Protestantism - United Church of Christ - while I was teaching in Georgia. Church softball is big there, and even though we were a bunch of liberals, being in the Bible belt, we had our solemn home plate prayers with the other team, inviting Jesus to be close beside us as we played. It didn't help - neither one of us was very good in the field.

A brief tenure at an Episcopal school in Memphis led me to become a member while I was teaching there (number 3 for those keeping score...), and then I was essentially un-churched for about 12 years as I went back to Massachusetts for a doctoral program and then moved to St. Louis for another teaching job in 1996. I've since moved on to work for the Missouri Botanical Garden, but a former student of mine now plays in the Life Teen band at Immacolata's 5 o'clock mass, and about a year ago he invited me to watch him play. I enjoy listening to him and it got me back in a churchy sort of mode, but for a variety of reasons, it was one of those "right pew, wrong church" kind of feelings. I still watch him play when I can, but started looking for a spiritual home. I committed myself to Unitarian Universalism in general and Eliot in particular because here I don't have to do much in the way of mental gymnastics to fit my beliefs to formal creeds, and because the quality of the preaching and the sense of community here runs rings around other experiences I've had.

So, by hanging out in the back pews Sunday afternoons at a Catholic church more often than not, but being a member of Eliot, I suppose I'm carving out my own unique identity within "the uncommon denomination". This cross-cultural boundary leads well into the question of how to explain UUism to others. How do you tell your friends that despite what they may have thought, you're actually a Unitarian? It doesn't always lend itself well to sound byte answers, and often leads people to pray for you. If you keep a sense of humor, though, the banter can be fun. Along those lines, I picked up a joke from my former student's (conservative Catholic) father: "Why are there no Unitarian soccer teams? Because they can't agree on where the goal is…" I have a response for that, but I'll save it for the coffee and Coke time.

Here at Eliot, I've been impressed with how well we understand the goal, and how despite our differences in beliefs we find ways to respect and support each other in finding our paths to that goal. Thank you to all for your kind welcome of a new member.

Thank You, Eliot

We received the following note from the Dahlgren/Maguire family:

Thank you to all who welcomed our AFS daughter Anna Koronova this past year. Anna went home to Russia on Jun. 9. She graduated from Parkway South High School in May, but will finish one more year of high school in Russia before making decisions about her future.

Eliot was a joyful place for Anna, who appreciated your warmth and generous spirit. Thank you again for extending yourselves in welcome to Anna.

Our Sympathy

To Barry Rinderknecht, Susan Broyles and their family on the death of Barry's father.

Red Cross Blood Drive
-- Social Action Committee

Volunteers are needed to help with setting up and running the blood drive at Eliot Chapel on Nov. 7. Please contact Linda Polcyn if you would like to help. For all you blood donors, please put the date on your calendar and help with this worthy cause.

Help Plan an Environmental Issues Series

The Social Action Committee is planning a series on environmental issues for this church year. If you are interested in helping with the planning, please contact Helen McIntosh. Help can mean serving on the environmental subcommittee and/or being a resource for ideas, interests, and useful contacts in the St. Louis region.

Casting Call

The Not Ready for Reformation Players are preparing for the 2004 Madrigal, scheduled for Dec. 2, 3 and 4. This year's play will take place in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, will feature 10 speaking roles, and will require crew members to help with stage management, lighting, sound and other non-performance duties. If you are interested in a performance role, you are invited to attend a script reading tryout to be held in September. More details will follow.

Interested in any of the above and have any questions? Please contact Denise Maue Dreyfus.

Scrip Soiree

If you have been or are a volunteer in the scrip program, or if you think you might like to be one, please come to Adams Hall at 7 p.m. on Sunday evening, Aug. 15. We promise you delightful desserts and the unveiling of our new mail order scrip program, which will debut in the fall. There will be a little bit of training, so that scrip sales will run smoothly in the Fall; we hope all actual and potential volunteers in this valuable fundraiser will attend.

Meacham Park Housing Ministry

Coming this fall, there will be a continuation of the Saturday morning workdays in Meacham Park. The schedule is the first and third Saturday of the month from 9:00 a.m. to noon. No skills are necessary, just a willingness to work. You can sign up now by contacting Lee Streett.

Room at the Inn
-- Joan Clarke

Thank you to all the drivers, cooks, hosts, and launderers who have volunteered for Room At The Inn this summer. These last two weeks we have had our full allotment of guests so there is definitely a need for this program. Homelessness does not take a summer vacation.

We still need help in August - a second cook on Aug. 12 and 19, and a second host on Aug 19. Slots in September are wide open. If you haven't been getting to church this summer but you would like to volunteer, call the church office and ask Joy to add your name to the list. If you would like to help with the driving, contact Erv Steinberg or Jim Robinson.

The Singletarians Are Back!

Come and join the newly revived Singletarians group, which is open to all single Eliot members and friends (and friends of friends), for our first get together on Fri., Aug. 6.

We'll gather on the front steps of Eliot on at 6:00 p.m. and walk across the street to the Kirkwood Farmers' Market, where they will be having Midsummer Night's Merriment. The evening features live music, dinner specials, and great fun for all - weather permitting, of course. (If it gets rained out, just watch this newsletter for future events!)

Contact Linda Sennor Sue Lunnemann at 314-966-3742 if you have any questions.

What Floats Your Boat?

The Fun Committee's annual camping & float trip will be Sat. and Sun., Aug. 7 and 8. On Saturday, join us at Onondaga State Park in Leasburg for camping. For those who like to rough it in style, there are air conditioned cabins for rent just across the river at Ozark Outdoors. There is more to do than just s'mores around the campfire.Wineries abound in the Steelville area; there's even a golf course in Cuba.

Sunday, join us at Ozark Outdoors at 10:00 a.m. for a 4-hour "primitive" float down the Huzzah, Courtois, and Meramec Rivers. Please reserve your own canoe, raft, kayak, or tube - tell them you are part of the Eliot Chapel group.

It's summertime - and the floating is easy! For further information contact Lydia Hopkins.

Dining Out for Meacham Park

Take your friends and family to Kirkwood's Blue Water Grill on Wed., 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 the Meacham Park Ministry. For reservations please call (314) 821-5757.

Come Explore With Us

As part of our on-going process of becoming a welcoming church, the Welcoming Congregation Forum is pleased to announce three free workshops for this fall. The workshops will be held in Adams Hall from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Childcare will be available with prior reservation. The topics and dates are as follows:

• Sep. 12 - Introduction and Expectations
• Oct. 10 - What We Know and How We Learned It
• Nov. 14 - The Common Elements of Oppression

The purpose of these workshops is to provide a format for open dialog, exploration, and learning in a safe environment. So come explore with us. For further information, or to request childcare, please contact Lynn Murphy.

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., Aug. 17 - Memories of Summers Past - Sharing. Julie Triplett, Coordinator.

Tues., Sep. 7 - The Fire Escape is Locked for Your Safety: On the Road in the Former Soviet Union by Molly Baier. Barb Bloom, Leader.

Tues., Sep. 21 - To be announced.

Book Fair 2005

Beginning on Sun., July 31, the Library Committee and Women's Alliance will again welcome donated books. Donated items should be in saleable condition (no mildew or paperbacks with missing covers). Please, no magazines, periodicals, or outdated textbooks. No LPs until Feb. Items may be left in the DuBois Library any time the building is open. Thank you for your support.

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 library collections represent the love, 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.

Inventory of the two libraries is scheduled for Aug. 28. Please help us by returning all books before Aug. 14!

Religious Education News
-- Joan Casey, RE Director,

We still need one teacher for this fall for the 10:45 pre-kindergarten class. If you are uncomfortable with teaching RE to the older kids, this is a great non-threatening way to make a contribution to the success of Eliot's RE program. Please contact me at (314) 821-0911.

Music Notes
-- Jan Chamberlin, Music Director,

It will soon be that time again! Time to prepare music for a new church year. If you are new to Eliot Chapel, you may not realize our music program is composed almost entirely of volunteers. All the prelude musicians and the choir singers give of their time and talents as a way of enriching the services. We welcome new performers and thrive on variety. If you're not sure you're ready for a regular worship service, you can start out in the Children's Chapel, a Family Service, or a Coffee House.

The Chamber Choir and Chorale will begin with rehearsals on Sept. 8 and 11. We will sing through the music for the next three month's services. If you've thought about singing in choir, please take this opportunity to try us out. We have some fun things planned! We welcome singers of all levels and abilities. There's no audition, but please let me know if you are coming so I can have a folder for you.

If you're an instrumentalist or singer and want to be included in the prelude schedule, please let me know.

If you want to help start a children's choir, please contact me.

If you don't sing or play, but like music and want to help, we can use you in the sound booth or on the Music Committee! Please volunteer. We need you!

Keep cool! Have a safe rest of the summer.

Scrip Summer Sales

Scrip will be sold on Sun., Aug. 1. after the service, not before as previously announced. Please be there, check in hand. (Our thanks to all of you who set a record for purchases on July 18.)

There is no Joy ...

on Friday's. This is a friendly reminder that Joy Gorden works Sunday through Thursday. If you need to speak with Joy, particularly about arrangements for building use, please don't wait until the Friday before your weekend event. Thanks.

Good Home Seeks Lawnmower

If you have a working gasoline-powered lawnmower that is looking for a good home, Eliot's Buildings & Grounds Committee would be happy to adopt it. It would live safely and happily in the shed with other implements, and would enjoy occasional and non-strenuous outings on the Chapel grounds. Pick-up will gladly be arranged. Please call the office if we could take one off your hands. Thank you.

Lost & Found

We have accumulated a number of items of clothing. (You'd be surprised by how many people apparently have gone home without their shoes.) Please check the lost and found (the coat rack in Adams Hall.) Unclaimed items will be donated to charity at the end of August.

Voter Registration and Voter Information
-- Social Action Committee

If you need to update your voter 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.

Reverends' Summer Calendar

Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell is currently out of the office on vacation and study leave. He will be back in the office on a regular schedule Tues., Aug. 17, 2004.

Rev. Bonnie Vegiard is on vacation. She'll be back at Eliot for Summer Camp from Aug. 2 through Aug. 6, then on study leave from Sat., Aug. 7 through Sat., Aug. 21.

Summer Office Hours

During the months of June, July, and August, the chapel office will close at noon on Fridays. Other weekdays will remain unchanged with the office open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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