Sunday, November 6 – 10:00 am
The Many Facets of Change – The Rev. Doug Wadkins
Our new theme for November is Change. This service will offer some perspectives on how this theme might work within our individual lives and shared life as a congregation. Because Change is a common aspect of our lives, there are many pathways to exploring it in a meaningful way. This service will be an excellent introduction to our meaningful work this month.
Featured musicians: The Tritones: Sharon McCarron MacKenzie, Jennifer Stewart, Pam Triplett; Jennifer Stewart, flute; Eliot Chapel Choir; David Nalesnik, piano.
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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.
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:
- Encourage each person to make their own decisions about masking, and if you are at high risk for severe illness, talk with your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines.
- Stay home from church events and get tested if you have symptoms.
- Resume coffee hour.
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Sharing the Offering
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 November, we are happy to share our offering with Kirk Care.
Kirk Care is a non-profit organization formed to help the needy living within the boundaries of the Kirkwood R-7 School District. A hometown ministry, Kirk Care collects funds and food donations from area churches, businesses, civic organizations, and individuals and distributes these resources to families in need. They provide food deliveries (maintained at their local pantry), assistance with utility bills, funding for school supplies to be given out by Kirkwood R-7 school counselors, and Christmas food and gift box distribution to client families. Learn more about Kirk Care at kirkcare.org.
Let us be good neighbors. Let us be a generous people. You can give in one of three ways:
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Online: Click here. Make sure “Shared Plate” is your chosen fund.
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By Mail: Please write “Kirk Care” 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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Religious Education & Youth Group
The 2022-23 Religious Education and Youth Program continues this Sunday, November 6 during the 10:00 service.
- Children in kindergarten through fourth grade should attend the first 15 minutes of the worship service with their family.
- Preschool-aged children and younger and youth in grades 7-12 may go directly to their respective groups.
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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 & Youth Choir
Children & Youth Choir rehearsals resume on Sunday, November 13 at 11:15 in the music room. Children & Youth Choir is designed primarily for children and youth in second 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.
SAVE THE DATE: Pageant Service on December 23
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 soon.
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Zoom Coffee Hour
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!
Sunday at a Glance
OWL Program – 9:45 am in Room 006
Sunday Worship – 10:00 am in the Sanctuary
Youth Program – 10:00 am in the Youth Room
Religious Education – 10:15 am (after Time for All Ages) in RE wing
In-Person Coffee Hour – 11:00 am in Adams Hall
Recorder Practice – 11:00 am in Room 002
Lemon Covenant Group – 11:30 am in Room 006
Young Adult Group – 11:45 am in the Triplett Room
Starting Point – 12:00 pm in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room
Online Coffee Hour – 12:30 pm via Zoom
PCA meeting – 1:15 pm in Room 001
Madrigal Rehearsal – 2:00 pm in Room 006
Friends of Music – 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary
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Tuesday, November 8
Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm in front of Eliot Chapel
Greenleaf Madrigal Rehearsal – 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary
Wednesday, November 9
Creative Spirituality Covenant Group – 7:00 pm in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room
Thursday, November 10
Madrigal Rehearsal – 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary
Friday, November 11
The church offices will be closed in honor of Veterans Day.
Friday Freethinkers – 10:00 am in Room 001
Contact your group leader if you need login information for your meeting.
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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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Fall Back!
Clocks turn back one hour at 2:00 am on Sunday, November 6 as Daylight Saving Time ends in the US. Computers, mobile phones, and some other electronics will make the change automatically, but plan to move clocks back on Saturday night before going to bed so you can take advantage of an extra hour of rest. Then see us in the sanctuary at 10:00 on Sunday morning!
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Madrigal Returns
After a two-year hiatus the Eliot Chapel Madrigal is back! Please join us on December 1, 2, or 3, and have a great evening that supports Eliot! Reservation forms are available at the bulletin boards, in Adams Hall, and on Eliot's website.
Want to volunteer? Please see the table in Adams Hall or email Karen at madrigal@eliotchapel.org. We look forward to seeing you at Madrigal! Thank you!
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Handbell Ensemble
Among the holiday musical traditions at Eliot Chapel is the Handbell Ensemble which traditionally performed for Christmas Eve services – please consider joining us as we hope to resume this ensemble this holiday season. Those with handbell and/or musical experience as well as enthusiastic beginners also are welcome! Rehearsals will be scheduled to fit members' schedules and will begin in late November. Please contact music director Adam Kosberg at music2@eliotchapel.org for more information.
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Bread Sunday Donations
At our annual Bread Service on Sunday, November 20, we are collecting laundry detergent and paper towels for Kirk Care, the local food pantry. Laundry detergent cannot be purchased with SNAP funds, and it is expensive! It will be given as presents at Christmas. Please bring small bottles of quality liquid detergent or packets of pods. Thank you!
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Quilts
As part of our preparation for the annual bread service, we invite you to share quilts for decoration in the Sanctuary. Baby quilts, quilted wall hangings, throws, and table runners are welcome, too. Quilts should be clearly marked with your name and be delivered to the church office no later than noon on Wednesday, November 16. If your quilt has a story, please feel welcome to print or type it on a small card, and affix the card to the front of your quilt so the story can be shared with members and friends. Questions? Contact Rebecca Schuder at quilts@eliotchapel.org.
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THANKSgiving Social hosted by Nominating Committee
The Eliot Nominating Committee, charged with fostering Eliot leadership, is sponsoring a wine, cider, and cheese Thanksgiving social on Thursday, November 17 at 6:30 pm in Adams Hall in gratitude for those in leadership and service at Eliot. Come learn about leadership opportunities and raise a glass to program leaders, ministers, Board of Trustees, staff, and all who lead in large ways and small.
Let us know you are coming by registering here or on the bulletin board at Eliot Chapel. We look forward to seeing you!
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Add Your Pronouns!
Coming November 13 and 20: the chance to add pronoun stickers to your nametag if you wish to do so! When we were on Zoom, many of us added our pronouns to our Zoom names every week as a matter of course. So let’s do the same with our in-person nametags!
This practice benefits many people – most notably trans or nonbinary folks who may be tired of often being the only ones to start the conversation about pronouns, but also English language learners and people with gender-neutral names. We all want to be referred to in an accurate and respectful manner, and gender isn’t necessarily something we can tell about a person just by looking at them or at their name. (Not clear on how gender identity and gender expression can be – but aren’t always –different from each other? Come see Beth Curtiss (she/her) at the sticker table and she’ll fill you in on the basics!) Putting a pronoun sticker on your nametag is only a first step toward gender identity justice in our community, of course – so let’s make that first step happen!
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We Do Not Consent!
Our next Social Justice in Action Forum will be on the 2022 Statement of Conscience which urges UUA congregations to take action to ensure access to abortion. Please join us on Sunday, November 13, at 12:00 noon in Adams Hall to help determine what we here at Eliot Chapel can do. Light refreshments will be served.
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An Invitation from the Stewardship/Canvass Team
When Reverend Doug spoke about “Belonging” in September, he talked about an African phrase, “Ubuntu.” One of the translations of this phrase is “I am because we are.” We are adopting this sense of belonging in our work forward for the 2023-2024 Canvass.
We are taking a slightly different approach for next year’s canvass. We want to involve as many congregants as possible in the planning and preparation of the pledge drive. We know many folks are energized and want to be active in the work of Eliot Chapel once again, but may not want to take on a huge yearlong responsibility. That is why we have broken some jobs down into smaller tasks. Read through these brief descriptions and let us know where your talents and interests are a good fit. We need you on the team!
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Stewardship Sunday, March 5: Coordinate with the ministers and music director to plan a meaningful service for the start of the stewardship campaign. Planning starts in January 2023.
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Promotional Materials: Help design and write contents of the promotional materials for the campaign. Planning begins in December 2022. The team will help stuff and label contents for the mailing to go out by mid-February 2023.
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Coordinate Social Gatherings: This team will organize 20 volunteer hosts who will invite 10-15 Eliot folks to join them for a fun social event! The host will decide what type of event they want to have (potluck, happy hour, hike, coffee/dessert, craft party, cookie exchange, wine/beer tasting, movie night, fire pit…). These gatherings will be an opportunity to get together with familiar friends and meet new ones! The purpose is twofold; to have fun and sign your pledge card before you leave. Planning starts in November. Events will be hosted from March until mid April.
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Testimonials: Organizing people to give oral testimonials on Sundays during the campaign.
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Final Celebratory Event: Plan a fun event for the congregation to attend! Planning begins in December; the event will probably take place April 15.
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We Care for Each Other
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.
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Join us for
Vigil for Hope & Healing
Tuesday, November 8
at 5:00 pm in front of Eliot Chapel
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ADULT EDUCATION OFFERING
Starting Point
with Rev. Krista Taves and Amy Stark
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. We will have a spring session as well.
Session 1, Sunday, December 4, 2:00 – 3:45 pm on Zoom :
Your Journey – Sharing Our Stories and Spiritual Roadmaps
Session 2, Monday, December 12, 6:00 – 7:45 pm on Zoom:
The Unitarian Universalist Journey and the Journey of our Congregation
Session 3, Sunday, January 15, 2:00 – 3:45 pm on Zoom:
Our Journey Together – The Three Paths of Unitarian Universalism Part 1
Session 4, Sunday, January 22, noon – 1:45 pm in person at Eliot:
The Three Paths Part 2 and Finding Your Journey Group
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Sunday, November 13 – 10:00 am
“Guiding Our Path Through Change”
The Rev. Douglas Wadkins
Our month's theme is Change, and this service will explore some specific ways to work with Change as fodder for spiritual growth. Specifically, we will explore how the coming holidays are often a time where Change is present, or perhaps should be present, and what approach would best allow us to deepen our experience of the time between Thanksgiving and New Years.
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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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