Sunday, December 31 – 10:00 am

Seeds for the New Year – Welcome 2024

What seeds are you planting for the new year? How are you weaving your magic into your relationships with others? How can we center beauty and goodness and love in all that's ahead? These questions are at the heart of this worship service, an exciting collaboration between the UUA and Eliot Chapel. Join us in Adams Hall for videos from other UU congregations around the country, curated by Rev. Erika Hewitt, UUA Minister of Worship Arts, as well as live hymns and more with the Eliot community. Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, our new UUA President, will deliver the message. We’ll save a seat for you!

Featured musicians: Pam Triplett, songleader; David Nalesnik, piano; The Chalice Bells; bēheld; Lea Morris.

Note: this service will be held in Adams Hall. Please plan to enter through Founders Hall. The red doors at the Sanctuary entrance will not be unlocked. Thank you!

• 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

Children are welcome to attend the 10:00 am New Year’s Eve service in Adams Hall with their family. Coloring pages and toys are available at the round table in the children’s corner.

The nursery is closed on New Year’s Eve, December 31 for the holiday break.

Religious Education (RE) classes and youth activities resume on Sunday, January 7. To learn more about this year’s RE 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!

As we transition from one to two services, we really need to increase the number of coffee volunteers. We need at least one (two makes the chore easier) for each service. This is a simple task (instructions are available in a binder in the kitchen) and a great way to serve and connect. You can complete the set-up portion of coffee hour and still attend church. You can leave a little early from the service to be in the kitchen when the service is over. The service is broadcast on the large tv in Adams Hall, so you can even see the end of the service. There are many open slots in the new year. Perhaps a covenant group might consider volunteering for a Sunday – this would be a great service project for you. 

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

Coffee Hour – 11:00 am in Adams Hall

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, January 1 

Church offices are closed today.

Kwentus Covenant Group – 10:00 am in the DuBois Library

Tuesday, January 2 

Women’s Alliance – 9:45 am in Adams Hall

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

SJA Steering Committee – 7:00 pm in Adams Hall

Wednesday, January 3 

Wellspring – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Thursday, January 4 

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

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

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

Friday, January 5

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.

Starting Point

An Introduction to

the Unitarian Universalist Journey

This four-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. Amy Stark will facilitate the series which will take place during second service in Room 001 on Sundays in February from 11:15 am to 12:45 pm. Childcare will be available. 

Sunday, February 4 

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

Sunday, February 11 

Session 2: The Unitarian Universalist Journey and the Journey of our Congregation

Sunday, February 18 

Session 3: Our Journey Together – The Three Paths of Unitarian Universalism, Part 1

Sunday, February 25 

Session 4: The Three Paths, Part 2 and Finding Your Journey Group

Pastoral Care for the Holidays

Rev. Dee Evans, Eliot’s Affiliate Minister, is on call for pastoral care emergencies while Rev. Krista is away on holiday through December 30. You may contact them at pastoralcare@eliotchapel.org.

Church Offices Closed

The church offices are closed for holiday break. They will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, at 10:00 am.

New Member Signing: January 14 After the Service

Are you considering joining Eliot Chapel as a member? The membership book will be available to sign after the service on the second Sunday of the month. Please contact welcome@eliotchapel.org at least a week in advance if you are interested in becoming a member.

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!

Healing, Holding, and Letting Go

This year, the ministers from First Unitarian St. Louis, the Metro East Unitarian Universalist Congregation, and Eliot Chapel are offering classes that are available to members of all the St. Louis UU Congregations. You are welcome to register for this Zoom class offered by Rev. Claudia Hall, minister of Metro East UU.  

Healing, Holding, and Letting Go: Dealing with Your Religious Past

Mondays, January 15, 22, and 29 

6:00-7:30 pm on Zoom

In this class we will look at your religious past and offer tools for you to sort through the following:

1. what things you were taught by prior religions that you value and that still have meaning for you;
2. what things have harmed you that you need to heal from;
3. what things have held you back from your spiritual potential that you can let go.

We will address the binary (good/bad) thinking that causes so much harm and look at ways we can safely salvage what is good from our religious past without succumbing to any theology that is harmful or hateful in the process.

Contact Pastor Claudia of Metro East Unitarian Universalist Congregation at dr.claudia.hall@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Women’s Alliance

Please join the Women’s Alliance on Tuesday, January 2 at 9:45 am in Adams Hall or on Zoom. After coffee, treats, and a brief business meeting, Beth Rossow will be the book discussion leader for Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. For more information about this meeting, contact womensalliance@eliotchapel.org.

Join us for

Vigil for Hope & Healing

Tuesday, January 2

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 Thursday, January 4.

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. Sign-up sheets are on the Eliot bulletin board or 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.

Sunday, January 7, 2024 – 9:45 & 11:15 am

Fire Communion – Rev. Krista Taves

What do you need to be liberated from? Today’s your chance to symbolically let it go.