One of the ways Eliot Chapel lives our commitment to justice, equity and compassion is by giving away half of our offering every Sunday to an organization in the community that shares our values. We are so pleased to be sharing our April Sunday collections with A Red Circle because we are both energized by a deep commitment to racial justice and racial equity.

You can give in one of three ways:

Eliot children and families are invited to gather at 9:15 am via Zoom for connection and community. This week’s session, co-hosted by Heather Flick, Noel Burke, and adult lay leaders, explores "Welcome & Inclusion." Activities include the Pixar short film For the Birds. Zoom links will be distributed to registered families by email on Friday, April 23.

For more information about activities for children and youth, please contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org or Christie Lee at christie@eliotchapel.org.

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.

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm via Zoom & on Facebook

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.

Please remember the Antoine family. Louis Antoine, father of Mike Antoine, father-in-law to JoAnn, and Grandpa to Carrie and Sami, passed away April 11, 2021. 

Last week Dotty Storer was hospitalized for a ruptured appendix and had emergency surgery. She is now home recovering. She and Dave thank everyone for their calls and texts. They welcome emails and text messages as Dotty is still too tired to talk on the phone.

We are saddened to share that Michael McElvain, who served Eliot Chapel as one of our pianists from 2004 to 2009, passed away on April 14, 2021 at the age of 35. 

Eliot's great work over the years has always started with collective aspirations turned to action. Project Renew is the process where the Board of Trustees refreshes the Ends (goals) of the Chapel, but its most important element is your voice. A few Zoom sessions remain. Please join us in a 90-minute virtual meeting: go to Realm or see all sessions and link to registration on our website. We value your thoughts on the future of Eliot Chapel.

This year we are celebrating flower communion a little early. On Saturday, May 8, from 1-3 pm, you are invited to come to the church with your flowers. Longtime member Linda Cummings will be there to greet you in the Memorial Garden (or under the awning at the parking lot entrance in case of rain). We will have vases set out on a table for you to place your offering. We invite you to take a picture of yourself on the bench in the garden or just with your flowers, and send it to news@eliotchapel.org by Monday, May 10, to be included in the worship service on May 16. Once collected, we will take our flowers to some of our folks who are in assisted living facilities. If you can't make the window on Saturday, feel free to come to the chapel when you like, flowers in hand and take a picture of yourself in the garden. Or take a picture at home. You can share the flowers with someone you love – including yourself!

It was wonderful to see many of you brave the windy weather at the CARnival! The good music, fire juggler, stilt walker, and unicycle rider were entertaining, but the best part was being able to see one another in person! Celebrate with us in gratitude and check out these 2 highlights of the 2021-2022 campaign: Click these links to see the Artful Abundance Contest submissions and photos from the CARnival Celebration on Saturday, April 10.

Each session runs from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and will stand alone. Join at any time. You may attend one, two, or all three. A link to the class will be included in the Eliot on Zoom email or you may register now on Realm.

The Bergfried Stewardship has decided to hold off on organized events at Bergfried until the fall. This means that the usual spring events, Men’s Advance and the Memorial Day weekend Campout, will not be held. Rather, we encourage individuals and families to visit Bergfried on their own. As always, you are welcome to contact the Bergfried team for directions or information at bergfriedinfo@eliotchapel.org. Once you get there, visit the new map kiosk near the Lingenfelder shelter (in the main meadow on the south side of highway 100) for a map of hiking trails and features to guide your visit. The wood crib in the Lingenfelder shelter has recently been restocked, so feel free to build a fire in the shelter or one of the campsite firepits for warmth and cooking. We are hearing from many members and friends that visits to the property are providing a valuable escape during the pandemic and hope you will take advantage of our beautiful retreat in Gasconade County.

Sara has been attending Eliot Chapel since 2004. She has participated in the annual Madrigal performance for the last 10 years, several of which she played the role of the Queen. In 2016, Sara was fortunate enough to join Barbara and other members of Eliot on a trip to Transylvania where she stayed with a family from Eliot's sister church in Nyárádszentmárton. Sara lives with her longtime partner and his (their) three teenage children. She is honored to have been nominated to serve as Eliot's Treasurer.

Chuck settled in St. Louis in 1987, and he began taking part in Eliot activities shortly thereafter. He signed the Membership Book 1988. He met another Eliot member, Rebecca, and they married in 1990. The Army moved them to New York City in 1991. Never having resigned their Eliot membership while away, they returned to Eliot upon retirement in 1994. Chuck took part in annual Madrigal Dinners as a member of the Greenleaf Singers for several years. He has sung in the Eliot Choir. He served on the Program Council from approximately 1988 to 1991, and served as the Church’s treasurer from 2001 to 2003, during the late Rev. Dr. Peter Raible’s term as interim lead minister and the first year of Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell’s service. Since that time, Chuck and Rebecca have been active in many Eliot activities, especially various Eliot musical endeavors. He takes part in a covenant group.

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. 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.

Eliot Chapel Women’s Alliance will meet on Tuesday, April 27 via Zoom from 9:30 to 11:30 am. The speaker will be Eliot member Patrice Bain, author of research-based A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching. Find out how to help a child with schoolwork to maximize their learning. All Eliot women are welcome. Contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org for information.

If you are unable to join in on Zoom, head over to the Eliot Unitarian Chapel Facebook page and you’ll be able to join us there. See you then!

These are tumultuous times for immigrants, especially the undocumented. Washington, DC announces initiatives daily to improve our dismal human rights record, yet stories of children still separated from their parents, huge increases in the number seeking asylum, and a frightening uptick in violence against Asian and other foreign-born persons abound. Want to do something about it? Come to the next Immigration Justice Team meeting on Tuesday, April 27 at 7:00 pm! (Email immigration@eliotchapel.org to obtain the Zoom link or find it in our Eliot on Zoom email, delivered Sunday morning.) We are finalizing project plans for our 2021 areas of emphasis: legislative initiatives affecting career development; alliance with Welcome Neighbor St Louis/SPIRIT; and assistance for families in or anticipating detention. But we need your help! Join the inspired ranks of Eliot members and friends working on these plans. Y’all come!

Eliot Chapel's grief group meets every other Thursday from 6:30 to 8:00 pm via Zoom. This support group is open to all members and friends. The next meeting is Thursday, April 29. If you wish to join the group, please email Rev. Krista Taves for connection information.

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!