WORSHIP LIVE VIA ZOOM!
Sunday, March 7 – 10:00 am
Our Commitment Legacies – Rev. Krista Taves
All of us grew up watching those who raised us, seeing and being shaped by those things they considered to have ultimate value. How do these commitment legacies continue to shape us even as we make new choices?
This will be a live Zoom service, streamed to YouTube and shared on our website.
On the first Sunday of each month we have a LIVE service on Zoom. The service will actually be a hybrid to allow us to create special videos and to allow our musicians to play and sing together virtually.
Here’s how it will work:
- Members and friends will receive the “Eliot on Zoom” email so you’ll have the zoom link for the service on Sunday morning. At 10:00 am, just call us up. Like all Zoom calls, you may do so with your computer or phone.
- If you would rather connect to us through our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or website, you can join us there. You won’t be a little square on the screen, but you will see and hear everything in real time! The only thing that will be different is that you can’t start at the beginning if you’re late, and you can’t skip ahead to your favorite parts.
- Shortly after the service has ended, it will be available as a recording.
See you there!
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Sharing the Offering
Every month, we share our Sunday collection with an organization in the community that shares our core values. This is one of the ways we live into our commitment of beloved community.
We have a longstanding history of turning to nature as an expression of the sacred. Most of our core rituals, like the flower and fire communions and the chalice lighting, are rich with symbols of the natural world. We also have a legacy of activism for environmental sustainability and restoration that arises out of our theology of interdependence.
This is why our Shared Plate Partner in March is the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, which provides free and reduced-fee legal services to individuals, organizations, and citizen groups who are working to protect the environment and public health. Great Rivers works through the courts and administrative agencies to safeguard the environment by enforcing environmental laws, especially air and water pollution laws, and laws intended to protect wetlands, floodplains, open space, and endangered species. The issues which they address often have national significance.
We have a long relationship with the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center. One of Eliot Chapel’s founding members, Louis Green, cofounded Great Rivers. We are proud to continue supporting his legacy.
Our Shared Plate goal for March is to raise a total of $1300, with half supporting Great Rivers Environmental Law Center and half supporting the many life-giving ministries of Eliot Chapel. Let us be a generous people.
We will let you know each week how close we are to meeting our goal. 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 “Great Rivers” 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 $(enter the amount) SharedPlate" 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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Eliot Chapel sent $626 to Home Sweet Home through February's Shared Plate. |
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Religious Education
Religious Education for Children (Kindergarten-6th grade): Sunday, March 7 @ 9:15 via Zoom
Eliot children and families are invited to gather at 9:15 am via Zoom for connection and community. This week’s session is co-hosted by Christie Lee, Tim Bubb, and adult lay leaders and is the second in a four-week series of experiences which explore the “4 C’s of Unitarian Universalist Commitment.” This week’s exploration is on “Curiosity.” Zoom links will be distributed to registered families by email on Friday, March 5.
Junior High & Senior High Youth Groups: March 7 @ 11:00 via Zoom
Youth in 7th-12th grade are invited to gather for community, connection, and FUN this Sunday, hosted by Scott Stewart and youth group lay leaders. A Zoom link and more details about this Sunday’s youth gatherings will be sent to registered Eliot youth and families on Friday, March 5.
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Zoom Coffee Hour
At 11:30 am, you are invited to “walk down the hall” and come to our Zoom Coffee Hour! We’ll take about 10 minutes or so to gather and let people settle in. We'll say a few words of welcome and then create break-out rooms – random groupings of 5 or 6 people. Everyone will likely make a new friend at Eliot from this exercise! You’ll have the chance to introduce yourself and then share your answers to a few questions, like “How has this week been for you?” and “What feelings has it brought up for you?” Each person has about 5 minutes to speak; you are welcome to pass if you like. In half an hour, everyone will return to the big group and we’ll say our goodbyes for the week. Please watch your email for "Eliot on Zoom" which will include a link to join the Zoom coffee hour. If you're not on our mailing list, sign up here.
Sunday at a Glance
RE for Children – 9:15 am via Zoom
Online Church Service – 10:00 am on Zoom
Junior High Group and Senior High Youth Group – 11:00 am via Zoom
Coffee Hour – 11:30 am via Zoom
Young Adult Group – 12:30 pm on Discord
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Monday, March 8
Environmental Justice Team – 7:00 pm via Zoom
Inquirers Series – 7:00 pm via Zoom
Tuesday, March 9
Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm online
EUC Board Meeting – 7:00 pm via Zoom
Wednesday, March 10
Meneely Covenant Group – 7:00 pm via Zoom
Thursday, March 11
Lunch with the Minister – 12:30 pm via Zoom
Contact your group leader if you need login information for your meeting.
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Reminder: Getting Involved with Groups
Many groups at Eliot are meeting despite the distance between us all. Check with your group leader or get involved with a new group! Find contact information in our Getting Involved booklet.
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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BOARD BITS
Board Information
The Board endeavors to be transparent in its work for Eliot. As part of that transparency, the minutes of the monthly Board meetings are posted on the "Board of Trustees" section of the Eliot website. Feel free to take a look, if you're curious. That part of the website also includes an abundance of other information, such as financial reports, Eliot bylaws and policies, and more.
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The 2021-2022 Stewardship Campaign Is On!
Sunday, March 14 – Stewardship Sunday
Save the date as we launch this year's stewardship campaign with special music, creative expressions from Eliot members, and Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray as our guest speaker with an inspiring message from the UUA.
Saturday, April 10 – CARnival Celebration
Put this culminating event on your calendar! Our cars will be our home base at this family-friendly outdoor gathering where we'll celebrate the stewardship campaign and turn in remaining pledge cards. We'll enjoy reconnecting with music and entertainment (following CDC's COVID-19 guidelines, of course)!
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Artful Abundance Contest
At Eliot Chapel, we appreciate and celebrate the abundance that Eliot provides us in so many ways. As part of this year's Stewardship Campaign, we are asking the Eliot Chapel community to submit visual art, performing art, poems/short writings, or videos that depict the abundance that we receive from all that Eliot offers.
Submissions can be artwork (paintings, sculptures, textiles, drawings, etc. digitally scanned or photographed), poetry, a short written fiction or nonfiction piece, an audio recording, or videos no more than 2 minutes in length.
The top 3 winners, as determined by the Stewardship committee, will be announced at CARnival on April 10, 2021 and awarded an Eliot Chapel themed gift basket.
Start thinking about your submission! Enter the contest through this form by March 18.
If you do NOT have a Gmail account, OR you have trouble with the form, OR you have questions, please email your submission and/or questions to artcontest@eliotchapel.org.
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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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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. Changes to RE information were made this week.
All staff are working from home. The building and grounds are closed for general use. A staff person is checking on the building and grounds periodically throughout the week for any facilities or maintenance issues. If you need assistance or have any questions, please email the appropriate staff person.
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One Year
It’s been a year. March 8 was the first reported case in Missouri, and it was the last in-person worship service at Eliot Chapel. We moved to a virtual church the following week. It’s been a year. It has been bittersweet. We miss each other so much. I have not seen most of you in three dimensions for that long. And I am very proud of our adaptability. We have managed to have fun and connect and more importantly, serve our mission together – even though we are apart I have been moved by some of the connections made between our elders and our children through pen pal exchanges, for example. It’s been a delight connecting with people through adult religious education classes on Zoom. We have stayed true to our witness for racial justice and voting rights. I have also been corrected in some of my ageist assumptions. Our youth have struggled with meeting virtually (one more screen activity), and the Women’s Alliance have picked it up like champions. And we have needed one another so with our grief and our fears and our loneliness – it’s been a year.
We’re seeing the end of the tunnel. And yet it’s a confusing time, not helped by the wild west rodeo that is Missouri vaccine distribution. It’s infuriating that one has to be clever, or lucky, or “in the know,” or able to drive long distances. (If you’re wondering, I have had my first shot and have an appointment for the second mid-March.)
Our theme this month at Eliot Chapel is “Commitment.” Keeping everyone safe by wearing masks and complying with public health rules has taken great commitment on all of our parts. Also, we are now in what some are calling “the third quarter” – what many believe to be one of the hardest parts of an endurance trial. My colleague, the Rev. Erika Hewitt writes:
“In Track & Field, the 1500-meter race requires 4 laps around the track. It’s considered a hard race not just physically, but also mentally.
“The first lap isn’t bad because you’re full of adrenaline, and everyone’s racing like crazy.
“The second lap is harder, but you still have some energy. You’re still excited to be racing. You might be keeping up well.
“Skipping ahead, the fourth lap of the race is very grueling, but you’re almost done; the finish line is coming; you want to win. So everyone flat-out races with everything they’ve got, no holding back.
“Let's talk about the third lap: absolutely the hardest. (A lot of track athletes say that you win or lose the race in the third lap.) You’ve been racing hard for a long time, but you’re not that close to the end. You can’t let up. You can’t relax. Everyone is tired. You’re tired.
“As we begin to experience the jolt of "one year ago," pandemic-related anniversaries, I believe that we're in the third lap of this traumatic experience (especially those of us who have no access to the vaccine yet). We’re so tired—physically, emotionally, spiritually—that to “keep going” is both the only thing to do and the impossible thing to do.
“Please consider our collective exhaustion & mental numbness when you get irritated by a late email, a caustic remark, a bad driver. Interrogate your expectations of yourself and others. Attend to the grief buried under your annoyance.... For years to come, we will be reeling, and coming back into ourselves, and looking around for the broken pieces.
“Find mercy where you can. Begin small. Create that mercy for and with yourself, thread by thread, as if you were knitting yourself a shawl to be tucked around you by the Most Merciful One, whispering, "You're so tired. You're holding so much pain. Let me help you find wholeness again."
Keep going, friends. I know it feels impossible. I love you.
Rev. Barbara
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Environmental Justice Team Meeting
The Environmental Justice team meeting will take place on Monday, March 8 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. See the Eliot on Zoom email for a link or send an email to environmentjustice@eliotchapel.org for the Zoom login or with questions. We will be discussing our plans for celebrating Earth Day: what actions we can take, what our congregational assembly will be, etc. Please join us as we continue our work to solve the climate crisis and support food justice.
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Inquirers Series
Join Rev. Krista Taves for a three-part introduction to Unitarian Universalism on the next three Monday evenings. If you are new to Unitarian Universalism, new to Eliot Chapel, or want to refresh your connection to the Chapel and your faith, this is the class for you.
Session 1 - March 8 - Unitarian, Universalist and Unitarian Universalist History
Session 2 - March 15 - Unitarian Universalist Theology
Session 3 - March 22 - Everything Eliot! - Religious Education, Social Justice, Small Groups, Social Groups, Membership and more!
A link to the class will be included in the Eliot on Zoom email. You may also register on Realm.
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Vigil for Hope & Healing
Tuesday, March 9
5:00 pm via Zoom
The Black Lives Matter vigil has gone digital! Our Black Lives Matter in-person vigil has been suspended for the duration of the stay-at-home order in St. Louis County. This doesn’t mean that we are going to stop witnessing for Black lives!
Join us for our weekly online vigil Tuesdays at 5:00 pm. We will meet on Zoom and livestream our vigil onto Facebook.
How to prepare for our online vigil:
- Write “Black Lives Matter” in dark lettering on a small piece of paper, no bigger than a standard letter envelope.
- Check your background to be sure nothing is visible that you don’t want broadcast in public!
- Connect to the vigil using the Zoom link provided in the weekly Eliot On Zoom email that comes Sunday morning. Make sure you are muted.
- Sit silently with your BLM sign for the duration of the vigil.
- Help expand our witness! During the vigil, go to the Eliot Unitarian Chapel facebook page and share the vigil to your facebook page, twitter feed, or any social media platform you use so that it can be shared further!
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Lunch with the Minister
Revs. Barbara and Krista invite you to a weekly Lunch with the Minister every Thursday at 12:30 pm. Bring your lunch or just bring yourself! Depending on the size of the group, we will hang out together in the main room or go into breakout groups. The link to join this Zoom meeting will be in the weekly "Eliot on Zoom" email. Check it out and get together!
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Eliot Chapel Community of Hope Video Series
Karen Armstrong and the Charter for Compassion: How Do the Seven UU Principles and the Charter Align?
Tuesday, March 16
7:00 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Eliot Chapel’s Social Justice in Action Committee will hold its third session of the Community of Hope video series exploring issues central to our core mission and values. That evening we will watch and discuss Karen Armstrong’s TED talk on the Charter for Compassion. With this charter, Karen Armstrong challenges the world to find commonalities of the major religions and bring the Golden Rule to the center of life. A former Roman Catholic religious sister, she went from a conservative to a more liberal and mystical Christian faith. Please mark your calendars to attend the March 16th Zoom session. You may register here. We hope to see you there!
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Prayer and Meditation Evening Service
Wednesday, March 17
7:00-7:20 pm via Zoom
Rev. Krista Taves invites you to our mid-month evening service for a brief time of silence, reflection, meditation, and prayer.
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Sunday, March 14 – 10:00 am
Loved Into Being – Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray
Join us for a celebration of commitment to our faith and our spiritual community.
The Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray began her six-year term as president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in June 2017. As president of the Association, she is responsible for administering staff and programs that serve its more than 1,000 member congregations. She also acts as principal spokesperson and minister-at-large for the UUA. Susan brings a strong focus on mission and strategic planning to her leadership at the UUA as it works to dismantle systems of white supremacy. Susan is a life-long Unitarian Universalist with roots at Eliot Unitarian Chapel.
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