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Inside This Issue

Mission Possible
- Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell, Lead Minister

Lots of organizations have mission statements. Sometimes, they are quite wordy. I have seen church mission statements that have eight or nine bullet points, and are well over 100 words.

A couple of years ago, we updated the Eliot Chapel mission statement. It is less than 25 words, and it is fairly easy to memorize.

This means that when I am at a workshop, and someone wants to point out that we don't even know our own mission, and asks for a volunteer to restate their mission statement, I can do it.

It also reminds me of why we are here:

Eliot Chapel, a Unitarian Universalist community, gathers to foster free religious thought, nurture spiritual growth, and act for social justice.

Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate among those three things. We foster free religious thought through Sunday services, adult and children's religious education, and various other events and programs. Those same offerings, can nurture our spiritual growth, and move us to act for social justice.

A couple of times a year, we update and reprint the "Information Guide." You can find copies over in Visitors Corner. It's amazing how much we have going on here, and all the different ways to get involved. As a member, friend, or visitor, you are invited to help Eliot Unitarian Chapel live out its mission by living out your own.

So, pick through the information guide, or the newsletter, or through your Sunday bulletin. You'll find all kinds of opportunities. See you in church!

Yes! Talk to Strangers!
- Susan Maginn, Membership Coordinator

What do you do when you see someone at coffee hour you do not recognize? Do you turn away and look for a more familiar face? Most of us would and this is understandable. We all want to feel connected here, and what better way to feel connected than to deepen the relationships we already have?

But what about those people who don't have any existing relationships at Eliot? Many new members have told me that they have a tough time at coffee hour, simply because they are walking into a room crowded with people they don't know.

So whether you have been at Eliot Unitarian Chapel for decades or for weeks, I have a challenge for you. I hope you will come to coffee hour looking for a new face to talk with. You can introduce yourself and say, "I don't think we have met." You may find that you are talking with someone who is here for the first time or you may find that this is someone who has been coming to Eliot regularly and your paths have never crossed, until now.

Scrip Update

Until it runs out, we're still selling Schnucks scrip. We will continue to sell Dierberg's, Shop & Save, and Whole Foods scrip. Please support this important fundraiser for Eliot.

Schnucks shoppers: please don't forget to pick up - and use - a Schnucks E-scrip "community card" when shopping at Schnucks with cash, check, credit or debit card, or scrip. The cards have two parts, one credit-card sized and one key-fob attachment. Thanks to the more than 100 families who have picked up "community cards".

Eliot Chapel, Ready for Action!
- Rev. Bonnie Vegiard, Program Minister

How are you going to act to change the world this year? Eliot has several possibilities for action. Join us on Sat., Oct 14 at 9:30 in Adams Hall to see all the different ways you can use your concern and energy in our community. We will have representatives of many different projects here to answer questions, and chances to sign up for one-time projects or on-going groups.

On-going projects

• Room at the Inn, sheltering the homeless
• Our Partner Church in Romania
• Welcoming Congregation, educating about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues
• Kirkcare, helping those in need in our immediate Kirkwood area
• Organizing Human Justice Sunday
• The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee - promotion and Sunday service
• Habitat for Humanity group project days
• Eliot's Social Action Committee (to coordinate and publicize all these activities)

New Possibilities

• Sponsoring the Green Sanctuary program at Eliot (environmental awareness)
• Sierra Club's "Cool Cities" work (environmental awareness on the city council level; 1 or 2 people per city)
• "Jobs with Justice" - an Interfaith Partnership program
• Faith Beyond Walls opportunities for individual volunteering
• UUA Statement of Conscience discussion group - "Moral Values for a Pluralistic World" (discussion material available)
• A Missouri network of UUs to advocate for just legislation

At this meeting we will: 1) hear about what each group is and will be doing and 2) give Eliot people a chance to sign up.

If you have a project you believe Eliot people would be interested in, please contact Rev. Bonnie Vegiard by Oct. 1. You will need a clear description of the project and specific ways Eliot people can join in to participate in Social Action Day

If you need childcare for the morning, please let us know by Oct. 1.

If you'd like to sign up for a project or group, but cannot attend that day, please send an e-mail or leave a message for Rev. Vegiard. If enough people sign up and a group leader is identified, the leader will contact you.

Lend a Hand at SSDN

2006 has been a very special year as South Side Day Nursery celebrated its 120th anniversary. The playground improvement plan will conclude on Tue., Oct. 10 when volunteers replace old playground equipment (some dating back to the 1950s) with new equipment.

Volunteers are also needed to help with prep day activities on Sat., Oct.7. If you're interested in joining SSDN for the Playground Build Day, please contact Sheila Davis at or Steve Schira at (314) 865-0322 ext. 4013.

Hosea House Basket

The shopping cart in Adams Hall is for donations of non-perishable food items in unbreakable containers - only. Hosea House cannot use clothing, toys, furniture, etc., and we must discard any such items received.

If you'd like to find a new home for used clothing and toys, two organizations that will pick up at your house are:

Children's Home Society: 314/416-1300
American Kidney Fund: 314/968-9768

Stem Cell Initiative

Sun., Oct. 1: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Derek Rapp and Tara Nealey, Ph.D., members of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, will speak about the science and implications of the Stem Cell Initiative (the proposed state constitutional amendment that would ensure that Missourians have the same rights to conduct research and administer cures as do citizens in the other 49 states), and about concomitant safeguards against reproductive cloning and potentially exploitive activities. This free program is sponsored by Adult E & E. All are welcome.

Bible Study

The next meeting of the Bible Study group will be Mon., Oct. 2, at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall. We will discuss the Abram/Abraham stories of Genesis. Please read Gen. 11:26-25:12 in preparation. Eliot Bible Study is an open-minded, exploratory approach to reading the Bible. We use historical, literary, and spiritual perspectives. All are welcome!

UU Book of the Month

There was not sufficient time to read the September book, so we're going to keep the same title for our October meeting. Please join us on Tues., Oct. 3, at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall. We will discuss A Chosen Faith. The November book, Heretic's Faith, will be available for sale at the Oct. meeting. (Beginning in November, the meetings will be the 2nd Tuesday of the month.)

This group discusses Unitarian Universalist history, theology, and faith from the perspective of Unitarian Universalist authors. It is great for newcomers and long-time members alike. Feel free to browse the UUA bookstore website and make suggestions for future books or order your own copies of the books: www.uua.org/bookstore .

Sacred Balance

Based on the Sacred Balance book and videos by noted scientist David Suzuki, we will explore our place in this sacred balance and how people from other cultures and times have done likewise. Six sessions on Wednesdays, Oct. 4 - Nov. 8, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Adams Hall, led by Bob Coulter.

Hiking Group

Laura Mullen has agreed to chair the Eliot Hiking Group.

If you are interested in planning some fun hiking adventures, please meet with us on Wed., Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 006, downstairs. Details of each monthly hike will be sent by e-mail about one week prior to the hike. If you would like to be added to the list, you can email Laura at .

Playgroup

The Eliot Playgroup will meet from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. on Fri., Oct. 13 in the church nursery. Bring your little ones and join us for conversation and playtime. The last playgroup for the year will be held November 10, so mark your calendars! Contact Wendy Cutshaw for more information.

Nepali Diwali at Eliot Chapel

On Sat., Oct.14 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Eliot Chapel will host games and crafts for children, jewelry making and cultural information for adults, a story teller and food samples to benefit the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children, a child sponsorship program supporting children in Kathmandu, Nepal. Christine Schutz, who has just returned from Nepal, will provide an update on the orphanage. There will be Nepali items for sale and a silent auction. The event is sponsored by the covenant group led by Sue Videen. The goal is to raise seed money to begin a small business packaging and exporting Nepali tea, to assist the older children in the orphanage get work experience and to provide money to help meet the needs of the home.

Tickets can be purchased ($5.00 for an individual and $10.00 for a family) at the door or after services at Eliot Chapel on Sun., Oct. 1 and Oct. 8. Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. For more information, contact Sue Videen or Nancy Williger.

Fall Work Party

This year's Fall Work Party will be on Sat., Oct. 21. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. The volunteers will be doing basic indoor and outdoor clean-up and fix-up chores around Eliot.

Town Hall Meeting

Save the date: Oct. 22 after second service. Topic ideas? Speak to any Board member.

All Who Wander Are Not Lost

Join the FUN Committee on our Urban Adventure as we wander through Historic Soulard Market and Cherokee Street with a professional guide. We'll meet at the new Shrewsbury Metro Park and Ride at 8:45 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. departure on Sat., Oct. 28 and ride the new MetroLink extension to downtown. and catch a bus to the market. Once there, we can explore the market, buy goodies, and people watch, then take the bus to Cherokee Street. Our guide will give us a tour of this charming urban neighborhood. We can explore the shops and then experience lunch at the one-and-only Shangri-La Diner.

After lunch, our guide will escort us back to the Metro Park and Ride, or you may stay on Cherokee. Wear comfortable shoes and bring bags or a backpack for shopping at the market. You will need cash for your Metro fare, tour fee, lunch, and any market shopping you wish to do. The tour fee is $6 per person ages 13+, and $3 for children 5-12. The Metro Day Pass is $4.50, ages 5 and up. Shangri-La does not accept credit cards and most vendors at the market only accept cash. Lunch at Shangri-La is usually $12-15, including tip.

Please RSVP to Lori Allen at by Oct. 26th. Group size is limited. Directions to the Metro Park and Ride can be found at www.metrostl.org. Come join us on an urban adventure!

Tout your Talent

The Music Committee is seeking those of many talents to participate in the 2006 Coffeehouse on Nov. 18 at 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

We seek those who would like time in the spotlight to sing, read poetry, play an instrument, juggle, be a ventriloquist, or whatever your special talent may be. A signup sheet is on the bulletin board in the hallway near Adams Hall. The audience is always warm, kind, and fun-loving. Please consider joining our team of talent.

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., Oct. 3 - Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. Coordinator - Ellen Luckow

Religious Education (RE) News
- Joan Casey, RE Director,

Religious Education classes are in full swing; activities and events are happening all over the place this fall. Be sure to pick up a copy of REjuvenation!, the RE newsletter for the latest information. It is passed out in class on the last Sunday of each month, with extra issues available outside my office and in Visitors' Corner the rest of the month.

One of our newer families just had a baby girl who has a congenital heart defect that will require several surgeries. She has already had one surgery. They may have some needs such as meals over the next few months. If you would like to be contacted in that event, please let me know.

To our Secret Pal children and adults: don't forget to contact each other every Sunday via small gifts and notes at the Secret Pals table in Adams Hall, or by email or letters. Tell each other a little about yourselves (especially the adults, since you are a mystery to your child). Plan what you'll wear to the Halloween Party. (Costumes are strongly encouraged - just be sure not to wear a mask.) Please remember to limit your spending to $10 to $15 during the month. Children need to be sure to reciprocate. If you know you will miss a Sunday please leave gifts/notes with me and I'll make sure they are delivered. And especially don't forget to mark your calendar for the super-fun party on Oct. 27, Fri., from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. We have lots of fun planned for you; we can't wait to see you there!

Youth News
- Mishael Eastabrook, Youth Programs Director,

The 2006 - 2007 church year is projected to be a growing as well as a fun-filled opportunity for our Senior and Junior High youth. Our Youth Advisors have scheduled many activities as a way for our youth to increase their opportunities to grow in their faith and friendships.

In conjunction with their discoveries utilizing the "Compass Points" program, our Junior High youth (grades 7 and 8) will also be participating in:
· Bonfire event with the Senior High youth on Nov. 4.
· Planning and attending the Spring Con, here at Eliot the weekend of Mar. 2, 2007.

Our Senior High youth (grades 9 - 12) are also working on their journey of creating their adult selves. They will have the opportunity to participate in:
· The Fall Youth Con in Springfield, IL on Oct. 2 - 6 [6 - 8].
· Hosting the Spring Youth Con here at Eliot in March.

If you would like to learn more about the Youth Program, please contact me.

Music Notes
-- Jan Chamberlin, Music Director,

Coming up:
Oct. 1, the Chalice Choir will sing I Am a Unitarian. Guest cellist, Erica Wise, will play unaccompanied Bach for the interlude. The 9:30 choir will sing For Good from "Wicked". 11:00 choir will sing Ose, Shalom by Leavitt.
On Oct. 8, the choirs will sing We Dare to Question by Jason Shelton.

Can You Hear The Services?
If you have trouble hearing the Sunday services, please make use of our hearing assist devices. They work like transistor radios. You may sit anywhere in the sanctuary, or even the hallway, and still hear. Just ask an usher/greeter at the door, and they will get one for you.

Folk Legend Gordon Bok Comes To Eliot!
On Fri., Nov. 3 at 8:00 p.m., Eliot will host a rare St. Louis performance by Gordon Bok. A resident of Maine, Gordon is best known for his songs about the sea. Don't miss this chance to enjoy his intricate guitar playing and velvety voice in Eliot's intimate setting. Admission is $20 at the door, or $17 in advance by calling David Roundy. Sponsored by the Music Committee.

Inner Voices Gets Around!
If you read your fall issue of the UU World magazine, you may have noticed the photo of Kate Magrath and the Inner Voices of Eliot Chapel on the table of contents page. They will be singing at the 11:00 worship service at Bergfried on Oct. 8. You can also hear them at Eliot on Oct. 15th in the worship services and in concert!

Friends of Music Concert
The classical music concert series, Friends of Music, will present its first concert of the season on Sun., Oct. 15 at 3:00 p.m.

Volunteers Needed!
For future Sunday services, we have need of a "fiddle player" a drummer, a singer/ songwriter/ guitarist/ pianist, and techies to run the soundboard. Also, tenors and basses are needed for Chamber Choir which sings Wed. evenings and at the 9:30 service. Please sign up in the hall or contact me ASAP. Thanks!

Regional Campus Ministry Training
Gail Rock

Emerson Chapel is hosting the conference which begins Fri., Oct. 13 at 7:00 p.m. and ends Sat., Oct. 14 at 5:00 p.m. This training is designed to bring together core leaders from area UU campus groups and is suitable for students, advisors, religious professionals, and lay leaders. The cost is $25.00. Register at http://www.connectuu.com/.

Out, Out, Damned Spot

New carpeting has been installed in Adams Hall. Please help us keep it stain-free by not serving "red" beverages at any functions. The red dye has proved impossible to remove. Thanks.

Please Don't Scatter

We've just had the sanctuary carpet professionally cleaned. Seems like a good time for a friendly reminder that we do not allow confetti, glitter, glitter on things, glitter on people, rice, flower petals, food and drink, etc. in the sanctuary.

Thanks for your cooperation.

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