The doomsday cult next door predicts the end of the world. What comes next is a memorable lesson in religion, science, and reason.

Large-print orders of service and hearing assistance devices are available from the greeters on Sunday. We livestream our service; find it at eliotchapel.org. After the stream, a recording will be available there all week. You can also find it directly on our YouTube channel.

If you're worshipping with us on livestream, you can always find a digital order of service, including lyrics to the hymns, on our website. 

At Eliot Chapel, we follow CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19. When St. Louis County is at a Yellow or Medium Level, we will:

Read the letter about the review of our policy and the change in measures in response to a change in levels. You may access the policy document on Eliot Chapel's website for more of the details. 

In August, we will share the offering with Home Sweet Home, an organization that provides donated furniture and household items to clients transitioning out of homelessness. Home Sweet Home believes that establishing a first home stocked with the necessities for everyday life provides a sense of ownership and a source of stability at this crucial time.

Home Sweet Home serves clients who are referred by partner non-profits throughout the St. Louis region, including the Veterans Administration, St. Patrick Center, Women’s Safe House, Criminal Justice Ministry and St. Louis Crisis Nursery, among others. These people come with desperate needs for different reasons and from a variety of backgrounds. Our services are needed most by children, survivors of domestic abuse, veterans, people who are homeless, and ex-offenders looking for a new start. Working with our partners, Home Sweet Home picks up donations of new and gently used furniture and household items and delivers them to clients’ apartments or homes. Learn more at homesweethomestl.org.

Let us be good neighbors. Let us be a generous people. You can give in one of three ways:

Children of all ages should attend the worship service with their family. Activity bags with crayons and UU coloring pages are available at each sanctuary entrance. Families may also use Adams Hall for freedom of movement while the service is livestreamed on the large-screen television.

The nursery is closed from July 2 to August 6 for staff vacation. The nursery will reopen on Sunday, August 13.

We keep this tradition of hospitality alive by taking turns hosting. This is a simple task (instructions are available in a binder in the kitchen) and a great way to serve and connect. Please check the SignUpGenius for coffee hour volunteers to sign up to host Coffee Hour on a Sunday morning after the service. If you need help using SignUpGenius, please contact Rebecca Schuder at hospitality@eliotchapel.org and she will help you get signed up.

If there is no host by 3:00 pm on Thursday afternoon, there will be no coffee served on Sunday though we will still gather for social time. Please be respectful of Sunday staff as they have other responsibilities. Thank you to all the volunteers who keep this tradition alive!

Zoom Coffee Hour takes place at 12:30 pm on Sunday. You are invited to "walk down the hall" and come to our Zoom Coffee Hour! We'll take a few minutes to say hello and let people settle in, then we'll say a few words of welcome and briefly review the service that day. We typically really enjoy the wisdom story and discuss how that story reflects on the theme of the sermon. Then we'll create breakout rooms of 5-6 people for conversation and sharing. We love making new friends and the small groups are great for that! In approximately 45 minutes, everyone will return to the big group and we'll say our goodbyes for the week. We usually end shortly after 1:30 pm, but those who wish to can stay a few minutes longer. Please watch your email for "Eliot on Zoom" on Sunday morning which will include a link to join the Zoom Coffee Hour. If you're not on our mailing list, sign up here. We look forward to seeing you!

Positive Psychology Covenant Group – 11:30 am in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room

Kwentus Covenant Group – 10:00 am in the DuBois Library

IJT Steering Committee – 1:00 pm in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm on the front lawn

Creative Spirituality Covenant Group – 7:00 pm in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room

Friday Freethinkers – 10:00 am in Room 001

Planning a meeting or event? Start with our Room & Event Request Form! 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 Debby Lovell to set up your group.

Have some fun and help us promote our Eliot community to the larger Kirkwood community and beyond! If you want in on the fun, please contact Ann Marie Hutson or Carole Glauser at greentree@eliotchape.org. Stay tuned for more details and sign-up information next week.

Please volunteer to supervise our games at the Meacham Park Backpack Giveaway on Saturday, August 12 – you'll have fun! Volunteers serve from either 11:30-1:30 or 1:30-3:30. If you can help, please email socialjustice@eliotchapel.org and indicate when you are available. This is a great opportunity for families, covenant groups, and you to share our goodwill with the Meacham Park community. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board as well. Thanks for your help!

Your donation of school supplies and backpacks

were gratefully received by the Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association. These supplies and over 25 backpacks (not pictured) that you donated will be distributed on August 12 to students in need. Thank you so very much for contributing to their educational success.

For those of you who have donated to our Staff Thank You Fund, we are most grateful. We have extended the date to offer your gift to August 13. You can bring your gift to church on Sunday or donate online. Let us be generous in offering these gifts to our staff most impacted by these changes. Here is how you can contribute:

Do you play cribbage? Ann Marie Hutson does. She'd like to start a cribbage group at Eliot. If you are interested please get in touch with her. You can approach her, find her contact info in the directory, or sign up on the bulletin board. This is the first step to determine interest. Come play!

Photo by J. Wynia – Afternoon cribbage on the patio, CC BY 2.0

The Eliot Ride Team provides rides to church and to medical appointments for Eliot members and friends who cannot drive themselves. If you need a ride, email ineedaride@eliotchapel.org with your name, your address, where you need to go, and the date and time needed. We will be in touch to make arrangements. 

The Eliot Meal Train provides meals to Eliot members and friends who need some love and care. For example, we will provide meals for those who have recently lost a loved one or are recovering from medical care. If you would like to request meals or offer to provide meals, please email mealtrain@eliotchapel.org with your contact information and someone will be in touch with you.

At Eliot Chapel, we care for our earth and our building! One way you can express this is by joining the Eliot Recycling Team! This committee is responsible for taking the recycling from Eliot to the Kirkwood Recycling Depository at 350 S. Taylor Avenue each week. Sign up for a week that works for you and plan to grab the recycling after service to drop it off. Thanks for being part of the team!

Providing receptions after a Celebration of Life is another way we care for each other at Eliot Chapel. The Reception Team sets up, serves, and cleans up after these receptions. If you can be available once in a while to help, please email receptions@eliotchapel.org. Your efforts will be appreciated!

The Exodus story includes the image of the formerly enslaved Israelites regretting leaving Egypt. Freedom is hard, even dangerous. Then, they discover life-sustaining abundance, truly beyond their imaginations. What about us in Missouri? How are we doing in the wilderness? Should we be keeping our eyes open for abundance?