Critical Race Teachings – Rev. Barbara H. Gadon

In recent times, we are seeing breakthrough scholarship in American history and systemic racism. We are also seeing an organized movement on the part of parents and legislators to block this information in our schools. Come to learn more about this phenomenon and how we as people of faith can respond.

Masks are required at the service for anyone over two years of age. Masks should cover both nose and mouth. 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 SignUpGenius:

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 November, we will be sharing our Sunday collections with SouthSide Early Childhood Center, an organization that Eliot Chapel has long supported.

SouthSide can serve up to 140 children each day. We all know the value of early childhood education. SouthSide is doing an outstanding job of providing it for children who really need it. Their work gives children coming from difficult situations a great chance for success. Learn more at www.southside-ecc.org.

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 Kindergarten and older, and their families, are encouraged to gather in the Meadow at Eliot 10 minutes AFTER the 9:00 service concludes for “RE with the Ministers–Part 2.” This will include 15-20 minutes with Rev. Krista Taves and Janis Cox, a longtime Eliot member and lay leader who serves as a pastoral care associate. Rev. Krista and Janis will share about Eliot’s care ministry and ways everyone in our community, including KIDS, can assist. Following their participation, Eliot kids have an opportunity to partake in an outreach project with Ms. Christie and Ms. Heather, where we’ll make Thanksgiving cards to mail to Eliot’s homebound members.

Youth activities for youth in grades 8-12 continue on Sunday, November 14 in Kirkwood Park at the fire pit. Kirkwood Park is located at 111 S. Geyer Road, 63122. The fire pit is by the Sugar Creek and Lions Pavilions. Enter the park at the entrance at Adams and Geyer next to the tennis courts. The best parking area is by the tennis courts. Arrival begins at 10:30, activities will start at 10:45, and should wrap up around 12:00.

Zoom Coffee Hour takes 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 minutes after the 9:00 service on the Meadow

Youth Group – 10: 30 am off-site

Women's Alliance – 9:30 am via Zoom

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 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.

Most Unitarian Universalist congregations in North America hold a special Bread Service on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We honor the harvest with gratitude and generosity. At Eliot we invite everyone to bring bread that has a special meaning to you and/or your family. Especially meaningful are loaves reflecting ethnic background and loaves you associate with Thanksgiving, harvest, and extended family. During the service you will be invited to bring your bread to the front, briefly share its significance, and leave it to be enjoyed by all.

Eliot will have three traditional bread services the weekend before Thanksgiving at 5:00 pm on Saturday, November 20 and at 9:00 and 11:00 am on Sunday, November 21. Because of COVID precautions, all wishing to attend will be expected to follow these protocols:

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. 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.

Quilts can be delivered to the church at these times:

Questions? Contact Flo Reaves at quilts@eliotchapel.org.

Here’s how you can give:

The Flower Team delivers and displays one floral arrangement (cut, live, or artificial) for each Sunday worship service. The flowers help beautify the Sanctuary, and the team members get to offer their talents in floral design. Flower arrangements can also be a way to celebrate a life, milestone, anniversary, or remembrance of a person or event. If you are interested in joining the team or have a Sunday you would like to provide flowers, please contact Carolyn Burke at flowers@eliotchapel.org.

The following is a list of groups with openings at this time. Email covenantgroups@eliotchapel.org for more information.   

Your online purchases can equal donations to Eliot. As the holiday season approaches, now is the perfect time to join iGive in support of Eliot Chapel. And you have just a few more days to earn a bonus donation 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, November 16 at 9:30 am. We’ll have a period of conversation and then will get to experience a virtual tour of “The World Underneath St. Louis," presented by local history expert and tour guide, Doug Schneider. Please feel free to join us. 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. 

The Immigration Justice Team will hold its monthly meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, November 16 at 7:00 pm. Please plan to join us. For more information, contact immigration@eliotchapel.org. Find connection details in Sunday's "Eliot on Zoom" email. See you then!