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A Note from Rev. Bonnie

The Rev. Gordon McKennon tells a story about faith. You may have a reliable car that you keep in the garage. Knowing that it is in full working order, you don't think much about it. Time passes, and you have no particular use for the car. But then something happens, and you run out to the garage and hop in your reliable car, ready to go. Only, it doesn't start. The battery has died.

A simple enough story, but McKennon says he couldn't resist the impulse to turn it into an illustration. Many people, he thinks, treat faith the same way. They don't pay much attention, trusting that it will be there if they need it. But if they don't charge it with regular use, week by week, even day by day, they will find in a time of need that the battery has gone dead.

How can we be sure that our faith will be there in a time of crisis or need? Well, because doubt is a part of faith, this is not an easy question. Difficult times always bring up our doubts. But regular practice, even in small ways, can help build a sense of belonging in the universe that will support us in tough times. Church can be a part of that - the weekly charge that keeps our batteries running. Little home rituals can be a very important part of feeling "at home" in our own lives: lighting candles, sharing joys and sorrows at dinner, singing together, making regular donations of food or clothing or toys to others. These are things your children will remember. They will be part of their self-identity when, sometime later, they wonder why they were put on this earth.

In our faith, we don't teach that everything will be all right if you are good - or good enough. We know that there are times when things aren't all right, no matter how hard you've tried. We do believe in some foundational elements of religious life: reverence for the earth and the beauty of nature, love of ourselves and others, and an ethic of helping those less fortunate than yourself. Regular practice of these elements of religion helps us to keep our sense of grounding when life buffets us about. I hope this summer season gives all of our children and families some sense of recharge!

Faithfully, Bonnie

Summer RE Calendar

Teacher Recruitment

Active teacher recruitment for 2003-2004 is officially over and I'm sure you'll all miss Jim Hunstein's witty poetic pleas over the past month. Thanks to all of you who have signed up to teach for next year. However, we still have some teaching slots left for the fall semester (9/7 - 1/18) - and a lot of openings for the second half of the year. If you haven't signed up to teach yet, please consider one of the openings listed below:

• 9:15 - 2 slots in the Nursery. (The nursery is year long - you are in the classroom about the same number of times as when you teach one semester, just spread over the entire church year.)
• 10:45 - 1 1st grade teacher
• 10:45 - 1 4th grade teacher

We also have openings for 2nd semester (1/25 - 6/6). At 9:15, we have 1 Intermediate slot, 1 2nd/3rd grade slot, and 1 5th grade slot. At 10:45, we need 2 to 3 teachers for every single class from Intermediate through 5th grade! Please contact Joan Casey at all of her available phone numbers and email addresses to sign up today!

Register for Summer Camp Now

Be sure to get your Summer Camp registration forms in as soon as possible! We need to know who is coming so we can plan accordingly. Camp is for kids entering Kindergarten through 5th grade next fall. It will run August 4 - 8 (Monday through Friday) and last from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon each morning. Our focus this summer is the Old Testament. We will look at stories, sing songs, enjoy yummy treats, play games - in other words have lots of fun! Forms are available on Joan Casey's office door, in the foyer, and in Visitors Corner.

Summer RE Is As Fun As Can Be

Come join the fun this summer during Sunday morning Summer RE class. We'll be exploring the wonderful world of Dr. Seuss. This is a multi-age class for children 4 and up. We will also offer child care for younger children. Be sure to get your Summer RE registration forms in to Joan Casey as soon as possible. Forms are located throughout the building (see above article!)

Please Bring For Father's Day…

For our Father's Day service this year, we will celebrate our fathers/father figures together. Please bring something that reminds you of your father and add it to our tribute table during the service. You may wish to say a few words about your father or offer it in silent tribute. You will collect the item at the end of the service.

If you have any questions about the service, please contact Joan Casey for clarification. The Religious Education Committee and I hope to make this a meaningful intergenerational worship experience.

Beautiful Music

Thanks to Judy Lindquist for single handedly creating the talented youth orchestra that performed for us recently. If you'd like to know who the members of the orchestra were, be sure to pick up a paper copy of REjuvenation!

Play Group Summer Plans

The play group will meet in the Eliot Chapel nursery at 9:30 a.m. on June 6 and August 1. A visit to Grant's Farm is planned for Friday, June 20. Everyone should meet in front of the gift shop by the tram station at 9:30 a.m. Admission is $5 per car. Please RSVP to Wendy Cutshaw for this outing. On Friday, July 18, the play group will meet at the Kirkwood Park playground. The sprinkler may be turned on, so bring a change of clothes. And on Friday August 15, at 9:30, the group will meet at the Watson Trails Park playground.

For further information about the play group or to RSVP, please contact Wendy Cutshaw.

Did You Know...

...that even if you don't come to church on Sundays during the summer, your family can still celebrate your Unitarian Universalism at home and on the road? Here's some ways:

• Ask Joan for a list of books that relate to the 7 Principles and read at least one book for each principle.
• Call Tracey Howe-Koch at 314-835-9275 and volunteer to help in our new Eliot Chapel intergenerational garden during the summer. (Principle 7)
• Come to the Father's Day service on June 15 with an item that reminds you of your dad and pay tribute to him during the service. (Principle 1)
• Write a poem about peace. (Principle 6)
• Have a family meeting and create your own family summer holiday. Decide together what you are celebrating (your ancestors or family peace day, for example), what date it will be, and how you will celebrate it. Don't forget to have "traditional" foods! (Principle 5)
• Once a week, have a different family member lead a family blessing or prayer at dinner. (Principle 4)

Let me know ( ) if your family thinks of another way to practice your faith this summer.

For More News...

To learn about graduating seniors, new families & babies at Eliot, and our kids' June & July birthdays, be sure to pick up a copy of REjuvenation! during your next visit to Eliot.

This newsletter is a product of the Eliot Chapel Religious Education Department. Please direct any articles, comments, or questions to Joan Casey (Religious Education Director) at 314-821-0911 or at . An article must be submitted no later than the 20th of each month to ensure it appearing in the next issue.

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