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Inside This Issue

Memorial Garden Dedication

Yes, it is finally here! Most of us don't remember the various proposals and opinions that have been floated over the years. And even now, many of the on-going policies are still being finalized.

But the Memorial Garden exists, and it is time to celebrate! We will hold a brief Dedication Ceremony on June 11, in between the services, about 10:40 (remember services are 9:30 and 11:00 on June 4 and 11). We will dedicate the garden and entrust the cremains of Alan Steinman and Harriet Pinkerton to the earth.

Our deep thanks to all who worked on the Memorial Garden project over the years. Thanks especially to Marge Bergfeld for landscaping, Brent Vaughn for constructing the bench, and the April 22 Work Party and Building and Grounds Committee for constructing the path.

Intern(al) Musings
- Jennifer DeBusk, Intern Minister

I have found that growing into ministry is a lot like adolescence. The clothes fit funny and the voice keeps changing. I will never forget the first time that I put on my black ministerial robe. Three years of pastoral counseling and ethics courses taught me about the weight of clerical responsibility. But actually feeling this weight on my body humbled me in ways for which I was not prepared. How could I, as a minister, learn to wear the robe rather than the robe wearing me?

I did what I often do when I face challenges. I turned to the arts for inspiration. I came across a song in our Unitarian Universalist hymnal called "Voice Still and Small". The lyrics go like this, "Voice still and small, deep inside all, I hear you call, singing. In storm and rain, sorrow and pain, still we'll remain, singing. Calming my fears, quenching my tears, through all the years, singing."

There is something deliciously subversive about music -- defiant. It is a refusal to be silenced. That still, small voice -- no matter how faint its sound -- offers hope. It means that my songs, your songs, our songs are alive, stirring within.

This, I believe, is what great social prophets did throughout history. They let the notes of their lives speak through them, not for them. They planted one foot in the gritty realities of human pain and suffering. Their other foot was planted on a solid foundation of hope and liberation. This is how they walked and sang for justice and healing.

Revelation is ongoing. So is adolescence. May the still, small voice within sustain our spirits throughout life's awkward, difficult moments. And may we be inspired to enact justice, healing, and beauty for an earth made fair and all her people one.

New Member Recognition

On Sun., Jun. 4, during both the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services, we will recognize Eliot Chapel members who signed the Membership Book any time between July 1, 2005, and the present, including those with intent to sign the book after either service on Jun. 4. If you will be there, please RSVP to Claire Robertson, Membership Chair, at .

Welcome!
- Pam Jeffries, May 7, 2006

My husband and I have been giving time and money to Eliot Chapel for over 2 years now.

I grew up in one of those families that goes to church every Sunday, but never talked about religion. My father was in the Air Force, so when we moved from base to base, we would find a Methodist-kind-of-church that seemed to fit all right and go there.

When my father retired from the Air Force, he got a job in Saudi Arabia, where we lived for a couple of years. We attended a Christian church that assembled in a movie theatre on Sundays. But assembling once a week is nothing like praying 5 times a day, which I learned the Muslims did. As I played outside (in the sand), I would hear the muezzins calling out from the minarets of their ancient mosques. During Ramadan, you could hear the cannons firing as the sun went down, signifying the daily fast was over and the nightly feast had begun. And the Hadj -- the annual pilgrimage to Mecca -- seemed an incredible testimony to the Muslims' faith. I'm pretty sure it was during those two years that I deduced that perhaps Christians hadn't cornered the market on religious truth.

Fast forward many years, and I marry a wonderful man whose family was the opposite of mine: they talked about religion, but didn't go to church. We met in college at Mizzou, but moved to the San Francisco Bay Area because…well, St. Louis is a great family town and we didn't have a family. There was quite a bit of spiritual searching over the course of our 12 years in the Bay Area. But not long after our son was born, a friend turned us onto the Unitarian Universalist church in Oakland, where we lived. Right away, we got it. And it felt really good.

We decided to return to St. Louis, shortly after the dot com bubble burst. But we mourned the loss of our church. Surely, there would never be a progressive Unitarian church in conservative St. Louis!

We are so grateful we were wrong. And since we now have two children, we couldn't feel better about Eliot Chapel. Not only have my husband and I found a spiritual home, but our children are getting a broad religious education -- delivered by devoted teachers -- which I hope will cultivate in them an appreciation of others' beliefs and an inner peace regarding their own.

Welcome to Eliot Chapel. I hope you find support for your spiritual path here, too.

Annual Meeting Voting Results

Following are the results of voting on the several proposals presented to the congregation at the Annual Meeting on May 21, 2006.

1. Shall Eliot Chapel become a Welcoming Congregation? PASSED
2. Shall Eliot Chapel adopt the congregational resolution: "The congregation affirms that it invests the Board of Trustees with the authority to manage and administer all assets of the church. This resolution supercedes any conflicting resolutions." POSTPONED FOR RECONSIDERATION NEXT YEAR.
3. Shall Eliot Unitarian Chapel become an Endorsing Congregation of the Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice? PASSED
4. Shall Eliot Unitarian Chapel ordain Susan Maginn in the Fall of 2006? PASSED
5. Shall these persons serve on the Board of Trustees of Eliot Unitarian Chapel for a three-year term commencing June 1, 2006?
6. Chris Bowland, Rich Wagner, Jeanne Wilke (and) Shall Steve Lawrence serve as Treasurer for a one-year term commencing June 1, 2006? ALL ELECTED

Youth Programs Director Position

Eliot is looking for a Youth Programs Director for 2006-07. This position is 10 hours per week for 10 months. Major responsibilities are supporting youth advisors and communicating with parents. Members of Eliot Chapel are not eligible. However, if you know someone you think would be good in this position, please have that person inquire about the job description from Rev. Bonnie Vegiard. Letters of application are due by June 9.

You Keep the Program Working
- Joan and Bill Clarke

Recently one of the Room At The Inn guests remarked on how good it felt to play dominoes with someone and to share a meal and a night's rest without having to answer for mistakes she had made in the past. It was comforting to know that "acceptance" was the atmosphere she would experience at her nightly church visits. In addition to providing a meal and a safe place to sleep, our caring has a significant effect on our guests. Your time and generosity really do make a difference.

We are about to start our summer schedule at Eliot Chapel and that means fewer opportunities for us to sign up for helping those who need our help in the RATI program. In addition to the sign-up sheets on the bulletin board, there will be a sign-up table in Adams Hall on Jun. 11. We are in great need for everyone to check their calendars and volunteer to host, cook, or do laundry for the summer.

We are a congregation that cares about and comforts those less fortunate. Please do what you can to keep the program working.

Thank You ...
- Jennifer DeBusk, Intern Minister

To all who participated in the social justice projects for the month of April. Thanks to Ann Howard and Rich Vaughn for helping to celebrate Earth Day on Apr. 22nd by participating with Gateway Greening's environmental project. Your help in preparing the soil for flower beds in downtown St. Louis is an important revitalization effort in community building. This leads to stronger neighborhoods and greater civic engagement.

Another big thanks goes out to all the Habitat for Humanity volunteers on Apr. 29th: Lee Streett, Brian Vent, Brent Bledsoe, Lisa Allen, Jim Lyon, Cordell Jeffries, Donna Springer, Bill Fitzgerald, and Jamie Fitzgerald. You're the best! Not only did you wake up early on a Saturday morning to volunteer, but you braved the rain and spent a day getting wet and muddy for a good cause.

Building quality housing for low-income families instills dignity and respect for people. This community building effort reinforces the value of full and equal participation in society through access to jobs and other neighborhood resources. Thank you once again for contributing to this important cause. Rev. Bonnie Vegiard plans to continue this Eliot volunteer outreach opportunity with Habitat for Humanity next year.

I will miss participating in these social justice projects with you as I near the end of my internship at Eliot Chapel on June 15th. Thank you for making this year such a rewarding one for me. I will be moving to Seattle to continue my community based ministry in social justice work. Best wishes to you all!

A Course in Miracles

Looking for a summer spiritual opportunity? Every Monday night, year-round, at 7:00 p.m., a study group which focuses on the metaphysical text known as "A Course in Miracles" (ACIM) meets in the lower level of Eliot Chapel. The Course takes its participants on a spiritual journey which, through practice, leads to peaceful living. It focuses on key concepts such as replacing fear with love, the relinquishment of judgment, and man's true reality as spiritual beings. The group meets for an hour and a half. Readings and reflections are the core of the meeting. It is open to all. Questions? Contact Corinne Esneault. For more information on the Course, go online to the St. Louis ACIM website: www.liming.org/acim.

Playgroup

The Eliot Playgroup will meet on Fri., Jun. 9 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. in the church nursery. Please join us with your preschooler for playtime and conversation. Newcomers are welcome. Contact Wendy Cutshaw for information.

Partner Church Potluck
- The Partner Church Committee

Whether you're a Committee Member, potential committee member or just curious and sociable, plan to join the Partner Church Committee on Mon., Jun. 19, at 6:30 p.m. in Adams Hall for a Partner Church Potluck. We'll have the pleasure of welcoming as our speaker the young, enthusiastic and knowledgeable Transylvanian Unitarian minister Rev. Solymosi Zsolt, who will be in town for our General Assembly.

Zsolt has spent the past year in study at the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California as the Balazs Scholar and will soon be returning home to Transylvania in Romania. In 2002 he served as translator for Mary Taylor, Rev. Sonya Montana, Claire Robertson and Jane Schraudenbach on their trip to Eliot Chapel's Partner Church, St. Marton, in Transylvanian. Come learn about the Unitarians in the villages of Transylvania.

Please RSVP to Beth Rossow, to let her know the number attending, what you're bringing, or for additional information. American food is just fine unless you have a Hungarian specialty!

Eliot Fun Committee Calendar
2006-2007

See Bulletin Board near Adams Hall or watch the Newsletter for more details.

Eliot Family Night at Shakespeare in the Park
Friday, June 2nd 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. (Rain Date June 16th)

Family Float Trip and Camp-Out
Camp-Out July 29th-30th, Float Trip July 30th Onondaga Cave State Park & Meramec River

Eliot Chapel Church Picnic
August 19th, Kirkwood Park

Bergfried Wine Tour
September 16th-17th

October Urban Adventure
St. Louis Walking Tour Saturday, October 28th

Coffee House
November 18th 7:00 p.m.

Madrigal Dinner
November 30th - December 3rd 7:00 p.m. (OK -we don't sponsor it, but it is FUN!)

Chili and Games Night
January 27, 2007 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

WurstFest at the Stone Hill Winery
March '07

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.

Tues., Jun. 6 - The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. Leader - Janie Fowler

Fair Trade Coffee Summer Sales

The Eliot Fair Trade Coffee Committee will be holding a 20% off sale on the last week of regular services (Jun. 11). All bags will be sold for $8, while supplies last. This will be your last opportunity to buy coffee prior to monthly summer sales; be sure to stock up.

We will be taking orders via phone and email and delivering them on Jul. 9 and Aug. 13 (the same days scrip will be sold). To ensure you don't run out, we recommend that you buy sufficient coffee to last a month. Freeze your stock to keep it fresh.

Order deadlines are Jul. 3 for Jul. 9 delivery and Aug. 7 for delivery on Aug. 13. We will send an email reminder to coffee purchasers. If you are interested in receiving an order reminder, e-mail . This is also the address that will be receiving orders.

Planning to Eat this Summer?

Don't forget your check book; Jun. 6 will be the final Sunday to purchase scrip before we begin monthly summer sales. You'll need scrip to purchase all the goodies for your Fourth of July celebrations, and Jun. 6 is the last scrip sale day before the 4th.

During the summer, scrip will be sold on July 9 and August 13.

Madrigal 2006 Casting Call

The Not Ready for Reformation Players are preparing for the 2006 Madrigal, scheduled for Nov 30, Dec 1, and Dec. 2. If you are interested in a performance role, you are invited to attend a script reading tryout to be held during the month of September. More details will follow.

Interested in helping out behind the scenes or have any questions? Please contact Denise Maue Dreyfus.

RE News
- Joan Casey, RE Director,

For the last two Sundays of the regular church year (Jun.4 and Jun. 11), we'll have regular classes at the same time as the church services, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. On Jun. 11, we'll be focusing on life's milestones. One of the achievements we'll be recognizing is those who learned to read this year. If you haven't already, please be sure to let me know if your child learned to read this past year. We'll also be thanking all of the wonderful teachers and RE volunteers that helped make this year so special.

Families, be sure to pick up your copy of the summer issue of REjuvenation!, our RE newsletter. It'll fill you in about all the things happening in RE. The RE newsletter is passed out in class the last Sunday of each month and is available outside of my office the rest of the month. If you want to know what's happening in RE, then you need to read REjuvenation! An abridged form of the newsletter is also available online at our Eliot Chapel website. The summer edition is now available.

Speaking of summer, summer services are right around the corner (beginning on Jun. 18, Father's Day with an intergenerational service). Families planning to attend over the summer should be sure to get their Summer RE registration forms to me soon. We are offering a multi-age class for incoming 1st graders and older that will focus on Heroes and Heroines. Preschool aged children (3 years old and up and potty trained) will be using Story Time, a literature based curriculum. The nursery will also be open as usual for younger children. Parents will be asked to assist once or twice over the summer.

Also, don't forget that our Eliot Chapel Summer Camp is from Aug. 7 to Aug. 11. Please get your registration in as soon as possible so our dedicated volunteers can plan accordingly. Our theme this year is Stories Buddha Told. We're hoping to see a lot of our Kindergarten through 5th graders there. Invite a friend or two!

And again, we still have openings for teachers next year. We especially need to get our fall slots filled. For the early service, we still have one year-long slot open for the nursery and also one for the fall Intermediates (3 and 4 year olds). We also need to fill one 2nd grade slot at the later service. If you can help out, please contact me.

Hope to see most of you over the summer.

Music Notes
-- Jan Chamberlin, Music Director,

Coming up:
Jun. 4 - new service times begin: 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Kathie Price and Rich Heuermann will provide all the service music.
Jun. 11 - Holly Mead, Jon and Eric Williger will provide all the service music.

Good By and Good Luck! Eliot Chapel is blessed with many members willing to share their musical talents. Over the years we lose some of them. That's why we constantly encourage new people to step forward to contribute their musical gifts. This month we lose two special people. Holly Mead and Jonathan Williger are graduating from high school and going away to college. It has been a delight to watch them grow up in our congregation. They both play multiple instruments and have won many awards for their jazz and classical abilities. We have a last chance to hear them in our worship services on Sun., Jun. 11. We'll be cheering them on in their musical careers and hope they someday return to play again at Eliot Chapel.

Thank You! To all the singers and musicians who have shared their talents with us this year. To all who can carry a tune or play an instrument and have not graced us with their tones, please consider resolving to make that a contribution next year. Talent is a valuable resource at Eliot. Making music is one of the most meaningful experiences you can have in worship. We need musicians and singers of all styles to participate. That's what makes our music program so vibrant. Please contact Jan Chamberlin if you can help.

General Assembly Music: Be sure to get the full GA experience on June 21 - 25. Many of our Eliot people will be participating.

Summer Services: Musicians are needed to provide preludes for summer services. We will have a pianist on duty all summer to accompany or play hymns. We also need audio techies to volunteer for summer services. If you like working behind the scenes, setting up microphones and monitoring the services, we need you. A training video is available. Sign up in the hallway or contact me.

Art 4 U 2006-2007

During the 2006 - 2007 church year, the Art 4 U Committee has arranged for the following artists to exhibit their works in Adams Hall:

Sep. - Sandy Schulz, Earth and Wheel, clay masks and natural material wall hangings
Oct. - Sandy Moriarty, Flower Photography
Nov. - Don and Carol Horstman, Acrylics
Dec. - Linda Kraft, Flower Mandalas and Other Works
Jan. - Dr. Charles Norland, Local Photography
Feb. - Mary Beth Shaw, Collage-Mixed Media, vintage materials and text
Mar. - Edna Patterson, Quilts
Apr. - Rosella Jones Willis, Oil Painting
May - John Heusler, Photography

Summer Services 2006

Summer Services begin on Jun. 18 with one service at 10:00 a.m. The following is a list of service leaders. In the next issue, we will have a list of service topics.

Jun. 19 - Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell
Jun. 25 - Rich Heuermann
Jul. 2 - News from GA, Gail Rock and Co.
Jul. 9 - Michael Hennon
Jul. 16 - Rev. Susan Heller
Jul. 23 - Bob Coulter
Jul. 30 - Lynn Murphy
Aug. 6 - Judy Highfill
Aug. 13 - Michael Getty
Aug. 20 - Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell
Aug. 27 - Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell
Sep. 3 - TBA

Newsletter Deadlines

The end of the church year is approaching. Don't forget that during the summer we publish two newsletters. If you have summer events you want to publicize, make sure to get the articles in by the (noon) deadline.

• June 7 - for issue dated - June 17 - July 28
• July 19 - for issue dated - July 29 - Sept. 1

Reverends' Summer Calendar

Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell will be out of the office, on vacation and study leave, from Sat., Jul.1 through Mon., Aug. 14. He will be back in the office and on a regular schedule Tues., Aug. 15.

Rev. Bonnie Vegiard will be on vacation the month of July and study leave from Aug. 14 through the 27th. She will resume her regular schedule on August 28th.

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 (2005-2006) runs from July to June. On July 1, 2006 we begin the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

In order that we may apply pledge payments correctly, please note in the memo line the month(s) covered by your pledge payment. 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.)

Committee Reservations

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.

It's not too early to complete room requests to make reservations for next year's meetings and events. Please check with your chair, facilitator, or leader about next year's meetings and events. Please reserve space even if you "always" have had meetings or events at a particular time. We will accept reservations from outside groups beginning July 1. Make sure you're able to reserve the time and space you want ... do it now!

Protecting Your Privacy

Reminder: as a general policy, in order to protect the privacy of our Members and Friends, Eliot Chapel staff will not give out non-staff phone numbers or addresses over the phone.

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 .

Who Are You?

In addition to preparing a new member/friend directory this summer, we will be updating the Program Guide.

If you are a committee chair, please make sure that the office knows you will be chair for the coming year. Also, please take a minute to look over the description of your committee that appears in the guide and send any changes to Nancy at .

Copies of the Program Guide are available in Visitors' Corner.

Summer Office Hours

The office will close at noon on Fridays for the months of June, July, and August. Sunday summer office hours are from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

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