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Inside This Issue

Supporting Food Pantries
- Rev. Bonnie Vegiard, Program Minister

For several years, Eliot Chapel has had a grocery cart in Adams Hall to collect donations for Hosea House, a food pantry and charity in the city. Eliot members have been generous and consistent about making donations to that charity. At the same time, Eliot also supports a local food pantry and utilities relief service called Kirkcare. Kirkcare is also in continuous need of food donations, as well as drivers to deliver food to area homes.

We are considering changing the donations we collect weekly from Hosea House to Kirkcare. We would continue to support Hosea House in other ways; for example, the Women's Alliance is collecting for them and having someone from their organization speak in Dec. However, the weekly donations people make at Eliot would go to the Kirkcare food pantry

Please give us your feedback on this change. We realize there are a lot of worthy organizations to support, and we must make choices as to how our donations may be best used. Feel free to give any comments you may have to me by email or phone.

Continuing Thoughts on Membership
- Susan Maginn, Membership Coordinator

From my Oct. 14 newsletter column ...
Here are four recommendations for membership:

• Worship
• Spiritual developmentant group
• Eliot community service
• Larger community service

I recently came across a congregation that really caught my attention. Their main strength is that they have a statement that guides their congregational life: Build a Better World. Their weakness is that people are so excited about this mission, that they are sometimes spread thin by engaging in so many social justice projects. Regardless, it is clear that the people in this congregation are excited and creative about how they put their faith into action.

Social action can be a touchy subject. For many people, they feel that social action is best done privately and individually, not as a community. Some people feel that social action is too easily conflated with political agendas and should not be a part of religious life. Some people have a job where they are serving the larger community and so they want a break from such work when they come to church.

I believe that serving the larger community is an expression of a congregation's sense of mission, a congregation's reason for being. If a congregation is not mission-focused, it tends to be focused on personal needs and interests. Don't get me wrong here. There is nothing inherently wrong about serving our own needs and interests, especially when we are in a time of crisis. My guess is that a congregation that does not reach out is probably wondering about who they are as a community and what gifts they have to offer the world. When we know who we are and why we are together, then reaching out becomes a natural expression. In fact, when we know who and why we are together, not reaching out becomes uncomfortable

My hope for all of us is that we would know that our togetherness can be a great gift to each of us as well as to the larger world.

The "UU World"
- Rev. Dr. Daniel Ó Connell, Lead Minister

If you are a member of Eliot Unitarian Chapel, you should be receiving a quarterly magazine called UU World (the magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations).

A long time member wrote me recently about the diversity of UU voices there:

"The current issue of the UU World magazine [has] one minister decry 'our eternally save-the-world / call to arms/ activist-oriented' UU vision, while another experienced feature writer movingly articulates, 'Stick your neck out for a meaningful life!'

"Elsewhere in the magazine questions are raised and answered about the efficacy of our General Assembly process and role in making representative statements of UU positions. Next Humanism in its various forms is explored in a commentary on Reason and Reverence that engages theists and non-theists in the habitual search for truth and meaning.

"And, finally we read a compelling discussion of the tension between the reality of "how barbaric human beings can be" and "a reconsideration of 'inherent' human worth and a reaffirmation of the importance of human rights," this by the former head of Amnesty International and a past UUA President.

No, I'm not hawking magazines, but as one who's sought better understanding of life, UU-ism, and religion and spirituality for years, I hope you take time to read the Winter, 2006 edition of the "World", which has been referenced here.

And we usually have a copy in the DuBois library (off Adams Hall) and older copies free for the taking at Visitor's Corner. Happy reading!

Circle of Life
- Rev. Bonnie Vegiard, Program Minister

Sun., Jan. 7 will be our annual Circle of Life service. We will honor the births, anniversaries, and deaths of congregation members from 2006. We will also dedicate babies and other children. Please contact me if you have children you would like to have dedicated in this service.

Singles Group

We are hoping to get some events planned that are especially for single people at Eliot. If you would like to be a part of this, please contact Susan Maginn at .

Our Whole Lives

Letters will be going out soon to families of 7th, 8th, and 9th graders about the Our Whole Lives sexuality education program that Eliot offers every other year. We will have parent information meetings during the first two weeks of January, and the program will run from mid-January to mid-March, from 12:15 - 4:15 p.m. on Sundays. We will mail out specific dates and other information. This program will be co-facilitated by Rachel Spann and Michael Getty. Please look for the information, or contact Rev. Bonnie Vegiard with any questions, (314) 821-0911 or .

Our Fair Share
- Matt Koch, Eliot Chapel Board of Trustees

Did this happen to you, too?

After reading the article "Stick your neck out for a meaningful life" in the Winter issue of your UU World magazine you came upon the "Annual Report of Congregational Giving" and you look through the list of Giving Congregations for Eliot Chapel. You find Missouri and note Emerson and First Unitarian on the list, but no Eliot Chapel. Thoughts of typos, editor oversights, and checks in the mail jump into your mind.

I know of more than one person who went through this scenario. Print doesn't lie. Eliot Chapel is not in the list because we don't pay our "Fair Share" to the UUA Annual Program Fund (APF). The APF considers a UU congregation's "Fair Share" as $53 for National and $19 for the District, per member. So that is $72 per member or $142 for a household with two members.

About 7 years ago Eliot was in a financial pinch. In an attempt to cut our budget deficit, our pledge to the Annual Program Fund was drastically cut for both National and District dues. That cut has been passed on through the last 6 budgets and has not been restored. Only 295 congregations of the 1,042 UU congregations do not pay their fair share. We are in that 28% that doesn't pay its fair share. We are currently about $16,000 below our fair share.

So what does that money do? APF dues support resources for ministers and congregations, printing and sending the UU World magazine, building loans and loan guarantees; young adult and youth-related programs; training; resources for organizing public advocacy; public witness voice on topics such as same-sex marriage, education and anti-racism/anti-oppression; and many more things. Please consider this when determining your pledge amount this spring.

Room at the Inn Christmas
- Bill and Joan Clarke

Room At The Inn in Bridgeton has a unique perspective on what Christmas means to the homeless who are in the program. Rather than toys or clothing, RATI asks that we consider a gift that will help a family regain long lasting self-sufficiency.

Supporting RATI at Christmas time keeps the program strong and enables the staff to assist families in becoming self sustaining after Christmas. Supporting the shelter with cash donations helps provide bus tickets and van maintenance to get clients to doctors, classes, jobs, and housing searches. Donating gift cards or cash provides resources to purchase school or work shoes later in the year. Ten women washing for 20 people use a lot of laundry detergent in one week. Financing laundry expenses for 12 months assists families with laundry supplies in the shelter and when they leave.

What do kids really want for Christmas? Their family together in a place of their own, to call home. Please consider a check or gift card donation to Room at the Inn and send it to 3415 Bridgeland Drive, Bridgeton, Missouri 63044. Once again - you will make a great difference and impact on the lives of those less fortunate.

Help Shape the Future
Nominating Committee

Help form the future of Eliot Chapel - become part of the Nominating Committee. At the annual congregational meeting in May 2005, the members of Eliot Chapel approved a change in our by-laws to form a Nominating Committee that will nominate qualified members for election to the Board of Trustees and the Office of the Treasurer. We are looking for two new members (three year term) and two alternates (one year term). The Nominating Committee members will only need to meet over about one month each year, to create the slate of candidates for the Board and the Treasurer position that will be voted on at the annual meeting in May. If you are interested in this important role in shaping our future, or if you would like to suggest someone else for the Nominating Committee, we will be taking nominations between Dec. 22, 2006 and Jan. 20, 2007. Nominations should be emailed to the Eliot Chapel office at .

Ballots for the election of members of the Nominating Committee will be mailed in January to members of the congregation.

Meditation

The December Eliot Meditation session will be held on Tue., Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 006.

UU Book of the Month

In Dec. we will be discussing Three Prophets of Liberal Religion: Channing, Emerson, and Parker edited by Conrad Wright. The book contains three pivotal sermons given by these foundational Unitarian thinkers. (Remember, in those days sermons were much more than 20 minutes long!) Join us on Tues, Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall for the discussion. Books are available for $16.00, first-come, first-served, from Rev. Bonnie Vegiard, Program Minister or at www.uua.org/bookstore.

Book Sorting and Book Fair Update
- Irmgard Voss

The first book sorting will be on Sat., Dec. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. We need volunteers from Women's Alliance and the Library Committee to help for any part of or for the whole day. Strong backs are in demand!

Please drop off book donations at the DuBois library. This is a great opportunity to make room on your bookshelves before the holidays.

Bridge
- Sue Webster

Bridge players please note: NO December bridge game at Eliot. The first game of the new year will be Sat., Jan. 20, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall. Please note this is the third rather than the fourth Saturday in January. Contact Sue Webster if you have questions. Happy holidays and see you next year!

Articulating Your Faith

Mark your calendars now for this workshop series beginning Wed., Jan 10, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Rev. Bonnie Vegiard will lead six evening sessions on Wednesdays to help Eliot people share and talk to others about our faith perspective. This curriculum includes lots of fun exercises and well as deep discussion about what makes life meaningful for us as liberal religious people. Please sign up with Rev. Bonnie at (314) 821-0011 or .

Eliot Auction and Dinner

The Eliot Auction is back! Scheduled for Feb. 17, 2007, this event needs your help. Current plans include a sit-down dinner and silent auction before the live auction kicks off. Childcare will be available during the main event (if requested in advance.)

Do you have a special talent or item that could be donated? Please consider quilting, knitting, baking, woodworking, pottery, jewelry etc. Services are also hot commodities, such as a computer repair, dinner for a group, a round of golf, or yard work.

A committee is forming now, so if you would like to be a part of bringing the Fun back to Fundraising, contact Chris Bowland at .

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., Dec. 19 - Christmas Party - 11:00 a.m.. Bring gifts of canned or non-perishable food for the Hosea House. Bring main dish, salad, vegetable, or dessert for a potluck lunch. Chair, Barbara Crowley.

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

The Religious Education Department is busily getting ready for our annual Holiday Party on Sat., Dec. 9 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. We will have lots of fun crafts and games for the children. The party runs during the Christmas Pageant rehearsal; all of our pageant participants will get to attend, but it is open to all our families. We hope to see you there.

We also invite you to take one of the "ornaments" on the Giving Tree in Adams Hall. You'll make the holiday season much brighter for a local youth or child by helping out. Gifts are due back under the tree no later than Dec. 17. There're still some left, so don't be shy!

We also still need teachers for spring semester. Classes start on Feb. 4 and run until Jun. 10. Teachers work in teams of 3, which means that teachers lead teach a third of the time, assist a third of the time, and have one third of the Sundays off. Our Teacher Support Committee is ready to support you and instruct you about teaching at our Teacher Orientation meeting on Jan. 15. Our Curriculum Committee has prepared curricula for you: grades Kindergarten - 5th grades will begin with World Religions and finish the year with Social Justice Issues. We have five teacher openings at 11:00 a.m. (1 for Intermediate, 1 for Pre-Kindergarten, 1 for Kindergarten, and 2 for 1st grade). Please sign up today by calling or emailing Joan Casey.

We have passed out the Guest at Your Table boxes, which help support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Children will return their boxes at the Jan. 7 service.

Happy December!

Youth News
- Mishael Eastabrook, Youth Programs Director,

I hope everyone was able to have a restful, reenergizing, and meaningful Thanksgiving. Now we find ourselves entering into another holiday season. The Junior and Senior High Youth December schedule is posted on the Youth Bulletin Board outside the Senior High Youth Room. However, if you have not had an opportunity to check it out, here it is:

For Both Junior and Senior High Youth:
* Dec. 10 - No Junior or Senior High Class - Intergenerational Christmas Pageant
* Dec. 24 - No Junior or Senior High Class. Christmas Eve Services at 10:00 a.m., 5:00, 6:30 &, 8:00 p.m.
* Dec. 31 - No Junior or Senior High Class - One service at 10:00 a.m.

For Senior High Youth only:
* Dec. 17 - Potluck Party during regular class time

For Both Junior and Senior High Youth Advisors:
* Dec. 20 - Spring Teacher Orientation at 6:00 p.m. in Senior High Youth Room. If anyone is interested in helping teach our youth next semester, which begins on Feb. 4, please contact me immediately and plan to join us on this date.

Just as a reminder, I will be out of the country from Jan. 4 to Jan. 23 on a trip to Israel. If anyone is in need of assistance during my absence, please contact Rev. Bonnie Vegiard or Joan Casey. Thanks to everyone for all of your hard work and support of the Eliot Youth Program. Peace.

Music Notes
-- Jan Chamberlin, Music Director,

Coming up:
Dec. 10, Pageant Sunday - Kate Fitzgerald will play preludes on piano.
Dec. 17, the choir will sing Banquet Fugue by John Rutter at 9:30 a.m. The 11:00 choir will sing Come In and Stay Awhile by Rhonda Polay.
Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Sunday - four services- 10:00 A.M., 5:00 P.M., 6:30 P.M., & 8:00 P.M.. The only differences will be the ministers and musicians. 10:00 a.m. - the Eliot Woodwinds; 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. will feature the Handbells pre-service, and the choirs singing Calypso Carol and I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day; music for the 8:00 p.m. service TBA.

Newsletter Deadlines

The last issue of 2006 covers the period from Dec. 23 to Jan. 12. So, if you have early January events that need to be publicized, be sure to get the information to . Deadlines are as follows:

Noon on:
Dec. 13 for issue dated Dec. 23 - Jan.. 12
Jan. 3 for issue dated Jan. 13 - Jan. 26

Policy on Closing in Bad Weather

While it is the intention of the church leadership that the Chapel be open and provide services on every Sunday, we also do not wish to endanger anyone who may feel obligated by commitment (e.g., RE teachers, choir, or staff) to drive to Eliot in unsafe weather. "Attend if you feel safe doing so" will not necessarily release people from that sense of obligation. Additionally, our Safe Church policy requires specific ratios of properly-screened teachers to children, and those ratios might not be met if no proactive decision were taken.

Therefore, in situations of bad weather such as snow and/or ice storms,

• If travel advisories have been issued by state and/or local governments asking that people stay off the roads and do not drive, Eliot will close.
• If conditions are such that key staff members believe that travel will be too hazardous, Eliot will close.
• If the decision has been made to close, the recording on the church answering machine will be changed by 8:00 a.m., and a notice will be posted on the home page of the web site.

2006 Donations

To ensure that checks will be recorded in Eliot's books this calendar year, checks must be received in the office by Thu., Dec. 28. If you wish to have your check recorded in 2006, but are unable to get the check to us by the 28th, please contact JoAnn at (314) 821-0911 to make special arrangements.

In January, we will send tax statements for the calendar year 2006 to everyone who contributed $250 or more. This statement will include all deductible gifts received by Eliot between Jan. and Dec. 2005 regardless of what pledge year or fiscal year was involved.

Holiday Office Hours

The office will be closed from Mon., Dec. 25 through Jan. 1, 2007, reopening on Tue., Jan. 2.

Holiday Service Childcare

Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve services - Childcare available at the 10:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. services.

Dec. 31 - One service at 10:00 a.m. - only nursery open

Scrip ...

Will not be sold on Sun., Dec. 24 or Dec. 31. Stock up in advance to avoid hunger during the holidays!

Recycling

Eliot Chapel recycles the following items that are used on the premises:

Aluminum cans - container next to the soda machine.
Plastic bottles (#1 and 2) - container in the kitchen next to the exterior door - please remove caps.
Cardboard - large blue bin under the window in the copy room - please flatten boxes.
White paper - blue bags in the copy room.

It almost goes without saying, but please do not bring your recyclables from your home to Eliot. The Kirkwood recycling center is located just down the road at 350 South Taylor.

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