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. 

Featured musicians: Jennifer Husky, songleader; Charlotte Parsons, piano; David Nalesnik, piano.

• 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 continues this Sunday, December 17 during the 10:00 service. Children and youth aged four and older 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: The 6th & 7th grade and 8th-12th grade groups DO NOT meet this Sunday, December 17. Youth in grades 6-12 should attend the worship service with their family.

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 18 

A Course in Miracles – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Tuesday, December 19 

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

EUC Board Meeting – 6:30 pm in Adams Hall

Earth-Based Spirituality Covenant Group – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Wednesday, December 20 

Wellspring – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Nominating Committee/Leadership Team – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Thursday, December 21 

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

Shifting Role to Soul – 10:30 am in Room 001

Pageant Preparation – 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary & Adams Hall

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

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

Friday, December 22  

Pageant Preparation – All day in the Sanctuary & Adams Hall

Friday Freethinkers – 10:00 am in Room 001

Christmas Pageant Service – 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary

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.

Join us for a Christmas Eve service in the Sanctuary at Eliot Chapel! 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. Gifts for the Gift Giving Tree can be dropped off this Sunday, December 17.

Purchase a gift for the child and return the gift, wrapped or unwrapped, along with the ginger-person 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.  

If you don't have an ornament, simply purchase a gift for a local child and return it unwrapped. 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

SAVE THE DATE

Bergfried Winter Warmup

Celebrate Bergfried and winter a bit closer to home this month! The Bergfried Team sponsors our annual Winter Warm-Up Potluck Dinner on Saturday, January 20 in Adams Hall. Bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy some camaraderie. We’ll offer a fire circle featuring Eliot musicians (bring your instruments!) and a slideshow of recent Bergfried events. Nature crafts for all ages will be offered. Contact bergfriedinfo@eliotchapel.org. Please let us know if you are bringing a main dish, side or dessert. Doors open at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:00.

SAVE THE DATE

The Men's Advance

The Men’s Advance, May 2-5, 2024, 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 rustic bunkhouses. To sign up for the weekend, to reserve a cottage or bunkhouse space, or for any information contact mensadvance@eliotchapel.org.

Spring also promises great weather for individuals and families to visit and enjoy nature on their own. The Bergfried cottage, with air conditioning, electricity, full kitchen and bath, and running water, is available for rental ($35/night). Contact bergfriedreservations@eliotchapel.org whenever you are planning a trip on your own or to reserve the cottage.

Eliot's Chalice Choir Is Recruiting!

All children and youth are welcome!

Dates for the first performance:

Rehearsals: January 14, 21, 28 – 9:15-9:45 am

Performance: February 4, 2024 – Prelude for Worship

Dates for the second performance:

Rehearsals: February 25, March 3 – 9:15-9:45am

Performance: March 10, 2024 – Prelude for Worship

Other Details

• Children need to be able to read the lyrics OR have the commitment of someone who can help them memorize the words to the songs.
• Indicate interest to Nancy Spargo & Melinda Monroe at chalicechoir@eliotchapel.org by February 11, 2024.

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!

Join us for

Vigil for Hope & Healing

Tuesday, December 19

at 4:00 pm in front of Eliot Chapel.

Transitions Support Group

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, 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 Carl Serbell and Lou Salvin. Meetings are on the first and third Thursdays of the month, 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the DuBois Library. Please email transitions@eliotchapel.org if you want to learn more or receive the reminder emails. The next meeting is December 21.

Friday, December 22 – 6:00 pm

Christmas Pageant Service – Rev. Krista Taves

This no rehearsal service is a great opportunity to celebrate the season with children, families, and other Eliot friends of all ages. We anticipate this service will run approximately 30 minutes. Following the service there will be a potluck dessert reception in Adams Hall.

Sunday, December 24 – 10:00 am & 5:00 pm

A Letter from Gabriel – Rev. Krista Taves

Join us for a Christmas Eve service in Eliot Chapel's Sanctuary. The 10:00 am service will feature our handbell choir while our 5:00 pm service features the Eliot Chapel Choir. Both services will include candlelight and singing! 

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.