Member Information

Members and Friends of the Eliot Church,
 
This section of our website is for our use to keep us informed about goings on and to make it easier for us to gather and store information.    You may use this section to view the coffee hour/flowers sign-up list and to send a note to sign up.  Our committees are shown along with the persons serving on those committees.

We plan to add features in the future.  Committees can post their meeting agendas and minutes.  Buildings and Grounds and Parish Committee already have pages they use for this purpose.

This is a section of our website for us to use, so please send any suggestions for additional ways you'd like to use this to info@theeliotchurch.org.

Special Church Meeting June 10, 2012

There will be a brief Special Meeting of the church held immediately after the church service on June 10 to vote on the recommendations of the Building Task Force/ Finance Committee.  After extensive deliberation the Task Force has recommended a scope of work for each of our three buildings to deal with years of deferred maintenance.  Work has already begun on the parsonage which requires extensive work in the basement, structural repairs, electrical service upgrades, and exterior painting.  The Parish Committee has voted $48,000 in existing funds to cover this work.

The Task Force recommends that Memorial Hall be restored (and enhanced) for our community gatherings.  Although we have managed creatively this year, we have missed a place of our own big enough for the whole congregation.  Work in Memorial Hall will include an enhanced drainage system, a new floor, removal of old equipment and enhanced lighting.  Ideally we would like to do the work this summer during school vacation.

Our old church is actually in better shape than we feared after the Hogan report.  But here, too, we have deferred maintenance.   The biggest project over time will be the restoration of the windows.  We will begin with the basement windows and window wells.  Another priority is the repair and restoration of the little basement kitchen.

For a more complete outline of the projects go to Building Project.   The projected cost for these repairs (including the $48,000 already voted) is $132,800.  However, our maintenance expenses will be on-going in the years to come as our buildings require new roofs, painting, etc.  To this end the Finance Committee has recommended  a Capital Campaign with a goal of $200,000 to be run over the next three years.  With substantial advance pledges in hand the Parish Committee is confident that we can reach this goal.  The congregation will be asked to ratify the Capital Campaign at the Special Meeting on June 10.

Snow Policy

When weather conditions are severe and the potential for road accidents increases, regular worship services, Sunday school classes, and scheduled activities will not take place.  A message to this effect will be placed on the church phone lines (508/653-2244) by 8:00 AM.  This will always be the case when the governor declares a snow emergency.  Cancellations can also be heard on WBZ NewsRadio 1030am at five past and thirty-five past the hour on Saturdays and Sundays.

Eliot Church becomes an Open and Affirming congregation

At a special meeting of the Eliot Church, members unanimously voted for the church to become an Open and Affirming congregation. The vote culminates a two-year process of reflection and discussion within the church membership.  Open and Affirming Committee member Randy Glidden was delighted with the outcome.  “Members of our church come together from many backgrounds,” he said.  “And this vote reaffirms our belief in the dignity and equality of all people.”

The Eliot Church Open and Affirming Statement reads: