Masks are required at the services for anyone over two years of age. Masks should cover both nose and mouth. We strongly recommend an N95 or KN95 mask. We will have masks available if you have forgotten yours.

We have reservations available this week. Reservations for the week's services open after 3:00 pm on Monday. A separate email with reservation links goes out through our email list. Reservations will be made through SignUpGenius:

If all pods are reserved, you may call (314.821.0911) or email the front office to be put on a waiting list.

We will be recording one of our services on Sunday. When it is available, you will find it at eliotchapel.org where it will remain all week. You can also find it directly on our YouTube channel.

In March, we are sharing our offering with Missouri Coalition for the Environment. Since its founding in 1969, Missouri Coalition for the Environment has continued to be Missouri's independent citizen's environmental organization for clean water, air, energy and a healthy environment. MCE has several areas of work. Food and Farm supports local farmers who use environmentally responsible practices. The Water Program works to reduce flooding and pollution and to protect Missouri rivers. The Missouri Legislature program advocates for the environment via a lobbyist, lobby days, and alerts about upcoming votes. The Radioactive Contamination program works with Just Moms on the issues surrounding the Westlake Landfill and Coldwater Creek contamination. And the Public Parks and Lands program and Climate Change program work through all of the above in order to improve Missouri's environment.

Here’s how you can give:

The updated Children’s Religious Education FAQs contain more details and information about children’s programs this month.

The updated Youth Group FAQs have more details about the youth program this month.

Zoom Coffee Hour takes place from 12:00 pm to 1:00 on Sunday. 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.

Daylight Saving Time – 2:00 am, set your clocks forward Saturday night

Sunday Worship – 9:15 am in the Sanctuary

Children's Religious Education – 9:15 am in Adams Hall (after first portion of service)

Youth Group – 10:45 am in the Youth Room

Sunday Worship – 11:00 am in the Sanctuary

Coffee Hour – 12:00 pm via Zoom

Young Adult Group – 12:30 pm on Discord

What Moves Us – 7:00 pm on Zoom

Women's Alliance – 9:30 am on Zoom

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm in front of Eliot

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.

Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 am. Be sure to turn your clocks forward Saturday night before you go to bed!

This year Board members Kalen Ponche, Chuck Schuder, and Sara Fleming led our 2021 congregational survey. Kalen, Chuck, and Sara developed the survey, organized its distribution, tabulated the results, and returned to you an executive summary. Thank you to former board member Cathy Converse for her support with the process. That executive summary was posted in the January 28 This Week at Eliot. If you did not have a chance to review it, you can always find it by clicking on Board of Trustees on the home page of the Eliot Chapel website: Executive Summary. The full survey results can also be found on the Board page of the Eliot website: 2021 Eliot Chapel Board of Trustees Congregational Survey.

Many of us walk regularly and that's good news for our health and well being! Sometimes we walk for fun, sometimes because the dogs won't let us get through the afternoon without an outing. Eliot Chapel is inviting folks to share their favorite walks! Our first walk was Saturday, February 26 at Laumeier Sculpture Park in Sunset Hills, led by Carl and Yvonne Serbell. We had icy conditions that day so we were not able to take the woodland paths – we expect better weather at our next walk on Saturday, March 26! The woodland trails have excellent footing, but there are moderate ups and downs and spectacular artwork at every turn. We’ll meet at the ‘eyeball sculpture’ (you can’t miss it on the main lawn) and hike from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at Laumeier Sculpture Park on Saturday, March 26. Masking optional. Please email walks@eliotchapel.org if you'd like to join us, and we'll all keep our fingers crossed that the weather cooperates!

If you want to lead something like this, whether it’s a regular occurrence or just a one-time event, we’d like to hear from you! If it’s online, write to us at frontoffice@eliotchapel.org and we’ll help schedule you on Zoom. In person? Outdoors? Just fill out an event request form.

Even though this is just a local election, it is still vital for all of us to vote, as the election affects how people live in their communities and who represents them in local government and school boards. If you are able to offer rides to the polls in your community or nearby communities on April 5, please contact the UU The Vote Committee – Faith Williams, Liz Sale, Ken Denson, Yvonne Serbell, and Rev Krista Taves – at uuthevote@eliotchapel.org.

The League of Women Voters has created lists of people in low-vote districts of north county, and we're assisting the League in writing postcards to encourage people to vote on April 5. Suggested messages, blank cards printed with a message such as 'Every Vote Counts' and postage are provided (there's a suggested donation of $10 toward postage). Cards will be provided in packs of 25 for pick up this Sunday, March 13 at Eliot Chapel. If you can write and address postcards, please contact the UU The Vote Committee at uuthevote@eliotchapel.org.

This 4-part series offers those considering Unitarian Universalism and Eliot Chapel the opportunity to experience UUism in action. You will learn about our faith tradition, explore your own spiritual journey, and connect with others who are also seeking a spiritual home or faith. Longtime members and friends seeking a small group experience are also welcome.  

A much-loved ritual in Unitarian Universalist congregations is the welcoming and dedication of infants and young children as part of a Sunday worship service. We are currently planning to include this ritual on Sunday, May 1 during the 9:15 in-person worship service.

Families where one or both parents are actively participating as members of Eliot Chapel are invited to meet with Rev. Barbara Gadon to discuss the meaning of the ceremony and the possibility of having your baby or young children included.

For more information about the ceremony, Eliot membership, or to set up a meeting with Rev. Barbara, please send an email to scott@eliotchapel.org no later than April 1.

You can also explore more about this UU ritual on the Unitarian Universalist Association's website.

Don't forget to pick up your nametag on Sunday! You'll find it in the hallway across from the elevator. If you're a registered guest, check for your tag in green. Depending on when you registered, we may have one for you, too! And please remember to return your nametag after the service.

Despite what some staff believed, we have learned Camille is human. Some of you have noticed the wrong pledge amount for the current pledge year printed on the pledge card you received in your 2022-2023 Canvass packet. It's actually the pledge amount for 2020-2021, last year's pledge.

This was our error and we apologize. Please look for your correct current pledge amount for 2021-2022 in your Realm profile or contact Christie at frontoffice@eliotchapel.org or Camille at admin@eliotchapel.org. They will gladly respond with your current pledge amount. Thank you for your support of Eliot Chapel.

If you contributed less than $250 last year and would like a Contribution Statement, you may email Camille Novak at admin@eliotchapel.org and request a statement, or print your own statement in your Realm profile.

Find your Contribution Statement on the right side of your profile. Click the blue 2021 Contribution Statement button, type a title or comment of your choosing in the next window, click "Print" and a statement will appear. You may then download the statement and print according to your computer's normal printing directions.

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. We updated this week on in-person and livestreamed services.

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.

Women’s Alliance will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, March 15, at 9:30 am. We’ll have a brief period of conversation before the program. Our presenters will be Pam Cornwell, who will talk about how CASA volunteers (Court Appointed Special Advocates) work on behalf of abused and neglected children, and Beth Fultz, CASA’s Manager of Volunteer Engagement. Anyone and everyone are invited to join us. For more information, contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org.

All are welcome; wearing a mask is required as is maintaining the 6-foot social distancing guideline. Please remember that the building is not open so there are no available restrooms. 

Unitarian Universalism has a deep commitment to democracy. If we had sacraments, voting would be one of them. As we approach the municipal elections, our faith asks us to think globally and act locally.