August 15, 2021
"The Middle: In Which Everyone Gets Into a Tight Place"
Rev. Barbara H. Gadon
We thought we were at the end of the pandemic, or very nearly there. Then holy cow, look what happened in July! Are we now back in the middle? Who knows? How's everybody doing with all of this? Rev. Barbara explores how we keep our bearings when we feel stuck in the middle.
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Our service video will be available at 10:00 am Sunday morning at eliotchapel.org and will remain there all week. You can also find it directly on our YouTube channel.
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Sharing the Offering
In August, we're sharing our offering with Kirkwood Area Every Child Promise (KAEChP).
The Promise: Every child and family are prepared for success as they enter kindergarten. What does that mean? Families must be connected to the basic resources necessary to have stability and hope. Children must have access to the life and learning experiences that give context and meaning to new knowledge. To facilitate that, KAEChP offers:
- Preschool scholarships and connection to quality early childhood experiences
- Information and assistance navigating resources in order to meet the basic needs of the children and families we serve
- Access to Promise Place, a clothing and supply closet where families get assistance with items to support the basic needs of their children ages 0-6
- Coordination with resources such as Kirk Care, Parents as Teachers, Kirkwood Public Library, and Kirkwood School District in order to provide holistic support for families.
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Here’s how you can give:
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Online: Click here. Make sure “Shared Plate” is your chosen fund.
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By Mail: Please write “KAEChP” 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 SharedPlate $(enter the amount)" 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:
Children & Youth Registration Is Now Open
Registration for the 2021-22 Religious Education & Youth Program is now open. All children and youth planning to participate in Eliot activities in 2021-22 need to be officially registered. Having up-to-date information enables us to more effectively plan our program offerings, keep you informed about church events and activities throughout the year, and, most importantly, helps keep children and youth safe while under the supervision of staff and lay leaders.
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Zoom Coffee Hour
At 11:30 am on Sunday, 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
Online Church Service – 10:00 am on Eliot Chapel website
Coffee Hour – 11:30 am via Zoom
Young Adult Group – 12:30 pm on Discord
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Tuesday, August 17
Women's Alliance – 9:30 am via Zoom
Vigil for Hope & Healing – 6:00 pm in front of Eliot
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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Congregational Conversation
Dear Eliot Family:
Many of you have asked me about reopening, especially with changes in risk levels brought on by the Delta variant. On Sunday, August 22 at 12:30 pm, we are going to have a chance to talk about all of this. I am hosting a "Congregational Conversation" on Zoom.
We will:
- Hear from Dr. Kathy Brunts, physician, Eliot member, and part of our reopening team, about the Delta variant in St. Louis.
- Hear from staff how our reopening plan is changing.
- Hear what is most important to members.
I invite you to think about these questions in advance. How can we best revive our Eliot connections? How can we best serve our whole community, which includes children who cannot be vaccinated? How can you help make that happen?
In faith & service,
Rev. Barbara
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BOARD BITS
News from the Board Meeting
The Board met virtually on August 10. We completed our business of monitoring finances and policies, as well as a dialogue about the impact and implications of the pandemic on Eliot, its members, and the staff. The survey task force is preparing the annual survey for distribution in the fall. We hope all members will take the opportunity to participate.
The Board discussed our upcoming retreat and how we will amend our plans as we monitor the increase in Covid infection rates. At the retreat the board will receive group feedback on the Intercultural Development Inventory, which is an assessment for building cultural competence. An enormous thank you to Dr. Toni Saunders for volunteering to become certified in the IDI and facilitating our learning! The retreat will also include a presentation on Eliot's social justice work, relationship building, board roles related to means and ends, and team building.
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Join the Environmental Justice Team and
Volunteer For Operation Clean Stream 2021!
Operation Clean Stream is August 21 – 29, 2021. The format of this year’s cleanup will be a hybrid of both self-guided independent and group-led cleanups. Operation Clean Stream will take place on August 28, at various locations throughout the Meramec Watershed. Join us as a volunteer this year as we celebrate 54 years of improving local rivers and open spaces! This year there are both group and self-guided clean-up options. Volunteers can sign up and participate anytime between August 21 and 29, or participate in group clean-ups on August 28. All volunteers are welcome to come to one of the various picnics on Saturday, August 28 as well. The Environmental Justice team is using the self-guided cleanup. Upon registering, you can order supplies (bags, gloves, t-shirts) for pickup. Before the event, you’ll receive detailed instructions on how to access your chosen site. To help determine what site is best suited for your household, sites have been given a grading scale for volunteer accessibility. Click Here To Register! After registering, please notify the Environmental Justice Team at environmentjustice@eliotchapel.org so that we know how many volunteers are from Eliot Chapel.
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Eliot Prepares for Vaccination Clinic
Members of Eliot Chapel’s social justice team distributed flyers to all homes in Meacham Park over the weekend to alert residents of the August 14th vaccination clinic Eliot Chapel is sponsoring in cooperation with BJC Health during Meacham Park’s Back to School Rally. It was also shared electronically with the churches in the Meacham Park neighborhood and other churches in Kirkwood. Member Claudia Jean Potts developed the flyer with communications specialist Debby Lovell; the idea of featuring the Black Panther character was contributed by Yvonne Serbell. This is an example of how our mission and ends are being actualized in the diverse area of Kirkwood.
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Change in TWAE Deadline
To accommodate staff vacation schedules and deliver This Week at Eliot as well, the September 3 TWAE will be prepared ahead of time. The deadline for the September 3 TWAE will be August 24, 12:00 pm. Thank you.
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Eliot Chapel's Ride Team
Eliot's Ride Team is there for those unable to drive who may need a ride to Sunday services, a medical appointment, or another service. This is a simple way to care for each other. All drivers will need to provide a copy of their drivers license and insurance card for a driving check. Drivers can request that those you provide rides for are vaccinated. We ask that both driver and passenger are masked. Your safety and security are important. If this might be the volunteer opportunity for you, email ktaves@eliotchapel.org.
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RE Coordinator Sought by First Unitarian in Alton
The First Unitarian Church of Alton, Illinois is actively seeking a part-time Religious Education Coordinator familiar with both virtual and in-person teaching. This individual will be responsible for implementing a curriculum plan for a single-classroom, multi-aged program with the class being offered two Sundays each month.
This is a 20 hour per month position at $17.00 per hour. The expectation is that the individual in this position would have approximately 5 hours of direct student contact per month, with the remaining hours devoted to planning, training, and program development.
Candidates must be knowledgeable about Unitarian Universalism and/or have experience teaching either in religious education or in a K-12 setting. Preference will be given to candidates who are Unitarian Universalists. Candidates must be able to pass a background check.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position will begin upon hire for a start no earlier than September 2021.
Please send your resume and cover letter describing your qualifications and why you are interested in this position to jobs@firstuualton.org.
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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. Links and Information related to RE registration were added 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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Women’s Alliance
Women’s Alliance will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, August 17, at 9:30 am for conversation, followed by a presentation around 10:00 by Eliot member Pam Cornwell on calming stress and anxiety with the Eden Energy Medicine Method of which she is a practitioner. For further information contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org.
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Vigil for Hope & Healing
Tuesday, August 17
6:00 – 7:00 pm in front of Eliot Chapel
All are welcome; wearing a mask is required as is maintaining the 6-foot social distancing guideline. Please remember that the building is not open so there are no available restrooms.
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August 22, 2021
LIVE! "Potayto, Potahto, Life and Death"
Rev. Barbara H. Gadon
Our Unitarian Universalist tradition has focused on the exchange of differing points of view, but it is increasingly difficult to find middle ground, especially when it comes to the pandemic. Rev. Barbara examines the challenge of living our fourth principle, "the free and responsible search for truth and meaning" in these times. This will be a live service on Zoom.
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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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