The worship theme for January is Intention.

Sunday, January 21 - 9:30 and 11:00 am 
"A Mission to Spiritual Growth" - Rev. Barbara H. Gadon
The spiritual self-help sections of bookstores (and Amazon) have mushroomed in the past several years, and we have learned to think of "spiritual growth" as another thing to acquire - ideally at a drive-through and on sale. But usually any kind of spiritual maturity or growth comes at a price. What is that price? Why is it worthwhile?  Featured musicians: Dr. David Nalesnik, piano; Chamber Singers.

Sharing the Offering
In January we will share our offering with Educators for Social Justice, a grassroots organization formed by St. Louis teachers to take a proactive stance with regard to civil rights and social justice in our schools. Their mission is to develop and support socially just, equitable, and sustainable practices in schools and communities. The organization has five key initiatives: 1) annual Educating for Change conference, 2) Racial Equity Curriculum Partnership, 3) Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline initiative, 4) ESJ Teacher Grants, and 5) the Courageous Educator Award. Your contribution will help to provide teachers with the inspiration and solidarity needed to bring about educational equity. To learn more about ESJ, go to www.educatorsforsocialjustice.org.

Religious Education
At 9:30, children in kindergarten and older attend the first 15 minutes of the worship service.  Preschool children (ages 3-5) and nursery children (2 and younger) go directly to their class.

At 11:00, children who are age 4 (by Aug. 1, 2017) through 6th grade attend the first 15 minutes of the worship service. Children age three and younger and youth in 9th-12th grade go directly to their class.

Note: The Junior High Youth Group (grades 7-8) is on a field trip this morning at the Parks Avenue AME Congregation.

Sunday at a Glance:
Chamber Singers meet at 8:30 am in the Music Room.
Eliot Choir meets at 9:00 am in the Music Room.
Membership Book Signing is at 10:30 am & 12:00 pm in the Triplett Room.
Saunders/McVoy Covenant Group meets at 12:15 pm in the Bergfried Room.
Living the Pledge Accountability Meeting is at 12:30 pm in the Frederick-Gray Room.
Eliot Meditation Group meets at 7:00 pm in Adams Hall.
Murphy Covenant Group meets at 7:00 pm in the Frederick-Gray Room.
Church News

The Women's Alliance of First Unitarian Church, St. Louis, Is offering a scholarship of $3000 to a woman 21 years of age or older who is active in a Unitarian Universalist congregation and is pursuing post high school education. For further information please contact Pamela Gempel, Scholarship Committee Chair, at [email protected]. You may access the scholarship packet here.


Financial assistance for the support of elder Unitarian Universalist lay people is available from the Iva Laughlin Fund, administered by the Midwestern Unitarian Universalist Conference. Mrs. Iva Giles Laughlin, who died in January 1904, was an active and inspirational Universalist laywoman in Chicago. Examples of grants include hearing aids, rent assistance, medical expenses , food subsidy, and more. If you have questions or would like to apply, please see midwestuuconf.org/iva-laughlin-fund.html.


2018 will be the Year of Sanctuary in St Louis! The Eliot Immigration Justice Team is
working hard to learn what YOU want to know about sanctuary and immigration justice issues. You can help us do that in two ways:
* Send your questions to [email protected].
* Write them down at the SJA table during social hours in January.
In early February, the Team will share the questions and succinct answers. 

There are many ways you can be involved with this movement. Please click here to access an action sheet of ideas.
Monday, January 22
A Course in Miracles - 7:00 pm in Adams Hall 
Environmental Justice Meeting - 7:00 pm in Room 005
UU Christian Group - 7:00 pm in the Triplett Room

Tuesday, January 23
Attitudinal Healing Workshop - 10:00 am in Room 005
Vigil for Hope & Healing - 6:00 pm outside Eliot

Wednesday, January 24
Women's Chorale - 7:30 pm in the Music Room

Thursday, January 25
Grief Support Group - 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Room at the Inn - 5:30 pm in Adams Hall and Rooms 001-006

Friday, January 26
Friday Freethinkers - 10:00 am in Adams Hall

Saturday, January 27
Introduction to Our Faith Workshop - 9:00 am in Adams Hall
Bergfried Winter Warm-up Potluck - 5:30 pm in Adams Hall
RE Sr. High Youth Group Mini Lock-in - 6:00 pm in the Sr. High Room
The Women's March on St. Louis will take place Saturday morning, January 20. For Eliot Chapel folks who would like to carpool to this event, a group will leave Eliot at 8:30 am from our parking lot. We are going early, given the expected crowd, and hope to park next to City Hall. We will carry the long banner: Standing On the Side of Love. You are welcome to bring your own signs. If you don't carpool, we will meet across the street from Union Station in St. Louis on Market Street near the big fountain, Meeting of the Waters. Wear your yellow t-shirt if you have one so we can find each other and represent. If you need to sit, bring a lightweight folding chair or stool. Snacks and water are also advisable. At 10:00 am we'll march a mile to Luther Ely Smith Park, where we'll hold a rally with over 40 speakers. Female politicians, activists, healthcare providers, clergy members and more will provide their perspectives on a wide range of issues that affect women everywhere. The weather should reach about 50 degrees. DO NOT TAKE METROLINK. Much of it is closed for construction!

Women's issues are PEOPLE issues! ALL are welcome to participate!


Got cabin fever and want to avoid crowds? Come out to the Bergfried day trip tomorrow, Saturday, January 20. Some of us will be doing some projects, others just communing with nature. If you want to help out, bring work gloves, a shovel and/or metal leaf rake. If you would like to carpool, please email [email protected]. Otherwise, meet at the cottage at 11:00 am. Bring lunch and sturdy shoes.


The  West County Community Action Network (WE CAN)  extends an invitation to its annual celebration, titled 'Recharge and Recommit,' on  Saturday, January 20  at 1:00 pm in Adams Hall at Eliot Chapel. The event will celebrate 2017 successes and provide an opportunity to recommit to the work ahead in 2018. Childcare will be provided. Folks old and new to WE CAN are welcome. Those interested can learn more about WE CAN's racial justice efforts by visiting their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wecanstl where you will also find a link to RSVP for the event. 


Annual Eliot Chapel Chili & Games Night
Saturday, January 20
5:30 - 8:30 pm in Adams Hall

Chili cook-off and dessert bake-off with prizes awarded to:
* best meat chili
* best vegetarian chili
* best dessert
Plus charades, Scrabble, and MORE!

Look for sign-up sheets on the bulletin board. Questions? Contact Christie Lee at [email protected].




   




The Social Justice in Action Environmental Justice Team will meet on Monday, January 22 at 7:00 pm in room 005. We will be planning our activities for this spring and summer and are always looking for new folks to join us. For more information, please contact us at [email protected].


Join us for
Vigil for Hope and Healing, Week #167 
Tuesday, September 13 at 6:00 pm
outside Eliot.






Metropolitan Congregations United is holding a day-long retreat and training session to get  ready for Break the Pipeline work in 2018. Doors open at 8:30 on January 27 for the 9-3 retreat  at Arlington United Methodist Church, 3770 McKelvey Road. Lunch will be served for a
suggested donation of $10. Go to facebook.com/MCUStLouis to register. Eliot Chapel is a partner  of MCU.


MEMBERSHIP SUNDAY
Rev. Jim Crawford will be available to meet with prospective members in the Triplett Room after both services on Sunday, January 21 at 10:30 am and 12:00 pm. You are welcome to attend if you have questions and/or would like to sign the membership book here at Eliot.


The Women's Alliance will meet on Tuesday, January 23 at 9:30 am in Adams Hall to discuss favorite books. All women are welcome to attend.


New to Eliot or to Unitarian Universalism? We invite you to attend


Saturday, January 27
9:00 am - 1:00 pm in Adams Hall. Led by Rev. Barbara Gadon.
If you are a newcomer to Eliot Chapel, are considering membership, or would just like to get to know us better, we highly recommend this workshop! You will get an introduction to UU and Eliot Chapel, or a refresher if you are looking for a new UU home. We will explore with you what membership at Eliot could mean for you. Lunch will be provided. Sign up on the bulletin board in the hallway between the Sanctuary and Adams Hall or on the Eliot website at www.eliotchapel.org/adultre.
Registration closes this Thursday, January 25.
Childcare is available if requested by Sunday, January 21.


Winter Warm-up Potluck Dinner
Bring a favorite dish to share, and enjoy some camaraderie on Saturday, January 27 in Adams Hall, sponsored by the Bergfried Team. We'll offer a fire circle featuring Eliot musicians (bring your instruments!) and a slide show of recent Bergfried events. All ages may enjoy nature crafts. Sign-up sheets are on the Eliot bulletin board or contact [email protected]. Please let us know if you're bringing a main dish, side, or dessert. Doors open at 5:30, dinner at 6:00.
Click on the links below to learn more about the events listed and sign-up information, or check the newsletter for more details.


SJA February Assembly: Voter Protection Program
Tuesday, February 6
7:15 pm in the Sanctuary
The Advancement Project's Denise Lieberman will talk about the history of voter suppression in our nation and what we can do to make sure all citizens have the opportunity to have their voices heard! See more information on the Facebook event page.



Prayer Service for the 10 Year Anniversary of the Kirkwood Tragedy
Wednesday, February 7
7:00 pm at Kirkwood United Methodist Church
An evening of reflection, discussion, and prayer. Please see the flyer for more details.


Tour the St. Louis Civil Rights Exhibit 
Friday, February 23 
3:00 pm at the Missouri History Museum
Join members of the Eliot community to tour the Missouri History Museum exhibit "#1 in Civil Rights: The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis". Afterwards, tour participants may choose to have dinner together and come back to Eliot Chapel at 7:00 p.m. to view the film "Whose Streets?" (see following). Please sign up here.


Showing of "Whose Streets?"
a documentary concerning the aftermath of Michael Brown's killing
Friday, February 23
7:00 pm at Eliot
Free presentation followed by a discussion. Reserve your spot at tinyurl.com/ycfumffq by February 18. Space is limited. 


Eliot Leadership Launch workshop
Friday, February 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Saturday, February 10 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Adams Hall
RSVP by signing up on the bulletin board or contacting the Eliot front office ([email protected] or 314-821-0911). See more info here.


Making a Graceful Exit
an Eliot Adult Religious Education Program
Tuesdays, February 27 and March 6
7:00 pm in Adams Hall
Sign up on the hallway bulletin board. See more info here.



Sunday, January 28 - 9:30 and 11:00 am
"Mission: Growing in Compassion" - Rev. Barbara H. Gadon
What does it mean to act compassionately, and how do you know what that should be? Rev. Barbara will explore this last piece of our mission - including how we are both inspired in compassion and limited by it in social change.
Featured musicians: Flo Reaves, violin, and the Women's Chorale. 
The ourEliot team promotes and enables healthy communications as promised to one another through the Congregational Covenant. If you have a compliment, suggestion or concern that is important to communicate to a responsible party, look for an on-duty member of the team in Adams Hall wearing an ourEliot badge or contact them via email at  [email protected] .

Eliot Unitarian Chapel | Kirkwood, MO | 314.821.0911
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