January 24
The Friends of Imagination – Rev. Barbara H. Gadon
Imagination is necessary to move our collective life forward and to give our individual lives flavor. Some say it is needed to experience the divine. But there are headwinds to the imagination in an age of social media which curates the world for us and manipulates our attention. In this service, we will examine what hinders and what helps our most creative impulses.
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Our service video will be available at 10:00 am at eliotchapel.org and will remain there all week. You can also find it directly on Eliot Chapel's YouTube channel. |
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Sharing the Offering
We have a longstanding tradition at Eliot Chapel of sharing our Sunday offering with an organization in our community. In January, we are sharing our plate with the Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association. Meacham Park is a predominantly African American community in Kirkwood. Even before Meacham Park was annexed to Kirkwood, an intentionally diverse group of Meacham Park and Kirkwood residents formed to advocate for Meacham Park. Eliot Chapel has long ensured that we have one of our members at the table so that we are always ready to lend a hand and to be part of the solution. Our representative for the last seven years has been Janet Solecki. When asked what it has meant for our church to make this longstanding commitment, President Harriet Patton shared that it was simply a blessing, that we are the only church in Kirkwood to have made such a commitment to the Association.
The Neighborhood Improvement Association offers college scholarships and many programs for students, including a STEM workshop in the spring, Pride in the Park in the summer, school supplies in the fall, and they sponsor 20 families at Christmas.
But this has been a difficult year for Meacham Park. COVID-19 has hit the Black community harder than anyone else, and so has the resulting economic hardship. Their well-loved Martin Luther King Jr. Day Musical Celebration usually pays for most of their programs, and it has been cancelled due the pandemic. So we’ve decided to step up our game. Our goal is to raise $3000 through our Shared Plate this month for the Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association. This will help them continue to serve Meacham Park families as it always has.
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 “Meacham Park” 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.
The motto of the Association is Come Together. Work Together. Stay Together. Let’s show up strong for our beloved neighbors.
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Shared Plate Update: $1185.15 out of the $3000 goal, as of 1/21/21.
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Religious Education
Religious Education for Children (Kindergarten-6th grade): Sunday, January 24 @ 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, Noel Burke, Heather Flick and adult lay leaders and the topic is Environmental Justice. We're delighted to have JoAnn Shew join us to share about her passion and activism on this topic. Zoom links will be distributed to registered families by email on Friday, January 22.
Junior High Group (7th & 8th grade): Sunday, January 24 @ 11:00 via Zoom
Youth in 7th & 8th grade (or the homeschool equivalent) are invited to gather for community, connection, and FUN. Hosted by Ann Lemon and members of the Junior High Leadership Team, this week's activity is a Youth Coffeehouse & Talent Show. A Zoom link will be sent to registered Eliot youth on Friday, January 22.
Senior High Youth Group: Sunday, January 24 @ 11:00 via Zoom
Eliot youth in 9th-12th grade (or the homeschool equivalent) are invited to gather for community, connection, and FUN. The room will open at 10:45 am and activities begin at 11:00. Scott Stewart and youth group lay leaders will host. A Zoom link will be sent to registered Eliot youth on Friday, January 22.
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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 Eliot Chapel website
Junior High Group – 11:00 am via Zoom
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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Tuesday, January 26
Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm online
Wednesday, January 27
Nature: Reverence & Reason – 7:00 pm via Zoom
Thursday, January 28
Lunch with the Minister – 12:30 pm via Zoom
Eliot Connects: Setting Ourselves Up to Flourish – 7:00 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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MPNIA and Eliot Chapel
Rev. Krista Taves was recently in conversation with Harriet Patton (MPNIA President) and Janet Solecki, Eliot Chapel member liaison to MPNIA, about the work we do together. Please watch and listen to learn more about this organization and the work it does, in addition to our involvement and how the group has been affected by the pandemic.
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Eliot Live!
Next in our year of experiments, we have decided to hold the first service of the month live on Zoom, beginning February 7. We love the quality of our pre-recorded worship services and the ability for people to tailor watching them to their schedules – but something happened on Christmas Eve. (Sounds like a Hallmark movie, but this is where the resemblance ends, I promise.) We liked being able to see one another – to actually worship together in real time. There were a few glitches with video speed and sound, so we’re working to smooth them out. And for this one Sunday a month, we will see what it’s like. Worship is, after all, a community experience.
How will it work? We’ll send you the link for this service in your “Eliot on Zoom” email which will arrive to your inbox earlier than usual. That morning, the service will begin at 10:00 am as it has been. We hope you’ll leave your video on so we can see you, but if you would like to just have your name or picture up, that’s fine – we get it! The service will actually be a hybrid of both video and live elements – video is especially important for music. We will make use of the “chat” feature – asking questions that you can answer during the service, or you may just chat with your friends before and afterwards. We will mute participants' audio for most of the service so there’s no need to worry about competing sounds.
If you would rather join by Facebook, YouTube, or from our website, we’ve got you. The Zoom call (service) will be livestreamed at the same time.
If you arrive after 10:00, you’ll be joining the service wherever we are at that moment. It will be more like being late for church on Sunday – perfect if you’ve been missing that sensation of slinking in from the back, finding a seat, and pretending you were there the whole time. We will record the service so the whole thing will be available to watch shortly after it ends.
We hope you’ll join us in this new experience. Let us know what you think! We so appreciate everyone’s patience and spirit of adventure. It’s important for us to do what we can to stay together even though we are apart.
In Faith,
Rev. Barbara
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New Member Check-In
My name is Pam Hardester, and I'm lucky enough to be married to my best friend Kevin. Our blended family boasts five boys, the youngest being almost 17-year-old twins, so please pray for my grocery bill. I work at Christ Church UCC in Maplewood where I'm both the administrator and manager of the commissary, where I also cook for my business, Fond Bakeshop & Catering. I wear many hats, and wouldn't have it any other way.
In my former life, I was a teacher and a technology coordinator, and I hold a BA in English (I am a perpetual proofreader, so please forgive me now) and an MS in Instructional Technology. With all that, I've found what really speaks to me is feeding people, so I'm also one of the chefs for Winter Outreach, working with a small group to prepare nourishing meals for unhoused folks. I find this a very rewarding ministry, but look forward to a day where people don't have to rely on others to be fed and housed.
I'm very grateful to have found Eliot after what seems a lifetime of seeking. I look forward to getting to know you!
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Treasurer's Report Available
The Eliot Chapel Treasurer’s Report for January 2021, along with the November 2020 Dashboard, from the Board of Trustees is now available on our website. Find it here.
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A Report from Bergfried
Reports from Bergfried, your 600-acre sanctuary near Hermann, Missouri, indicate that lots of Eliot folks have been visiting while travel to more distant locales remains risky. While we continue to ride out this pandemic, please remember that Bergfried is there for your family or solo escapes. And I am happy to report that thanks to Austin Audet and a cadre of boy scout leaders and helpers, there is now a trail guide kiosk on the property to help you navigate our three trails. The kiosk features a large map of the property with trails and landmarks clearly indicated, and other useful trail information (like tick and poison ivy guides). In addition, the trails have been marked at intervals with color coded tree paint so that hikers can keep to the trail in places where the foot path is not obvious. Travis Audet completed the project as part of his Eagle Scout project, and it was a perfect fit for the needs of the property, especially during the pandemic when our guided day trips are suspended. The kiosk is located at the head of the Homestead Trail near the Lingenfelder shelter in our main meadow on the south side of highway 100.
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Hopefully, sometime in 2021 we can again gather at Bergfried to celebrate nature and our common values. For now though, I want to encourage you to get out to Bergfried alone or with other members of your household for some winter renewal. If you need directions to the property or any other information, simply write to the Bergfried team at bergfriedinfo@eliotchapel.org.
— Shawn Cummings for the Bergfried Stewardship Team
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Please note, all group activity at Bergfried is suspended and we are not accepting reservations for the cabin or bunkhouse until it is clear that it’s safe to do so.
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Checking In
It’s been a long ten months since we last met in person, and we have more months to go before we can gather again in our beloved sacred space. In an effort to stay in touch with each other, a team of volunteers will be reaching out to you, our members and friends, to check in periodically, hear how you’re doing, and see how Eliot might support you between now and the time we are able to resume in-person activities. Volunteers will be making contacts via email and phone. We really want to hear from you, so please take a few minutes to respond to this outreach when you get a call or e-mail.
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Zoom: Now with Closed Captioning!
If you're leading an event on Eliot's Zoom account, you can now activate closed captioning in your meeting. Here's how:
- At the bottom of the host's screen, find an Icon titled "Live Transcript." Click on it.
- Choose "Enable Auto Transcription."
The closed captioning is in white letters on a black background and is fairly accurate. It is still struggling, however, to correctly spell "Cowabunga!"
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WhaleCoast Alaska 2021
Have you ever wanted to visit Alaska? If so, WhaleCoast Alaska 2021 is for you! Four Alaska UU congregations invite you to experience our unique environmental and spiritual tour program this summer, when it will be safe to travel again. See Alaska through the eyes of local UUs, with friendly homestays and awe-inspiring tour activities. See wildlife, including moose, bears, caribou, whales, bald eagles, sea lions, etc. Visit Denali National Park. Experience Native Alaskan culture. WhaleCoast Alaska is an inspirational way to visit our beautiful state. Complete info at: www.WhaleCoastAK.org. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t want to miss!
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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.
Donations to the Minister's Discretionary Fund are also welcome should we face an increased need because of the shutdown in our region. Please indicate “Minister's Discretionary Fund” in the memo line of your gift. You may also text ELIOT MDF to 73256 to give using your mobile device.
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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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Eliot Youth Explore Social Justice Issues
What a joy to gather with junior and senior high youth last Sunday. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our primary exploration was leadership and service and considering ways individuals can be actively engaged in their communities and advocate for positive change.
We began our time together with the 4 ½ minute film, Citizen University, which provided a glimpse of the myriad methods youth across the country are using to confront the social issues of the day. I encourage you to check out the film at the above link. What was so uplifting was hearing about the issues Eliot youth care so deeply about AND feel called to confront. A sampling includes:
- Mental health advocacy
- LGBTQ+ equality
- Racial justice
- Environmental justice
- Involvement in the political process
- Animal welfare
- And more
And it was equally joyous when Christie shared about last Sunday’s children’s gathering. Fourteen children joined Christie, Noel, Heather, and Rev. Krista Taves to explore racial justice and the work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The social justice exploration for children continues this Sunday with an exploration of Environmental Advocacy. We’re thrilled to have Eliot member and leader JoAnn Shew join the group to share about her passion on this topic.
A huge thank you to the staff, lay leaders, parents & caregivers, children, youth, and everyone in the Eliot community for making these online gatherings possible. We’re excited about the opportunities to come.
— Scott
Scott Stewart, Director of Religious Education
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Vigil for Hope & Healing
Tuesday, January 26
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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Inquirer Series
Mondays, March 8, 15, & 22
7:00 – 8:00 pm via Zoom
If you are new to Eliot Chapel, new to Unitarian Universalism, or wanting to deepen your understanding of Unitarian Universalism, this is the class for you. This 3-part series, held Mondays beginning March 8, includes sessions on Unitarian Universalist history and theology, UU religious education and spiritual development, how we worship, take care of each other and serve our community, and what it means to be a member of this congregation. All sessions will be held on Zoom. Sign up here or on Realm now!
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January 31
Reframing Imagination – Rev. Krista Taves
As Unitarian Universalists, we have a strong and abiding conviction that there is a power in drawing from our personal conscience in matters of faith, belief, and morality. "Trust thyself." But there are times when our conscience can lead us astray, when what we have learned to believe is found to be unworthy of our trust. We need to reframe our imaginations for hope and healing to come.
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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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