December 10 – 10:00 am

Joyful Is the Dark – Sabrina Trupia

As the shortest days of the year are upon us, we take a look at what gifts (if any), darkness can bring.

Featured musicians: The Tritones: Pam Triplett, Beth Curtiss, and Sharon MacKenzie; Mary Nistler, piano; Mel Priese, songleader; David Nalesnik, piano; Lynn Murphy and Beth Curtiss, percussion.

About our guest speaker: Sabrina (who uses they/them pronouns) was born and lived in Italy until they were 20. Their previous career was in science, specifically in research and development, largely in the field of biotechnology. In 2020-21, as you may remember, they were one of the four contextual interns who helped out with worship and adult RE during COVID. Sabrina received a Master of Divinity from Eden Seminary in 2022 and last April Sabrina received Preliminary Fellowship from the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee. This means they are ‘officially’ considered a minister by the Association. Sabrina lives in Edwardsville, IL with a spouse (Ed), a daughter (Isabella), and two adopted cats (Bo and Cap’n).

Large-print orders of service and hearing assistance devices are available from the greeters on Sunday. Should you or your child need more freedom of movement, you can view the service on monitors in Adams Hall. 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. 

Religious Education & Youth Group

The 2023-24 Religious Education and Youth Program resumes this Sunday, December 10 during the 10:00 service. Children and youth aged four through 7th grade should attend the first 15 minutes of the worship service with their family. The nursery opens at 9:30 for children aged three and younger and those who need freedom of movement. Religious Education (RE) classes and youth gatherings will begin at 10:15.

NOTE: Youth Group members in grades 8-12 should go directly to the youth room at 10:00 this Sunday for a 15-minute focus session with members of the Search Team.

Reminder: 4th & 5th grade youth participating in the Our Whole Lives (OWL) class should go directly to Room 006 at 9:45.

Specific plans for each age group are shared with registered families via email each week. To learn more about this fall’s Religious Education program, please contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org.

Coffee Hour

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. Please join us!

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. Check the SignUpGenius for coffee hour volunteers and 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.

Coffee, Conversation, and Connections

Find Coffee, Conversation, and Connections on Zoom at 12:30 pm every Sunday! You are invited to join us online for conversation after the service! We'll take a few minutes to say hello and let people settle in, then we'll go around the room to check in and welcome newcomers. Look for "Eliot on Zoom" in your email on Sunday morning; it will include a link to join us for Coffee, Conversation, and Connections. If you're not on our mailing list, sign up here. We look forward to seeing you!

Sunday at a Glance

Sunday Worship – 10:00 am in the Sanctuary

Coffee Hour – 11:00 am in Adams Hall

Geek Squad Coaching – 11:00 am in the Garden Room area of Adams Hall

Exploring Spirituality Covenant Group – 11:15 am in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room

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

Coffee, Conversation, and Connections – 12:30 pm via Zoom

In This Week at Eliot

This Week's Events & Meetings

Church News

Helping Each Other

The Week Ahead

Next Week's Service

Shared Plate

ourEliot

Monday, December 11 

Environmental Justice Team – 7:00 pm in Adams Hall

A Course in Miracles – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Tuesday, December 12 

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 4:00 pm on the front lawn

Wednesday, December 13 

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

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

Thursday, December 14 

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

Friday, December 15  

Friday Freethinkers – 10:00 am in Room 001

As we have new staff in the front office scheduling your events and meetings, it is more important than ever to make contact to get on the calendar and then to check your entry for accuracy!

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.

Glad Tidings

In a new holiday message, UUA President the Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt shares glad tidings and a prayer for Unitarian Universalists that this holiday season will be a time for family, healing, recommitment, and dedication to the things that bring joy and meaning to our lives.

Please pre-register for our Christmas Eve services. We have scheduled a 10:00 am service and a 5:00 pm service on Sunday, December 24. We'll monitor the signups to decide if we need a third service that day. Both services will include candlelight! Thank you!

Children are welcome and encouraged to attend Christmas Eve services in the Sanctuary. The nursery will be open during the 10:00 am service for our youngest UUs who need freedom of movement. Families with young children are also welcome to view both services in Adams Hall where services will be livestreamed on the large screen television and children can move and play freely.

Pageant Service Announcement 

We are excited to share that the Christmas Pageant Service is coming on Friday evening, December 22 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. We anticipate this service will run approximately 30 minutes. Following the service there will be a potluck dessert reception in Adams Hall.

The service is based on a no-rehearsal worship script used by other UU professionals and congregations. Children and youth wishing to wear a costume should arrive beginning at 5:30 and select their outfit in Adams Hall (costumes are definitely not required). There will be an opportunity for children and families to gather, in costume, on the chancel at the conclusion of the service for a photo opportunity.

No advance preparation is needed or required, though it’s helpful to have an idea of who plans to attend. Those planning to attend may RSVP here and are encouraged to bring a potluck dessert item to share (store-bought is fine).

Questions? Contact Scott Stewart by email at scott@eliotchapel.org.

Gift Giving Tree – December 2023

Youth In Action STL is once again sponsoring gift outreach to local children and youth in need of gifts this holiday season. There are several ways to participate in this holiday outreach.    

Here’s how the Gift Giving Tree works in 2023:

For individuals wishing to donate gift items:  

• Thanks to Eliot youth group members, the tree will be set up in Founders Hall on Sunday, December 3. Eliot members and friends can select ornaments following the worship service.

• Select a gingerbread person ornament(s) from the tree, which will indicate the age and gender of a local child.

• Purchase a gift for the child and return the gift, wrapped or unwrapped, along with the ornament and place the gift under the tree OR in the gift box outside the building. Youth In Action will pick up the gifts for distribution. We recommend gifts in the $5-$10 range. Below are some examples of possible gifts:

• NEW stuffed animals
• NEW Children’s puzzles
• Children’s books (NEW is best)
• NEW crayons or other art supplies and coloring books

Gifts can be dropped off through Sunday, December 17.  

If you wish to make a monetary donation, you have two options, both available through Sunday, December 10. 

1. You can make an online payment via Realm: select “Gift Giving Tree" in the drop-down menu; OR
2. You may mail or drop off a check in the black dropbox, made payable to Eliot Chapel, with “Gift Giving Tree” written in the memo. Mail to: 100 S. Taylor Avenue, Kirkwood, MO 63122. 

All monetary donations must be received by December 10.

A Warm THANK YOU to Everyone Who Helped Bring

Holiday Spirit, Laughter & Beautiful Music

to Over 275 Guests at the Forty-Sixth Annual Eliot Chapel Madrigal!

To the Eliot Chapel Staff, especially Debby Lovell, Brian Franklin, and Ed Liebman;

To Those Who Gave Extra-Generously of Their Time & Talents:

Sharon McCarron MacKenzie, John Fleming & Carolyn Burke; Playwrights Jim Gottschalk & Mark Rowley; Not-Ready-for-Reformation Players Julia Berger, Elitta DeArmond, Marsha Fleming, Jeremy Patterson, Veronica Pikul, Kathryn Rouse & Todd Stark; Trumpeter Carl Serbell; the St. Louis Recorder Society & the Greenleaf Singers;

To the Wonderful Castle Workers & Volunteers, Without Whom There Would Not Be a Madrigal: 

Jenny Anderson, Millie Anderson, Marge Bergfeld, Sue Blandford, Amy Carre, Corinne Esneault, Cindi Gille-Rowley, Dick Gordon, Terry Jones, Jacqui Landau, Jim Lyon, Marilyn Maguire, Mary Meihaus, Lynn Murphy, Sue Myers, Jess Patterson, Ann Petlin, Claudia Jean Potts, Pat Reed, Sarah Reuter, Annie Russell, Laura Tyrey, Elisa Voss, Klara Weis & Doris Yohe; and

To All who attended as Guests, who invited Guests, and anyone whose name has been inadvertently left off this list due to circumstances beyond our control!

Thank You All!

Karen Gottschalk, Sara Fleming, & Ken Denson, for the 2023 Madrigal

AED On-Site Soon

When we return to two services in January, we will also once again have an AED, or automated external defibrillator, on site for emergencies. Director of Congregational Administration Brian Franklin is drafting a policy around the use of the device. Eliot Member Kathleen Brunts, M.D. has agreed to be the attending physician. Staff members were certified in its use during American Heart Assoc. first aid training in August. We are seeking members of the congregation who are also certified to use an AED and who would be willing to join the emergency response team. Please contact frontoffice@eliotchapel.org to volunteer. 

Eliot Chapel as Shared Space

Please take care of the public spaces at Eliot Chapel when you are here. If you or your group is the last one in the building, plan to turn out lights and close fire doors. If you bring things into a space for a meeting – food, papers, etc. – be sure to leave with them and clean up after yourselves. 

We Care for Each Other

The Pastoral Care Team is comprised of supportive, caring individuals who will actively listen and spend time with you as you share issues that are causing you concern, pain, or anxiety. The people on the team have been UUA trained and are under the supervision of Rev. Krista. If you have a pastoral care need, please email pastoralcare@eliotchapel.org. 

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!

Welcome to the Eliot Chapel Volunteer Village!

What village? The village it takes to raise a church! We all want our beloved church to thrive and grow. To do so, we need many villagers who will share the work. Maybe you prefer the geese analogy suggested at the worship service on Ingathering Sunday: “Sharing leadership, taking care of the fallen, and honking from behind.” Regardless, it is imperative that everyone steps up to bring Eliot Chapel forward and there are so many ways to participate. Sign up here to be part of it; then grab a gold volunteer sticker for your name tag if you already volunteer or if you sign up now!

Holiday Cards Available on Sunday

Due to popular demand and requests for additional greeting card designs, you can purchase holiday cards again this Sunday after service in Adams Hall. The cards were designed by artist Marceline Saphian. Two pieces of Marcy's artwork are now hung at Eliot, one in the hallway outside Adams Hall and the other over the stairs going down into the old RE wing. Marcy was an Eliot member and a prolific artist. She won many awards in St. Louis art galleries, as well as galleries around the Midwest. Proceeds of the card sales will be given to Eliot.  

Join us for

Vigil for Hope & Healing

Tuesday, December 12

at 4:00 pm in front of Eliot Chapel.

Sunday, December 17 – 10:00 am

Mystery and Justice – Rev. Krista Taves

So often justice and spirituality are seen as two separate things. They are not. In our UU faith tradition, one cannot be fulfilled without the other. 

Sharing the Offering

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 December, we're sharing our offering with Room at the Inn.

Sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence, Room at the Inn provides emergency shelter and a stabilizing support system to women and families in need in St. Louis County, using a collaborative, interfaith effort of congregations and organizations throughout the St. Louis region. Eliot Chapel has supported Room at the Inn for more than 30 years. Learn more at roomstl.org.

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

• Online: Click here. Make sure “Shared Plate” is your chosen fund.
• By Mail: Please write “RATI” in the memo line of your check and mail it to Eliot Unitarian Chapel, 100 South Taylor Ave., Kirkwood, MO 63122. 
• 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.