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Inside This Issue

Intern(al) Musings
- Jennifer DeBusk, Intern Minister

Word of the week: trust. I came to this based on a conversation I had with a small UU fellowship in Cape Girardeau (Rush Limbaugh's hometown) where I led a service last week. I began my sermon with a quote from Joseph Campbell. He said, "People say that what we're all seeking is a meaning for life. I think that what we're seeking is an experience of being alive."

I agree with Campbell. People want vitality and relevance in their faith. Many UUs leave traditional churches because these institutions don't speak to their needs - tradition without vitality, creeds that don't hold meaning. They come to our UU movement for a fresh, vital, intellectually and emotionally engaging experience of faith.

At the end of my sermon someone said, "I like the word trust rather than faith." I asked him to speak more to this issue. He said, "To me, faith suggests a set of beliefs that people must accept or reject in order to worship together. The word trust sounds more inclusive. It seems to offer a spirit of welcome regardless of one's beliefs."

Words do give shape to our thoughts and associations. Linguist George Lakoff studies words in framing political debates. This extends to religion, too. It is his contention that words create mental images and metaphors that influence how we vote, live, and believe. We lose elections, start wars, and choose life paths all on the basis of the way metaphor is being used to describe the world to us and what we accept as a framework.

So, take a moment to reflect on the associations you make between the words trust and faith. There are no right or wrong answers. Each of us has different life experiences that give meaning to our beliefs. Let us embrace the diversity of these beliefs in a life-giving spirit of fellowship.

Sing Your Way through GA
- Jan Chamberlin, Music Coordinator GA'06

We can all sing many of our favorite songs at GA in June just by showing up! All of the plenary or business sessions include a "song break" to relieve stress and stretch our legs. These will be led by music directors from all over the country who are members of the UU Musician's Network, (including Jan Chamberlin and Leon Burke).

Every day there is a worship service led by a different group or organization, each in their own style, but all with music and songs to sing. There are many workshops to choose from during the programming periods that include singing. If you want to be part of a choir, there are two options:
- GA Choir, which sings Sunday evening at the closing ceremony. To sing in GA Choir, you must register for GA, and attend every midday GA Choir rehearsal from Wed., Jun. 21- Sun., Jun. 25.
- Sunday Morning Choir, which will rehearse only before the service on Sun., Jun. 25. If you wish to sing in this group, notify Jan Chamberlin by May 21. You will be advised of the musical selections prior to rehearsal so you can learn the music ahead of time. The Sunday morning service is free and open to the public. You do not have to register for GA to attend or sing in this service.

I hope all UUs in the St. Louis area attend the Sunday morning service. This is a rare opportunity for us to experience the thrill of worship with thousands of like-minded people. Bring a guest!

Becoming a "Welcoming Congregation"
Another in a Series of Articles
- Lynn Murphy for the Welcoming Congregation Forum

Verse 5 from hymn #170 "We Are a Gentle, Angry People": We are gay and straight together and we are singing, singing for our lives. We are gay and straight together and we are singing, singing for our lives.

Often we have sung these words in a Sunday morning service. It is a powerful, moving song that affirms our Unitarian principles. The Welcoming Congregation Forum would like to see our congregation take this affirmation to the next level by becoming an official Welcoming Congregation.

In many ways we are already a welcoming congregation. Our membership includes bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgendered people who actively participate. Per the UUA, official recognition has the added benefit of allowing us to "open your church as a safe space for BGLT persons; to take positions on oppression in your larger communities; and to accomplish outreach." BGLT people need a place they can feel safe from physical and emotional harm. In Michael Getty's moving article in our last newsletter, he described how tentative he initially was. Until recently, I too have been tentative about being "out" at Eliot and feeling accepted by those who thought I was "straight". It is an issue BGLT people face. By being an official welcoming congregation, other BGLT people will know they are safe here.

Per the UUA, "Understanding leads to individual spiritual growth and to congregational unity…becoming a Welcoming Congregation will act as a catalyst to learning more about ourselves and to ending exclusion. Only when we are truly open to the wealth of diversity in our world will the inherent worth and dignity of every person be affirmed with a large voice."

UUA approval will mean that Eliot can then be recognized by other congregations nationwide as being officially welcoming. This, in turn, will benefit UUs seeking a welcoming church. There is something special about public recognition and acknowledging to the world the pride in an accomplishment.

Quoting the words of Paul Robeson (Reading #689), "Sorrow will one day turn to joy. All that breaks the heart and oppresses the soul will one day give place to peace and understanding and everyone will be free."

Please join us in supporting being an Official Welcoming Congregation.

Our Sympathy

To Jacqui Buchmiller on the death of her daughter.

Spring Work Party

This year's Spring Work Party will be on Sat., Apr. 22. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. The volunteers will be doing basic indoor and outdoor clean-up and fix-up chores around Eliot while consuming mountains of doughnuts.

Canned Foods Needed

The RE Department needs canned foods (please, no glass) for our annual Easter Day canned food hunt. Donations may be dropped off in Joan Casey's office by Apr. 9. The cans will be donated to a local food pantry after the Easter service. Thank you!

April Social Justice Projects

Celebrate Earth Day with Gateway Greening, an environmental nonprofit. Help transform neglected and abandoned lots in St. Louis into productive gardens and beautiful landscaped areas. We will be partnering with AmeriCorps' 3rd Annual St. Louis Serves Day on Sat., Apr. 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Volunteers will be making raised beds, loading and unloading soil and mulch, and planting flowers along downtown medians at Kiener Plaza.

And come join a fun and worthwhile social justice project with Habitat for Humanity on Sat., Apr. 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. when we will help build houses for low-income families in the Grand Center area

A donation of $5 per volunteer is requested. Lunch is provided.

To sign up, please contact Jennifer DeBusk at or (314) 821-0911.

Friday Flicks

The Friday Flicks group that has been viewing episodes of the Decalogue has moved to home viewing. For future dates and locations, contact Bob Coulter at .

Town Hall Meeting
- Gary Gray for the Constructive Engagement Team

Our next Town Hall Meeting will be Sun., Apr. 9 starting at noon and lasting about 90 minutes. There will be two set topics and time for open discussion. Approximately thirty minutes will be allotted for each set topic and for the open discussion. The first topic is Eliot becoming a Welcoming Congregation, which means we would be publicly welcoming to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. This subject has been before us for some time. The Welcoming Congregation Committee will make a short presentation followed by discussion. This is an opportunity to voice support, concerns, opinions, etc. It is expected that we will vote on becoming a Welcoming Congregation at the Annual Meeting on May 21.

The next topic is the need to make room for growth in attendance at our Sunday Services. After a short presentation by a member of the Board of Trustees, we will discuss the options and your opinions. Better distributing attendance between the first and second services is a short term option that could be readily implemented. Sharing our input with one another is important.

What's on your mind? That is the subject for the last thirty minutes. Come and speak out. We want to hear from you. Lively discussions make for strong congregations. Discussions will be facilitated by members of the Constructive Engagement Team.

Welcoming Congregation
Information Sessions

At the annual meeting in May, Eliot Chapel will vote on designating itself as a Welcoming Congregation. Two open meetings will be held to discuss what becoming a Welcoming Congregation means to Eliot:

Sun., Apr. 23, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 26, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Tiny Threads

Eliot member and nature photographer, Rick Walters, will present a slide show with commentary, "Seeing the Tiny Threads in the Web of Life", on Sun, April 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Rick's slides will show nature's tiny treasures that most of us walk by and never see. Bring the whole family to see photos of exotic-appearing backyard insects, spiders, mushrooms, and flowers and get ready to explore nature with a whole new level of seeing! Rick's photos have appeared in National Geographic, Audubon, Ranger Rick, and dozens of textbooks.

Men's Advance 2006

May 5, 6, and 7 is the weekend for Eliot men (Sensitive New Age Guys) to advance at Bergfried this year. Sign up on the lumber plank in the hallway to Adams Hall. Use your Vitronix to carve at least your initials.

Directions to and description of Bergfried are available on the web site. It's 76 miles from Eliot and takes 90 minutes. The entrance driveway at Bergfried now goes to the left, behind the small, green house at the top of the hill, at the steep grade sign.

Come on Friday for campfire camaraderie or arrive on Saturday for the oven baked pig dinner. The cost is $10, determined at the secret meeting on Mar. 4. There are no additional fees or charges. The activities are kept secret as is all the other "guy stuff". The campground has only primitive facilities, but you can get by with just money, beer, and cigars. Hardee's and Phillips 66 in Hermann are available for breakfast and lunch and the attached convenience store has all of life's necessities: jerky, chips, cigars, adult beverages and high-octane fuel.

Bring your Petersen's Field guides to weeds and wildflowers as we will be making identifications and creating charming bouquets. Final details, registration forms, and workshop information will be posted in the men's room. You should believe only about half of that information. For an explanation of which half, look for men wearing tan baseball caps with maroon visors. They know all the secrets.

Women's Weekend
- Lynn Murphy

Financial scholarships are available for any woman needing financial assistant to attend Women's Weekend Apr. 28-30.

On Sat., Apr. 29, there will be a coffeehouse at Camp Wyman during the Women's Weekend. We are seeking participants who would be interested in performing. All acts are welcome.

The registration deadline for Women's Weekend is Apr. 9.

Women's Alliance

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

Tue., Apr. 18 - Messages From My Father by Calvin Trillin, Book of the Year for Missouri. Leader - Dr. Katherine Nigro. Coordinator - Janie Fowler

Book Ends
- Adrienne Linden, Treasurer, Eliot Chapel Library

The Eliot Chapel Library Committee and Women's Alliance had another successful book fair. The total raised from 2006's sale was $5,400.80. The two committees split the profits which, after expenses, will be approximately $2,432 for each group.

With proceeds from this year's sale, and previous fundraising activities, the Library Committee has been able to purchase new books and necessary supplies to keep both the DuBois and Bobbi Nutt Children's libraries up to date. In addition, the Library Committee has provided financial support to Women's Weekend, purchased furniture for Adams Hall, and awarded scholarships to summer camps and educational programs.

We would like to thank all of the committee members, Eliot Staff, and the many volunteers who helped with this project. It takes hours and hours of preparation to sort books, price, advertise, set up, and staff the sale. We couldn't have done it without such generous support!

In a few months, we'll begin planning and organizing the 2007 Book Fair. When we're able to accept book donations, we'll make a special announcement. Until then, please hang on to your books, CDs, videotapes and DVDs. Thank you.

Needed: lifelong learners who want to make new friends and have new experiences at Eliot Chapel. People are needed to nurture our littlest folk, to learn about Unitarian Universalism, world religions and Bible stories, or talk about social justice issues with older children. The Religious Education department needs you to teach religious education and help make our program one that we can all claim proudly. Please stop by the Teacher Recruitment Table on Sunday or call me for more information. Thank you!

Music Notes
-- Jan Chamberlin, Music Director,

Coming up:
Apr. 9 - Flo Reaves and Sue Goldford will play duos for violin and piano by Antonin Dvorak. The 9:15 choir will sing Erev Shel Shoshanin, and the 10:45 choir will sing Ose Shalom.
Apr. 16 (Easter), three services at 9:15, 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. - preludes will be a flute ensemble playing Dawn Carol by Margaret Lowe. The choir will sing Now the Green Blade Riseth by Craig Coutney with 4-handed piano accompaniment.

Please Don't Tempt Fate

A few months ago, the Kirkwood police warned churches about thefts from parking lots. Recently, a wallet was stolen from a purse left unattended at Eliot. Please lock your vehicles, keep valuable items out of sight, and exercise reasonable care with your personal belongings while at church.

Parking

Now that the Farmers' Market is open for the summer, please do not use their parking spaces for church services or events during their business hours.

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