Sunday, July 17 – 10:00 am
“Transitions and Perfection” – Rev. David Pyle
The UUA MidAmerica Regional Lead, the Rev. David Pyle, will share with us the ways in which the conceptions of perfection that arise from the Unitarian side of our theology can make difficult the growth and change that is possible during transitional times – in our church, in our community, and in ourselves. As we look towards our upcoming Interim Ministry, how can we prepare ourselves to make the most of this transitional time?
The Rev. David Pyle is the Regional Lead and a Congregational Life Consultant with the MidAmerica Regional Staff. Rev. Pyle holds a Master of Divinity from the Meadville Lombard Theological School and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from East Tennessee State University. He completed his Clinical Pastoral Education Residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He has served as a minister for congregations in California, Michigan, and Illinois, and as an Administrator for a congregation in Texas. He also serves as the Deputy Command Chaplain for the Army Reserve Sustainment Command. He lives in Oak Grove, Kentucky.
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At Eliot Chapel:
- Everyone over two years of age who enters the building is required to wear a surgical mask, KN95 mask, or N95 mask – cloth masks provide too little protection. If you forget, we will have masks available for you to wear. Masks must cover nose and mouth.
- We ask everyone to be mindful of social distancing and to spread throughout the sanctuary.
- If you are able to secure home COVID tests, please test before you come to service.
- If you are feeling unwell in any way, please stay home and join us online.
- As always, vaccination for all those eligible is required to attend in person. If you are eligible for a booster, please get one.
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.
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Sharing the Offering
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:
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Online: Click here. Make sure “Shared Plate” is your chosen fund.
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By Mail: Please write “Diaper Bank” 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
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 and preschool room will reopen during Sunday worship services on Sunday, August 7.
Eliot Summer Adventure #2 – Forest Park Nature Playscape on July 17
Sign-ups are now open for Eliot Summer Adventure #2, the second in 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.
Adventure #2 is at the Forest Park Nature Playscape on Sunday, July 17 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 on their website.
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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 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 at a Glance
Sunday Worship – 10:00 am in the Sanctuary
Coffee Hour – 12:30 pm via Zoom
Young Adult Group – 12:45 pm in the Triplett Room
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Tuesday, July 19
Women's Alliance – 9:30 am via Zoom and in Adams Hall
Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm in front of Eliot
Earth-Based Covenant Group – 7:00 pm in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room
Thursday, July 21
Murphy Covenant Group – 7:00 pm in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room
Friday, July 22
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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Please Remember
Longtime Unitarian Universalist and former member of Eliot, Dewalt William Fowler, passed away on June 22, 2022. Please keep his wife Janie, his children Susan and Lisa, and his sister Mary in your thoughts and prayers. His obituary can be found online where condolences may be left for the family. Unfortunately Janie cannot take phone calls due to health issues.
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#SelfieSundays
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!
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Eliot Offering UU Wellspring Courses this Fall
“Wellspring was a fun, informative, thought-provoking and transformational experience for me.”
– Janet Solecki
Join to experience the five spokes of UU Wellspring: deep listening; daily spiritual practice; spiritual companionship; deeper understanding of UU history and theology; and living your faith. Groups meet twice a month for ten months to explore spiritual practices and reflect on how we can transform ourselves and our world.
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BA.5 Has Arrived
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.
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NEW FISCAL/PLEDGE YEAR BEGAN JULY 1, 2022
Your Online Pledge Payments Need Your Attention
July 1, 2022 was the first day of the new Eliot Chapel Fiscal/Pledge Year of 2022-2023.
We realize Eliot Chapel's fiscal and pledge year are confusing. Everyone thinks of a "year" as the calendar year of January to December. However, a corporation like Eliot Chapel (EUC was incorporated in 1959) follows a different schedule for its fiscal year. Eliot Chapel's fiscal year is July 1 to June 30. This means that the pledge card members and friends were asked to fill out and return to Eliot Chapel back in March became effective July 1.
Because we have just ended one fiscal/pledge year and started a new one, there are several things pledgers who pay via online giving need to do now.
If the following directions confuse you, please contact the Front Office at frontoffice@eliotchapel.org or dfo@eliotchapel.org and we will help you delete your 2021-2022 pledge payment and/or set up a new online giving pledge payment for 2022-2023.
- If you still need/want to fulfill your 2021-2022 pledge, you can continue to do so. Leave your current Online Pledge for 2021-2022 as it is.
- If you have fulfilled your 2021-2022 Pledge, or do not have a balance on your 2021-2022 Pledge and do not wish to fulfill it but want to start fulfilling your 2022-2023 Pledge you need to do the following:
- Delete the 2021-2022 Online Giving Pledge.
- Create a NEW Online Giving Pledge payment and select 2022-2023 Fiscal Year as the fund.
- Follow the rest of the Online Giving directions, selecting your choice of payment options (bank withdrawal, credit card, etc.) and your date of withdrawal.
- You're all set for your future donations to be applied to the Current Fiscal/Pledge Year of 2022-2023.
- If you still need/want to fulfill your 2021-2022 Pledge AND start fulfilling your 2022-2023 Pledge at the same time, please do the following:
- Leave your 2021-2022 Online Giving Pledge payment as it is. Your selected payment option will continue to withdraw the amount and send it to Eliot Chapel. We will notify you when you have fulfilled your pledge.
- Create a NEW Online Giving Pledge payment and select 2022-2023. Fiscal Year as the Fund.
- Follow the rest of the Online Giving directions, selecting your choice of payment options (bank withdrawal, credit card, etc.), and your date of withdrawal.
- Your bank or credit card will withdraw twice (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.) – once for the 2021-2022 Fiscal/Pledge and once for the 2022-2023 Fiscal/Pledge.
Even if you are a Sustaining Member or Friend, the Front Office still needs a "physical" pledge card so a pledge can be entered into Eliot's database by which to track your pledge contributions.
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!
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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.
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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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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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Women’s Alliance
Women’s Alliance will meet Tuesday, July 19, at 9:30 am in Adams Hall and on Zoom. We’ll have a brief period of conversation followed by a talk by Joy Weese Moll from WE CAN, West County Community Action Network. Dotty Storer will coordinate.
Beginning in 2014, following the murder of Michael Brown, a group of community members began holding Black Lives Matter vigils. Since then, WE CAN has grown to become a network of folks advocating for racial justice in schools, police departments, and communities. Its stated goals: "to build community, promote justice for all, and work to improve our West County home." If you are interested in hearing more about WE CAN, please join us. Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org.
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Join us for
Vigil for Hope & Healing
Tuesday, July 19
at 5:00 pm in front of Eliot Chapel
Note that masks are optional
for outdoor activities.
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Sunday, July 24 – 10:00 am
“Beyond Navel Gazing: Personal Spiritual Practice”
The Rev. Patrick Price
All definitions of “spirituality” are about a connection with something beyond our daily selves that will help us find context, coherency, and meaning for our lives. There are many and diverse practices that can help us to explore and nurture these connections that are deeper and wider than we imagine.
Ordained in 1995, the Rev. Patrick Price was called to minister to UU congregations in Columbia, South Carolina, and Plano, Texas. He also served as interim minister to congregations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. He lives in Peoria, Illinois with his wife, the Rev. Jennifer Innis, and children Nate and Abby.
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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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