Sunday, December 19 – 9:00 & 11:00 am
“Solstice: Paths to Joy” – Rev. Krista Taves, Jim Gottschalk, Marsha Fleming, Todd Stark, and Sara Fleming
What happens when Ellen DeUnitarius welcomes the four directions to the Winter Solstice edition of her talk show on UU Vision TV? Come and find out.
Featured musicians: Gail Hintz, piano; Eliot Chapel Choir
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Masks are required at the service for anyone over two years of age. Masks should cover both nose and mouth.
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:
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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.
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Sharing the Offering
In December we will be sharing our Sunday collections with Room at the Inn. Sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence, Room at the Inn provides emergency shelter and a stabilizing support system to women and families in need in St. Louis County, using a collaborative, interfaith effort of congregations and organizations throughout the St. Louis region. Eliot Chapel has supported Room at the Inn for almost 30 years. Learn more at roomstl.org.
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Here’s how you can give:
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Online: Click here. Make sure “Shared Plate” is your chosen fund.
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By Mail: Please write “RATI” in the memo line of your check and mail it to Eliot Unitarian Chapel, 100 South Taylor Ave., Kirkwood, MO 63122.
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By Text: Text "Eliot SharedPlate $(enter the amount)" to 73256. A link in the reply text will take you to our secure database webpage where you can complete your transaction. Please note, "SharedPlate" must be entered as one word to reach that preferred option.
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Through your generosity during our Bread Services, Eliot Chapel donated $3,550 to provide support for the needy and elderly in our partner village of Nyárádszentmárton.
In November, Eliot Chapel donated $920 to SouthSide Early Childhood Center.
Thank you!
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Religious Education & Youth Group
The winter Religious Education program for children continues this Sunday, December 19. Note the following activities are available at the 9:00 service only.
- The nursery & preschool activity space will be OPEN during the 9:00 am service for our youngest UUs who need freedom of movement.
- Children in grades K-7 should attend the first portion of the worship service with their family before departing for Religious Education (RE). RE will take place in Adams Hall and potentially outdoors (weather permitting) from 9:15-10:00. This week’s session explores the Winter Solstice.
REMINDER: We do not have any activities or childcare available during the 11:00 service at this time. The 11:00 service is for fully-vaccinated individuals aged 12+.
Youth Group is on winter break for end-of-semester finals preparation and the holidays. Activities for youth in grades 8-12 resume on January 9, 2022.
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Zoom Coffee Hour
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.
Sunday at a Glance
Sunday Worship – 9:00 am in the Sanctuary
Children's Religious Education – 9:15 am in Adams Hall
Sunday Worship – 11:00 am in the Sanctuary
Coffee Hour – 12:00 pm via Zoom
Young Adult Group – 12:30 pm on Discord
Starting Point – 2:00 pm via Zoom
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Tuesday, December 21
Women's Alliance – 9:30 am via Zoom
Vigil for Hope & Healing – 4:00 pm in front of Eliot (note new time)
Thursday, December 23
Family Christmas Pageant – 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Friday, December 24
Church offices are closed today.
Christmas Eve Services – 4:00, 5:30, & 8:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Contact your group leader if you need login information for your meeting.
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Reminder: Getting Involved with Groups
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.
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Family Christmas Pageant Service
We are excited to share that a new, modified Family Christmas Pageant Service is coming on Thursday evening, December 23 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. We anticipate this service will run approximately 30 minutes.
The service is based on a no-rehearsal worship script used by other UU professionals and congregations. To maintain social distancing, the audience participation pieces will take place from people’s seats. Children and youth wishing to wear a costume should arrive at 5:30 and select their outfit in Adams Hall (costumes are definitely not required). There will be an opportunity for children and families to gather, in costume, on the chancel at the conclusion of the service for a photo opportunity.
No advance preparation is needed or required, except to reserve a pod in the sanctuary for your family. Click here to reserve a sanctuary pod for this service (first-come, first-served).
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Christmas Eve Services
Friday, December 24
4:00, 5:30, & 8:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Join us for a Christmas Eve service in Eliot Chapel's Sanctuary.
Children under 12 are welcome and encouraged to attend the Christmas Eve worship services with their family at 4:00 and 5:30 pm. These services are open to vaccinated individuals aged 12+, children too young for vaccines, and children in the process of receiving vaccines.
For children aged five and younger who need more freedom of movement, the nursery & preschool room is open during the 4:00 pm service only. Supervision is provided by Christie Lee and Colleen Lee.
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Gift Giving Tree, December 2021
Youth In Action STL is once again sponsoring gift outreach to local children and youth in need of gifts this holiday season. HUGE thanks to all of the Eliot members and friends who have already contributed to this outreach project. Over $700 was collected in financial donations for Youth In Action’s efforts. Your generosity is so greatly appreciated!
Gift items can be dropped off through this Sunday, December 19. If the building isn’t open, there is a gift box by the glass doors near Adams Hall in which gifts can be placed for pickup.
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Still wish to donate gifts and don’t have an ornament? NO PROBLEM. Here’s what to do:
Purchase a generic $5-$10 gift for a child and return the gift, UNWRAPPED, and place the gift under the tree OR in the gift box outside the building. Youth In Action will pick up the gifts for distribution. Below are some examples of possible gifts:
- NEW stuffed animals
- NEW children’s puzzles
- Children’s books (NEW is best)
- NEW crayons or other art supplies and coloring books
Thank you for your generous support for area children and youth in need of holiday cheer! You are such a generous congregation!
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Reminder: Staff Hours
Staff are working from home. There are no set hours for the Front Office to be open. If you want to drop off or pick up something or meet a staff person, please email or call the staff person or the front office to arrange a day and time.
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Special Tax Deductions for Donations
to Charity This Holiday Season
The following information is condensed from an article written by Dashia Starr, December 8, 2021 for NextAdvisor, in Partnership with TIME.
You may be eligible for up to $600 in special tax deductions if you donate to charity this holiday season. Here’s how to claim it.
Last year, the CARES Act legislation passed in response to the pandemic included a special tax deduction that allowed single and married tax filers to claim between $300 and $600 in cash charity donations.
When the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 was passed last December, it extended this special deduction through 2021Taxpayers who take the standard deduction can claim a deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions to qualifying charities made in 2021. Married couples filing jointly can claim up to $600.
In previous years, deductions for charitable contributions were only available for people who itemize their tax returns. But the special deduction is available for anyone who takes the standard deduction, which the IRS says is nine out of 10 taxpayers.
But that doesn’t mean you’ll get the full $300 (if you’re single or married filing individual returns) or $600 (if you’re married and filing jointly) back. Instead, the charitable tax deduction will help reduce your overall taxable income and, therefore, the taxes you’re obligated to pay.
Even if you donate only $50 or $100 this year — or any other amount — you can still claim deductions less than the maximum $300 or $600 to help reduce the amount that you may owe.
Any cash contributions you make to qualifying charitable organizations (Eliot Chapel is a qualifying charitable organization) in 2021 count toward the special deduction.
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Any checks written as of 12/31/2021 but received by Eliot Chapel after 12/31/2021 will be applied to your 2021 Contributions. Online contributions will be applied to the corresponding year per the date the contribution/pledge payment was made. 2021 Tax Statements will be available at the end of January or early February 2022. If you need a tax statement sooner than that time in order to file your taxes, you can contact Camille Novak at admin@eliotchapel.org.
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Stock Donations
If you donate stock or mutual funds to Eliot Chapel, please send an email to Camille Novak at admin@eliotchapel.org including in your email the name of the stock, date donated, and the number of shares. Your financial advisor should check with Camille before donating stock to confirm Eliot's brokerage ID and other information. Eliot is not informed when stock has been donated or by whom. Unless you and/or your financial advisor notify Camille that stock has been donated, she is unable to send you acknowledgement of your gift, and sell your donated stock or mutual funds for transfer into Eliot's checking account.
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Safety at Bergfried
Although hunting season has ended, we recommend wearing bright colors (blaze orange recommended) from now to the end of December as an extra precaution for your safety.
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COVID Support Team
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.
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Reminder: Staying Up to Date
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.
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.
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ADULT EDUCATION OFFERING
Starting Point
with Rev. Krista Taves and Amy Stark
Sunday, December 19
2:00–3:30 pm on Zoom
This series offers those considering Unitarian Universalism as a spiritual path the opportunity to experience UUism through a small group experience. 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. Join us for this final session, The Three Paths: Part 2, and Finding Your Journey Group. Longtime members and friends seeking a small group experience are also welcome.
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Women’s Alliance
Women’s Alliance will gather via Zoom on Tuesday, December 21 at 9:30 am for our annual Christmas party. Since we’re meeting virtually, we’ll take this opportunity to get better acquainted and maybe learn a few new things about each other. Everyone is invited to dress for the occasion (subject to interpretation) and bring a snack to eat while we meet. Please feel free to join us. For more information, contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org.
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Vigil for Hope & Healing
Tuesday, December 21
4:00 – 5:00 pm in front of Eliot Chapel
Please note new time. 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.
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WHAT MOVES US:
Engaging Our Unitarian Universalist Theology
with Rev. Krista Taves
The second Monday of the month
7:00 - 8:30 pm on Zoom
When we say
- "I always love that song,"
- "I cry whenever we..."
- "I feel safe here,"
- "My heart is stronger," or
- "I'm ready for what comes next,"
we know what moves us as Unitarian Universalists: personal experience. These comments and so many others demonstrate that our religious and spiritual feelings and practices are changing and transforming us through direct personal experience as a major source of our Unitarian Universalist faith. In fact, it is our first source: "Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to an openness to the forces that create and sustain life." Yet, we often stumble when trying to explain our Unitarian Universalist theology of personal experience to ourselves and to others. We falter when we try to explain how our Unitarian Universalist faith heals, saves, liberates, holds, and moves us to ethical action and compassion.
"What Moves Us" peels back the theological language we use to affirm our faith experiences with one another and in the wider world. We will focus on a different UU theologian in every session, and through their story and the meaning they made of it, reflect on our direct experiences as the source of our faith. What Moves Us creates an adult faith journey for those who are new to this faith tradition and those who have long been Unitarian Universalists. Eight sessions, one each month, will take place on Zoom. You are welcome to register for the class after the first session as each session stands on its own.
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Upcoming Session Dates – 2nd Monday of the month, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
January 10, February 14,
March 14, April 11, & May 9
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Thursday, December 23 – 6:00 pm
“Family Christmas Pageant” – Rev. Krista Taves
A special evening with a special story
Featured musician: Gail Hintz
Friday, December 24 – 4:00, 5:30 & 8:00 pm
“Christmas Eve”
Celebrate Christmas Eve with Eliot Chapel
Rev. Barbara H. Gadon – 4:00 & 5:30
Rev. Krista Taves – 8:00
Featured musicians: Dr. David Nalesnik, piano; Eli Mennerick and Addison Youngblood, trombone; Eliot Chapel Choir
Sunday, December 26 – 10:00 am
“Incarnation & Joy” – Dee Evans, guest speaker
Does the belief in incarnation have any meaning for Unitarian Universalists? What is the connection between incarnation and joy and navigating our world today?
Featured musicians: Dr. David Nalesnik, piano; Eliot Chapel Choir
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ourEliot 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, please email ourEliot@eliotchapel.org.
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Connect with Eliot Chapel
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