Sunday, April 11
How Free Are We to Be? – Rev. Krista Taves
Many of us received the message that we could grow up to become anything we wanted. This was a liberating promise and many of us took it to heart. But sometimes, it didn’t work out that way. How do we reclaim the range of our becoming in a society where some are freer than others?
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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
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.
A Red Circle was created by Executive Director Erica Williams to promote community betterment in North St. Louis County through a racial equity lens. Current concerns in North St. Louis County that impact quality of life and health are the lack of sustainable jobs, education disparities, limited healthy food access, financial pressures, low voter participation, and exposure to the arts. A Red Circle approaches these issues in a holistic, collaborative way – working with residents, elected officials, community leaders, volunteers, and more.
During the pandemic, A Red Circle has provided direct relief to many families and is supporting a robust vaccination campaign in North County. They are excited that their community garden survived the February cold snap and are anticipating their first harvest later this spring. This garden provides fresh produce in areas of the county that are food deserts.
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Rev. Krista Taves recently spoke with Erica Williams of A Red Circle. |
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Our goal for April’s offertory is to raise a total of $1,300 with half supporting A Red Circle and half supporting our congregation’s many life giving ministries. We are a generous people. Let us be generous with our neighbors.
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 “A Red Circle” 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.
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Religious Education
Religious Education for Children (Kindergarten-6th Grade): Sunday, April 11 @ 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, co-hosted by Christie Lee, Heather Flick, Noel Burke, and adult lay leaders, is entitled “Becoming: Discovering Your Gifts” and includes guided meditation and exploring the messages in the song “Let It Go.” Zoom links will be distributed to registered families by email on Friday, April 9.
Junior High & Senior High Youth Groups: April 11 at 11:00 via Zoom
Youth in 7th-12th grade are invited to gather for community, connection, and FUN this Sunday, hosted by Scott Stewart, Tim Bubb, and youth group lay leaders. A Zoom link and more details about this Sunday’s youth gatherings will be sent to registered Eliot youth and families no later than Friday, April 9.
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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 & Senior High Youth Groups – 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, April 13
Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm online
EUC Board Meeting – 7:00 pm via Zoom
Wednesday, April 14
Meneely Covenant Group – 7:00 pm via Zoom
Thursday, April 15
Lunch with the Minister – 12:30 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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Please Remember
Judy Tisdale passed away peacefully on the morning of April 6 with daughters Jennifer and Miriam at her side. Judy became a member of Eliot in 1973. She was a very active member for many years, including serving as the board chair, helping to run Room at the Inn, and many other activities and groups. Even though she had not attended church in person for a number of years, she still considered it her spiritual home and continued to support it so it would be there for people as it was for her. The family welcomes donations to Eliot Chapel in her memory.
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CARnival Is Almost Here!
Come to the CARnival! It'll be fun and we're looking forward to seeing you! Here is what you need to know:
When: Saturday, April 10, 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Where: On the grounds of Meramec Community College in Kirkwood, parking lot R, at the corner of Rose Hill and Geyer. It'll be easy to spot us once you're there.
What: COVID-safe fun from your car. We'll have snacks, entertainment, a DJ, and each other. We'll be spaced apart. You can bring a lawn chair and sit by your car too.
Do I need to register? No! Just show up.
What if it's raining? Come join us anyway. It'll still be fun. The entertainment is from your car, remember? Bring an umbrella or something if you want to sit outside of your car. (In the unlikely event that there is lightning, we'll cancel.)
Remember Kirk Care! We'll be taking donations, so please consider bringing something to donate. Cleaning supplies, personal care items, and non-perishable food are needed and welcome.
Winners of our Artful Abundance will be announced at the CARnival. Take a look at all the submissions here. We hope you are planning to attend and are encouraging other Eliot friends to join us for this celebration of the 2021-2022 Stewardship Campaign.
We've received pledges from 169 households that total $433,129. Thank you for returning your pledge cards!
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Project Renew Needs to Hear Your Voice
You’re invited to participate in one of the Board's listening sessions between April 11 and May 2. In this 90-minute Zoom meeting, we will discuss a powerful question like "What could it mean to be a church of joyous and radical belonging?" This process is a critical step in informing the Board's work in rewriting Eliot Chapel's Ends (goals), something we do every 5+ years. Go to Realm or see all sessions and link to registration on our website.
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We’re Here to Save the Planet
The Environmental Justice team at Eliot Chapel is celebrating Earth Day all month, in a variety of ways. We’d love to have you join us! This year we are focusing on justice issues related to agricultural practices, food and water availability, ethical eating, and climate-related racial justice issues.
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Want to eat locally grown food? Check out the options at Known and Grown STL.
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Looking for a restaurant that follows sustainable practices and serves locally grown food? Check out the options at Green Dining Alliance.
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Want to build new habits and learn more about how your eating practices affect climate change and racial justice? Join the Eliot Chapel Ecochallenge.
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Or join us for our Community of Hope meeting on Tuesday, April 20. See the article in today’s TWAE and watch the film, Kiss the Ground.
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SAVE THE DATE
Kiss the Ground
Tuesday, April 20, 7:00 pm
What if there was a simple solution that could help balance our climate, replenish our freshwater supplies, and feed the world? Join the Environmental Justice team at Eliot Chapel to watch Kiss the Ground. It’s about a solution to climate change that’s right beneath our feet – healthy soil and its ability to sequester carbon on a large scale.
“It's not about religion or politics, it's about love ―and if you love something or somebody, you want to understand them, take care of them, protect them, and keep them safe. That's what we're all here to do."
– Maria Rodale
The movie is on Netflix, or you can sign up with Interfaith Power and Light to watch it between April 16 and 25.
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Calling All Immigration Justice Warriors!
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.) 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!
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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.
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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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The Power of the Vote
Since becoming a naturalized American citizen, I haven’t missed an election. Not being able to vote for many years imprinted on me that I would never take this right for granted. In this country, the General Election is what captures most people’s attention and their vote. But the elections in down years, like the April municipal elections, are also very important. What’s at stake has as much impact on our lives as the General Election.This is when we elect mayors, council members, aldermen, and school board trustees. Voter turnout is often much lower, which means that every vote has a greater weight.
In my school district, there were several protest candidates who campaigned against the existing board’s decision to close the schools in the early months of the pandemic. Several also disputed the growing focus on racial equity in the classroom. The teachers association supported the incumbents who have a commitment to equity and risked the anger of some in the community by following the counsel of public health officials. The incumbents survived the challenge.
In Kirkwood, a proposition to fund badly needed upgrades in our schools met some stiff opposition, but it too passed. This is good news for the entire community.
But it’s the mayoral race in St. Louis that has captured our attention. Tishaura Jones, who narrowly lost to Lyda Krewson in 2017, succeeded in her second bid. She will be the first Black female mayor in the city of St. Louis. This alone is one for the history books. But she has also vowed that all her decisions and priorities will be informed through a racial equity lens. She has promised to look beyond policing as the most effective response to the city’s violence. She is committed to police reform and closing the Workhouse Jail.
While we as a religious community cannot endorse any candidates, we can certainly hold up when our leaders promote policies that we support. Eliot Chapel is committed to becoming an anti-racist congregation. As Unitarian Universalists we have a deep commitment to science, to education, and to a holistic understanding of community health and safety. Many of the leaders that St. Louis County and City voters elected point to a growing understanding and commitment to justice and equity.
This should give us hope.
Thank you to everyone who voted this week.
Yours in faith,
Rev. Krista
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Vigil for Hope & Healing
Tuesday, April 13
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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Sunday, April 18 – 10:00 am
Spiritual Maturity: It's Not About You – Rev. Barbara H. Gadon
One of our ends at Eliot Chapel is for people to grow in spiritual maturity. In basic terms, it means that we are able to live our values, especially when tested. We're able to appreciate and offer our own gifts, and then to dampen the ego. How does all this happen? Come and find out!
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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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