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Inside This Issue

Strategic Planning Task Force Update

This is the last of a series of articles devoted to the six Strategic Goals we have derived from our congregation's shared vision for Eliot. We adopt these goals in support of our stated Mission: "Eliot Chapel, a Unitarian Universalist community, gathers to foster free religious thought, nurture spiritual growth, and act for social justice."

• Strategic Goal #5: We will have safe, attractive and effective facilities to support all the activities carried on at Eliot Unitarian Chapel, and to provide for future needs caused by growth and new programs. Base all planning on the assumptions that Eliot Unitarian Chapel will stay at the Argonne location, the existing sanctuary will remain, and Bergfried will not be sold.
  Objective: We will ensure the integrity of the Eliot Unitarian Chapel's physical plant and grounds, as well as the Bergfried property.
  Objective: Build the memorial garden.
  Objective: Develop a plan to assure that our facility will serve the congregation for the foreseeable future, while allowing for expected growth.
  Objective: Create a significant building fund to support long-term capital improvements. The fund should be designed to grow by at least 10% of the annual budget per year until it equals the annual budget.
  
  
• Strategic Goal #6: We will support, nurture and enhance the spiritual growth of all friends and members of Eliot Unitarian Chapel.
  Objective: Continue and enhance our outstanding Music program.
  Objective: Establish a process that provides frequent dialogue opportunities with our ministers about spiritual issues.
  Objective: Support and promote topic diversity in the summer services and in the study of world religions.
  Objective: Invite knowledgeable, high profile speakers from different religions, spiritual backgrounds, and cultures to speak from our pulpit on a regular basis.
  Objective: Deepen our religious experience through identification of shared Unitarian Universalist moral values.

Questions? Call or email:

Boyd Jones
Jan Erdman
Jim Lyon
Mary Quinn

Eliot Express

As you read this, our 2005-06 Pledge Campaign, the Eliot Express, will be drawing to a close. Thanks to everyone who pledged. If our hardworking canvassers failed to contact you or there has been some other reason keeping you from finalizing your pledge, please contact JoAnn Stephan, our Administrator at (314) 821-0911.

Clint Blandford
Clint Blandford and his wife, Susan, have been members of Eliot Chapel since 1984. Clint has been actively involved with the Partner Church Committee since the late 1990s. He also serves as the central Midwest "networker" for the national UU Partner Church Committee. Clint will be retiring in June from the Lindbergh School District, where he has worked for the last 33 years. He is currently the district's Director of Curriculum. He is looking forward to having more time to read and travel. Clint and Sue have two children: Drew, 24, is a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras and Jessie, 21, is a junior at DePauw University.

Barbara Bleisch
Barbara Bleisch and her children have been attending Eliot Chapel for around eight years. Barbara has taught RE at the nursery, intermediate, first grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, and senior high level, and is continuing as a senior high advisor for next year. She volunteers as a dishwasher at the Madrigal dinners, and has been a GATE partner and a Secret Pal. Barbara is a partner in the law firm of Hartstein & Bleisch, P.C., where she practices immigration law, defense in civil trials, and appeals. Barbara is married to Dennis Klein (who attends Catholic mass alone on Sundays), and has three children: Ivan is finishing his freshman year at Oberlin College in Ohio, Misha is a sophomore at Parkway South High School, and Emily is in the third grade in the PEGS program at Truman Elementary. In her spare time, Barbara enjoys Balkan folk dancing and music, and foreign languages.

Ann Petlin
Ann Petlin has been a member of Eliot since 1997. She has been a Sunday usher/greeter for most of her time at Eliot. She helped plan Women's Weekend for three years in a row and was on the Program Council in 2003-04. Ann is a regular purchaser and occasional seller of scrip - one of the easiest ways to support Eliot. She helps Room At The Inn by driving on Friday mornings. She volunteers for table setup and serving dinner at the holiday Madrigal. In her work life, Ann is a clinical nurse specialist in cardiothoracic surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Both she and her husband, Dee Hodge, are avid bicyclists. They live with their three cats in Des Peres. Ann and Dee grew up in California, but have found that Eliot Chapel has helped them now call the Midwest their home.

Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence and his wife, Carol Moreland, have been members of Eliot Chapel for 10 years. Steve has worked on the Music Committee, and has been a member of the Chamber Choir for several years. Steve is Chief Financial Officer of Touchette Regional Hospital in Illinois. Steve and Carol have two sons, Blake 17, a junior, and Ross 14, finishing eighth grade. In his spare time, Steve enjoys working out, playing baseball, and his Covenant Group.

Welcome, New Members
- Claire Robertson, Membership Chair

We welcome to membership in Eliot Chapel Angela Cook and Stephen Greene who signed the membership book on May 1 after being among us as friends for several years. We're so happy to have you as members. So happy to have you as members!

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 Jim Hunstein's from March 24, 2005:

I've been giving time and money to Eliot Chapel since way back before the turn of the century. In a much larger sense, I've been coming here all my life since I was baptized right here as a baby when this building was still Grace Episcopal Church.

Actually, I'm here under somewhat false pretenses. When our kids were small, I was looking for a new church that would provide many of the same things everyone wants: spirituality, connectedness, sense of community, free coffee. So a buddy suggested Eliot. "It's Unitarian," he said. "What's that?" I asked. "Well, it's sort of like religion light." "Perfect!"

It was a lie. Not a malicious lie, of course. More like one of those, "C'mon! Jump in. Nah, the water's not c-c-cold" lies. So I stuck a toe in, liked it, and took the plunge. It was great, invigorating. But it isn't religion light. It's not always an easy Sunday stroll. As it says on the back of your order of service, we welcome all seekers of truth and you, the people, have the responsibility of testing what you hear. Does that sound like anything "light" to you? But it's worth it. Ralph Waldo Emerson says that nothing worthwhile is ever accomplished without effort and nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

I've been enthusiastically involved with Religious Education at Eliot, particularly with GATE, a wonderful program where 6th graders are teamed up with adult partners so the kids can see how all the principles and values they learn through the years are actually put into practice. The funny thing is, the adults often come out as enlightened as the children.

It creates faith in the next generation, it renews faith in ourselves, and it affirms faith in the family that is Eliot Chapel. Faith is very much like energy and love; the more you share, the more you get back.

This is definitely a church of - and for - open minds, and when you come in on Sunday morning knowing you'll hear something new, your mind can't help but expand. Oliver Wendell Holmes said that a mind stretched by a new idea can never go back to its original shape. Because invariably you learn something new about yourself. To me, that's what true spirituality is all about.

So I won't lie to you. C'mon! Jump in! The water's great.

Men's Advance

This year's weekend was crisp with clear days and cold nights as the temperature dropped to the freezing point. We stayed dry (after Friday) and found the night air to be more than delightfully cool. Three dozen men from age 8 to 80 attended the event and participated in the workshops. We split wood, gathered mushrooms, cleaned gutters, howled at the moon, and heard coyotes answer. It was too chilly for the usual dancing, but there was a sing-along, Morris chair dancing, and we searched for meaning. An "unstructured" time was had by all. Plan now to attend next year on May 5 through 7, 2006, which is the latest, and hopefully warmest time, the ceremony has occurred.

Eliot Winds

Are you interested in playing in a woodwind quintet? The Eliot Winds needs a flute player and a clarinet player. We try to meet for practice every other week and we have performed at Emerson Chapel as well as here at Eliot. If we regroup soon, we hope to play at summer services. If you're interested in joining us or have any questions, please contact Amy Endrizal at .

Thank You
- Bill and Joan Clarke

This week we would like to say a special thank you to those who have volunteered to host for Room At The Inn in the last year. Many of these people have volunteered repeatedly, as much as once a month (Chris Bowland, Margie Maclin). Others have hosted many times throughout the year (Pat and Gary Gray, Lori Kessler, Dave Roundy, Mary Taylor, Dot Brownfield, Morgann Reilly, Tim Nicholson, Diane Carlile, Glenna Powell, Paul Dribin, Scott Marshall). And we couldn't do it without the rest of you - Doris Yohe; Helen McIntosh; Marcia, Ben, and Kyle McIntyre; Annie Henderson; Mary Lu Durbin; Georgie Herz; Tamara Priese; Nancy Pawol; Marilyn Fallert; and Alicia Boelhauf. We are also grateful to the covenant groups who volunteer for all the duties for a week.

We are trying to fill the slots for the summer months, before people start going away on vacations, so please check you calendar and add your name to the sign up sheets on the bulletin board.

Help Families Rebuild

If you enjoy being with children and helping families rebuild their lives, consider joining the volunteers of St. Martha's Hall Women's Shelter, located near the Central West End. The commitment of 2 hours a month makes a big impact in the future of St. Louis city families. The next training to become a St. Martha's Hall volunteer is on Tue., Jun. 7, from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Once you have completed the training you can set your own schedule choosing one Tuesday (or more) a month (from 6:15 - 8:30 pm) to play with and care for the children living in the shelter. Contact Kimberly Perry, of First Unitarian Church (314) 863-0113, with any questions.

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

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.

Animal Blessing Service

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.

Well-mannered pets are welcome. 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 house trained.
• Dogs must be leashed and under the control of an adult at all times; 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.

Courage Every Day

Everyday Courage, Courage Every Day is a support and coping-strategies group for people dealing with terminal or serious chronic illnesses. We meet the first Wednesday of each month, with some open sharing time followed by a discussion topic. The next meeting is Jun. 1, at 7:00 p.m. in the Library. We will continue to meet throughout the summer. For more information, please contact Rev. Bonnie or Tim Gardner.

Eliot Bible Study

The next meeting of the Eliot Bible Study will be Mon., Jun. 6, at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall. Rev. Bonnie Vegiard will lead a comparison of common material from the Gospel of Thomas and the Q source for the New Testament Gospels. Both the Gospel of Thomas and the Lost Sayings Gospel Q are available on the web at http://www.earlychristianwritings.com. Rev. Vegiard also has a lengthy scholarly article comparing this material, which is available for the cost of copying. Both Thomas and Q are collections of Jesus' teachings with little or no narrative. Both are thought to be among the very earliest of Christian literature. All are welcome to the Bible Study. If you have not attended before and plan to come, it will be helpful (but not required) to let Bonnie know in advance. We plan to continue the Bible Study next year on a monthly basis, lead by Rev. Vegiard, Rev. Dick Haynes, Susan Maginn, and others.

Picnic

The FUN Committee has changed the date of the Annual Picnic to Sunday, June 12. The picnic will be in Kirkwood Part at sites 14-15-16 and will begin after the second service; the Ballgame will follow at 2:00 p.m.

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. It is important that you help us keep our collection available and useable for everyone. We will be doing our annual inventory May 21, and the end of the church year will be here soon! So please, take a few moments to gather up and return any library books you have been enjoying for over a month or more!

The next meeting of the Library Committee will be Sun., Aug. 21, at 9:30 a.m. We will discuss the Charter and hold the Election of Officers.

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.

Tue., May 24 - Spring Luncheon at Adams Hall. Box lunches will be ordrered for those attending. For reservations, please contact Judy Garland.
Tue., Jun. 7 - The #1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. Leader - Julie Triplett.

Book Fair 2006

Please hold all Book Fair donations until Jul. 3, 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.

Social Action Survey

The Social Action Committee is planning its program for next year. In order to better serve the congregation, we would like your input. Please fill it out the questionnaire and return it by the end of May. There will be a questionnaire collection box on the cabinet in the lobby behind the sanctuary on Sunday mornings and a box in Visitors' Corner near the coat rack in Adams Hall. [If you don't have Microsoft Word to read the questionnaire, download the free Word Viewer from Microsoft.]

We are also looking for more people to participate in the Social Action Committee planning. If you are interested in helping organize a project or otherwise serving on the committee, please supply your contact information.

Partner Church Scholarship Drive
- Sue Blandford

If you did not have the opportunity to donate to the Partner Church Scholarship Drive, it's not too late.

[See the Scholarship Program For The Students of Mitresti]

RE News
-- Joan Casey, RE Director,

"A Night in Nepal" was an amazing success thanks to all of the hard working GATE partners and the many people who bought tickets and attended the event. Between ticket sales and donut/bagel sales, the GATE partners were able to donate $1,428 to the Mitrata-Nepal orphanage. As you can well imagine, that amount of money will go a long way in Katmandu. Special thanks goes to Tracy Drissell, for organizing and completely overseeing the crafts and communication for the event, and Nancy Williger, who acted as liaison between us and the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation as well as creating the culture station. It was a real thrill to see how many people attended and enjoyed the event.

As for other business in the RE department, we are still looking for fall teachers. Please consider signing up for either our 9:15 Kindergarten class or take one of the two remaining 10:45 Pre-Kindergarten slots. Please contact immediately to help out. If fall simply won't work for you, we still have about 25 slots open in the spring. So don't be shy; sign up today.

Finally, we would like to have an original piece of children's artwork on the cover of the Father's Day order of service. Drawings should be in black and white (but with no heavy dark places - that gums up our copy machine!) and the size of an order of service cover (5x8 inches). Please forward your submissions to me no later than June 5. One submission will appear on the June 19 order of service. All others will be displayed on the bulletin boards. .

Thanks!

Youth Group News

Sr. Youth Group members went to Brookfield, WI for a youth conference on Apr. 29. They did workshops and had about 12 social action projects to choose from. Some youth promoted a future walk to end family violence while others went to various group homes and cleaned, or went to not for profit resale shops to help sort clothes. On May 14, the Sr. Youth Group is going to participate in a food drive in Creve Coeur hosted by the Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls. On May 21 there will be a St. Louis Youth con at First Church which many of the Eliot youth are helping to organize. This will give UU youth in the area a chance to get to know each other.

Jr. Youth News - Some parents and youth from the Jr. Youth Group got together on May 1 to talk about the curriculum for next year, Neighboring Faiths, and to plan fabulous social activities and social action for the Jr. Youth next year. There will be a Jr. Youth/GATE lock-in on May 20, welcoming the 6th graders into the youth group.

Music Notes
-- Jan Chamberlin, Music Director,

Cuban Party: Thu. May 26, at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall (free). What's it like to travel to Cuba? How many Unitarians will you find there? What is the political climate REALLY like? Join us in welcoming our special guests from First Unitarian of Portland, Oregon, Mark and Carol Slegers, who have taken their choir to Cuba. We'll have music, refreshments, and a video. Bring your friends! Sponsored by the Music Committee.

Coming up:

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.

Over the next few months, people will be completing this year's (2004-5) pledge and others have started paying next year's (2005-6). We thank you for indicating the pledge year - or month - in the memo line of your checks, so that we may apply your payments correctly.

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.

Summer Services

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

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