At Eliot Chapel, we follow CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19. Currently, we are at the yellow or medium level in St. Louis County, so we will:

You may access the policy document on Eliot Chapel's website to read more of the details. Watch a video introduction of the policy with Rev. Doug and Rev. Krista.

We livestream our service on Sunday. Find it at eliotchapel.org. After the stream, a recording will be available there 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. 

Every Sunday, Eliot Chapel shares half of the offertory with an organization in the community whose work reflects our shared values. This is one way that we care for our community and our neighbors. In October, we are happy to be sharing our Sunday collections with A Red Circle because we are both energized by a deep commitment to racial justice and racial equity.

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

Fifth and sixth grade children who are participating in the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program should go directly to Room 006 at 9:45.

Specific plans for each age group are shared with registered families via email each week. To learn more about this fall’s RE program, please contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org.

Children’s Choir rehearsals continue this Sunday, October 9 at 11:15 in the music room. Children’s Choir is designed primarily for children and youth in 2nd grade and older, though children slightly younger and older youth may enjoy participating as well, depending on their experience, interest, and temperament. 

If your child(ren) or youth are interested in this opportunity, or you wish to be added to the choir communication list for more information and updates as plans develop, please contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org.

We are excited to share that the Christmas Pageant Service is scheduled for Friday evening, December 23 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. We anticipate this service will run approximately 30 minutes. Led by Rev. Krista, this “no rehearsal – no mistakes” service is a great opportunity to celebrate the season with children, families, and other Eliot friends of all ages, and to explore the meanings of this story which connect with Unitarian Universalism. Look for more details in early November.

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 breakout 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!

Eliot Chapel offices will be closed today for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

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

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.

Eliot Chapel offices will be closed on Monday, October 10 for U.S. Indigenous Peoples' Day. This is a day set aside to honor the cultures and histories of the Native American people. Eliot Chapel stands on traditional lands of the Osage, O-ga-xpa, Myaamia, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, Kaskaskia, and Kiikaapoi. 

I invite you to be in conversation about the living legacy of Eliot Unitarian Chapel. We will gather Sunday, October 23, from 11:15 to 12:15 to have conversations within smaller groups of sharing circles. We will ask you to explore your own living history with the congregation. Whether you have been in this community for decades or for a few weeks, your part of the history is vital. This process is about both sharing your own experience and listening to the sharing of others. Together, you will seek to discover common threads and more significant lessons in your small group's shared history. We will also have the chance to share some of these larger lessons with the entire group. This sharing is a significant opportunity to connect the significance of Eliot's past with the truths of the current time and share and receive this wisdom from others. It sets a meaningful foundation for visioning and exploring your mission and hopes for the future in the interim period. Please sign up to be part of this conversation by October 21.    

I hope you can attend. Please let me know if you have any questions!

 Coffee Hour has resumed. Hosting coffee hour is a simple task and a great way to serve and connect. Please help your community resurrect this time-honored tradition! Sign up now!

Since we have one worship service on Sundays, we have discovered a need for more accessible parking at Eliot Chapel. We currently have four permanent accessible spots and usually increase that to eight with temporary signage on Sunday morning. We are designating all spots in the upper parking lot (the lot outside Adams Hall) as accessible spots and ask that if you do not require accessible parking, you use the lower lot by the meadow or street parking.

This increase from eight to 21 accessible spaces is needed for and applies to Sundays only. Thank you for your help in honoring this transition.

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.

Most attendees choose to camp in tents or trailers; spaces in the cottage (with running water and electricity) are available by reservation with priority given to those with medical needs or physical limitations. Eight beds are also available in the more rustic bunkhouses. To sign up for the weekend, to reserve a cottage or bunkhouse space, or for other information contact bergfriedinfo@eliotchapel.org.

The Immigration Justice team welcomes you to the first in our series of "Immigrants Among Us" events. Join us this Sunday, October 9 in Adams Hall during coffee hour to learn about IHELP (Immigrant Home English Learning Program). This program empowers foreign-born adults by providing individualized, in-home English language education and tools for effective navigation of our community. Two of our Eliot members, Pam Cornwell and Mirjam Collegeman, have participated in this well-organized program for a few years – click on the video above to find out their perspective on how the program works and what benefits both the student and the teacher gain from participating in it. Come on Sunday to meet them and Sarah Paradoski, Director of Program Development of IHELP to learn more!

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. You do not need to attend every session of the series this fall. We will have winter and spring sessions as well.

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

For many of us our church building is a sanctuary, our safe place. But we live in an insecure time and we are called to be ready if the sanctity of our religious home were ever violated. It saves lives. All are invited to attend the Intruder Alert Training class being offered by Officer Gary Baldridge from the Kirkwood Police Department. Register ahead to let us know you'll be there!