Our service video will be available at 10:00 am at eliotchapel.org and will remain there all week. You can also find it directly on Eliot Chapel's YouTube channel.

One of the ways Eliot Chapel lives our commitment to justice, equity and compassion is by giving away half of our offering every Sunday to an organization in the community that shares our values. We are so pleased to be sharing our April Sunday collections with A Red Circle because we are both energized by a deep commitment to racial justice and racial equity.

You can give in one of three ways:

Through your generosity, Eliot Chapel was able to share $1,039.00 with Great Rivers Environmental Law Center. Thank you!

Eliot children and families are invited to gather at 9:15 am via Zoom for connection and community. This week’s session, co-hosted by Christie Lee, Heather Flick, Noel Burke, and adult lay leaders, explores "Environmental Leadership." Activities include a short video about children's leadership for the environment, followed by Tree Jeopardy. Zoom links will be distributed to registered families by email on Friday, April 16.

For more information about activities for children and youth, please contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org or Christie Lee at christie@eliotchapel.org.

At 11:30 am, you are invited to “walk down the hall” and come to our Zoom Coffee Hour! We’ll take about 10 minutes or so to gather and let people settle in. We'll say a few words of welcome and then create break-out rooms – random groupings of 5 or 6 people. Everyone will likely make a new friend at Eliot from this exercise! You’ll have the chance to introduce yourself and then share your answers to a few questions, like “How has this week been for you?” and “What feelings has it brought up for you?” Each person has about 5 minutes to speak; you are welcome to pass if you like. In half an hour, everyone will return to the big group and we’ll say our goodbyes for the week. Please watch your email for "Eliot on Zoom" which will include a link to join the Zoom coffee hour. If you're not on our mailing list, sign up here.

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm via Zoom & on Facebook

Many groups at Eliot are meeting despite the distance between us all. Check with your group leader or get involved with a new group! Find contact information in our Getting Involved booklet.

Group leaders, have you set up an area for your group in Realm? You have a secure place to chat and share documents and photos. Contact Christie Lee to set up your group.

I was Board Chair in 2016 when our most important project was Vision 2020, the process by which we rewrote the Ends (goals) of Eliot Chapel for the coming years. It was hard work led by Cindy and Ted Lau, but it resulted in statements that drove the Chapel's work for years. It is now time to refresh those Ends, so the current Board is embarking on the same process, now called Project Renew. If you are at Eliot because you believe we can make a difference in the world, you should share your voice in one of the listening sessions on the calendar until May 2. I would encourage you to sign up: go to Realm or see all sessions and link to registration on our website.

Chuck settled in St. Louis in 1987, and he began taking part in Eliot activities shortly thereafter. He signed the Membership Book 1988. He met another Eliot member, Rebecca, and they married in 1990. The Army moved them to New York City in 1991. Never having resigned their Eliot membership while away, they returned to Eliot upon retirement in 1994. Chuck took part in annual Madrigal Dinners as a member of the Greenleaf Singers for several years. He has sung in the Eliot Choir. He served on the Program Council from approximately 1988 to 1991, and served as the Church’s treasurer from 2001 to 2003, during the late Rev. Dr. Peter Raible’s term as interim lead minister and the first year of Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell’s service. Since that time, Chuck and Rebecca have been active in many Eliot activities, especially various Eliot musical endeavors. He takes part in a covenant group.

The Women’s Alliance of the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis has announced its scholarship competition for the academic year 2021-2022. Initiated by a generous bequest from the estate of Edna Landzettel, a lifelong teacher and proponent of the importance of education in a woman’s life, the scholarship will be given to a woman who is 21 years or older, responsible financially for continuing her education, a member or active friend of a Unitarian Universalist church or fellowship in the region and a registered student. The award of $3,000 will be made on the basis of scholarship, character, and need. Application packets are now available on their website. The deadline for completed applications is June 15, 2021.

Our COVID team is here for you. If you are quarantining and need support having groceries and prescriptions picked up, please email pastoralcare@eliotchapel.org with your contact information. 

In an email letter to members and friends, Rev. Barbara outlined "How We Do Church Now" as Eliot Chapel suspended face-to-face meetings. As a guiding document, it was always open to changes as we found out what worked and what didn't in our response to this extraordinary situation. You can find this document on our website now. We will keep it updated as things change. We'll also try to let you know here of any changes. Changes to RE information were made this week.

All staff are working from home. The building and grounds are closed for general use. A staff person is checking on the building and grounds periodically throughout the week for any facilities or maintenance issues. If you need assistance or have any questions, please email the appropriate staff person.

Eliot Chapel Women’s Alliance will meet on Tuesday, April 20 via Zoom. The meeting starts at 9:30 am with informal conversation. Book selections for next year will be the main topic, coordinated by Ellen Luckow. All Eliot women are welcome. Contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org for information.

If you are unable to join in on Zoom, head over to the Eliot Unitarian Chapel Facebook page and you’ll be able to join us there. See you then!

What if there was a simple solution that could help balance our climate, replenish our freshwater supplies, and feed the world? Join the Environmental Justice team at Eliot Chapel to watch Kiss the Ground. It’s about a solution to climate change that’s right beneath our feet – healthy soil and its ability to sequester carbon on a large scale.

– Maria Rodale

The movie is on Netflix, or you can sign up with Interfaith Power and Light to watch it between April 16 and 25. Register here to join SJA for the discussion. We hope to see you there!

This 10-minute service of silence, prayer, and readings offers a mid-month moment of respite and renewal. Join us at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, April 21 on our Facebook page or YouTube channel.

Eliot Chapel's grief group meets every other Thursday from 6:30 to 8:00 pm via Zoom. This support group is open to all members and friends. The next meeting is Thursday, April 22. If you wish to join the group, please email Rev. Krista Taves for connection information.

Revs. Barbara and Krista invite you to a weekly Lunch with the Minister every Thursday at 12:30 pm. Bring your lunch or just bring yourself! Depending on the size of the group, we will hang out together in the main room or go into breakout groups. The link to join this Zoom meeting will be in the weekly Eliot on Zoom email. Check it out and get together!

UU Women's Connection, an organization committed to connecting UU women in the Mid American Region to each other and the greater world, invites the women of Eliot Chapel to "Tea & Talk" on Saturday, April 24 from 2:00-3:30 pm CST via Zoom. Bring your beverage of choice and join the chat. Gather and say "hello" then move to breakout spaces for a bit to get a chance to catch up in small groups. UU Women’s Connection welcomes all who identify as women. Look for the Zoom link in the Eliot on Zoom email that comes to the mailing list on Sunday.