Monster Theory – Rev. Barbara H. Gadon

Who or what is a monster? Why do we love monsters so much? How do cultures create monsters specific to their time and place? And perhaps most importantly, who is scarier, Dracula or a zombie?

Masks are required at the service for anyone over two years of age. Masks should cover both nose and mouth. We will announce any cancellations for inclement weather on our website and social media. In that event, worship will be recorded in the sanctuary and a video will be available by 11:00 am.

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 Sign-Up Genius:

If all pods are reserved, you may call (314.821.0911) or email the front office to be put on a waiting list. OR you may come to Eliot and sit elsewhere on the lot (social distancing, of course). You may not have great visibility but you will be able to hear the service and be present in the experience. If you do this, you still need to check in with a greeter for contact tracing purposes.

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 October, we're sharing our offering with Missouri Faith Voices.

Missouri Faith Voices is a multi-faith, multi-racial movement committed to dismantling white supremacy and making racial equity a reality.

Here’s how you can give:

Worship Services: Children in 7th grade and younger are invited and encouraged to attend the outdoor worship service at Eliot Chapel with their family and participate in Social Hour in the Meadow following the service. Supervised play on the nursery school playground is available for preschool-aged children during the 9:00 am service.   

Religious Education (RE):

LOOKING AHEAD: Children and their families are invited to join Ms. Christie, Ms. Heather, and their Eliot friends at Simpson Lake Pavilion (1234 Marshall Road, 63088) on Halloween Sunday, October 31 from 10:30 – 12:00 for Halloween fun, fellowship, and UU connection. Our gathering will be in the Blue Heron Shelter.

Festivities will include Halloween jokes, a special Wonder Box activity and story to celebrate who we are, a Halloween walk on the nature trail, a special Halloween snack, and more Halloween FUN. Children are invited to wear their costumes to this gathering if they desire. Simpson Lake Park is about 10 minutes from Eliot Chapel.

How to Sign Up: Families can sign up for this outing on Realm or by sending an email to Christie Lee at christie@eliotchapel.org. Advance registration is helpful, though definitely not required.  

Youth activities for youth in grades 8-12 continue on Sunday, October 31 in Ellen Duncan's backyard. The address will be shared with registered youth and families via email. Arrival begins at 10:30, activities will start at 10:45, and should wrap up around 12:00 pm.

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.

Children's Religious Education – 10:30 am off-site

Youth Group – 10: 30 am off-site

Women's Alliance – 9:30 am via Zoom

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm in front of Eliot (Note time change)

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.

The 2021 survey will close on November 2. Make your voice heard! Click to take the survey!

If you would be interested in this ministry, please be in touch with Rev. Krista Taves at ktaves@eliotchapel.org. She would love to hear from you.

The New York Times hails Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste as an ‘instant American classic’ about our abiding sin. The American Prospect says, “Wilkerson’s work is the missing puzzle piece of our country’s history.” NPR calls it a masterwork of writing, a profound achievement of scholarship and research that stands also as a triumph of both visceral storytelling and cogent analysis.

On Sunday, November 7, vaccinated adults are invited to meet at the fire pit in Kirkwood Park from 1:00 to 3:00 pm for a discussion of the seminal book, Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents. Bring a chair and any food or drink you’d like. Face masks must be worn. Register on Sign Up Genius. Directions to the fire pit will be e-mailed to those who sign up.

As the holiday season approaches, now is the perfect time to join iGive in support of Eliot Chapel. Did you know your online purchases can equal donations to Eliot? And now is the perfect time to join because each person who signs up before Nov. 15 and makes a purchase by Dec. 1 earns a bonus $5 donation in addition to anything your purchase earns.

And it's easy to join! Just scan the QR code here with your smart phone or click through to the iGive website.

Shop at 2300+ stores you already know and benefit Eliot Chapel!

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. The file recently received multiple updates to reflect all the changes in our fall worship.

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, November 2, at 9:30 am. We’ll start with conversation and then have a brief business meeting followed by a discussion of the book The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Ellen Luckow will lead the discussion. Please feel free to join us, whether or not you’ve read the book. 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. 

In our annual service, we will honor our beloved dead and claim the power of memory. We invite you to write the name(s) of anyone you want to remember on leaves for our memory tree. For all who are joining us online, please send us the names you would like us to add, and we will make sure they are remembered in our ritual. Email Rev. Krista at ktaves@eliotchapel.org.