In the Interim Rev. Dr. Maureen Killoran

January 2013

Greenleaves

Our Mission

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

Eliot Unitarian Chapel 100 South Taylor Ave.

Kirkwood, MO 63122-4310 314.821.0911

Sunday Worship

9:30 and 11:00 am

Office Hours

Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

The Newsletter of Eliot Unitarian Chapel

email: mkilloran@eliotchapel.org

New Year’s Resolutions

Sometimes you reach a point where the spirit seems to have gone out of things. New Year's resolutions, for example. It's been decades since I took those lists seriously (you know the kind). In this New Year I resolve to: 1. Lose 10 pounds; 2. Write letters to the editor; 3. Lose 10 more pounds. . . and so on. I started wondering what resolutions would look like that really called me to change, or to give up something I've been holding close. How about: * Appreciate small things daily * Let a wrong live in its own time * Practice receiving gracefully * Say 'thank you' to the sunrise * Smile and look mysterious in the supermarket * Buy a big box of crayons, and color a B-I-G rainbow * Speak my mind before I'm upset * Ask a 12-year-old for a movie recommendation, then GO * Ditto with a book recommendation -- read it * Re-think one of my most cherished beliefs (really re-think it from the most basic pre-suppositions on up) * Find a meaningful substitute for 'have a nice day' * Feel the fear and DO IT ANYWAY * Good luck with these – or your own. With a warm heart, I greet you with the old phrase: Happy New Year. Wherever it takes us, may we make the choice to participate with love, with caring, with commitment and yes, with joy, in this church and in the world. Blessings, ~ Maureen

Maureen Killoran Interim Minister

Greenleaves Board of Trustees

Marc Fried, Chair William Lemon, Chair-elect Gary Gray, Treasurer Louise Bradshaw, Secretary

Lea Ann Baker Sheryl Foster Steve Mennerick Linda Senn

Eliot Chapel Clergy

Rev. Dr. Maureen Killoran Interim Minister

Rev. Dr. Michael Hennon Minister of Pastoral Care

Annie Van Dielen Student Minister

Rev. John Robinson Minister Emeritus

Eliot Chapel Staff

Scott Stewart Religious Education Director

Christie Lee Religious Education Assistant

Jan Chamberlin Music Director

Dr. Leon Burke, III Choir Director

Pianists: Sue Goldford Dr. David Nalesnik

Charles Lewis Administrator

Nancy Spargo Social Justice Coordinator Jamacia Stanfield Administrative Assistant

Terri Burtin Communications Assistant Myron Simms Facilities Assistant

Ed Liebman Sunday Custodian

Page 2

Eliot Unitarian Chapel is named in honor of William Greenleaf Eliot (1811–1887), founder of Washington University, who brought Unitarianism and

a progressive civic spirit to the American West.

The Ministerial Search Committee has been deep in the search process over the holidays!

We received names of ministers beginning in November, and exchanged packets with a wonderful group of people who are searching for their next call. We are currently in the process of phone interviews and further reference checking to decide which applicants we will meet face to face as pre-candidates over the next couple months. After a candidate is chosen, the congregational vote to call that individual will happen in the spring. At every step of the way we keep the hearts, minds, and voices of all in the congregation who have so generously shared their views and supported us through this process.

Although we are quite excited about the ministers who have shown interest in Eliot, we are unable to share names with the congregation or discuss details about interested ministers. There are several good reasons for this confidential-ity. The following is a summary of these reasons paraphrased from the UUA Ministerial Settlement Handbook:

• Ministers may not have told their present congregation that they’re contemplat-ing a move. Their congregants are entitled to hear the news from their own minister at the appropriate time.

• “Leaks” of information can damage a minister’s relationship with their present congregation and could jeopardize our chances of attracting that minister.

• When the identities of applicants are known, it heightens the competitive aspect of the search process. It hurts collegial feelings among ministers and can create hard feelings among congregations who share interest in a particular minister.

Although the MSC will be busy meeting pre-candidates in January and February, please remember to continue sharing your thoughts with us. You can email us anytime at eliotsearch@eliotchapel.org.

Yours in Service, The Ministerial Search Committee

Jan Erdman, Ted Lau, Kevin Mitchell, Jordi Prats, Trina Priese, Amy Stark, Julie Triplett

Search Season

email: eliotsearch@eliotchapel.org

Church Office Closed The Eliot Chapel church offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 21 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.

Page 3 www.eliotchapel.org

Don’t Be Bashful

I received a compliment about our church today; someone said to me that everybody seems so much happier at church this year. That person was trying to give credit to the professional religious leadership, but I think of the health of our congregation a little bit differently. I believe we are learning—as a congregation, lay leaders, members, friends and ministers alike—to be a little more responsive to the spiritual needs that we each have, and the results are bearing fruit within Eliot Chapel. We can do more, however. And this is where you come in.

I am asking each and every one of you to not hesitate when you hear news of someone in our midst who might not be happy: who may be going into the hospital for surgery, who lost their job, whose relative may have died, or who is facing a difficult time struggling with the many life issues

Rev. Michael Hennon, Minister of Pastoral Care

email: mhennon@eliotchapel.org

Supporting the CLF Ministry in January

For the month of January, our offering will be shared with the Prison Ministry of the UU Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF). More than two mil-

lion people are incarcerated in prisons and jails across the United States. Like many Americans, most prisoners have never heard of Unitarian Universalism, and prisoners who have 'non-traditional' spiritual beliefs often despair of finding a religious community that will respect their beliefs and encourage their spiritual growth while they are incar-cerated. Every week, prison-

ers' membership applications to the CLF echo what UUs hear every Sunday during coffee hour: "I can't believe I found a church that will let me believe what I already believe, and still help me explore and deepen my personal spirituality" ... "Oh, how I wish I'd found y'all sooner! When I think about how my life might be so different today."

During

November

Eliot Chapel

raised

$2,300 for

PROMO

Chaplain Patty Franz, a UU community minister, sends prisoners a monthly reading packet and offers online courses and spiritual counseling. She also matches volunteers with prisoners in a letter-writing ministry, an exchange of friendly letters on topics of mutual interest.

Our contributions support this ministry, allowing the CLF to offer a free membership to any prisoner who chooses to join the CLF. For more information, see http://clf.uua.org/pdfs/The-Prison-Ministry-Sponsorship-Flyer.pdf.

Thank you to everyone who contributed at the Thanksgiving Bread Service to the Partner Church bread collection. We raised $2,804, all of which will be sent to our partner church, Nyaradszentmarton, in Transyl-vania to buy bread for the elderly poor. Your generosity is really appreciated.

~Beth Rossow for the Partner Church Link

Eliot also

raised

$2,804 for our

partner church

on Bread

Sunday

that affect wellbeing. You can first ask: “Is it okay to let the ministers know about this?” And I respect the desire and need to not break any confidences. But don’t be bashful. Anything that is communicated to the ministers will be held in confidence and treated with discretion.

We might not be happier. But we can be in touch with the struggles and needs members and friends have. As a caring, religious community, we can increase our capacity to offer compas-sion, help, wholeness and healing. Speak up. Speak up and tell the leadership of the church what is going on, please.

Page 4 Greenleaves

In Touch with RE

“It is not possible for civilization to flow backward while there is youth in the world.”

~Helen Keller

A new year. A time for fresh beginnings and resolutions. A chance to ponder all the year may have in store. And an opportunity to consider one’s own personal role in helping each year reach its full potential for growth and personal transformation.

For many Eliot youth, the early months of the calen-dar year are full of excitement, and, perhaps, some apprehension. For some youth, a new year marks the beginning of the “home stretch” as major life transitions rapidly approach, especially for high school seniors. For Junior High youth, a new adven-ture begins as many of the youth transition from exploring various faith traditions to jumping head-first into the Our Whole Lives program, led by Cindy Duhigg, Justin Carney, Elizabeth Lowder, and Caroline Day. Many thanks for your leadership and dedication.

And for the Eliot staff and youth volunteers, we couldn’t be more excited about some of the exciting youth activities coming up. I’m thrilled to be work-

ing with Dave Day, Mary Hoehne, Deanna Woodroffe, and Annie Van Dielen as we sup-port the efforts of the Senior High Youth Group to prepare and lead worship on Youth Sunday, February 10. Please plan to join others at Eliot to experience the messages and gifts that these wonderful youth bring to Eliot.

And children and youth who are in kindergarten and older, you’re invited to share your special tal-ents (music, dance, theater, etc.) with your Eliot friends on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the annual Youth Coffeehouse. All are invited to this evening of fellowship and festivities, featuring Eliot youth sharing their talents with the faith com-munity and, I might add, delicious desserts at inter-mission. Look for more information, and invita-tions, in the days and weeks to come. Happy New Year, Scott

~ Scott Stewart, Director of Religious Education

email: children@eliotchapel.org

A special thank you to all of the children, youth, and adults who

participated in Pageant festivities in December. Fifty children

and youth were actively involved in sharing the Christmas story

with Eliot members, friends, and families. Over 100 Eliot folks

enjoyed a holiday family potluck following the pageant. We are

particularly grateful to Denise Mussman and Jeanne Kloeckner

for serving as Pageant Co-directors, Phoebe Mussman &

Hannah Biggs for serving as Youth Directors, and Colleen Lee,

Melissa Priese, Eavan O’Neil, and Rev. Maureen Killoran for

serving as narrators.

Page 5 www.eliotchapel.org

Music Notes

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Many thanks to all the musicians who shared their talents through the holidays! If you play an instrument but have not been heard yet at Eliot, please make a resolu-tion to get involved. Our members are a valuable resource of inspiration.

~ Jan Chamberlin, Music Director

email: music@eliotchapel.org

email: eliotboard@eliotchapel.org

Guest At Your Table Reminder

This is just a reminder that Guest At Your Table boxes should be returned to Eliot Chapel no later than Sunday, January 6, if they haven’t been already. Boxes can be dropped off at the church office. A special thanks to Mary Lu Durbin and Anne Meneely for tabulating this year’s contributions.

In Sympathy Our condolences to Eliot families who have lost loved ones recently:

Judy Evans, whose mother, Audrey Fisher, died on December 15.

News From the Board of Trustees

As we enter the holiday season, the Board has begun its work on drafting interpretations of its policies. We have kept Rev. Maureen drafting interpretations of the ends statements. We have appointed a subcommittee to review our by-laws. We have welcomed Sheryl Foster to the Board. She was quickly thrown into the fire in December and will be joining us at our Board retreat in early January to advance our learning with monitoring of Board policies.

The Board wishes everyone a safe and joyful holiday season.

~Marc Fried, Chair

Eliot Nominating Committee Needs You It is time for the Nominating Committee to get to work for the next year. That begins with find-ing two people to each fill a three-year term on the Nominating Committee, and two people to act as alternates for a one-year term. The Nomi-nating Committee presents the slate of candi-dates for the Board at the annual meeting in May. The time commitment is not long, but it is a vital part of helping to select the future lay leaders of Eliot. Please contact the church office if you are interested, or if you have names to suggest for membership on the Nominating Committee. If you'd like to know more about this committee before signing up, please contact Ann Petlin, committee chair, at nominating@eliotchapel.org.

Congratulations and Blessings to

Mark and Beth Rossow, whose daughter Molly was married at Eliot on November 24.

Bill and Jan Erdman, whose son Nat was married on December 15.

Page 6 Greenleaves

Eliot Chapel Welcomes Rev. Dr. John Buehrens On January 27 we are pleased to welcome Rev. John Buehrens to our pulpit. A former UUA president, Buehrens is author of five books, most recently “Universalists and Unitarians in America: A People's History" (2011), and recipient of three honorary doctorates.

As UUA president, Rev. John emphasized building relationships with congregations, and visited over 600 of them, in 50 states and eight Canadian provinces, often to dedicate 135 new or expanded buildings. During his tenure, annual UUA giving more than doubled and

consulting services to help congregations were enhanced. High school youth involvement increased five-fold. College groups and campus ministries increased six-fold.

After leading the UUA for eight years, Rev. John chose to return to congregational ministry. His other books include “A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion” (2010) with Rebecca Ann Parker; “Understanding The Bible: An Intro for Skeptics, Seekers, & Religious Liberals” (2002); “A Chosen Faith: An Intro to Unitarian Universalism” (2nd ed., 1998); and “The Uses of Memory: Sermons” (1992).

Is It Time For You to Join Eliot Chapel? You’ve been attending Eliot Chapel for a while. You’ve either taken an introductory class, or vis-ited with a minister, or read materials about Uni-tarian Universalism. You are supporting (or are ready to support) the church financially within your means. Now it’s time to consider stepping up to Membership. We’d love to welcome YOU into the Eliot family. The Membership Book will be open after both services on January 6, and on the first Sunday of every month throughout the year. Please contact Debbie Ross at membership@eliotchapel.org or Rev. Maureen at mkilloran@eliotchapel.org if you’d like more information. (Remember, you must be a current member in order to vote on calling our new minister, at the congregational meeting to be held in April.)

Welcome to our Newest Members! We welcome the following individuals who joined the Eliot community in December: Maurya GaiaMauer, N. Jane Copeland, Heather Bechtel, Jim Hermann, Esther Hermann, Tamlin Blackwell, Stacey Broll, Jean Babcock, Dylan McDonald, Jennifer Gosnell, Cathy Brown, Christine Klein, Betty Cross, Ron Hovis, Rita Hovis, Mike & Pat Jones, and Dick Gordon.

During services on Sunday, Jan. 27, we will have a ceremony welcoming all who have joined the church since the summer.

Interested in Membership? Plan to attend

“Introduction to Our Faith”

Saturday, February 16 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

in Adams Hall

Join Rev. Maureen Killoran for a more inti-

mate look at Unitarian Universalism – its

history, its meaning and its relevance in

today’s world. Lay leaders will be on hand to

share some of the history of Eliot Chapel and

to take you on a story-filled tour of our build-

ing. Your questions are an important part of

the experience. This program will be particu-

larly helpful to those who are new to our faith

or are seeking membership and greater

involvement in the Eliot community, but long-

time members who would like a refresher are

welcome too!

Lunch and refreshments are provided and

childcare is available. Please reserve your

space no later than Friday, February 8. You may sign up on the bulletin board between

the Sanctuary and Adams Hall, email

membership@eliotchapel.org, or call the front

office at 314-821-0911.

Page 7 www.eliotchapel.org

Upcoming Bergfried Events Celebrate winter with Bergfried! We have upcoming events, both at Eliot and at Bergfried. All mem-bers and friends are welcome. We particularly encourage those who have not been to the property before to consider attending the day hike to get to know Eliot's 700-acre retreat near Hermann, Missouri. See you there!

• Potluck Dinner: Saturday, Jan. 12 in Adams Hall, starting at 6:30 pm. With the Bergfried Art for Youth Exhibit in Adams Hall, it is a perfect time for a potluck sponsored by the Bergfried Team. Bring a favorite dish to share, and enjoy the camaraderie. Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board or contact bergfriedreservations@gmail.com.

• Hike Bergfried: Even in the "deep midwinter" there is plenty to see and do at Bergfried. The Bergfried team is sponsoring the first day hike of the year on Saturday, Jan. 19. All activities are optional - a guided hike or two will be offered, but feel free to come out and do your own thing or do nothing! Bring sturdy shoes and provisions for the day. Meet at the Eliot Chapel parking lot at 9:00 am to caravan or carpool (or come out separately if you prefer). Please contact Shawn Cummings to RSVP or email bergfriedreservations@gmail.com for more information.

email: bergfried@eliotchapel.org

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be in a covenant group, or even lead one? Come join us Sunday, Feb. 24 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm in Adams Hall for a Potluck Salad Bar and Mixer. Learn what members and leaders are saying about covenant groups and participate in a ‘sample’ group for first-hand experience. Sign-up tables will be in Adams Hall February 10 & 17 or RSVP to covenantgroups@eliotchapel.org.

WATCH THIS SPACE.

WATCH THIS SPACE.

WATCH THIS SPACE.

News is coming about Eliot Chapel’s canvass – our once-annual request for your pledge of support for the mission and programs of Eliot. With a new minister starting

in the fall, we can look forward to new opportunities to make a difference in the world – and in our own faith community. So . . . watch this space, and start thinking . . . How will YOU be part of the next chapter of Eliot Chapel’s ministry? Questions? Want to

help? Contact canvass team chair Ken Denson at canvass@eliotchapel.org.

Page 8 Greenleaves

A Good Idea Someone had a good idea when attending the Social Justice Kickoff last fall, the suggestion that we have a Social Justice Fair.

The first order of business is to get better acquainted. Speakers will help us learn about the missions, the programs provided, and the people served. We will learn how our contributions impact the organizations’ ability to carry out their work, which is vital to our continued involvement and support.

The second order of business is for us to learn about opportunities to get involved, celebrate our accom-plishments, meet the Team Leaders and Project Coordinators, and learn about the activities for each. It’s pretty hard to get involved if one is not aware of the opportunities!

Last but not least, is the fellowship. Part of engag-ing in service is the experience of a shared effort, shared values, and yes, relationships that develop or are enhanced. Social Justice is at the core of the UU principles, and one reason many people choose to be part of the Eliot community. A potluck will help us get to know one another that much better.

Come join us at our inaugural Social Justice Fair, Sunday, Jan.13, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in Adams Hall. Bring a dish to share, and help celebrate our accomplishments and opportunities.

~Nancy Spargo Social Justice Coordinator

Ongoing Opportunities

Winter Outreach: • Collection Drive: We are collecting blankets,

hats, gloves/mittens, socks, and scarves for

adults through the end of January.

• Food Preparation: We make hearty casse-

roles and stews to feed residents of the

temporary shelters on days when soup

kitchens are not open. Contact Nancy

Shepard at linshepard@sbcglobal.net if you

are interested.

• Hosts: We are supporting the Quaker Friends

in their efforts to provide temporary shelter

with monetary contributions and by spend-

ing the night with residents. Contact Susan

Cunningham at suejimdoer@msn.com.

Kirk Care: • Assessment teams meet with new clients in

their homes to determine the scope of help

that Kirk Care can provide. Training and sup-

port materials are provided to assist in these

meetings. Time commitment would be

several hours per each new client and you

would be called approximately once per

month.

• Food Delivery: Gather food from the Kirk

Care pantry for delivery to clients. Deliverers

are called on as needed, usually a few times

per month. Training on pantry procedures is

provided.

For more information on these opportunities

to serve our neighbors in need, contact

Mary Quinn at snyderandquinn@mac.com.

We can’t do it all, but what CAN we do?

email: socialjustice@eliotchapel.org

Page 9 www.eliotchapel.org

Nurses for Newborns Diaper Drive We exceeded our goal of collecting 2500 diapers on behalf of the families served! Thanks to everyone who contributed!

Habitat for Humanity We had our first build day, and the reports were favorable about the participation on behalf of Eliot Chapel. Thanks to everyone who volunteered and contributed to making a new home for some lucky family!

Kirk Care A small group represented Eliot Chapel in a community-wide effort resulting from a food drive for the holidays. Thanks to all who helped sort and box food for distribution!

Crisis Nursery A loyal team continues to volunteer on a monthly basis, providing healthy, comforting interactions and supervi-sion to the babies and children, as well as behind-the-scenes activities when the children’s needs are not as prominent. Thanks to everyone who makes a difference in the lives of these children who are temporarily separated from their families.

Team Sign-ups Every team that requested volunteers has recruited at least a minimum number of people, with many teams of a healthy size. Team Leaders and Project Coordinators will be meeting and organizing activities in early January. If you have not signed up, but want to participate, OR if you have signed up, and are interested in assuming a leadership role, contact Nancy Spargo at socialjustice@eliotchapel.org.

Social Justice in Action: How – and WHAT – Are We Doing?

Social Justice Fair Sunday, January 13 1:00 – 3:00 pm in Adams Hall Bring a dish to share for a potluck, to be followed by presentations by the organizations affiliated with our Social Justice program. Speakers will describe their services and explain how our support impacts their ability to help others.

Come learn about the various organizations, hear how our contributions make a difference, and celebrate our efforts in Social Justice with your brothers and sisters of Eliot Chapel.

Women’s Alliance January Events Women’s Alliance typically meets on the first, third, and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 9:30 to 11:45 am. Two of those weeks they meet in Adams Hall and one week is a field trip. If you would like to learn more about the group, please join us for an upcoming meeting or contact Sue Blandford at womensalliance@eliotchapel.org.

Tuesday, Jan. 8 - Book Discussion. Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr. Discussion Leader - Dot Storer

Tuesday, Jan. 22 - Simplifying Your Life - Jennifer Stewart, Professional Organizer. Coordinator - Ann Howard

Tuesday, Jan. 29 - Clothing and Jewelry Exchange. 10:00 to 11:30. Coordinator - Janie Fowler

Page 10 Greenleaves

25th Annual Eliot Book Fair March 8-10 Would you like to win a $25 gift certificate to use at the upcom-ing Eliot Book Fair? Design a new logo for the 25th anniver-sary Book Fair. Contest entry forms are in the DuBois Library and entries are due to the church office by Sunday, Jan. 6.

We are accepting gently used books, both paper-back and hardback, adult and children's, fiction and non-fiction as well as audio books with CDs. Please NO encyclopedias, textbooks, computer manuals, magazines, pamphlets or audiovisuals. If you have questions, contact Sue Blandford at bookfair@eliotchapel.org.

In the dark of winter shines a light Better known as Chili & Games Night! Bring your family, prepare for some fun Bring dessert and chili and we’ll vote for #1. Date: Saturday, February 2 Time: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Competitions: Chili cook-off + dessert bake-off Games: Charades, Balderdash, Scrabble and MORE Childcare: Provided—more details soon Volunteers: Welcome! Please contact Pam & Cordell Jeffries at pamela.d.jeffries@gmail.com / cordell@cordellonline.com

Saturday, February 2 5:30 pm

Back by Popular Demand: Chili & Games Night

2013 Calendar Reminder As we begin a new year and pur-chase new calendars, we are also looking forward to the probabil-ity that the congregation will be asked to call a new Lead Minister in the spring. Inevitably thoughts turn to important dates. When will this hap-pen? By way of preparation, we are blocking out the period April 13 – 28 as a “window” in which Candidating Week will occur. The hope/plan/expectation is that the Ministerial Search Com-mittee will invite their ministerial candidate to be with us for two of those three weekends plus the week between. Other than regular meetings, APRIL 13-28 will be kept FREE OF ALL CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. Please mark these dates in your personal calendar, so you can plan to be available for this momentous event in the life of Eliot Chapel.

Page 11 www.eliotchapel.org

Women's Weekend April 6-7

Our retreat is early this year and takes place at Camp Wyman

in Eureka. Learn more at www.eliotwomensweekend.com. Over 50 women attend this fun event and we want your input. We need help finding WORK-SHOPS and leadership in making the event a success. Come to the next Women's Week-end meeting on Sunday, Jan. 6 at 12:15 pm in Room 005. If you cannot make the meet-ing, contact Carolyn Burke at womensweekend@eliotchapel.org with your workshop ideas. The deadline to submit your workshop ideas is January 27.

37th Annual Renaissance Madrigal Highly Successful

A huge thanks to the Eliot Chapel community for supporting this year’s Madri-gal! By eliminating the dinner from the evening, we reduced somewhat the work-load for our wonderful volunteers, but there were still more than 80 members of the Eliot community who volunteered for work shifts at, or in preparation for, the event, and a number volunteered for multiple shifts. Together they allowed us to entertain a total of 252 guests, from both inside and outside the Eliot community, over the three nights of the theatrical and musical performance, and a wonderful time was had by all. Click here to go to the Eliot website at http://www.eliotchapel.org/specialevents to see a list of everyone who contributed to another Madrigal success.

Wondering how things all fit together? Unsure whom to ask about starting a new project? In a large and busy congregation, these questions can sometimes be confusing. Please visit the Eliot website (http://www.eliotchapel.org/policiesandbylaws) or the bulletin board at church and check out the updated version of Eliot Chapel’s organization chart. The chart may help you trace lines of relationship and accountability, and figure out who, what, where, when you want some information or to get something done.

Organization, Anyone?

Questions? Contact Rev. Maureen

(mkilloran@eliotchapel.org) or administrator Charlie Lewis (admin@eliotchapel.org)

UUA and UCC Consider Acting As 'Partners in Justice' Leaders of the United Church of Christ spent two days in Boston at the end of November exploring ways to collaborate with the Uni-tarian Universalist Association and its congregations. It was the first time a delegation of UCC leader-ship had come to Boston to dis-cuss how the two liberal denominations might part-ner with one another. Learn more about this meet-ing on the UUWorld website at http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/281310.shtml?utm_source=t.

Worship in January

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

ST. LOUIS, MO

PERMIT NO. 1238

100 South Taylor Avenue Kirkwood, MO 63122-4310

Dated material. Please deliver by January 1, 2013

Sunday, Jan. 6 – 9:30 & 11:00 am WHAT DO EVANGELICALS HAVE THAT WE DON'T? - Rev. Dr. Maureen Killoran Speaking of mainline Protestantism, Episcopalian priest Frederick Schmidt wrote, "We can only console ourselves for so long by arguing that 'small is beautiful' or 'we are too sophisticated to be popular.' " Schmidt suggests many “traditional religions” would benefit by looking seriously at the dynamics of Evangelicalism. What, if anything, can his insights offer UUs in this new year?

Sunday, Jan. 13 – 9:30 & 11:00 am TO TOUCH THE PAIN GENTLY AND GIVE IT A NAME - Rev. Michael Hennon In a community of love and justice, many are “walking wounded,” people who have known pain and suffering, and have survived. Perhaps they have healed some from their own afflictions of the heart, mind and spirit. They pay it forward by reaching out to help others who have suffered, helping them to begin a process of healing. What does it take to touch pain gently, and give it a name? An exploration of caring, self-care and healing.

Sunday, Jan. 20 – 9:30 & 11:00 am 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY ORDINARY PEOPLE - Rev. Susan Maginn Most of us assume our successes make our lives vital. While successes are worthy of celebration, it may be when we are at our most ordinary that we are truly in line with the power of the universe. Rev. Maginn, ordained by Eliot in 2006, lives in Portland OR, where she is focusing on her young family and her spiritual development.

Sunday, Jan. 27 – 9:30 & 11:00 am YOUR MISSION (SHOULD YOU ACCEPT IT) - Rev. Dr. John Buehrens Past president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, Dr. Buehrens is author of five books, including the popular “A Chosen Faith” and, most recently “Universalists and Unitarians in America: A People's History.” One of UU’s most dynamic speakers, Dr. Buehrens brings both breadth of vision and scholarship to his words. After serving for 10 years in Needham, MA, he is now interim minister at the UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula in California. We will have the joy of welcoming new members as part of each service. (See page 6 for more.)

Children in grades K-4 begin each Sunday in the

Sanctuary with their families for the beginning of the worship service before

leaving for their RE classes.