Masks are required at the service for anyone over two years of age. Masks should cover both nose and mouth. Please remember, the congregation is not singing or humming yet during the service. We will announce any cancellations for inclement weather on our website and social media. In that event, worship will be recorded in the sanctuary and a video will be available by 11:00 am.

We have reservations available this week. Reservations for the week's services open after 3:00 pm on Monday. A separate email with reservation links goes out through our email list. Reservations will be made through Sign-Up Genius:

If all pods are reserved, you may call (314.821.0911) or email the front office to be put on a waiting list. OR you may come to Eliot and sit elsewhere on the lot (social distancing, of course). You may not have great visibility but you will be able to hear the service and be present in the experience. If you do this, you still need to check in with a greeter for contact tracing purposes.

We will be recording one of our services on Sunday. When it is available, you will find it at eliotchapel.org where it will remain all week. You can also find it directly on our YouTube channel.

In October, we're sharing our offering with Missouri Faith Voices.

Missouri Faith Voices is a multi-faith, multi-racial movement committed to dismantling white supremacy and making racial equity a reality.

Here’s how you can give:

Worship Services: Children in 7th grade and younger are invited and encouraged to attend the outdoor worship service at Eliot Chapel with their family and participate in Social Hour in the meadow following the service. Supervised play on the nursery school playground is available for preschool-aged children during the 9:00 am service.   

Religious Education (RE): Children in grades K-7 are invited to gather from 10:30-11:00 on Zoom with Heather Flick. This week’s RE gathering explores PIGS and what they can teach us about stereotypes and courage. The Zoom link will be shared with registered families via email.

The Religious Education for Children FAQs have more information about the fall program for children in 7th grade and younger. Please contact Christie Lee at christie@eliotchapel.org if you have additional questions.

SAVE THE DATE: The next Fall Family Field Trip is next Sunday, October 10 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Children and families are invited to gather for Religious Education on the Farm at Suson Park. We’ll be exploring interconnection, animal care, and meeting a variety of farm animals, including goats, horses, pigs, cows, chickens, and more. Join us for fellowship, connection, and this exploration of Unitarian Universalist principles and values “on the farm.”

Families are welcome and encouraged to remain afterwards for fellowship and, if they desire, bring their own picnics. We have a covered rented pavilion for the festivities, located near the park playground.

Youth in grades 8-12 gather for their Fall Hike & Picnic on October 3 at 10:30 am at Emmenegger Park, located at 11991 Stoneywood Dr, Kirkwood, MO 63122. Our gathering place is the covered pavilion near the park entrance. Arrival begins at 10:30, activities will start at 10:45, and should wrap up around 12:30. Youth should bring a lawn chair, water bottle, and wear comfortable shoes for a fall hike.

The Youth Group FAQs have more information about the fall program for youth in grades 8-12. Please contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org if you have any questions about youth activities.

To accommodate the new service schedule, Zoom Coffee Hour now will take place from 12:00 pm to 1:00 on Sunday. 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.

Children's Religious Education – 10:30 am on Zoom

Youth Group – 10: 30 am at Emmenegger Park

Women's Alliance – 9:30 am via Zoom

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 6:00 pm in front of Eliot

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.

Longtime Eliot Chapel member Phil Traylor passed away on September 3, 2021 at the age of 80. Phil was a VietNam vet, but he never mentioned or gloried in it. A ready smile, lightness of spirit, and the ability to laugh at the absurdities of this world were traits those who knew him cherished. Phil is survived by his two children Bevin and Serge. Donations may be made in his honor to the Alzheimers Association – act.alz.org/goto/philtraylor.

Please remember Dianne Samuelson who was a member of Eliot from 1983 until 2003 when she moved to Texas to be near her daughter. The family has asked in lieu of flowers, donate to Eliot Chapel.

Exciting news! We have hired an acting music director – Adam Kosberg. He will join us in leading worship this Sunday, October 3! 

I find Adam delightful. As you will see below, he has a depth of experience in classical music, but he also has a range of styles. Check out his performance with the Red and Black Band in St. Louis last year. This band has played New Orleans-style jazz in different neighborhoods throughout the pandemic, bringing joy and uplift in a stressful time.

“Connecting with others gives us a sense of inclusion, connection, interaction, safety, and community. Your vibe attracts your tribe, so if you want to attract positive and healthy relationships, be one! Staying connected and getting reconnected feeds the flow of goodness which empowers our humanity.” — Susan C. Young

Consider connecting with others in a covenant group. Now is a good time at the beginning of the church year. Inclusion, connection, and friendship are just a few of the benefits of covenant groups! There are currently openings in a variety of different groups. Listed below are the leaders and dates they meet. If you would like to learn more, go to Eliot Chapel's website and click "Our Community." 

Lynn Murphy – meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. 

Ann Marie Hutson – meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. 

Janet Solecki & Flint Boettcher – meet the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:15 pm. 

Bonnie Kwentus – meets the 1st Monday of the month at 10:00 am. 

Suzanne LeLaurin – meets the 1st Sunday of the month at 12:30 pm. 

Lynn Murphy – meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. 

Joanne Pratts – meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. 

Mary Ann Mace – meets the 1st Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm. 

Toni Saunders & Kathy McVoy – meet the 4th Sunday of the month at 12:15 pm. 

Roz Marx – meets the 1st Sunday of the month at 12:50 pm.

If you are interested in receiving more information about any of these groups, contact covenantgroups@eliotchapel.org.

Electronic recycling will be available at Hands On Kirkwood! Even if you can't volunteer for HOK, you can still support it by bringing your old electronics, batteries, and small appliances to the electronic recycling event at Meramec College on Saturday, October 2 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A special thank you to Carolyn Burke who has been providing flowers for worship and sending get well and sympathy cards for Eliot members and friends for years! Many of us have received her thoughtful cards and appreciated her flowers. Thank you, Carolyn, for your steadfast service to our community.

We are building a new team of card writers to take Carolyn's place as she moves to other priorities. Please email pastoralcare@eliotchapel.org if this ministry would give you joy and meaning. 

As the holiday season approaches, now is the perfect time to join iGive in support of Eliot Chapel. Did you know your online purchases can equal donations to Eliot? And now is the perfect time to join because each person who signs up before Nov. 15 and makes a purchase by Dec. 1 earns a bonus $5 donation in addition to anything your purchase earns.

And it's easy to join! Just scan the QR code here with your smart phone or click through to the iGive website.

Shop at 2300+ stores you already know and benefit Eliot Chapel!

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. 

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.

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.

Women’s Alliance will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, October 5, at 9:30 am. We’ll talk a bit and and then have a brief business meeting before discussing the book The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore. Sharon Morgan will lead the discussion. Please feel free to join us, even if you haven’t read the book. For more information, contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org.

All are welcome; wearing a mask is required as is maintaining the 6-foot social distancing guideline. Please remember that the building is not open so there are no available restrooms. 

Come, Come, Whoever You Are – Rev. Barbara H. Gadon