Saturday January 19
Circle Dinners offsite
Sunday January 20
9:15am Coffee with Questions
10:45am Service
12:30 Joyful Journey
6:30pm Chalice Circle
Monday January 21
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Office Closed
7:30pm Mindfulness
Wednesday January 23
7:00pm PTI
7:00pm LGBTQ Youth Group
Thursday January 24
1:30pm Mindfulness
7:00pm McHenry County Pride
Saturday January 26
Church closed for private event
7:00pm Evening with the Bard - 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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Feel free to forward this newsletter to interested family and friends using the Forward to a Friend button on the left hand side of this newsletter.
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 Creative Maladjustment
Sunday, January 20, 2019 10:45am
Rev. Misha Sanders
We will consider some of the words of Martin Luther King Jr. and wonder together about their creative possibilities in our our own lives and communities.
Rev. Misha Sanders served our congregation as an intern minister and we are excited to welcome her back to our pulpit.
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 Taking a Leap of Faith
Sunday, January 27, 2019 10:45am
The Almost Rev. Kevin DeBeck
As we begin the covenanting process, the Almost Rev. Kevin DeBeck in a shortened worship service, talks about the possibilities that lie in taking a leap of faith.
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 Chili Cook Off
Sunday, February 10, 2019 12:00pm
We have a delicious way to kickoff our annual pledge drive and all are invited whether you plan to pledge or not. Bring your best chili in a crock pot or dutch oven. Taste test a huge variety of this hearty winter staple while we explain the pledge process. Buy "bidding beans" so you can vote for your favorites. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be announced. The 1st place winner will walk away with the golden chili bowl trophy! Signups begin Sunday.
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 Super Bowl Party
Sunday, February 3, 2019 4:00pm
There are still 3 spots left for $20 each for the big game on the big television at the Stettner's in Crystal Lake. 25 of your favorite people, food, fun, games, $$ to win, refreshments, commercials, a high energy half time show by Pink, and, oh yeah, a football game.
Wine, Chocolate, Cheese & Love Songs 
Sunday, February 17, 2019 4pm-7pm
There are still 9 spots at $35 each for this great Valentine's Day celebration with 28 of your favorite people. What could be a better ending to your Valentine's holiday than experiencing wine, chocolate, cheese and love songs? Come to sample many different varieties of food and drink accompanied by love songs performed by Tom Steffens and his friends.
The above parties were offered at our auction in November but you can still signup by contacting the office at
office@treeoflifeuu.org or 815-322-2464.
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Ministry Fair 
On Sunday, March 10th, immediately after the service, we invite you to join us for a ministry fair. What is that? It is a fun way to learn all about the different committees and groups that help Tree of Life thrive. There will be games and prizes for kids and adults alike. Join in the fun and maybe even find a niche where you can become part of the team.
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Nursery Care is available
in the RE basement during regular Worship Services for children birth-4.
Step out Area:
(Clock Room) 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 outside the sanctuary in the Clock Room.
Volunteers needed!
Thank you to everyone who has stepped forward to share their time! We continue to have need of classroom teachers and assistants for all classes 4-12th in February and March. Please email or call Heather Madaus for more information.
Joyful Journey:
Joyful Journey classes begin 1/27 for 2-4th grades. For more question, please contact Janet Burns at
janetrugi@yahoo.com
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The activity group for LGBTQ teens will resume in January 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). PTI will also resume in January.
Have questions? Are you jumping up and down to volunteer for something, but don't know where to turn? I'm available by appointment at pretty much any coffee shop, anywhere! Please email
DRE@treeoflifeuu.org
or call 815-509-7862. Let's talk!
How are we a Family of Possibility?
Create a 30 Days of Love Family Calendar!
Practice the Possibility of kindness and love with this calendar of family activities, one for each day from Mid-January until Valentine's Day.
Read a book together:
Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen (Author), Kristina Swarner (Illustrator)
Family Movie Night:
Ratatouille (Celebrating the impossible possible, even in fantasy)
A Goofy Movie (The possibility of being wrong and restoring a relationship)
Gym Teacher: the movie (The possibility of change)
And finally, here's a short article for parents of Possibility:
"Despite our best intentions, all parents make mistakes, act inconsistently, and generally fall short of our goals. But we can also model asking for forgiveness."
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Social Justice Notes
Time to march!
Join us for the Women's March on Woodstock Square Jan 19th at 1pm to support Healing, Community and Resistance. We will be meeting at the VanBuren St. entrance across from the Opera house at 1pm to march together. At the end of the march we will be collecting donations for Home of the Sparrow which helps homeless women and children in our community. Suggested donations include shopping cards for grocery stores and cleaning supplies. Please RSVP at the women's march website.
https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/third-annual-womens-march-womenswave
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Let's Talk About: Medicare for All, March 6th 7-9pm.
Join us for this informative panel and discussion about the healthcare crisis and what we can do about it!
Our next meeting will be Sunday Feb10th at 12:30! Please note: This is a new date and time!
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MEN'S GROUP JAN. 17
The January meeting of the Men's Group will be held at El Niagara Mexican Restaurant in Woodstock.
We'll be remembering National Nothing Day which was the day before...but like good UUs who are averse to challenging rules, we couldn't do something when we were supposed to do nothing. So, do something and join us at El Niagara, close to the Woodstock Square at 120 First St.
Things start at 5:00. Since there's a well-stocked bar and plenty of munchies on the menu, just bring yourself and we'll try to stay out of trouble.
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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.
Ivy Sitkoski thanked Jane Richards and all involved with the January 12th Open Mike Night. It was a great evening.
Sandy Parsons is feeling joyful to be a part of the TOLUU Congregation. She thanked Pat Costigan for arranging rides for those who don't drive.
Please keep Carrie MacDonald's mom in your thoughts and hearts as she undergoes back surgery.
Patrick Murfin announced that his granddaughter is getting married in the TOL sanctuary January 19th, and his nephew (the last Bohemian) is officiating.
Lisa Campagnolo is asking for loving thoughts for her daughter who is receiving mental health services.
Lily Bailey would love to hear from you! Her address is in the directory.
Judy Mullen would appreciate visits and calls. It is important for her to talk for her respiratory therapy.
Bob Coleman is recovering from heart surgery at The Springs in Crystal Lake.
George Sowinski is recovering from a recent hospitalization and procedure. Please keep George and Judy in your thoughts, and let's hope that George has some relief from the symptoms that have been plaguing him these past months.
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
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Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast
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Dr. Robert C. Henderson, Member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'is of the United States will provide us inspiration:
"Uniting our Divided Country-With Liberty and Justice for All"
Join us on Monday January 21, 2019
at D'Andrea's Banquet Center at 7:30 AM
For tickets to this event:
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Registration for Regional Assembly is now open! 
The Almost Rev. Kevin DeBeck, Patrick Murfin, Marc and Judy Stettner all plan to go. How about you? Great workshops and the keynote speaker is our new Unitarian Universalist Association President, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. This year it is in St. Louis, MO.
To check it out and register: https://www.uua.org/midamerica/ra
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Looking to escape the cold? 
Consider visiting San Diego with the First Unitarian Universalists of San Diego! San Diego has so much to offer: beautiful beaches, hip urban areas, a World-Famous Zoo, inspiring universities, and a park filled with fascinating museums. And we have even left most of a day for you to tell us where you want to go!
Please go to
www.firstuusandiego.org/sdvisit to see the details of this exclusive and all-inclusive tour. Funds raised will be used to support a number of social justice projects near the border. Hope to see you in San Diego!
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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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