Saturday January 18
12:30pm Women's March - offsite
Circle Dinners
Sunday January 19
9:00am Choir
9:15am Coffee with Questions
10:45am Service
12:00pm Inquirers: Pastoral Care
6:00pm Chalice Circle
Monday January 20
Office Closed
7:00pm Board Meeting
7:30pm Mindfulness
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Wednesday January 22
7:00pm Parents of Transgender Individuals
Thursday January 23
1:30pm Mindfulness
5:00pm Men's Group
7:00pm McHenry County Pride
Saturday January 25
10:30am Private Rental
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All Good Intentions
Sunday, January 19, 2020
10:45am
Carol Alfus
A sermon by Rev. Karen G. Johnston on white fragility and having the integrity to
honestly acknowledge our resistance to the work of justice we say we believe in.
Image by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay.com
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How Good Do We Have to Be?
Sunday, January 26, 2020
10:45am
The Kazluskys
A sermon by our former interim minister Rev. Jennifer Slade,we examine the conflict between our need to be "perfect" and our innate human frailty.
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Congregational Events and News
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Beginning January 27th at 7:00 pm, Lou Ness is hosting a group for anyone interested in studying Karen Armstrong's new book, “The Lost Art of Scripture.” The Armstrong book has been highly reviewed, well researched and offers a new way of considering the history and intention of the Scriptures. In the first meeting members will outline a working structure for the group, create agreements that will allow for healthy and hopefully edgy conversations, and set out future dates and times.
For more information please
call Lou at 815-404-7246
or simply attend the first group (weather permitting) on
January 27th, 2020
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
466 W. Jackson,
Woodstock, Ill 60098
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While the weather this weekend should not effect our services Sunday, we want to remind you of our snow cancellation procedures. We typically follow the recommendations of local law enforcement and also consider the timing of the snow event. The board president in consultation with office staff makes the final determination. To allow for notification, the determination is made by 7:30am Sunday. The church voicemail will be changed and an email blast will be sent by 8:30am.
Remember, even if we do not cancel church, you should consider your local conditions, the reliability of your transportation and your comfort driving in less than ideal conditions before heading out. Your safety comes first.
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Benches Improve our Entrance
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Thanks to John Murphy, camp children, and TOLUUC members, we now have some benches at our front entrance. The benches are made out of recycled bottle caps and are rainbow colored to indicate our welcome to all people. We have the opportunity to get a picnic bench made out of the same material and you can help us with that.
Please save your #2, #4, and #5 caps and lids. Bring them to the church in clean, dry condition and put them in the plastic bears or in plastic bags in the coat closet.
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The Women's Book Club will next meet on the First Friday of February which is February 7, 2020 at 7pm. Our book selection is Flight of the Sparrow by Amy Belding Brown.
Looking ahead, The Republic of Imagination: America In Three Books by Azar Nafisi will be discussed on Friday March 6.
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Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Church is now hosting a free vegan potluck here on the third Sunday of every month. This first of these potlucks will take place on February 16th from 5-7 pm. All ages are welcome. Attendees need not be vegan or even a member of this church. There is no agenda for this gathering--just eating and fellowship. Please bring a dish and index card listing the ingredients. Please make sure your dish contains no dairy, eggs, fish, meat, cheese, honey or any animal products. If you don't know what to bring, just bring yourself. Any questions? Call or email Sheryl Bass at 720-771-7430 or
sherylbass999@gmail.com
.
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This Saturday!!! Women’s March in Woodstock!
Meet up at the entrance to the square across from the COURTHOUSE at 12:30pm. More info at:
Back by popular demand: Poets in Resistance II
a public reading and rally. Friday March 13
th
7-10. Tree of Life Sanctuary. Mark your calendars now!
UU the vote
is the UUA’s campaign to encourage UUs and UU congregations all across the United States to get involved in voter registration and get out the vote activities during 2020.
When UU’s show up with our values, our bodies, and our resources at the ready, we can have big impacts in bending the arc of the universe toward justice. Many of us enjoyed gathering for the watch party and kick off last Sunday.
Coming soon:
-Expungement workshops training members to assist those impacted by marijuana convictions in March 2020
-Renewal of our UUA Welcoming Congregation Status
Our Second Sunday
collection recipient this month was
The Family Health Partnership Clinic
. Thanks to everyone who donated! We raised $339. If you missed giving on Sunday, please feel free to visit their web page to donate:
www.hpclinic.org
Our Social Justice Team
continues to meet on the
3
rd
Wednesday
of the Month from
7-9 in the Sanctuary.
Our next meeting is Feb. 19
th
.
Contact
Patrick Murfin
(
pmurfin@sbcglobal.net
) for more information
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Climate Change and Climate Justice
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Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry, IL is pleased to announce that our 4-12th grade students will be studying Climate Change/Climate justice in 2020. Topics will include: Food Supply, Human Health, Immigration, Energy, Transportation, and much, much more. Using curricula from the Unitarian Universalist Association and Alliance for Climate Education in combination with many guest speakers to share their experience with local climate concerns in McHenry County the congregation hopes to increase awareness and empower youth to take action. Classes will be held on Sunday mornings from
10:45 to 12:15
. Parents may register their
new
students at
https://forms.gle/A3YZEjHpRRjixuSL6
Please share widely! Climate Change and Climate Justice impacts the world!
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Our next session of Faith Forward Inquirers is Pastoral Care and Small Group Ministry. All newcomers are invited to join us in the sanctuary after the service. No need to register ahead. Attend these sessions in any order you wish to learn more about our congregation and Unitarian Universalism. Below are our upcoming sessions.
1/19/2020 Pastoral Care & Small Group Ministry
1/26/2020 Small Group Connection
2/2/2020 Campus Tour and Orientation
2/9/2020 Membership 101 & Congregational Life
2/16/2020 UU History, Principles & Sources
2/23/2020 Faith Development for Children & Adults
3/1/2020 Worship & Liturgical Year
3/8/2020 Social Justice & Community Service
3/15/2020 Pastoral Care & Small Group Ministry
3/22/2020 Small Group Connection
3/29/2020 Campus Tour & Orientation
Congratulations to Stan Auster who finished the Inquirers series and is sporting a fused glass chalice lapel pin to signify this achievement.
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Our worship services would not be nearly so wonderful if nobody could hear our speakers and musicians. Use the link below to get information on how you can be trained to run the sound board and sign up to help.
https://treeoflifeuu.org/soundboard-sign-up/
We especially need people who do not sing in the choir to sign up.
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1/12/2020 Classes resume
Spirit Play (age 4-grade 4) 10:45-12:00pm
Climate Change (grade 4-grade 12) 10:45-12:15pm
Nursery Care is available
during regular Worship Services for children birth-4.
Step out Area:
We invite children (and adults) 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.
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Members and friends of TOLUUC are invited to the McHenry County College Planetarium for a private showing of
Dynamic Earth
. Please RSVP to
dre@treeoflifeuu.org
or on our Facebook page event.
Friday, January 31 6pm-7pm.
Dynamic Earth
explores the inner workings of Earth’s great life support system: the global climate. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes.
When you come to MCC for your planetarium show, park in Lots E or F near the Liebman Science Center. The planetarium is located in room F206.
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Since Monday 1-20 is Martin Luther King Day, everyone attending Coffee with Questions will be given an opportunity to tell the group how he or she felt about race relations in the mid to late twentieth century....especially in light of the civil rights movement. Where did you grow up? Where did you live in the 50's and 60's? Did you, your friends, your community, feel threatened? Why? How did you cope with your feelings? From today's vantage point, looking back, would you have coped differently? How? Why? Do any of your attitudes from the 50's and 60's still reside in you? How do you cope with them? Is it possible to cope with them?
For another lively discussion, join us at 9:15 this Sunday, January 19, morning in the upstairs religious education room. There'll be coffee and food for body and soul.
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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.
Thanks to Sunday's speaker,
Lou Ness
, who asked us to take care of self first (like with the oxygen mask) and find one way to transform in this new year. Do it with integrity! Energy attracts!
Please hold
Whit Sears
in thought and prayer as he recovers from a knee replacement. After a few bumps in the road, Whit is now continuing his recovery at Valley Hi in Woodstock. Please call his cell phone before visiting. Cards may be mailed to his home address.
Our thoughts are with
Theresa Castino and Mary Kuhn
as they each grieve the death of a parent within one day of each other. Sadly, Theresa lost her mother and Mary lost her father last week.
Lisa Messinger's
neighbor, adopted family member, and close friend has entered hospice.
Lily Mikkelson
is seeing results with orthokeratology, a procedure which uses contact lenses to reshape the eye and slow the progression of near-sightedness.
Joyful THANKS to
Nick Ciccotosto
for repairing the leaks and cracks in the sanctuary.
Welcome home safe and sound to
Sandy Eckert's
son and girlfriend after an adventuresome trip to the Middle East during the recent tension.
Best wishes for healing to
Art Lott
as he recovers from surgery.
Happy Birthday to
Cameron Wolfram
(1/19)!
Drivers to and from Sunday services needed!
Do you drive through Crystal Lake on your way to services in Sunday? We try to keep the commitment to once per month and can be creative!
The Member Care Team can be reached at the same email address or by calling Karen Meyer if you are in need of support from the congregation.
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You don't have to make coffee - the brew crew takes care of that. You just need to plate and put out your treats and cart them away after the social time.
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Registration FOR REGIONAL ASSEMBLY 2020 is now Open!!
Friends,
Registration is now open for the 2020 MidAmerica Regional Assembly. This year, our Regional Assembly will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rockford, IL on Saturday, April 18.
Please click on the following link to find out more information about Regional Assembly including pricing, hotel information, our schedule of events, workshop information, how to register, and much more:
Our keynote speaker will be
Taquiena Boston
, Special Advisor to the UUA President for Institutional Inclusion, Equity, and Change. The day will feature worship, the annual business meeting, lunch, keynote presentation, select workshops, and a presentation from members of the
Commission on Institutional Change
.
We have heard your feedback and there are changes in this RA! First, every room at RA will have a microphone. In addition, we have shortened the event to one day for those who cannot stay away from home very long. We will also live stream the annual business meeting and keynote speaker for those who are interested but not able to attend (Note that only those on site will be able to vote in the business meeting).
We look forward to seeing you there!
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General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. Please join us Wednesday, June 24 through Sunday, June 28, 2020 in Providence, Rhode Island for this 5-day immersive experience where we participate in inspirational worship services and informative workshops, reconvene with friends and colleagues, and explore our bustling exhibit hall. GA is an unforgettable experience for the thousands of UUs who attend. Meet us in Providence and you’ll leave with renewed energy and innovative ideas to share with your congregation and community-at-large!
The theme for General Assembly in June 2020 is
Rooted, Inspired, & Ready!
We are in touch with our theological roots, we are engaged in transforming our faith, and we are fired up to take action in the wider world.
Registration and Housing
Registration is now open at uua.org/ga. Full-time registration is $400 for adults, $240 for high school youth and retired and candidate ministers, $150 for off-site registrants. Register by March 15 for the lowest rate. Rates will increase on March 16 and again on May 1.
There are those who may find it more manageable to spread out their GA registration fee in smaller, periodic installments rather than one lump sum. When you register you many now choose to pay with our brand-new Payment Plan option to spread out your payments over several months. Registration can be paid in installments, with as little as $50 down, through February 29, 2020.
In addition to a variety of nearby hotels, attendees will also be able to book dormitory-style accommodations at two local universities. Also, UUs from local congregations will serve as host families for Home Hospitality, which is B&B style accommodations. For more information, visit uua.org/ga. Make your hotel reservation beginning March 2 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
FAITHIFY has a proven record of helping people get to General Assembly. Crowdfunding is a democratic, grass roots, and increasingly common tool to fund GA travel and registration expenses. When we contribute to a GA scholarship campaign, we welcome more people to be full participants in the largest gathering of our faith community. Get inspired at FAITHIFY.org.
Excellent Programming
GA will offer more than 100 outstanding programming selections (workshops, panel discussions, worship services, and other presentations) over the course of five days. Programs will provide attendees with concrete and usable tools to further the work, and the balance needed to explore multiple identity-based and theological perspectives. More programming details are available at uua.org/ga.
Like Unitarian Universalism, GA offers a wealth of theological diversity. A variety of worship choices are offered throughout GA. The Service of the Living Tradition is where we commemorate fellowshipped and credentialed religious leaders, those who have died, those who have completed active service, and welcome those who have received fellowship or credentialed status in the past year. Sunday Morning Worship at GA is a powerful, communal worship experience and is the largest annual gathering of UUs in Worship.
Each year a distinguished guest speaker is invited to address the General Assembly as the Ware Lecturer. Recent lecturers have included Bryan Stevenson, Cornel West, and Maria Hinojosa. The 2020 Ware Lecturer will be announced soon.
Leah Mikkelson is going. Are you?
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Are you interested in helping seniors in your community? Catholic Charities partners with Meals on Wheels America to provide hot noontime meals for those who are homebound or unable to prepare their own food due to physical or mental difficulties. Many of our Meals-on-Wheels clients see but one live face per day—that of our volunteers. This is a great role for a group or individual who has a few hours once a week or once a month. Substitute and seasonal volunteers are needed as well! For more information, contact Sue Fowler,
sfowler@catholiccharities.net
or call (847)782-4126.
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Judy Stettner
Office Administrator
Heather Madaus
Interim Director of Religious Education
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Cassandra Vohs-Demann
Director of Music
Billy Seger
Accompanist
Carrie MacDonald
Board President
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Office Hours:
Monday 10-2
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 10-2
Thursday 10-2
Friday 10-2
Others by appointment
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Our Board Members:
Carrie MacDonald - President
President Elect - Leah Mikkelson
Randy Meyer - Treasurer
Mike Bissett - Secretary
Steve Lyons - Trustee
Marcia Johnson- Trustee
Patrick Kerin- Trustee
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Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation
5603 Bull Valley Road
McHenry, IL 60050
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