The second UU principle of justice, equity, and compassion in human relations takes on new and urgent meaning in the context of ministry to the incarcerated. Candidate for UU ministry George Grimm-Howell will share his experiences with the Worthy Now Prison Ministry Program created by the UU Church of the Larger Fellowship. All are invited to become a pen pal for an incarcerated soul who longs for community.

Find out more about the UU Worthy Now Prison Ministry pen pal program at worthynow.org/pen-pals.

We will livestream our service on Sunday. Find it at eliotchapel.org. After the stream, a recording will be available all week. You can also find it directly on our YouTube channel.

If you're worshipping with us on livestream, you can always find a digital order of service, including lyrics to the hymns, on our website under the worship & music tab. 

In July, Eliot Chapel will share its bounty with the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank. The Diaper Bank exists to help strengthen low-income families in the St. Louis region by ensuring access to an adequate supply of diapers and period supplies and by raising awareness about the causes and consequences of diaper need and period poverty in our community. It costs about $1,000 each year to diaper a child and $478 each year to purchase period supplies for one woman or girl. No public benefit programs allow for the purchase of diapers or period supplies.

Let us be good neighbors. Let us be a generous people. You can give in one of three ways:

Children of all ages should attend the 10:00 worship service with their family. Activity bags with crayons and UU coloring pages are available at each sanctuary entrance.

The nursery & preschool activity space is closed in July. It is anticipated the nursery & preschool room will reopen during worship service on Sunday, August 7.

Sign-ups are now open for Eliot Summer Adventure #3, a series of informal opportunities for families and children to gather and experience fellowship and connection during the summer months. HUGE thanks to Susan van Alstyne for initiating and hosting these gatherings.

Gathering #3 is at the Forest Park Nature Playscape on Sunday, August 21 from 11:30-1:30. The gathering location is the plaza in front of the year-round restroom just to the west of the Playscape entrance, not far from the World's Fair Pavilion. Recommended parking is along Concourse Drive near the World’s Fair Pavilion. Find a detailed map of the playscape area online.

You can sign up for this event via SignUpGenius.

For more details or questions, please contact Susan van Alstyne at eliotadventure@eliotchapel.org.

Zoom Coffee Hour takes place at 12:30 pm on Sunday. You are invited to "walk down the hall" and come to our Zoom Coffee Hour! We'll take a few minutes to say hello and let people settle in, then we'll say a few words of welcome and briefly review the service that day. We typically really enjoy the wisdom story and discuss how that story reflects on the theme of the sermon. Then we'll create break-out rooms of 5-6 people for conversation and sharing. We love making new friends and the small groups are great for that! In approximately 45 minutes, everyone will return to the big group and we'll say our goodbyes for the week. We usually end shortly after 1:30 pm, but those who wish to can stay a few minutes longer. Please watch your email for "Eliot on Zoom" on Sunday morning which will include a link to join the Zoom Coffee Hour. If you're not on our mailing list, sign up here. We look forward to seeing you!

Sunday Worship – 10:00 am in the Sanctuary

Coffee Hour – 12:30 pm via Zoom

Women's Alliance – 9:30 am in Adams Hall and via Zoom

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

Avant Covenant Group – 6:45 pm in Room 001

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.

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. We will meet on Zoom for the first three sessions; the fourth session will be in person at Eliot Chapel. Longtime members and friends seeking a small group experience are also welcome. We will have winter and spring sessions as well.

Session 1, Sunday, September 11, 2:00 - 3:45 pm on Zoom: Your Journey – Sharing Our Stories and Spiritual Roadmaps

Session 2, Monday, September 19, 6:00 - 7:45 pm on Zoom: The Unitarian Universalist Journey and the Journey of Our Congregation

Session 3, Monday, October 17, 6:00 - 7:45 pm on Zoom: Our Journey Together – The Three Paths of Unitarian Universalism Part 1

Session 4, Sunday, November 6, noon - 1:45 in person: The Three Paths, Part 2 and Finding Your Journey Group

Eager to delight another Eliot community member by sharing a favorite read and simultaneously discover a new page-turning treasure for yourself? Participate in the upcoming book swap!

Our FUN TEAM is hard at work planning four all-congregational fun events for 2022-2023. Our FUN TEAM members are Julie Charles, Rob van Alstyne, Kathy Becker, and Holly Swift! Two events will take place after Sunday service, and two will be Marquee Saturday Nights! Here's what to look forward to! (Dates and times TBD)

More information is coming soon! Save the date for the September event and watch for more details about the other fun activities!

The Primary Election is Tuesday, August 2. Please educate yourself on the candidates running for election. Also, UU the Vote is offering rides to the polls. If you need a ride, don’t hesitate to reach out to the UU the Vote team on Realm.

Remember to use your voice and vote! For more information on your candidates go to www.Vote411.org. It is a non-partisan website from the League of Women Voters with personalized information on candidates and propositions. Get informed about this primary election by utilizing this website!

Eliot Chapel is collecting new backpacks, pencils, scissors, markers, and other school supplies for Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association's (MNIA)

Backpack Giveaway. You may place your donations in the box outside Adams Hall until August 14.

Then sign up to join in the fun of carnival games, bubbles and balloons, and more at our booth at the Back-to-School Rally in Meacham Park Memorial Park on Saturday, August 20 from 1:00-3:00 pm. See the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board between the Sanctuary and Adams Hall. Digital signup will be available soon.

Learn more from the UU Wellspring brochure on our website. To sign up, email us at uuwellspring@eliotchapel.org. 

To welcome Reverend Doug to Eliot Chapel and get him acquainted with our congregation, the Board is hosting Selfie Sundays! We encourage everyone to take a photo of themselves in Adams Hall after the service. Members of the Board will be on hand to assist. We will then print the photos and hang them up for Reverend Doug to see!

At-home antigen testing is one of the best tools available right now to stop transmission. Eight free antigen tests can be ordered through the USPS site here.

If you haven't addressed your pledge for the new fiscal year yet or if you have questions, check out the complete instructions that we've shared recently.

To see a visual showing how to set up a pledge payment online, check out our Giving Made Easy brochure on the Eliot Chapel website. Thank you for your support of Eliot Chapel!

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.

If you need assistance or have any questions, please email the appropriate staff person.

The Eliot Ride Team provides rides to church and to medical appointments for Eliot members and friends who cannot drive themselves. If you need a ride, email ineedaride@eliotchapel.org with your name, your address, where you need to go, and the date and time needed. We will be in touch to make arrangements. 

The Eliot Meal Train provides meals to Eliot members and friends who need some love and care. For example, we will provide meals for those who have recently lost a loved one or are recovering from medical care. If you would like to request meals or offer to provide meals, please email mealtrain@eliotchapel.org with your contact information and someone will be in touch with you.

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. 

Women’s Alliance will meet Tuesday, August 2, at 9:30 am in Adams Hall and on Zoom. We’ll have conversation and a brief business meeting, then will discuss the book, The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Discussion leader will be Ann Marie Hutson. Please feel free to join us, whether you’ve read the book or not. For more information, contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org.

Note that masks are optional

for outdoor activities.

The Transitions Support Group is open to all persons experiencing a transition in their lives and wanting a supportive community. The group will next meet by Zoom on Thursday, August 4 at 3:00 pm. If you would like to attend, contact ktaves@eliotchapel.org to receive the Zoom information.

We are in a time when distortions of truth have become weapons in the pursuit of power. In this era of sound bites, clickbait and 24-hour news cycles, can the truth still set us free?