Volunteer Spotlight April 2026: Tim Gardner and Ann Lemon

Ann Lemon and Tim Gardner

Two beautiful souls doing great work at Eliot Chapel!


We are honored to recognize Tim Gardner and Ann Lemon for the major part they play in growing our Eliot community. Starting Point has a major impact on church growth!


Tim and Ann Co-lead Starting Point - a four week group workshop for folks who are exploring making Eliot Chapel their church home. Prospective members  attend Starting Point before they consider membership. Ann and Tim are great leaders proven by the number of people who join Eliot after they complete the four Starting Point Sessions. Ann and Tim are faithful in offering Starting Point three times a year. Their dedication to the growth of our church is impressive. They offered an extra Saturday session because so many people wanted to attend! Eliot Unitarian Universalist Chapel has grown because this course is so successful in inviting participants to engage in the membership process. When people join, they join understanding Unitarian Universalism and Eliot Chapel. Informed members remain faithful members.


Tim and Ann are also involved in many other aspects of Eliot Chapel. They are able to shine their light to perspective members and serve as an example heartfelt commitment.

Ann has attended Eliot for 23 years and remembers that, in 2013, the first service she attended was when Reverend Bonnie introduced Covenant Groups!


Ann serves as the Treasurer on The Board of Trustees, is an active member of The Welcome Team, manages the Women’s Weekend website, and has led several sessions of Wellspring. She jumps in to help out for many outreach events such as Eliot’s booth at The Greentree Festival.


Tim has been at Eliot Chapel for over 50 years! In the past he has sung in the choir as well as a soloist for Worship services, served on

the Board of Trustees (Tim was chair the year we raised and borrowed money, to contract for our new steeple and finial. The day of installation Tim remembers sitting with Kay Boyd, Rev John Robison, and others, observing from the safety of a table at the Farmers Market! Tim has also taught in our R.E. Program, taught OWL for many years, co-chaired our annual pledge drive, has been an active member of our Social Justice program including our Vigil for Hope and Healing as an act of public witness. Most recently he has loved serving as a Liturgist for our Worship Services.


When asked “What do you gain from your volunteer work at Eliot Chapel?”


Ann’s response:

“I love facilitating Starting Point with Tim! We tell classes that Starting Point is our Covenant Group. I love the opportunity to get to know people before they become members. I am always thrilled to be there when they sign the membership book. There is so much going on in the world right now. Volunteering at Eliot is my way to do something to help people. Eliot provides a great community, and community is so important.


There are a few common things Starting Point Participants share:

  • they feel at home at Eliot
  • they know they can be themselves and not be afraid to ask questions
  • they like that Eliot doesn’t just talk about what is happening, we are actively doing things

I volunteer as my contribution to help keep Eliot thriving for all who need it.”


Tim’s response:

“Some may find this a bizarre association, but serving Starting Point as a co-facilitator with Ann reminds me of raising my children. Starting Point allows me the opportunity to help shepherd Eliot Chapel’s newbies into our community. When I witness participants’ signing our Membership Book, I am the proud parent. What a privilege! Throughout the years, my volunteering has been a love affair with Eliot Chapel. Just as I have given freely, I have been embraced and loved by the Eliot Chapel community. I am so blessed.”