Unitarian Universalism has a deep commitment to democracy. If we had sacraments, voting would be one of them. As we approach the municipal elections, our faith asks us to think globally and act locally.

Masks are required at the services for anyone over two years of age. Masks should cover both nose and mouth. We strongly recommend an N95 or KN95 mask. We will have masks available if you have forgotten yours.

We have reservations available this week. Reservations for the week's services open after 3:00 pm on Monday. A separate email with reservation links goes out through our email list. Reservations will be made through SignUpGenius:

If all pods are reserved, you may call (314.821.0911) or email the front office to be put on a waiting list.

We will livestream our 9:15 service on Sunday. You will find it at eliotchapel.org. After the stream, a recording will be available all week. You can also find it directly on our YouTube channel.

Some of you have asked us how we can support the people struggling for their freedom and their lives in Ukraine. Your Partner Church Council reached out to our partner church in Romania, asking if we could help refugees entering their country. Unitarians in Transylvania are already volunteering their help through the Hungarian Unitarian Church. Read below how this crisis is impacting our partner church, and the work that Rev. Sandor Kiss and his wife, Rev. Zsuzsanna, are doing. Please give generously. We are honored to support this important ministry.

In Faith,

In these difficult times, we are praying for peace and we are also searching for the best way to help. The Hungarian Unitarian Church's aid association (Providence Aid Association) is working hard now. I am one of the volunteers. So we organize fundraising to help those people who come to Romania and those people who stay in Ukraine. (food, transport, etc.) The nursing homes in Ukraine are in a very hard situation, because the employees leave the old people, so this is another way to help those old people, we collect diapers and food for them.

The refugees are coming, and we are trying to organize the places where they can stay. We call the congregations to accept this challenge, and let us know how many community houses, or family houses can be filled with refugees. Some congregations already have refugees with them. It seems that more and more people want to stay for a longer period, than in the first wave of refugees.

Zsuzsa and I are trying everything possible to help the poor people who are forced to leave their homes. We are also trying to encourage the people here. Many of them are asking us about what is going to happen. Especially the older members need our encouragement, because a few of them experienced the misery of war as children during the Second World War. So we are trying to comfort them, and we just hope they won’t have to live through such an experience again.

Pray for peace and wisdom.

God bless you,

Make sure "Ukrainian Assistance" is the chosen fund for your online transactions. We will collect for Ukraine for two Sundays after which we will wire all donations directly to the aid association mentioned by Rev. Kiss. Thank you!

The updated Children’s Religious Education FAQs contain more details and information about children’s programs this month.

Youth Group is OFF on Sunday, March 20 for local spring breaks. Youth activities will resume on Sunday, March 27 at 10:45 am.

The updated Youth Group FAQs have more details about the youth program this month.

Zoom Coffee Hour takes place from 12:00 pm to 1:00 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 Worship – 9:15 am in the Sanctuary

Children's Religious Education – 9:15 am in Adams Hall (after first portion of service)

Sunday Worship – 11:00 am in the Sanctuary

Coffee Hour – 12:00 pm via Zoom

Young Adult Group – 12:30 pm on Discord

Starting Point – 2:00 pm via Zoom

Vigil for Hope & Healing – 5:00 pm in front of Eliot

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.

Please remember Janet Solecki who is home recovering from surgery. 

As we build the budget for the upcoming church year, we invite you to come talk with the Board of Trustees regarding Eliot Chapel’s financial future. We will hold two sessions during which the Board will present a preliminary budget and discuss any points of concern, along with areas for potential growth. Please join us on Sunday, April 3 after both services.

Eliot Chapel is opening back to some normalcy. 

Link to the room/Bergfried request form here; the front office will process forms and email you with the details you will need when your meeting or reservation is set. 

Shortly after the COVID-19 lockdown began, Eliot’s Adult Education: Spirit in Practice Team developed a continuing series of Zoom offerings to provide opportunities to engage with others in our church community with a focus on spiritual practices.

There are currently two openings for our spiritual book discussion. We are starting Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach on Wednesday, March 23 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. If you are interested, please email

spiritinpractice@eliotchapel.org for full details.

Have you gone to the polling place and found you were voting for or against propositions that you had no information about before reading the ballot? Or that you wished you knew more about the candidates you're voting for?

The Post-Dispatch and the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis have produced a Voters Guide for the April 5 election in Missouri. You can type in your address and get a customized ballot showing all the choices on your local ballot, including summary explanations of the county and local propositions to be voted on, and where available, a statement of priorities and background for each candidate. To access this guide online, go to stltoday.com/votersguide or you can access the same guide at vote411.org. The printed guide will be in the Post-Dispatch on Thursday before the election.

The Biden Administration continues the Trump policies of expelling asylum seekers without a fair hearing and misusing public health to deny them basic human and legal rights. Instead, refugees are sent to unsafe conditions in Mexican border towns or returned to persecutors in their home countries. Over a million people have been turned away at the border and human rights observers have documented 8,700+ attacks – including kidnapping, torture, and sexual violence against asylum seekers returned to Mexico since Biden took office. This number does not include those killed upon return to their home countries.

UUs have a legacy of journeying alongside those fleeing their homes from danger. Our faith emphasizes the inherent worth and dignity of all people, calling us to seek justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.

Join the UUs for Social Justice and UU Service Committee letter to reopen the border to asylum seekers. Review and sign the letter here.

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. 

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.

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.

This 4-part series offers those considering Unitarian Universalism and Eliot Chapel the opportunity to experience UUism in action. 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.  

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. 

Are you distraught because of the desperate needs of Ukrainian refugees? Do you compare our country’s response to those of Poland, Hungary and Moldova, and find our efforts lacking? Then come to the Zoom Immigration Justice Team meeting on Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00 pm! (See Sunday's Eliot on Zoom email for a link). We meet to discuss immigration issues, report progress of our two work groups (legislative advocacy and immigrant family support), share additional activities of interest by our partner organizations, and consider new needs and opportunities which have arisen. Whether you want to join our planning process, participate in hands-on service, or simply hear about what’s happening and how you can help, join us! To receive regular information about immigration matters large and small, join our email list by writing to immigration@eliotchapel.org.

Many of us walk regularly and that's good news for our health and well being! Sometimes we walk for fun, sometimes because the dogs won't let us get through the afternoon without an outing. Eliot Chapel is inviting folks to share their favorite walks! Our first walk was Saturday, February 26 at Laumeier Sculpture Park in Sunset Hills, led by Carl and Yvonne Serbell. We had icy conditions that day so we were not able to take the woodland paths – we expect better weather at our next walk on Saturday, March 26! The woodland trails have excellent footing, but there are moderate ups and downs and spectacular artwork at every turn. We’ll meet at the ‘eyeball sculpture’ (you can’t miss it on the main lawn) and hike from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at Laumeier Sculpture Park on Saturday, March 26. Masking optional. Please email walks@eliotchapel.org if you'd like to join us, and we'll all keep our fingers crossed that the weather cooperates!

If you want to lead something like this, whether it’s a regular occurrence or just a one-time event, we’d like to hear from you! If it’s online, write to us at frontoffice@eliotchapel.org and we’ll help schedule you on Zoom. In person? Outdoors? Just fill out an event request form.

Author Toni Morrison once said, “Make up a story. Narrative is radical.” Join us for a reflection on women writers and the radical ways they have shaped our world.