In a world that would dehumanize us and define us, self-love becomes a powerful tool of resistance.

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. Also, check out This Week's Music from our music director Adam Kosberg. You'll get insight into the music selections for this week's service and find the lyrics to the anthem.

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 that went out 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. 

Every Sunday, Eliot Chapel shares half of the offertory with an organization in the community whose work reflects our shared values. This is one way that we care for our community and our neighbors. In April, we will share our offering with the Teen Pregnancy and Prevention Partnership which unites communities across Missouri to promote adolescent sexual and reproductive health. They educate parents, professionals and the community at large; they collaborate with stakeholders, including school districts, legislators, faith leaders, youth-serving and health care professionals; they advocate for and protect teens rights to accurate, high quality sexual health information and reproductive and sexual health services; and they support teens self-determined ability to live healthy and fulfilling lives. See teenpregnancy-mo.org to learn more.

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

Specific plans for each age group are shared with registered families via email each week. To learn more about the 2022-23 RE program, please contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org.

Coffee Hour is an important tradition of fellowship at Eliot Chapel taking place in Adams Hall immediately after the worship service on Sunday. It's a time to catch up with fellow members and friends and to greet newcomers. 

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 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.

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!

Our Whole Lives – 9:30 am in Room 006

Sunday Worship – 10:00 am in the Sanctuary

Religious Education – 10:15 am (after Time for All Ages) in RE wing

Women’s Weekend Bake Sale – 11:00 am in Adams Hall

UU PALOOZA II – 11:30 am at Kirkwood Park

Young Adult Group – 11:45 am in the Triplett Room

Online Coffee Hour – 12:30 pm via Zoom

A Course in Miracles – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Women's Alliance – 9:30 am in Adams Hall

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

EUC Board Meeting – 6:30 pm in Adams Hall

Earth-Based Covenant Group – 700 pm via Zoom

Solecki/Boettcher Covenant Group – 7:00 pm in Adams Hall

Wellspring – 9:30 am in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room

Stein Covenant Group – 7:00 pm in Room 006

Transitions Support Group – 7:00 pm in the DuBois Library

Men’s Advance – all day at Bergfried

Friday Freethinkers – 10:00 am in Room 001

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 Chuck Schuder who had hip surgery on Thursday, April 6, and is now at home recovering.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Ron Robertson on Saturday, April 15 at 2:00 pm in the Eliot Chapel Sanctuary. A livestream of the service will also be available on Eliot Chapel's YouTube channel.

It's almost here! On Sunday, April 16 we'll see you at Kirkwood Park in the Lions Pavilion, next to the tennis courts at the corner of Adams and Geyer Roads.

We'll gather from 11:30-2:00, following the Sunday worship service at Eliot Chapel. Bring a picnic lunch, your beverage of choice, and a dessert to share, and cash to tip the band! We have great music planned by Mississippi Crossing, a toe-tapping bluegrass/Celtic band!

We'll have popcorn, a firepit to warm yourself, outdoor games, and crafts – including an Eliot UU bracelet or necklace. See you then!

If you have turned in your pledge we want to say THANK YOU! Pledging is so much more than a dollar amount – it is a gesture of gratitude and belonging fully to your church community.

As of April 13, there are 176 pledges turned in amounting to $493,402. There are still 80 pledges missing from this year.

The proposed budget for next year will be voted on in May 2023; currently that is $900,000. We have a shortfall of $410,000. Please get your pledge turned in by April 16! The wrap-up phone callers will get busy starting Monday, April 17, so please save us a call and get your pledge in NOW!

This Sunday, Eliot Religious Education is collecting three specific items for Wild Bird Rehabilitation in Overland, MO as part of this week’s exploration of birds and the interconnected web with Carole Glauser. The center needs three specific items at this time:

We invite children attending this Sunday to bring ONE of these items to share (and perhaps to even consider using a dollar or two of their own money), and congregation members of all ages are encouraged to do likewise. Items may be dropped off in the RE Office on Sunday.

Which actor portrayed Superman's biological father Jor-El in the 1978 film "Superman"? Marlon Brando

This classic Greek dish is typically served on a pita and is made with stacked meat that has been cooked on a vertical rotisserie. 

See the answer in next week's This Week at Eliot. 

There are just a few weeks left to buy tickets to the 2023 Eliot Chapel Trivia Night! The event is Friday, April 28 at Crestwood Community Center. Doors open at 6:30 pm; trivia begins at 7:00 pm. Buy just 1 or 2 tickets, or buy an entire table! Tables of 8 are $240. Prizes for best dressed table and best decorated table! Popcorn, soda, and water are provided.

Not a trivia fan? Could you contribute to the event by donating a service we could auction? Ideas include baking homemade bread, preparing brunch for four, a private yoga class, music lessons, house painting, garden work, legal advice, lawn mowing, or your specialty! Send an email to trivia@eliotchapel.org and let us know how you can help.

Eliot Chapel is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Once a year, the Unitarian Universalist Association, our national body, holds its General Assembly. This year, GA is in Pittsburgh, PA. GA is like a big family reunion with so much celebration! There is amazing worship, more workshops than you can imagine, and our annual business meeting. As a democratic denomination, every congregation sends delegates to represent us at the business meeting. If you would like to be a delegate for General Assembly, let us know! Contact Camille at DFO@eliotchapel.org.

The Welcome Team warmly invites all our new members and friends to dinner on Saturday May 6 at 5:30 pm. Spouses, partners, plus ones, and children are welcome. This is a potluck so please bring something to share and let us know what you’re bringing by emailing welcome@eliotchapel.org so we can plan accordingly. There will be a table with crafts and activities for children in the Garden Room. RSVP here. We look forward to seeing you!

Warmly,

The Social Justice Forum for April has been switched to May 7 at 11:30 am in the Sanctuary. The topic will be reparations. Mark your calendars now!

Please join us as we celebrate Rev. Krista Taves’ third anniversary as minister of congregational life on April 16. From the pulpit on Sundays and at our side for events, activities, and groups, Rev. Krista's warmth, compassion, and energy mean so much. Thank you, Krista! We appreciate all you do to enrich our Eliot community!

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!

The Women's Weekend team will be selling cookies and muffins on Sunday, April 16, from 11:00 –11:45 am in Adams Hall. This sale benefits the Women's Weekend Scholarship Fund. Baked goods will be pre-packed. Cash only.

This 4-part series offers those considering Unitarian Universalism as a spiritual path the opportunity to experience UUism through a small group experience. You will learn about our faith tradition, explore your own spiritual journey, and connect with others who are also seeking a spiritual home or faith. Longtime members and friends seeking a small group experience are also welcome.

Session 1: Your Journey – Sharing Our Stories and Spiritual Roadmaps

Women’s Alliance members will have a hybrid meeting in Adams Hall and via Zoom on Tuesday, April 18, to discuss, debate and select the books that we will read during our next program year. Contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org for more information.

You are invited to join the Earth-Based Spirituality Covenant Group session Tuesday, April 18, at 7:00 pm on Zoom as we honor Earth Day through poetry, music, and bubbles. If interested in joining us, please contact Lynn Murphy through frontoffice@eliotchapel.org and she will send you the information and a Zoom link.  

You will need two items to participate:  

Blessings for Earth Day!

The Transitions Support Group is for anyone who is experiencing a significant life transition, such as death of a loved one, transitioning relationships, children leaving home, having children, getting married, transitioning gender, or changes in career/employment, to name a few. This is a place to share your story and give and receive support for the journey we are on. The meetings are facilitated by Rev. Krista Taves. There is a short reading with focusing questions sent out a few days before the meeting, which is on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, 7:00 pm to 8:30 in the DuBois Library. Please email ktaves@eliotchapel.org if you want to learn more or receive the reminder emails. The next meeting is Thursday, April 20.

The Men’s Advance from April 21 to 23 welcomes all Eliot members and friends who identify at the male end of the gender spectrum. Newcomers are especially encouraged to come out to enjoy hiking, camping, camaraderie, a Saturday night feast, and lots of super-secret men's stuff (which looks suspiciously like doing nothing). Ten dollars buys your ticket to the feast (kids 12 and under, $5). All other meals are on your own. Most choose to camp in tents or trailers; spaces in the cottage (with running water and electricity) are available by reservation with priority given to those with medical needs or physical limitations. Eight beds are also available in the new rustic bunkhouses. To sign up for the weekend, to reserve a cottage or bunkhouse space, or for any information contact mensadvance@eliotchapel.org. A sign-up sheet is also posted in the corridor to Adams Hall.

Book Discussion in April: Javier Zamora's Solito

Join the Immigration Justice Team to discuss Javier Zamora's memoir Solito which describes his two-month journey as a nine-year-old boy from El Salvador to reunite with his parents in California. For Javier himself, the takeaway of Solito is obvious: “That immigrants are human. And that hopefully you could see us outside of the headlines, outside of our suffering, that even in the suffering there are joyful moments.” What is your takeaway? Come share your thoughts, feelings, and questions in one – or more – of these three sessions:

Sign up online today! A sign-up sheet is also posted in the corridor to Adams Hall.

The long tradition continues! Registration is now open for the 2023 Women's Weekend Retreat, May 19-21 at Toddhall Retreat Center in Columbia IL. Please join us to retreat, relax, and find community among other women. This retreat is open to all UU women and friends. We extend an invitation to women from Emerson UU Chapel, First Unitarian Church of St Louis, First Unitarian Church of Alton, Abraham Lincoln UU Congregation of Springfield, IL, Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, and UU Church of Columbia, MO. Registration continues through Sunday, April 16. Get all the details of programming and register on the Women's Weekend website.