Sunday, October 29 – 10:00 am

Our Unitarian Universalist Humanist Heritage

Rev. Krista Taves

Humanism came into Unitarianism and Universalism in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was met with welcome and resistance. We’ll explore what this means for us today as we deepen what it means to be open to the world around us. What do we welcome? What do we resist?

Featured musicians: Home Remedy: Cindy Minnis, Melinda Monroe; Pam Triplett, songleader; David Nalesnik, piano.

Religious Education & Youth Group

The 2023-24 Religious Education and Youth Program continues this Sunday, October 29 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.

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 (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!

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. Please check the SignUpGenius for coffee hour volunteers to 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. We have some dates in October that need help!

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

Search Team Focus Group for Music – 11:15 am in Room 006

Pastoral Care Associates – 11:30 am in the Susan Frederick-Gray Room

Understanding the Abortion Landscape – 11:45 am in Adams Hall

Using Eliot's Website mini-class – 11:45 am in Room 001

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

Madrigal Actors Rehearsal – 12:00 pm in the Sanctuary

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

In This Week at Eliot

This Week's Events & Meetings

Please Remember

Church News

Classes at Eliot Chapel

Helping Each Other

The Week Ahead

Next Week's Service

Shared Plate

Down the Road

ourEliot

Monday, October 30 

Genevieve Turner Celebration of Life – 11:00 am in the Sanctuary

A Course in Miracles – 7:00 pm via Zoom

Tuesday, October 31 

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

Wednesday, November 1 

Madrigal Actors Rehearsal – 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary

Wellspring – 7:00 pm on Zoom

Thursday, November 2

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, November 3 

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.

Please Remember

A celebration of the life of Genevieve Turner will take place on Monday, October 30, with visitation at 10:00 am and the service at 11:00, followed by a reception. Genevieve passed away on October 3, 2023. She was 109. Genevieve was a founding member of Eliot Chapel.

Welcome Seth

We are so pleased that Seth Botts joined us this week as our Contract Office Administrator. He will be with us three days a week as we continue our search for our permanent Congregational Administrator. If you happen to be here when he is in the office, please welcome him. Seth is warm, kind, and very competent. We are blessed to have his services. 

READ MORE 

The Ordination of Dee Evans

Dee Evans, our affiliate community minister, is being ordained at the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Saturday, October 28 at 2:00 pm. Here is the link to attend virtually. 

Donations Sought

Furniture is needed for our new Pastoral Care Room. Room 103 in the office tower is being turned into a Pastoral Care Room. Ideally, we would like a couch, two armchairs, and a coffee table for this room. If you have furniture in good condition and would like to donate it, please contact frontoffice@eliotchapel.org. 

Quilts

As part of our preparation for the annual bread service, we invite you to share quilts for decoration in the Sanctuary. Baby quilts, quilted wall hangings, throws, and table runners are welcome, too. Quilts should be clearly marked with your name and be delivered to the church office no later than noon on Wednesday, November 15. If your quilt has a story, please feel welcome to print or type it on a small card, and affix the card to the front of your quilt so the story can be shared with members and friends. Questions? Contact Rebecca Schuder at quilts@eliotchapel.org.

Handbell Ringers Wanted!

We’re looking for a few more handbell ringers for Christmas Eve! Come have fun playing classic Christmas carols with a great group of people. This intergenerational ensemble is open to adults as well as children and youth 3rd grade and up. Music reading ability is helpful but not required; we will teach you what you need to know. Rehearsals will start in November TBD. Please contact Beth Curtiss at handbells@eliotchapel.org if you’re interested.

Fall Foliage Excursion to Bergfried

If you've never been to the pine ridge that overlooks the confluence of the Gasconade and Missouri Rivers, then you have missed out on a beautiful site and a beautiful sight, and one of Eliot's most valuable assets! Come for a day trip on Saturday, November 4 to just hang out and enjoy the fresh air and camaraderie, or hike around to the quarry or the cypress grove. We'll meet at the Eliot parking lot at 9:00 am, carpool out there (90 min), do lunch – roast some weenies – relax, and then head back home whenever you and your ride want to. Sign up at Eliot coffee hour or email Bob Becker at bergfriedinfo@eliotchapel.org or text him (see directory) to sign up or if you have questions.

Noble Lords and Ladies

Queen Elizabeth I

Requests the Honor of

Your Presence at the

46th Annual Eliot Chapel

Renaissance Madrigal

and Christmas Rout

        November 30, December 1 & 2, 2023

Madrigal Invitation | Madrigal Reservation

Please join the Madrigal Village and volunteer for Madrigal 2023!  Have fun, meet people and help Eliot in one of its largest fundraisers of the year! See the volunteer opportunities here, then please call or email Karen Gottschalk directly (she's in the directory) or see her in Adams Hall after the Sunday service to sign up. Sir Eliot thanks you!

New Member Signing: November 12 

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.

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. Amy Stark and Gail Rock will facilitate the series. Longtime members and friends seeking a small group experience are also welcome.

Monday, November 6, 6:30 pm on Zoom 

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

Monday, November 13, 6:30 pm in person at Eliot

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

We Care for Each Other

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!

Search Team Focus Group for Music

This Sunday, October 29, the Focus Group for Music (for all who value music at Eliot) will meet in Room 006 at 11:30 – coffee and refreshments provided! If you have not already registered, you can use the link below, or email us at searchteam@eliotchapel.org and we'll reserve a seat for you.

Reminder: if you haven’t yet completed the Congregational Survey, please respond here.

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ACTION FORUM

Understanding the U.S. and Local Abortion Landscape

A presentation by Colleen Lee, Education Coordinator

with Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region

Sunday, October 29 in Adams Hall after the service at 11:45 am

Colleen Lee will present a comprehensive, medically accurate overview of abortion that is designed to empower youth, adults, parents, and professionals to make informed decisions about reproductive health across the lifespan. It will be presented in a way that promotes social justice and freedom from all forms of oppression in keeping with Eliot’s values.  

Topics will include: 

• Framing appropriate language
• Smashing abortion stigma
• Action steps that can be taken  

Please RSVP for this important program by emailing socialjustice@eliotchapel.org.

Tired of technology troubles? Do not despair…

The Eliot Geek Squad to the Rescue!!  

The Eliot Geek Squad is a group of Eliot friends who will help you figure out how to navigate Eliot’s website, edit your profile on Eliot Connects (REALM), assist you in getting your photo onto the Eliot Directory, help you figure out how to sign up for events and classes, use QR Codes, and find solutions to your technology questions. We will start off with a Mini-class on "Using the Eliot Chapel Website” on Sunday, October 29 at 11:45 in Adams Hall. We are setting up Geek Squad Coaches in the Garden Room area on the first and third Sundays after service in November and December to help you with your further questions. It is helpful to have the devices you use (your phone, iPad, laptop computer) with you so you can practice with a Geek Squad coach. There is also an email address for you to get immediate help at geeksquad@eliotchapel.org. 

Join us for

Vigil for Hope & Healing

Tuesday, October 31

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, November 2.

Sunday, November 5 – 10:00 am

“Celebrating the Dead!” – Rev. Krista Taves  

One of the ways we honor our deceased loved ones is to celebrate them and be generous with each 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. We are very pleased that October's recipient is the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project (MICA Project). MICA is a community organization committed to working with low-income immigrants to overcome barriers to justice. Learn more at www.mica-project.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 “MICA” 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.

Dia de los Muertos

Missouri History Museum on November 4 and 5



The Dia de los Muertos celebration includes a wide variety of Latin American cultural traditions: music and dance performances, art displays, food and drink vendors, a procession through the park, activities for children, and more. See the full program at mohistory.org/dia-de-los-muertos.

The Immigration Justice Team is pleased to offer Eliot Chapel members a unique opportunity for a guided tour of the Dia de los Muertos altars (ofrendas) on Saturday, November 4 at 2:00 pm. Our guide, Maria Yaksic, is Bolivian and a board member of the St. Louis Hispanic Leaders. We will gather at the reception desk to start the tour. To alleviate parking issues, we can carpool from Eliot Chapel at 1:00 pm. Please email immigration@eliotchapel.org if you want a ride.

Come, participate, and learn more about Latin American cultural traditions!