Churches & Spiritual Gatherings

Bill & Eli have shared their inspirational Song & Story messages at Sunday morning services and weekday workshops for many years now, primarily with Unitarian Universalist congregations, but have also shared messages with Center for Spiritual Living (Religious Science), Metaphysical Chapels, Unity of Christ, and other liberal minded congregations. They are also very open to presenting their messages with any, and all, denominations who will accept their teachings.

They have created several “Song and Story” themed messages that last 25-30 minutes long, which are designed to fit within a typical Sunday morning sermon timeslot. These presentations are perfect to fill an open pulpit due to ministerial vacations as well as for lay led congregations. As for weekday workshops, in order to fill a 1 to 1 ½ hour timeframe, a question/answer period follows the presentation.

Deeply steeped in the folk music tradition, they present singalongs (usually their original compositions), after telling the stories that relate to the song, which creates a powerful, and uplifting experience and message, and they are always more than happy to lead all of the music during a service (and typically do) with songs relating to the theme of the service.

Since music has a unique way of reaching out to people, and since Bill & Eli have a sizable, and always growing fan-base, a fringe benefit is to having them lead a service is that typical attendance at well-publicized services is often 25% higher than average.

Several of their themed messages which have been shared with multiple congregations are: “Advocating for Native American's”; “Black History Month”; “By Way of Compassion”; “Easter Sunday & Flower Communion”; “Empowering Yourself”; “For Those Who Have Served Our Country”; "MLK Weekend"; “Rising Up Through Adversity”, and several others. Besides these themes they are always willing to create new Song & Story presentations on demand.

Finally, Bill & Eli are always open to perform 2-hour benefit concerts on the Saturday night prior, or on the Sunday afternoon after a service.

Current Song & Story Messages:

“Advocating for Native Americans” is a presentation of original songs by Bill & Eli relating to Native American people. Covered in this presentation is the saga of Native Americans before and after Europeans came to their “so-called” New World. Songs and Stories cover Eli's quest to find out about her Arawak Indian tribe, the tribulations of Native Americans like Seminole leader Osceola; the Pima Indian, Ira Hayes; and more. This presentation fits in very well with UU Principles 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7.

“Black History Month” presents some facts related to notable civil right icons, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the Tuskegee Airmen, Harry T. Moore, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other influential people that led up to the Civil Rights movement. (This program is applicable to dates in February and dates surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend). our minds on socially significant issues. This presentation fits in very well with the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th UU Principles.

“By Way of Compassion” is based on a few of our personal experiences. As we spiritually grew, we came the realization that any human interactions of genuine tenderheartedness can have ripple effect of positive effects if, and when we pass it on and pay it forward with regularity. This presentation fits in very well with UU Principles 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7

“Easter Sunday & Flower Communion” is a dual-purpose Sunday service that shares personnel goals to live by and a confirmation that we should appreciate each day we are given in our lives so that we can be the best that we can be while growing and learning along the way. This presentation fits in very well with UU Principles 4 and 7.

“Empowering Yourself” shares our stories of being able to believe in ourselves with confidence, and trusting our own inner strength, allowing us to accomplish far beyond our initial personal expectations, making the differences we hope to achieve. With a few of our stories, we hope to relay this to you. This presentation fits in very well with UU Principles 1, 2, 6, and 7

“For Those Who Have Served Our Country– (Veterans Day)” has Bill & Eli sharing their original songs, while speaking of the some examples of veterans, alive and deceased. Subjects touch on the hard lives that many veterans deal with in the years after being relieved from duty dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD; the large percentage of homeless veterans; the existence of African-Americans in the military; and most important, why peace is always a better option than going to war. This presentation lines up with the 1st,2nd, 4th, and 6th UU Principles.

“Rising Up Through Adversity” consists of several of Eli's personal life stories, hoping with this message that you can find peace, comfort and encouragement from your own inner strengths to move forward and continue on your own life journey with hope and the knowledge that you can succeed in whatever you really want for your own lives.

“The Seven UU Principles Interpretedthrough Song” is a presentation of original songs written by Bill & Eli utilizing their own interpretations in song that relate to the seven UU Principles. These songs are based on a few of Bill & Eli's personal experiences, and as they grew within the UU dogma, and realized that their songs had much in common with UU beliefs than they realized during their first encounters with UU's. Beyond that, as Bill & Eli spiritually grew, they came realizationthat their songs have a positive ripple effect on many of those who have a first hand encounter with their songs, and believe if they continue on their musical mission they become even more aware of the reasons that they should continue on this UU journey.

“Transitions in Time” relates to ones personal anddeliberate passing through one phase inlife with a mindset of conscious aspirations aiming with clear focused intent towards a higher level of compete wholeness, improving ones past self.

Past Spiritual Gathering Performances:
2018, 19 & 22 Southeast UU Summer Institute (SUUSI), Cullowhee, NC
Buckman Bridge UU - Emerald Coast UU - Valparaiso, FL
First Existentialists Congregation in Atlanta, GA
Hope UU Church – Tulsa, OK
Manatee UU Fellowship in Bradenton, FL
Mosaic UU - Orange City, FL
Natures Coast UU - Citrus Springs, FL
Spirit of Life UU - Odessa, FL
UU Fellowship of Franklin, NC
UU of Bay County in Panama City, FL
UU of Brevard in W. Melbourne, FL
UU of Ft. Lauderdale, FL
UU of Galveston County, TX
UU of Greensboro, NC
UU of Hendersonville, NC
UU Church of Marlborough and Hudson, MA
UU of Jacksonville, FL
UU of Lakeland, FL
UU of Lake County in Eustis, FL
UU of Lexington, KY
UU of Marion County in Summerfield, FL
UU of Northborough, MA
UU of Putnam County in Palatka, FL
UU of St. Augustine, FL
UU of Tullahoma - Tullahoma, TN
UU of West Volusia - DeLand, FL
UU Peace Fellowship - Raleigh, NC

Center for Spiritual Living of Cape Coral, FL
Center for Spiritual Living of Greater Cincinnati, OH
Center for Spiritual Living of Daytona Beach. FL
Center for Spiritual Living of Naples, FL
Center for Spiritual Living of Tampa, FL
Radiance Center for Spiritual Living – Belleville, IL
Spiritual Enrichment Center of Dothan – Dothan, AL
Summit Spiritual Center - Fairlawn, OH
Christ Unity Church of Chattanooga, TN
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Titusville, FL
Metaphysical Chapel of Roanoke, VA
People's Church of Divine Prophecy – Daytona Beach, FL
Unity of Orlando, FLAnd many more...

Click HERE to book Bill & Eli at your future Spiritual Gathering.