We end our exploration of the theme of Vulnerability by exploring the ways that a more embodied spirituality might be a meaningful and powerful practice for Unitarian Universalists and in our culture.

Large-print orders of service and hearing assistance devices are available from the greeters on Sunday. We livestream our service; 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. Also, check out This Week's Music from our music director Adam Kosberg. You'll get insight into the music selections for this week's service and find the lyrics to the anthem.

At Eliot Chapel, we follow CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19. When St. Louis County is at a Yellow Level or Medium Level, we will:

Read the letter that went out about the review of our policy and the change in measures in response to a change in levels. You may access the policy document on Eliot Chapel's website for more of the details. 

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 March, we will share our offering with Seed St. Louis (formerly Gateway Greening). Since 1984, Seed St. Louis has provided communities with the tools, education, and empowerment to grow their own food. Learn more at seedstl.org.

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

Specific plans for each age group are shared with registered families via email each week. To learn more about the 2022-23 RE program, please contact Scott Stewart at scott@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 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 Worship – 10:00 am in the Sanctuary

Religious Education – 10:15 am (after Time for All Ages) in RE wing

In-Person Coffee Hour – 11:00 am in Adams Hall

Table Top presentation: Immigration Justice Team – 11:00 am in Adams Hall

Women’s Weekend Bake Sale – 11:00 am in Adams Hall

Women's Weekend Team – 11:45 am in Room 001

Young Adult Group – 11:45 am in the Triplett Room

Online Coffee Hour – 12:30 pm via Zoom

Attitudinal Healing – 10:00 am in Room 006

A Course in Miracles – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Women’s Alliance Field Trip – to St. Louis Chess Club and World Chess Hall of Fame

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm on the front lawn

Wellspring – 6:30 pm in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room

Immigration Justice – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Friday Freethinkers – 10:00 am 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.

The long tradition continues! Registration is now open for the 2023 Women's Weekend Retreat, May 19-21 at Toddhall Retreat Center in Columbia IL. Please join us to retreat, relax, and find community among other women. This retreat is open to all UU women and friends. We extend an invitation to women from Emerson UU Chapel, First Unitarian Church of St Louis, First Unitarian Church of Alton, Abraham Lincoln UU Congregation of Springfield, IL, Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, and UU Church of Columbia, MO. Registration continues through Sunday, April 16. Get all the details of programming and register on the Women's Weekend website.

Are you someone who can provide caring support to families in times of bereavement and joy? Are you looking for a way to make extra money? Eliot Chapel needs someone(s) to volunteer to handle memorials and weddings by coordinating the event at Eliot with the family or bridal party. This would be a paid-per-event non-employee opportunity. Please contact the frontoffice@eliotchapel.org if you are interested.

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.

A Crash Course on Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist Statements of Identity and Principles through the years

This 4-part 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. Longtime members and friends seeking a small group experience are also welcome.

Session 1: Your Journey – Sharing Our Stories and Spiritual Roadmaps

Session 2: The Unitarian Universalist Journey and the Journey of our Congregation

Session 3: Our Journey Together – The Three Paths of Unitarian Universalism Part 1

Session 4: The Three Paths Part 2 and Finding Your Journey Group

The Women's Weekend team will be selling cookies and muffins on Sunday, March 26, from 11:00 –11:45 am in Adams Hall. This sale benefits the Women's Weekend Scholarship Fund. Baked goods will be pre-packed. Cash only.

To amplify our efforts, Eliot's Immigration Justice Team collaborates with local immigrant-focused organizations. One of them is Welcome Neighbor STL who, since their beginning in 2016, has helped over 600 families from 11 countries with over 4,000 volunteers. Two of their main projects are Family Partnering and Supporting Women through Culture. Family Partner teams are helping around 50 families, mostly from Afghanistan, and there is a waiting list to get more teams involved. Their Supper Clubs, where immigrants cook and serve their local cuisine, have been a success with 218 events, serving 15,930 people and generating $426,898 of which 90% goes back to the chefs.

You can learn more about Welcome Neighbor from Eliot members Annie Russell and Donna Springer in this short video and by visiting our table in Adams Hall after the service this Sunday, March 26. Let us know if you are interested in creating/participating in an Eliot Family Partner team or want to learn more about other volunteer opportunities. Come talk to us or email us at immigration@eliotchapel.org. 

See you on Sunday!

Women’s Alliance members will tour the Saint Louis Chess Club and World Chess Hall of Fame on Tuesday, March 28, arranged by coordinator Ellen Luckow. For more information, contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org.

The news is heavy with new immigration policies that look like Trump II. The Missouri legislature is on its way to making higher education more expensive and less accessible. We read that children – many undocumented – are working 12-hour days in dangerous conditions like chicken houses and manufacturing operations. The immigration problem is so large and complex that it appears there is no solution.

But there is. We can’t do everything, but like the boy on the beach saving starfish, we can make a difference for someone. The Eliot Immigration Justice Team is busy with legislative advocacy, hands-on services for local asylum seekers, book reads, and information distribution. Joining our monthly meeting is the best way to learn about volunteer opportunities, current issues, and other ways to help. This month we will also review the recently published UUSJ Immigration Priorities for 2023-2024 and see how we best can align ourselves with them. Bring your ideas to the next meeting on Tuesday, March 28 on Zoom at 7:00 pm. Consult Eliot on Zoom for details.  

The Men’s Advance from April 21 to 23 welcomes all Eliot members and friends who identify at the male end of the gender spectrum. Newcomers are especially encouraged to come out to enjoy hiking, camping, camaraderie, a Saturday night feast, and lots of super-secret men's stuff (which looks suspiciously like doing nothing). Ten dollars buys your ticket to the feast (kids 12 and under, $5). All other meals are on your own. Most 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 new rustic bunkhouses. To sign up for the weekend, to reserve a cottage or bunkhouse space, or for any information contact mensadvance@eliotchapel.org. A sign-up sheet is also posted in the corridor to Adams Hall.

Book Discussion in April: Javier Zamora's Solito

Eliot's Immigration Justice Team invites you to join a discussion about Javier Zamora's memoir Solito in April. This is a riveting story of Javier's two-month-long journey alone as a nine-year-old boy from El Salvador to reunite with his parents in California. Besides the dangers and challenges he endures, he also describes the unexpected kindness and love he finds along the way. Solito is Javier's story but it is also a story of millions of others who have had no other choice but leave home for a chance of a better life. Dates for the in-person discussion are: Sunday, April 23 at 1:00 pm and Saturday, April 29 at 1:00 pm. Get the book now and pencil the dates in your calendar; sign-ups coming soon!

Gather your friends on National Superhero Day, April 28, for a night of fun at Crestwood Community Center for the 2023 Eliot Chapel Trivia Night: Celebrating Heroes! Doors open at 6:15 pm; trivia begins at 7:00 pm.

Early bird pricing is $200 per table of 8 ($25/per person) until March 31. After that, tables of 8 are $240 ($30 each). Trivia questions will cover a broad range of subjects. You'll have a chance to purchase mulligans, win gift baskets, bid on auction items, and play games between rounds. Cash prizes go to the top three trivia tables.

Come dressed as your favorite HERO, super or otherwise! Prizes for Best Dressed Table and Best Decorated Table! Bring your own food and drink. Popcorn, soda, and water provided. Register online now!

Can you help out on the night of the event or beforehand? Can you make a gift basket for the raffle? Do you have a service or a gift card or tickets you could offer for the auction? Send an email to trivia@eliotchapel.org or sign up in Adams Hall after the service on Sunday.

Eliot Chapel is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.