The worship theme for January is Possibility .

Sunday, January 20 – 9:30 and 11:00 am
Possibilities – The Rev. Daniel Gould
Rev. Gould will take us on a journey of possibilities as we examine the expansion of our being when we tap into the power of the impossible.
Featured Musicians: Eliot Choir

For more than 18 years, Rev. Daniel Gould has brought leadership and problem-solving skills to communities in Houston, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Birmingham, Bessemer, and Marengo County, Alabama, and in Accra, Ghana and Freetown, Sierra Leone. Rev. Gould is a youth minister and community organizer with Missouri Faith Voices and is the founder of Gaia Green Earth, a multidisciplinary firm that specializes in eco-inclusive environments.
Sharing the Offering
The International Institute is St. Louis’ welcoming center for new Americans. Their mission is to help immigrants and their families become productive Americans and champion ethnic diversity as a cultural and economic strength. Founded in 1919, the Institute has provided essential community integration services to each new wave of immigrants to St. Louis, without regard to country of origin, race, or religion.

More than 7,500 immigrants and refugees from 80 countries are welcomed each year, ranging from low-skilled to high-skilled and from non-literate to university-educated. Many are refugees who have fled war-torn countries around the world. We also work to build connections between foreign-born and long-time residents and produce Festival of Nations, our region’s most popular multi-cultural celebration.

Services include education, including English, citizenship and computer classes; refugee resettlement; and employment and training. Also provided are immigration assistance and services to vulnerable populations, including elderly refugees and victims of human trafficking. The Institute also operates four urban farms in the St. Louis area. For more information, visit iistl.org.


Religious Education
At 9:30 , children in kindergarten and older should attend the first 15 minutes of the worship service. Preschool children (ages 3-5) and nursery children (2 and younger) go directly to their class.

At 11:00 , children who are age 4 through 4th grade attend the first 15 minutes of the worship service. Nursery-age children (3 and younger) go directly to the nursery.

Note:  5th-12th grade youth are attending the 11:00 am worship service this morning. 
 

Sunday at a Glance
Eliot Choir – 8:30 am in the Music Room
Saunders/McVoy Covenant Group – 12:15 pm in the Bergfried Room
Living the Pledge Accountability – 12:30 pm in the Frederick-Gray Room
Partner Church – 12:30 pm in Room 006
Eliot Meditation Group – 7:00 pm in the DuBois Library
   
Church News
Dr. Leon Burke
Dr. Leon Burke has accepted a new position as Director of Music at First Congregational Church of Webster Groves. We are thrilled for Leon but will keenly feel his loss. Leon’s new position will begin in early March. He will conduct the Chichester Psalms for Music Sunday at Eliot on February 17 and the choir trip to Oak Park, March 1-3. Watch for details about tributes to Leon in worship and receptions to honor his 25 years of music ministry with us. Come this Sunday to hear Leon on the organ!


MidAmerica Regional Assembly
If you attended GA last summer in Kansas City, you remember the warm camaraderie and excitement of gathering with UUs from across the world as we welcomed our own Susan Frederick-Gray as the new UUA President. Well, here's an opportunity to hear Susan again right in our own back yard, and to participate in UU workshops, assemblies, singing, and worship with like-minded Midwesterners. Registration is now open! Assembly will be held at the Marriott St. Louis Airport Hotel the weekend of April 5 - 7. Register now before the early bird discount ends February 28!

Sanctuary Open House
Eliot Chapel’s Sanctuary Space is now ready to receive a sanctuary seeker! To celebrate, the Immigration Justice Team will hold an Open House during coffee hour on Sunday, January 27. This event has been rescheduled after our big snow – we're ready to show you the progress made for welcoming a guest into sanctuary when/if needed! Learn about opportunities to improve immigration justice, and enjoy tastes from all over the world! You won't want to miss this!


No Books, Please
Eliot will not be holding a book fair this year. Please don’t bring book donations to the chapel.


Visit Room at the Inn Table
Have you ever wondered what exactly Eliot Chapel does for the Room at the Inn shelter and program? Have you heard about the cooking, laundry, hosting, or driving and then, not really been sure what that would mean? Well, please come visit our table in Adams Hall after both services on January 20 and 27. Here, you will find folks very familiar with the program to tell you all about it. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity because it does not need to be ongoing but can be the occasional task that fits into your schedule. There are even a few “little wishes” that you can help support. Eliot has been involved with Room at the Inn since its inception 26 years ago! Stop by on Sunday or January 27!
Spring All-Read Discussion Groups Forming! 
Stop by the Social Justice table after services on Sundays to see the next All-Read selection for Eliot! We’ve chosen a book about immigration for the spring discussions, Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal by immigrant rights activist Aviva Chomsky. The book explores what it means to be undocumented in a legal, social, economic and historical context. Don’t miss this powerful testament of the complex, contradictory, and ever-shifting nature of status in America. Sign-ups will be in January and early February. Discussion groups will meet in March and April. If you’re interested in becoming a discussion group facilitator, please contact Mary Meihaus at socialjustice@eliotchapel.org. 


Please Update Your ACS File
Before we can transition to REALM and to optimize the database for our new Church Life app, we need your help in updating the friends and member information in our current ACS software. Please access your account online via AccessEUC (linked on the front page of the Eliot website) and complete all the information in your profile. If you'd rather not add too much information to the database, your birth year would be most helpful.


Weather Policy Reminder
While Eliot Chapel strives to be open and available, there are times when it is unsafe to do so. In inclement or extreme weather, the decision may be made to close the church and cancel activities. Once again, we’re facing a weekend of possibly dangerous snow and ice; we should have a decision by Saturday evening about Sunday morning. Check the Chapel’s voicemail and/or website for news of closings. Information will also be shared on Facebook and with the local media. All members, friends, and staff are urged to use discretion when making choices about traveling in times of hazardous weather conditions.
Monday, January 21
Church offices are closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
A Course in Miracles – 7:00 pm in Room 001
Environmental Justice – 7:00 pm in Adams Hall
UU Christian Group – 7:00 pm in the Triplett Room


Tuesday, January 22
Women’s Alliance Movie – 9:30 am in Adams Hall
Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm outside Eliot
Attitudinal Healing 10-Week Session – 7:00 pm in Rooms 001/002
Immigration Team – 7:00 pm in Room 006


Wednesday, January 23
Covenant Group Leadership Team – 7:00 pm in the Bergfried Room
Women's Chorale – 7:30 pm in the Music Room


Thursday, January 24
Grief Group – 3:00 pm in the DuBois Library
Living The Pledge Accountability – 7:00 pm in the Frederick-Gray Room


Friday, January 25
Friday Freethinkers – 10:00 am in Adams Hall


Saturday, January 26
Bergfried Winter Warm-up – 6:00 pm in Adams Hall
 
WE CAN in Kirkwood
Join our partners from WE CAN at the Black Lives Matter vigil in front of Kirkwood City Hall on Saturday, January 19 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. They will have some signs but you may bring your own. At 1:00 pm, return to Eliot for WE CAN’s annual New Year community potluck gathering to celebrate last year's progress and reflect on what 2019 holds.


Choir Rehearsal
There will be a choir rehearsal on Saturday, January 19 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and there are two excellent ways to commemorate the day in our local area:

And How Are the Children? 
Sunday, January 20
The 24th Annual Community Celebration of the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Webster Groves and Rock Hill will begin with a march from Webster Groves City Hall (assemble at 4:30 pm) to the Steger/Givens school building in Rock Hill, to be followed by a dinner reception in the school cafeteria (5:00 pm – no charge), and the Community Celebration program (5:45 pm) of word and song in Steger’s auditorium. Keynote speaker for the program will be the Rev. Traci Blackmon, pastor of Christ the King United Church of Christ (UCC) in Florissant, Missouri, and Executive Minister of Justice and Local Church Ministries of the national setting of the UCC. The public is encouraged to attend.

Kirkwood's 5th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Musical Celebration
Monday, January 21
Reach out with love and friendship as you share our beloved community with attendees of Kirkwood's fifth annual Martin Luther King Celebration, taking place in the auditorium of Kirkwood High School at 1:00 pm. Once again, we will be sharing lemonade and cookies for a donation to the Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association. Volunteer to staff our social justice display or to donate store-bought cookies without nuts by e-mailing socialjustice@eliotchapel.org or signing up on the bulletin board. Bring the cookies on Sunday, January 20 to the MLK ticket sales table in Adams Hall. The program includes musical performances, spoken word, and dance. Tickets to the celebration are $8.00 and will be available during coffee hour on January 20. Proceeds benefit Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association with a portion funding the annual scholarships presented at the MLK Celebration. Thank you for participating in this important work!
UU Christian Group
“We are called to embody the love of God in our lives ...We manifest that love when we share the ordinary rhythm of life with others who are likewise seeking to grow in love and compassion.” – Fr. Richard Rohr If this quote resonates with you and you are interested in Christianity as a part of your spiritual practice, you may want to join the UU Christian Group (UUCG). Our gatherings build on the Christian lectionary and frequently incorporate ritual and the works of Christian theologians and authors. We share responsibility for leading the group. We meet on the first and third Mondays of the month from 7:15-8:30 pm in the Triplett Room. Our next meeting is Monday, January 21. Please contact Peter Wilson if you have any questions or just want to discuss UUCG.


Join us for
Vigil for Hope and Healing #218
Tuesday, January 22 
at 5:00 pm outside Eliot. 
Immigration Justice Team
Immigration Justice Team will meet Tuesday, January 22 (and every 4th Tuesday of the month) from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in Room 006. You are welcome to join them!

6th Annual Bergfried Winter Warm-Up
The Bergfried team will host a potluck gathering featuring a Bergfried-style music circle and a slide show of recent Bergfried events on Saturday, January 26 at 6:00 pm in Adams Hall. Sign up on the bulletin board or via email.
Click on the links below to learn more about the events listed and sign-up information, or  check the newsletter  for more details.  
Women’s Weekend Planning
Sunday, January 27
12:30 pm in the Bergfried Room
All women who want to get involved with planning this fabulous event are invited to the open meeting – bring your workshop ideas! If you can't attend the meeting but have ideas/suggestions, please email them to Jennifer Stewart or Karen Gottschalk at womensweekend@eliotchapel.org.


Friends of Music
Sunday, January 27
3:00 pm in the Sanctuary
The next concert will feature the renowned Kim Portnoy Jazz Trio, with our own Ric Vice on bass, and The Linjadi Trio. All FOM concerts are free for the love of music!


Festival Del Cine Dignidad LatinoAmericana 
Sundays, January 27 and February 13 & 27
Join the immigration justice team at an IFCLA film festival featuring “stories that center on the experiences of Latin American immigrants and refugees.” Gather at Christ Church in Maplewood, 2200 Bellevue Avenue, at 5:00 pm for soup and empanadas; stay for a film and discussion from 5:30-7:30 . See the  Facebook event page for details.


Joan Bray at Eliot Chapel Social Justice Assembly
Tuesday, February 5
7:00 pm in Adams Hall
Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved Constitutional Amendment One (Clean Missouri) at the polls in November but Gov. Mike Parson has declared his intention to “repeal and replace” the voter-approved process for redistricting. Former Missouri State Senator Joan Bray will speak on these challenges at Eliot Chapel’s Social Justice Assembly. Social Justice Assemblies are held monthly at Eliot Chapel. They are always free and open to the public. Please RSVP.

 
Understanding Systems
Saturday, February 9
8:30 am in Adams Hall
The Nominating Committee is offering a leadership development session based on the UUA’s Harvest the Power leadership training series. Current leaders and those interested in exploring leadership opportunities are encouraged to attend. Sign up on the bulletin board.


MIRA Lobby Day
Wednesday, February 20
8:30 to 4:30 pm in Jefferson City
Join Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates (MIRA) for 2019 Lobby Day at the State Capitol in Jefferson City. This is a time to be emboldened to advocate for the rights of immigrants & refugees. We need your help to counter the growing trend of hatred in our nation. MIRA's lobby day is a day when you can do just that by having one-on-one meetings with elected officials and becoming civically engaged. Transportation, lunch and training will be provided. Please register here .


Accompaniment Training
Wednesday, February 27
6:00 pm at St. Anselm Parish
Many of our neighbors are forced to appear at regular check-ins with immigration officials during their immigration case. When we “accompany” them, we offer community and comfort against the specter of unfair treatment and the threat of deportation. The work is done in teams and does not require either foreign language proficiency (though definitely helpful!) or confrontation skills. Many Eliot members participate and describe the experience as spiritual and deeply satisfying. IFCLA will hold its next no-obligation training February 27, from 6-9 PM at St. Anselm, 520 Mason Road.


Couple Communication Workshop
Saturday, March 9
Gateway Chapter of Better Marriages will be holding another workshop at Eliot. Learn to listen to your partner! Improved communication helps all relationships and ALL couples are welcome! For more info, contact Linda Techner at bettermarriages@eliotchapel.org.


Montgomery Trip
Friday, March 22 to Sunday, March 24
Plans have been finalized for the bus trip to Montgomery, Alabama to visit freedom and justice sites including the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Send questions to or make reservations with March22@eliotchapel.org. See all  details about the Montgomery trip on Eliot's website.
Sunday, January 27 – 9:30 and 11:00 am
“Living Tissue” – Rev. Barbara H. Gadon & Sara Fleming
In 2015, Sara Fleming answered a call to donate a kidney to someone she had never met. Rev. Barbara has begun the process of being screened for a lung transplant. What is it like to be on both sides of this life-giving process? This is the sermon topic Sara won at our 2018 service auction. Featured Musicians: Chamber Singers
The ourEliot team 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, look for an on-duty member of the team in Adams Hall wearing an ourEliot badge or contact them via email at  ourEliot@eliotchapel.org .
314.821.0911 |  frontoffice@eliotchapel.org