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Saturday August 18
Board Retreat - offsite
Sunday August 19
9:15am Coffee with Questions
10:45am Kevin's First Service
Wednesday August 22
12:00pm RE Work Day
7:00pm PTI
7:00pm LGBTQ Youth Group
Thursday August 23
7:00pm McHenry County Pride
Men's Group - offsite
Friday August 24
7:00pm Green Sanctuary Movie Night
Saturday August 25
Kayak and Lunch Event from service auction - offsite
All Committee Meetings are open and you are welcome to attend.
Our Board Members:
Carrie MacDonald - President
president@treeoflifeuu.o
rg
Pat Costigan - Trustee
Rebecca Heisler- Trustee
Patrick Kerin- Trustee
Office Hours:
Monday 10-2
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 10-2
Thursday 10-2
Friday 10-2
Others by appointment
Click
here for Website Calendar Link
Click Here to see the latest Board Minutes
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Please forward to any interested friends or relatives using the Forward to a Friend button on the left hand side.
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Hello, Tree of Life! The Board is gearing up for our annual retreat, which will be held on August 18, and I wanted to pass along some information about what's been happening over the summer. Church attendance may tend to be low during these warmer months, but the business of the Board marches on!
We last met in mid-July, shortly after our new minister signed his contract. At that meeting, we discussed the hospitality we were offering to the Dumitru family, as well as the contract Kevin and I signed regarding his employment. Remember that his first day in the pulpit will be next Sunday, August 19th, so make plans to attend church that day to meet our new minister! We also discussed the various building projects that have been going on around the church over the summer, as well as several proposed changes to the RE classrooms that were brought to us by our interim RE Director, Heather Madaus. Another important and necessary change coming to TOL is the formation of a Right Relations committee, so stay tuned for more information on that!
At our retreat this weekend, we'll conduct a mini-meeting at the beginning to make sure that regular church business doesn't fall to the wayside for the month, followed by a day of reflection, visioning, and strategizing. I'm looking forward to spending the day with my fellow Board members and our new minister to work toward the betterment of Tree of Life!
As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or concerns. The best way to reach me is via email at
president@treeoflifeuu.org.
In faith,
Carrie MacDonald, Board President
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From Away
Sunday, August 19, 2018, 10:45am
Kevin DeBeck
The Not Yet Reverend Kevin DeBeck takes the pulpit for the first time as our Half Time Contract Minister. In his first sermon at Tree of Life, he will discuss his call to ministry and what he hopes to accomplish in his time with us.
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Animal Blessing
Sunday, August 26, 2018, 10:45am
Leah Mikkelson
Join us Sunday, August 26 for a special event - An Animal Blessing Service. Animals can be a source of joy, peace, strength and so much more in our lives. So we will pause to bless them in return. Join us to celebrate the interdependent web of creatures great and small. We invite you to bring your furry, feathered, or scaled, etc. friends to join our service. Or if it is more suitable, bring a photo. We will celebrate this extension of Beloved Community and together we'll share this meaningful time of blessing!
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Window Installation Service and Picnic
Sunday, September 16, 10:45 am
Our stained glass windows are once again part of our church home and we planning to celebrate! We are having an Installation Service with speakers invited to share words of meaning for the faiths represented in the windows. Pam Lopatin, the artist/creator of the windows will join us and we will
 exchange gift tokens with the speakers to honor our connection in faith and friendship.
Following our Stained Glass Windows celebration service on September 16th, we will continue the festivities with a picnic on the lawn. We will be serving pulled pork sandwichesand the rest of the meal will be potluck -- everyone should bring a side dish or dessert to share. Please make sure the items you bring have been prepared ahead of time and are ready to set out. All food dishes should be brought to the kitchen before the service. There will be games and entertainment for kids (and adults if you so desire). Festivities will begin after the service and continue until 3:00 p.m. We will need help with various tasks -- there are sign-up sheets in the social room so please help us put together (and take down) a fun-filled event!
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Peter Mayer is joining us!
Concert at First Congregational in Crystal Lake Saturday, October 20th 7:00 pm
We are hosting a Peter Mayer concert in October and to have adequate seating, First Congregational in Crystal Lake is partnering with us. Tickets are on sale and we do encourage you to purchase early because we do anticipate tickets will go fast when the promotional information goes out to the general public.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
Purchasing online is preferred but we will also have tickets available for purchase in the office.
On
Sunday, October 21st, Pete will offer songs and thoughts for our morning worship.
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Nursery Care is available
during Worship Services for children birth-4. We invite children of all ages to use our Quiet Work Area under the supervision of their families during worship services. You will find it tucked away in a corner of the Sanctuary.
It's time to register your child for RE!
Paper copies of the registration form can be found on the wall outside the DRE office.
Now registering 7th-8th graders
for Our Whole Lives
This year's class will be held on Sunday evenings, generally twice a month, from 4-7:30pm.
Paper copies of the registration form can be found on the wall outside the DRE office.
Volunteers needed
for the 2018-19 school year! We are excited to announce that next year's RE students will be joining in the congregation-wide Soul Matters discussions. They will be using the same themes we're sharing in our Chalice Circles and Worship Services. RE is looking for:
- Sunday morning volunteers to facilitate Soul Matters discussions and the activities that go with them. Both new and experienced teachers welcome!
- Pageant Volunteers to help prepare our students for our annual Winter Pageant and assist in creating props and presenting the pageant. This would be a 2 month commitment (November and December) culminating in our pageant on December 16th.
An activity group for LGBTQ teens meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month, 7-9PM, in the downstairs youth room. The time of the meeting coincides with the meeting of McHenry PTI (Parents of Transgender Individuals).
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Coffee with Questions
Topic: Doughnut Economics: Chapter 5
Presenter: Sandra Bartholmey
Date: August 19 2018 9:15 AM
Location:5603 W. Bull Valley Road
McHenry, Illinois 60050
Phone: (815) 322- 2464
We will discuss Chap 5 of Kate Raworth's "Doughnut Economics: 7 Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist"
Childcare is available with prior notice to
DRE@treeoflifeuu.org
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Community Care Committee
Joys and Concerns shared during the service will be printed in the Happenings and Bulletin unless there is a request made to the office or community care committee to withhold.
Terry Kappel voiced joy for all of us seeing Judy Mullen in church on Sunday.
Patrick Murfin shared his concern for his grandnephew's wife who will be giving birth soon to a baby who has spina bifida. They are young parents with few resources. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Judy Mullen was extremely grateful for all the visits, love, cards, and support during her two months in the hospital and recovery. Welcome back, Judy. We are so glad you were well enough to join us on Sunday.
Lisa Campagnolo shared that after 20 years of marriage she is now single again and starting a full time job. She is concerned for one of her client's grandchildren who is giving birth to a baby with a rare genetic disease. Lisa asked for prayers for the family.
Heather Madaus expressed joy at celebrating Mariela Gonzalez's and Allyson Rowley's wedding and was amazed at how this place became such a beautiful wedding venue.
Liz Kuhl celebrated and gave thanks for Thursday, August 9th when Simon's adoption officially went through and he legally gained their last name. It's official, Simon. You have a great family!
Leah Mikkelson announced her encouragement to us to bring our furry, feathered and scaled friends (or a picture of them) Sunday, August 26th for the Animal Blessing.
Amy and Ray Beth had a wonderful time at a UU retreat in Racine, WI with other UU couples. They encourage others to go for the great fun.
Driver needed from Cary! If you would be available to provide transportation on Sunday mornings to and from Cary, please contact caring@treeoflifeuu.org.
If you are looking for a ride to church, please contact Pat Costigan, our Transportation Coordinator, who is matching people in need of rides with others who are willing to provide them.
Drivers to and from Sunday services needed! Do you drive through Crystal Lake on your way to services in Sunday? Let Pat Costigan know. We try to keep the commitment to once per month and can be creative! Please email:
caring@treeoflifeuu.org
Cary Drivers?
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AFS (American Field Service) Intercultural Exchange programs! reached out to us to ask for our help. They are looking for open, welcoming host families for two AFS high school exchange students: Mohamed from Egypt and Mirza from Pakistan. Both boys are coming to the US under the auspices of the prestigious YES scholarship program, sponsored by the US government in the hopes of promoting peace between the US and countries with significant Muslim populations. They feel that the Unitarian Church environment is an excellent place to find families who appreciate diversity and would welcome the chance to incorporate one or both of these wonderful boys into the faith community. For more information on Mohammed or Mirza, contact the office or Karen Strossner.
Contact:
Karen Strossner
Assistant Team Development Specialist
AFS USA Intercultural Programs
Work phone: 646-381-3325
Cell phone: 501-269-0878
Fax: 646-937-6008
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Minister
Judy Stettner
Office Administrator
Heather Madaus
Interim Director of Religious Education
Forrest Ransburg
Director of Music
Carrie MacDonald
Board President
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