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Inside This Issue

UU Communion Connection?
- Rev. Dr. Daniel , Lead Minister

After church on Easter Sunday, someone asked why our Unitarian Universalist church would have communion. After all, wasn't that Christian?

I think are several fold implications: communion is a Christian activity; UUs, are not by and large, Christian. So why the ceremony?

Of course the reality is that both Unitarianism and Universalism were (and still are), historical Christian doctrines. While it is true that most UUs would not consider themselves, or be considered by others, as traditional Christians, it is true that there are at least six sources to our faith, including "Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves."

The Christian communion service was based on Jesus' last supper - itself a Jewish Passover meal. Long before Passover, religious people used food and drink to cement their bond, and to recall religious rituals.

Similarly, at Eliot Unitarian Chapel, we use Bread Communion (the Sunday before Thanksgiving) to recall our various cultural heritages, and how they inform who we are in our local and regional areas. We sing America the Beautiful even if we're unhappy with our current political administration, because we find it important to be reminded that despite our diverse backgrounds, we commit to a common ideal.

Similarly, when we celebrate a Universalist Christian communion at Easter, we are reminded that "we need not believe alike to love alike." In the words of Unitarian martyr, Francis David, "Easter communion is a ritual to remind us of the life and deeds of Jesus. We do not affirm some sort of Gnostic 'blood and body' theology, and we don't tend to subscribe to the notion that 'Jesus died for our sins.' Instead we remember his amazing ministry in just three short years and how it changed history forever."

That's the connection.

Lay Leadership

At the Annual Meeting on May 20, Members of Eliot Unitarian Chapel will vote on the following individuals the Nominating Committee has proposed as members of the Board of Trustees.

Lynn Murphy: Lynn has been a member of Eliot over 16 years. During that time she has taught 15 years in the RE program, co-chaired the Welcoming Congregation Committee, chaired the Women's Weekend Committee, served as a delegate to the 2006 GA, been an usher/greeter, and coordinated Welcomers/Readers. In addition she has led services for both the summer service series and Women's Weekend. Professionally she has worked 20 years in the banking industry. She is devoted to her two cats. Her hobbies include exploring different spiritualities, playing Native American and African drum, as well as attending the symphony and movies, creative arts, creative writing, singing, and meditation.

Beth Rossow: Beth has attended Eliot Chapel for 25 years and during that time has served on several committees, some of which don't exist any more! Along with teaching a lot of Sunday school, working at Madrigal, cooking for RATI, and participating in Women's Alliance for many years, she has also been on the Library committee (chair), RE committee (chair), Intern committee (chair), Adult RE committee, Eliot Visits, led New "U", and is currently on the Partner Church committee, the Fair Trade committee, and the Caring committee. Beth has 3 daughters ages 26, 23, and 15. Her husband, Mark, attends Eliot on holidays and enjoys the social events. In her previous life, she worked as a social worker.

Matt Koch: Matt and his wife, Tracey Howe-Koch, have been members of Eliot Chapel for over six years. Matt has 3 children; Meridith (6), Jonah (5) and Lucas (3). He works as a Project Manager for Sigma-Aldrich. He has been involved with the Social Action Committee for the past three years and is the UUSC Local Representative. In that position, he organized this year's UUSC Sunday and Fast for Darfur. Matt has served on the Board since August 2006 and worked with Barb Bleisch to implement the Gift Card Scrip at Eliot.

Mother's Day Child Dedications

Eliot Chapel celebrates Mother's Day, May 13, with our traditional Flower Communion Service and child dedications. If your family would like to participate in the child dedications on that day, please contact Rev. Bonnie Vegiard. All children who have yet to be dedicated and their families are welcome to participate. This service is a ceremony which welcomes the child into the family and the congregation, acknowledges the child's name, and offers blessings to them. Please call (314) 821-0911 or email .

And - everyone - don't forget to bring a flower.

It's Green at Bergfried
- Kate Magrath

Bergfried is in full spring regalia and waiting to give you a spiritual lift, to help you reconnect with "the interconnected web of life", and to remember why Eliot Chapel is getting ready to become a Green Sanctuary. And you need no reservations to go hiking or camping there. At this time of the year, you may encounter mushroom hunters. Please remember that if you are not experienced with mushrooms do not eat any until you have taken them to an expert (perhaps at Powder Valley) for identification. You may also encounter turkey hunters. Spring turkey season is from Apr. 16 to May 6, inclusive. Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until 1:00 p.m. If you are at Bergfried during those times, WEAR BLAZE ORANGE. Pets should be leashed at all times. You may be lucky enough to encounter newborn fawns, which will lay very still in the grass, hoping you will not see them. Please give them my best.

Book Fair
- Barbara Bloom

The Library Committee extends a hearty thank you to everyone who helped make the 2007 Eliot Annual Book Fair the most successful in seven years, yielding $7,153.55. The donation of books, time, and effort culminating in the Book Fair is like a huge assembly line: first, those who combed their shelves for contributions; Women's Alliance, whose time-consuming job it was to sort and box the books; those who set-up and staffed the actual Book Fair between Wed., Mar. 7 and Sun., Mar. 12; and finally, those who bought the books! Half of the net proceeds ($13,300) go to Women's Alliance, without whose help there would have been no Book Fair. The Library Committee, in turn, donates half of its share, $1,650.00, to Eliot Chapel. In addition, a start-up church in Cape Girardeau will receive the left over books pertaining to religion, philosophy, and church, at the suggestion of Rev. Bonnie Vegiard. A very special thanks, on behalf of all, goes to Irmgard Voss, who made it all happen!

Please don't bring any books for next year's fair until an announcement is made next August.

Fair Trade

The Fair Trade Coffee for the month of May is Bolivian Yungas de la Paz, on sale for $10 per bag. Bolivian Yungas is described as having a medium roast with a mild, sweet, citrus flavor. We also will continue to offer the Eliot blend coffee, both in regular and decaf, beans and ground. And, don't forget…we have Fair Trade Chocolate Bars galore.

Summer's around the Corner
And RATI Needs YOU
- Bill and Joan Clarke

Before you know it, summer will be upon us and with everyone dispersed, it will be hard to get volunteers. So, there will be a Room At The Inn sign-up table in Adams Hall on Apr. 29. Sign-up sheets are also on the bulletin board and go through September. Please consult your calendars and commit to a time to help the homeless.

Thanks

... to Marilyn Barker, Pat Habben, Leslie Loving, Maryann Mace, Annie Marshall, and Vicki Skow, the Art 4 U Committee, who have worked to brighten Adams Hall.

Singletarians

The social group for adult singles at Eliot, has two events planned for Apr. 21:
Jazz Festival - contact Ronni Kahn.
Wine & Cheese Tasting - contact Sue Lunneman.

The Games Night has been rescheduled for May 11.

What's Going On?

Plan to attend a Town Hall Meeting after second service on Apr 22. Findings of the Asset Management Task Force will be discussed. (See Mar. 10-23 newsletter.)

Time will be allotted for other topics and comments. Come and find out what's going on.

Bridge

This month's game is the last Saturday of the month, Apr. 28th, at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall. Couples and singles welcome. Please contact Sue Webster for reservations. Come and enjoy a relaxing evening of bridge.

Men's Advance 2007

May 4th, 5th and 6th is the weekend for Eliot men (SNAG) to advance at Bergfried this year. Sign up on the lumber plank in the hallway. The cost is unchanged, at last year's bargain $10. Payment will be collected at Bergfried.

Detailed directions to and description of Bergfried are available on the web site. It is 76 miles from Eliot and takes only 90 minutes. The Bergfried entrance driveway is left off Hwy. 100, left of the green cottage at the top of the hill, at the steep grade sign. On the entrance driveway, you will see the old "Bergfried" sign in a new location.

Come on Friday for evening campfire camaraderie, or arrive on Saturday for the oven-baked pig dinner. The $10 fee covers it all: workshop participation, linens, dinner, and activity supplies. The campground has primitive facilities and excellent camaraderie. You can get by with just money, a sleeping bag, personal supplies, beverages, and food for meals other than Saturday night. Hotel accommodations are available in Hermann. The Phillips 66/Hardee's in Hermann is available for breakfast and lunch. The attached convenience store has all of life's essentials.

Final details, registration forms, and workshop information will be posted in the men's room. The key is to sign the lumber plank soon.

Bible Study

Join us Mon., May 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Adams Hall for Bible Study. This month we will be looking at an early Christian text which is not included in the Bible, but ordered the earliest worship services in the Christian tradition. The Didache is available on-line at www.earlychristianwritings.com. There are also introductory and commentary material on that site. Rev. Bonnie has printed copies of selections of this material for people who do not have computer access. Eliot Bible study is an open exploration of the texts of the Bible and early Jewish and Christian traditions, examined from a historical and text-critical perspective. All are welcome.

UU Book of the Month

The Book group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month to discuss a book about Unitarian Universalist history, theology, and practice. On Tue., May 8, we will discuss Blessing the World: What Can Save Us Now by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Ann Parker, edited by Robert Hardies. Rev. Dr. Parker is President of Starr King School for the Ministry, and this book is a compilation of her speeches and essays on putting UU theology and ethics into practice. Copies of the book are available for $16.00 from Rev. Bonnie, or from the UUA Bookstore at www.uua.org/bookstore.

Meditation

The meditation group meets on Tues. from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in Children's Chapel. The dates of the next two meetings are: May 8 and Jun. 19.

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. 24 - Tour of Earthways Home. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Eliot for 10:30 a.m. tour. Coordinator, Doris Yohe.

Tue., May 1 - My Life in France by Julia Child. Leader - Barbara Crowley

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

Easter morning was chillier than it has been in years, but my heart was warmed by all of the kind souls who helped out with our Easter activities or by donating cans for the can hunt. Thanks to all of you - you know who you are! Canned foods will be given to the Hosea House food pantry.

Summer Camp runs from 9:00 a.m. to noon from Aug. 6 - 10; registration forms are now available. The theme is "Stories the Hebrew Prophets Told". Please get your registration forms in as soon as possible. If you're interested in helping out this year, please speak to Joan Casey.

Before I sign off, I want to remind you to Think Global, Act Local. We all want and need a strong, vibrant Religious Education program, because that vitality enriches us all. It takes over 100 people each year to teach our Eliot Chapel K - 6th grade children. Our families alone can't meet this need. We need all kinds of people - empty nesters, non-parents, and singles. I'd like to remind families with children that we are a cooperative program and therefore request that parents teach a minimum of four semesters per child during their years at Eliot Chapel.

Help make the world a better place by signing up to teach. I'm looking forward to working with you next year!

Music Notes
-- Jan Chamberlin, Music Director,

Coming up:
Apr. 22, Earth Day - Nancy Collis and the Morris Dancers will provide the festive music for preludes. Choirs will combine with the Children's Chalice Choir to perform the Mi'kmaq Honour Song, a graphic score that simulates the woods of Canada.
Apr. 29 - Guest cellist, Erica Wise returns to play unaccompanied Bach. Both choirs will sing How Can I Keep From Singing? arranged by Burkhardt.

The Friends of Music concert on Sun., Apr. 22 at 3:00 p.m. will conclude the season for this concert series founded in part by our own Mary Mottl. The performers will be A Fifth Above Woodwind Quintet, Soprano Alison Moritz, and Trumpeter John Korak.

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is establishing a Designated Scholar Loan Program in memory of long-time Eliot member, Mary Mottl. Mary was a well known pianist and teacher who performed with the St. Louis Symphony and helped establish Eliot Chapel's music program. If you would like to honor Mary's memory, please visit www.sfstl.org/.

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