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Inside This Issue

Remembership
- Rev. Dr. Daniel O'Connell, Lead Minister

One of the pitfalls of a church of Eliot's size is that someone can drop out of church for a while and no one contacts them to see what's happening.

One of the advantages of our Eliot Covenant Groups is that you get a built in circle of support where you can share issues of ultimacy & intimacy with a group of like-minded people. But not everybody is in a Covenant Group, and with so much going on at Eliot, the ministers, staff, & lay leaders can miss out on who is not there. (Imagine a large room full of people - will everyone who isn't here please raise their hand?)

Of course, our feelings can get hurt because apparently nobody noticed we haven't been around for awhile. The ideal solution is that if something happens to keep you away from church - family issues, job issues, sickness, any reason at all - you contact us - a minister or lay leader, and let us know what's going on.

That works a lot of the time but not always. Sometimes folks are reluctant to share bad news or they got their feelings hurt and don't want to become vulnerable all over again by having to explain it to somebody.

As a minister, one of the horror stories that makes me wince is when someone says - why didn't you visit me in the hospital? When, of course, I had no idea they were there. This hasn't happened lately, but it is a possibility.

So how can we handle this better? In the March issue of the UUA Newsletter Interconnections is an article on forming a Remembership Committee. The concept was developed by our District Administrator, Carol Hosmer.

The idea is to call every member of the congregation 3-4 times during the year. The calls will have nothing to do with a request for money or services.

Here's what we're asking committee members to do:

• Attend a brief orientation after a Sunday service (to be announced)
• Make a one year commitment
• Call assigned list of names (from the directory) 3-4 times during the church year
• Be comfortable or at least not intimidated about making phone calls to members
• Report back to committee, church staff, etc. so that appropriate follow through will take place

Each call would be to check in to see how someone is doing, and to pass on information. We might also take the opportunity to remind folks of special celebrations, events, or meetings coming up on the Eliot calendar.

Other UU congregations who have formed this committee have had the following results:

• Folks were very surprised and pleased to receive this kind of call
• Members could feel that their presence and participation was truly appreciated and some were inspired to more fully engage in the life of the congregation

Is this something YOU might be interested in? Obviously, with 400 families at Eliot, this kind of project is much easier to accomplish with a lot of folks than with just a few. It is a way for you to make a caring contribution to Eliot Chapel, and it is a direct contribution to helping this church fulfill its mission.

I think a Remembership Committee could go a long way toward supporting Eliot

• As a true caring community in which members feel good about themselves and their participation no matter at what level.
• In assuring members that even if they have to be away from the community for a period of time that they are still cared about.
• By helping maintain and grow the membership rather than having new members coming in and others leaving by the back door because they don't feel connected.

To get this project off the ground, please call (314) 821-0911 or email ( ) the office and we'll mail you out a packet in late May.

Thanks for your consideration!

Proposed Bylaw Change
- Steven Bain for the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees recommends that the congregation approve a bylaw change concerning the structure and election of the Nominating Committee. A congregational vote on the new bylaw will be called at the annual congregational meeting on May 22, 2005.

The new bylaw increases the size of the Committee from 3 to 6. Under the new bylaw, the Committee will be elected by Chapel members by mail, from a list of names submitted directly by members. A copy of the proposed bylaw is posted on the bulletin board between the sanctuary and Adams Hall.

The Board of Trustees thinks we should raise the profile of this important committee. Also, by making the nominating process more democratic, we believe we can bring a wider cross-section of our members into leadership roles, enriching governance and church life for all of us. The Board recommends a "YES" vote on the new bylaw.

Mother's Day Flower Communion Service

Remember to bring a flower to share on May 8, for our Flower Communion service. Each member of the congregation brings a flower, which are then collected and re-distributed as part of the service. We'll hear more about the origins of Flower Communion during the service.

Also, with apologies for the late notice, also remember that we often do Child Dedication Ceremonies during the Mother's Day service on May 8. If you wish your children to participate, please contact Rev. Bonnie Vegiard at (314) 821-0911.

Welcome!

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. Here is Steven Bain's from April 17, 2005:

For me, spiritual matters are no more than human intellect and human emotion applied to the subjects that mean the very most to us - the values and assumptions and loves that guide us and lead us through life. So I would like to talk a little about what Eliot Chapel and being a Unitarian Universalist have meant for my head and my heart.

Intellectually, I have been challenged here - and challenged by the Unitarian Universalist Association as well - to work on determining just what my ultimate concerns are - my highest values. I have been allowed to share my deepest thoughts on the topics most important to me. I've had the excitement of hearing the remarkable thoughts of others on these topics - through sermons, lay-led summer services, and just talking about religion. I've worked on how I can make the world a better place and myself a better person for my family.

And, my heart has been touched by many here - by those a generation older than I am, by those a generation younger, and now two generations younger, whom I've met teaching Sunday School and through the secret pal program. I've forged strong bonds with those in my covenant group for small group ministry, as we meet once a month and explore ideas, feelings, God, death. I've forged strong bonds with members of committees I've served on - I've felt friendship, respect, and love like within a family. Our annual men's weekend retreat has made me a brother to many - we get to know each other in ways that men are seldom afforded.

In short, this congregation has been unique in my experience. There is nowhere other than in a Unitarian Universalist congregation where these things could happen for me.

As I begin to think about my earthly legacy - what I will have done to leave the world better than when I came into it - one conclusion I reach is that I should do all I can to preserve, nurture and promote Eliot Unitarian Chapel and our free Unitarian Universalist movement. This place - this free religion - is important.

Many of us have worked on an "elevator speech" - what can you say during the length of an elevator ride to someone who asks you, "What do Unitarians believe?" I always begin by quoting something I heard at Eliot Chapel: "We can believe anything that's true." That's not enough for the elevator speech - but it's a statement I've been thinking about for ten years.

Our Sympathies

To George Davis and his family on the death of his wife Sandy

To Carol Jo Mack and her family on the death of her father.

From the Board: Strategic Planning Task Force Update

This is the third in a series of articles on Eliot Unitarian Chapel's Strategic Plan. This article focuses on the second two of the six Strategic Goals we have derived from our congregation's expression of their vision for the church.

The plan is intended to provide focus and direction that will assure we fulfill our Mission: "Eliot Chapel, a Unitarian Universalist community, gathers to foster free religious thought, nurture spiritual growth, and act for social justice. "

Goals three and four are focused on the involvement and education of Eliot members and friends.

• Strategic Goal #3: We will create a communication culture that fosters greater individual involvement and participation in a wider variety of Eliot Unitarian Chapel's activities.
  Objective: Improve and enhance connection to, and interaction with, visitors and new members.
  Objective: Support efforts of the membership committee to attract/retain members.
  Objective: Permanently fund the regular production and mailing of the newsletter as part of our yearly budget for communication.
  Objective: Conduct regular Town Hall meetings to reinforce our communications culture.
  
  
• Strategic Goal #4: We will broaden the scope of, and increase emphasis on, education at Eliot Unitarian Chapel.
  Objective: Continue to foster an educational program that addresses members of all ages, and that develops programs welcoming the outside community and promoting our church as a tolerant, liberal, and accepting spiritual home.
  Objective: Support the current Religious Education program to maintain existing excellence.
  Objective: Strengthen and expand adult education.
  Objective: Increase awareness of the historical connection, shared values, and the mutual benefits of association between Eliot Unitarian Chapel and the UUA.

A member of the Strategic Planning Task Force will be available after each service on May 8 to answer any questions you may have. You may also contact a member of the task force directly at any time.

Boyd Jones
Jan Erdman
Jim Lyon
Mary Quinn

Eliot Chapel"50/50" Spring Fundraiser
Please see complete rules on the bulletin boards or at the ticket sales table.

It's back! The rules are basically the same, but to try for greater participation, we'll be offering more tickets at half the price. We are counting on this fundraiser for this year's operating budget. Take a chance on a big reward at great odds, and help Eliot Chapel at the same time!

And if you are opposed to gambling or opposed to gambling in church, buy a ticket in Eliot's name (instead of your own.) Your ticket purchase then will be tax-deductible, and, if your ticket is a winner, Eliot Chapel will receive your entire prize.

200 tickets will be offered for sale at $50 each. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis, for cash or check only. Tickets may be purchased in Adams Hall after both services on Sundays, Apr. 24, May 1, and May 8, 2005, as long as unsold tickets are available, but in no event after May 8, 2005. Four (4) winning tickets will be drawn on Sun., May 8. You need not be present to win.

One half (50%) of the amount collected for ticket sales will accrue to Eliot Chapel's Operating Budget, and one half (50%) will be distributed among the winners. If all tickets are sold, the amount to be collected will be $10,000 and the winners, in total, will receive 50% or $5,000. The $5,000 will be distributed as:

If fewer than 200 tickets are sold, 50% of proceeds collected will be paid to Eliot Chapel's Operating Budget and 50% will be distributed proportionally to the winners.

Why We Must Make A Difference
- Bill Clarke

Most government housing subsidies go to the highest income households, not the lowest. According to the White House's OMB, one federal subsidy for homeowners - the mortgage interest deduction - will cost the federal treasury almost $70 billion in 2005. That is twice the cost of the entire annual budget for affordable housing programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Room At The Inn, even in its small way, is providing big assistance to those who need someone that wants to make a difference.

The summer is approaching and we must get our RATI volunteer program organized before the last service in June. Please check your calendars over the next few weeks and volunteer when you can to assist in hosting, cooking, driving and laundry. The sign-up sheets for May thru September are posted on the bulletin board in the hallway leading into Adams Hall. We will have a sign-up table after each service on May 15 and June 5. Make A Difference - Volunteer!

Spring Work Party

This year's Spring Work Party will be on Sat., May 14 beginning at 8:00 a.m. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. The volunteers will be doing basic indoor and outdoor clean-up and fix-up chores around Eliot. Please contact Joy at (314) 821-0911.

May's Meal-A-Month
- Alicia Boelhauf

Providing a Meal-A-Month can be a small act that produces big results. For many St. Louis families, a visit to the food pantry at Hosea House, in south city, can be the difference between getting through a temporary crisis, and facing the experience of homelessness. The following recipe costs about $4.00:

Tomato-Alfredo Spaghetti

1 box whole-wheat spaghetti 1 small can of diced tomatoes 1 packet of dry alfredo sauce (found in pasta sauce isle)

Share your table's bounty and sponsor a family through Meal-A-Month!

Want to Lead a Sunday Service?
- Jane Larson,

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! Some dates are already spoken for! Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks!
- Irmgard Voss, Chair of Library Committee

The Library Committee thanks everyone who donated books and helped with the Book Fair in March, 2005

Women' Alliance and the Library Committee share the proceeds of $5,296.88.

Anyone interested in joining the Library Committee is welcome.

Women's Alliance

We meet on the first, third, and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. in Adams Hall.

Welcoming Workshop
- Lynn Murphy for the Welcoming Congregation Committee

The Welcoming Congregation Forum invites you to attend our last workshop for the 2004 - 2005 church year. The topic will be "Contributions of Gays and Lesbians." It will be held in Adams Hall on May 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Please join our presentation and discussion on this topic. Refreshments will be served. For further information, please contact Lynn Murphy.

As this first year of our efforts comes to a close, we want to thank those who have attended our workshops and our movies. We greatly appreciate your support of our efforts to be a more welcoming congregation. Hope to see you at our workshop on May 15. We extend to everyone our wishes for a good summer. See you in the fall.

You're Invited…
- The Art 4 U Committee

There will be a reception honoring the artists who participated in hanging their work in Adams Hall this year. Please join us after the second service in Adams Hall on May 15. Refreshments will be served.

Memorial Concert

On Mon., May 16 at 7:30 [8:00] p.m., there will be a free concert in loving memory of Mary Mottl. It will take place at Christ Church Cathedral at 1210 Locust St. in downtown St. Louis; all are welcome.

Violin virtuoso and veteran at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Darwyn Apple will present pieces by Vitali, Strauss, Schubert, Brahms, and Franck. He will be accompanied by pianists Barbara Liberman, Peter Henderson, Pat Partridge, Robert Ray, and Alla Voskoboynikova.

Music lovers will recall that Mary Mottl frequently accompanied Darwyn. All of the fabulous musicians in this program want to pay tribute to the memory of their colleague and dear friend, Mary Mottl, a longtime member of Eliot Chapel.

Lights, Camera …. AUCTION!

Your spring-cleaning can help Eliot. Eliot will be gathering garage sale items for auction on eBay, with 100% of proceeds to benefit Eliot Chapel.

How will it work?

• Bring items to church on Sun., May 15 or May 22.
• A private company, Bidzooka, will do all the work to get items photographed and listed on eBay for auction, and will collect the proceeds.
• Eliot will receive the amount received from eBay; Bidzooka will not deduct commissions.
• If requested, donor will receive a receipt for tax purposes.

What items can be donated?

• Items must have an expected sale value of at least $50
• Items must meet eBay regulations (no liquids, no flammables, no weapons other than antiques/collectibles, no adult material, etc.)
• Item must meet UPS shipping regulations
• Examples of items that sell for good prices on eBay:
  • Old watches, home electronics, business equipment (laptops, binding machines, etc.), cameras - working or not!
  • Rare coins and collectibles (dolls, jewelry, etc.)
  • Golf clubs and some other sporting or outdoor equipment
  • Auto parts, musical instruments, vintage or quality clothing
• Keep in mind that eBay is a national auction, and the buyer pays for shipping, thus large or heavy items, unless rare and/or valuable, are not a good idea.

More information is on the flyers on the bulletin board. If you are uncertain whether a possible donation is appropriate, please call Bidzooka at (314) 831-8644. Please be generous in our drive to cover Eliot's deficit.

May 22 New Member Recognition
- The Membership Committee

If you signed Eliot Chapel's membership book this church year (between July 1, 2004 and now), we invite you to be recognized at either service on Sun., May 22, receive a welcome and a flower. New members, please RSVP to Claire Robertson, Membership Chair, by email to with your name(s) and which service you'll be attending. We invite the congregation to share in this important recognition.

"Leaving Children Behind: The Untold Story behind the Federal No Child Left Behind Law."
- Presented by the Social Action Committee

No Child Left Behind (NCLB), signed into law in 2002, purports to improve public schools by enforcing a system of standards and accountability through high-stakes testing and sanctions. It is radically affecting the life of schools around the country. Far from improving public schools and increasing the ability of the system to serve poor and minority children, the law is doing exactly the opposite.

Educator and activist Peter Campbell offers a presentation and discussion on what is wrong with NCLB, and where we can go from here. The program will be held on Thu., May 26 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 001.

Peter Campbell is the Lead Instructional Designer at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He is the Missouri volunteer coordinator for the Assessment Reform Network (ARN), a division of FairTest, The National Center for Fair and Open Testing. As a concerned educator, Peter is alarmed about the direction that public schools have taken under NCLB and is committed to finding alternative solutions to solve the educational achievement gap.

Bridge, Anyone?

This month's open bridge game for singles and couples is Sat., May 28, at 7:00 p.m. We will play in Adams Hall. Please contact Sue Webster by Sunday before the game if you are planning to play.

There will also be a game in June on the 25th. Remember to mark both dates on your calendars.

Or How About Poker?

Join Rev. Daniel and other Eliot "card sharks" on May 12, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Children's Chapel for a few hands of poker. Please email Daniel ( ) by Tue., May 10 if you are planning to play.

A Scholarship Program For The Students of Mitresti
- The Partner Church Committee

[See the Scholarship Program For The Students of Mitresti]

RE News
-- Joan Casey, RE Director,

Good news - Eliot Chapel Summer Camp 2005 is coming the first full week in August, (Aug. 1 - 5). As you know, each summer we alternate world religions with the Jewish or Christian Scriptures. This year's theme is "Stories Jesus Told." We will begin passing out registration forms on Mother's Day, May 8. Registrations are due by Jun. 19, so get your forms in as soon as possible. The fee is only $35 per child.

Also on Mother's Day, we'll start passing out Summer RE registration forms. If you plan to attend summer services, beginning on June 19 with the intergenerational Father's Day service, please register your children. We will offer three classes each week: nursery for children 2 ˝ and younger (or who are not potty trained yet); a preschool level class; and the multi-age class for children entering Kindergarten and up. The theme in the oldest class this year is Native American Spirituality. On Father's Day, July 3, and September 4, we will offer childcare for children not registered for Summer RE.

Finally, we'd like to thank our own brilliant Jim Hunstein for his lively teacher recruitment songs and the many kind volunteers who got up and performed them. And of course, we'd like to thank all the wonderful folk who have signed up to teach next year. We've made a good start, but we still have many, many slots to fill before we can have RE next year. Please consider signing up to teach one of these fall classes: at 9:15, Intermediate (2 -3 year olds) or Kindergarten and at 10:45, Intermediate or Pre-kindergarten. If fall simply won't work for you, we have lots of spring slots available as well. To sign up or obtain more information, please contact at Eliot Chapel or .

Thanks!

Music Notes
-- Jan Chamberlin, Music Director,

Coming up:

Leon Goes to Africa!

Dr. Leon Burke III, Eliot Choir Director, has been invited to conduct a music festival in Lagos, Nigeria. From May 21-29 he will be leading orchestras from Ghana and Nigeria in celebrating the 100th birthday of the African composer, Fela Sowanda. We wish Leon a safe and successful trip!

How's the Music?

The Music Committee will be conducting a survey of the congregation to assist in planning Sunday service music, and to update the Musician's Directory.

We have a unique musical situation at Eliot Chapel, and we want to be sure we meet the congregation's musical needs. Music is a personal artistic expression, as close to the divine as many of us can get.

We minister to each other both by creating it and by listening to it. We have always encouraged that a wide variety of styles be used in worship, which resonates with our first principle. Please give some thought to your experiences and participate in the survey. We want to hear from everyone. Thanks!

Pet Etiquette

Our annual Memorial Day Animal Blessing Service will be held on May 29, at 10:00 a.m. (one service only.)

Please do not assume that all animals enjoy one another's company or that all people want your pet near them. The balcony will be reserved for people who want to enjoy the service but do not want to sit with the animals.

The following guidelines have been established to make this an enjoyable experience for all.

• Be in control of your pet at all times.
• Dogs must be leashed and all other animals must be in appropriate carriers.
• Walk your dog outdoors before entering the sanctuary.
• Inside the sanctuary, sit with dogs on the south side, cats on the north side, other animals center.
• Please clean up after your pet both inside and outside the sanctuary.

Protecting Your Privacy

As a general policy, in order to protect the privacy of our Members and Friends, Eliot Chapel staff no longer gives out non-staff phone numbers or addresses over the phone. Eliot Members and friends are encouraged to get a phone directory from the church office during regular hours if they don't already have one.

Pledge Statements

Although Eliot's fiscal year does not end until Jun. 30, pledge statements will be sent the first week of June to enable those who have unpaid balances to know how much is remaining.

What Year Is It?

We are now at the time of year when some people are paying this year's pledge and others are starting to pay next year's pledge. Eliot's current fiscal year (2004-2005) runs from July to June. On July 1, 2005 we begin the 2005-2006 fiscal year.

In order that we may apply pledge payments correctly, please indicate in the memo line of your check whether your payment should be applied to the (current) 04-05 year or the (next) 05-06 year - or to the remaining year of the three-year capital campaign. Or, if the fiscal year is too confusing or you have more important things to remember, please simply note in the memo line the month(s) covered by your pledge payment, and we'll figure it out. Thanks.

Committee Expenses

As we get ready to end the fiscal year, please ensure that any requests for reimbursement are submitted for any outstanding expense. As a reminder, check request forms are in the black boxes on Joy's or JoAnn's door. Receipts must be attached and the request must be signed by an authorized signer (usually the chair of the committee for which the expense was incurred.)

Committees

If your committee or group will continue to meet throughout the summer, please ensure that the office is aware of this. Otherwise, we assume meetings are suspended.

Please submit room request forms for any special events planned for next year. We allow outside groups to book space starting in June.

Summer Services

Summer services begin on June 19, Father's Day, with one service at 10:00 a.m.

Newsletter Deadlines

Don't forget that during the summer we only publish two newsletters. If you have summer events you want to publicize, make sure to get the articles in by the deadline.

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