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To hear about upcoming and late-breaking social justice opportunities, keep an eye on This Week at Eliot and be sure to sign up to receive emails in your interest area.
You will always be given the chance to update your profile and subscription preferences at the bottom of each email.
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Our work is driven by Unitarian Universalist principles including
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
At Eliot, we create a community of deep relationships by working toward a more just society, dismantling racism, and improving the environment. Eliot's specific mission and goals can be found here.
Our Mission:
The Social Justice Program will inspire and equip individuals and the congregation to work effectively for justice both locally and beyond. We will continue to be challenged by the teachings of Martin Luther King's vision of the beloved community:
"In the beloved community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood."
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Birth of a New Nation"
1957
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Eliot's Social Justice Steering Committee wants to thank all of you who worked to UU the Vote over the past year and a half: letter and postcard writing, webinars, screening of movies, phone banking, text banking, displaying yard signs, conversations with friends and family. Regardless of election outcomes, we hope you found meaning in new connections you made and in reflecting on and proclaiming your UU values.
EVENTS
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Vigil for Hope and Healing
Tuesdays
5:00 pm on Zoom and Facebook
Since the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson early in August 2014, members of Eliot Unitarian Chapel and people from the greater community have stood in a weekly vigil. We've now gone digital since the latest stay-at-home order in St. Louis County. Please join us on Eliot's Facebook page or join us in vigil by signing up for our email list.
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Eliot Gardeners
If you'd like to put a little sweat equity into Eliot Chapel, work alongside friends, and meet new people, please join the Eliot Gardeners on the grounds around the Chapel. Email to sign up.
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Video Series
Tuesday, April 20
7:00 pm on Zoom
This month's session of the series is hosted by our Environmental Justice team and the discussion will be on Kiss the Ground and our ability to fight climate change through healthy soil. See all the details below.
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See more of our recent and ongoing efforts here.
SHARING THE OFFERING
 One of the ways Eliot Chapel lives our commitment to justice, equity and compassion is by giving away half of our offering every Sunday to an organization in the community that shares our values. We are so pleased to be sharing our April Sunday collections with A Red Circle because we are both energized by a deep commitment to racial justice and racial equity.
A Red Circle was created by Executive Director Erica Williams to promote community betterment in North St. Louis County through a racial equity lens. Current concerns in North St. Louis County that impact quality of life and health are the lack of sustainable jobs, education disparities, limited healthy food access, financial pressures, low voter participation, and exposure to the arts. A Red Circle approaches these issues in a holistic, collaborative way – working with residents, elected officials, community leaders, volunteers, and more.
During the pandemic, A Red Circle has provided direct relief to many families and is supporting a robust vaccination campaign in North County. They are excited that their community garden survived the February cold snap and are anticipating their first harvest later this spring. This garden provides fresh produce in areas of the county that are food deserts.
Our goal for April’s offertory is to raise a total of $1,300 with half supporting A Red Circle and half supporting our congregation’s many life giving ministries. We are a generous people. Let us be generous with our neighbors.
You can give in one of three ways:
- Online: Click here. Make sure “Shared Plate” is your chosen fund.
- By Mail: Please write “A Red Circle” 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 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.
Watch a video interview with Rev. Krista Taves of Eliot Chapel and Erica Williams, executive director of A Red Circle on YouTube.
Eliot Chapel Community of Hope Video Series
Kiss the Ground
Tuesday, April 20
7:00 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
What if there was a simple solution that could help balance our climate, replenish our freshwater supplies, and feed the world? Join the Environmental Justice team at Eliot Chapel to watch Kiss the Ground. It’s about a solution to climate change that’s right beneath our feet – healthy soil and its ability to sequester carbon on a large scale.
“It's not about religion or politics, it's about love...and if you love something or somebody, you want to understand them, take care of them, protect them, and keep them safe. That's what we're all here to do."
– Maria Rodale
The movie is on Netflix, or you can sign up with Interfaith Power and Light to watch it between April 16 and 25. You may register here to join the discussion. We hope to see you there!
We believe we can often work most effectively in partnership.
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We aim to nurture leadership and service in Eliot members and friends. If you are inspired to lead an effort, here is a guide to policies for initiating a Social Justice in Action effort. |
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