April 3, 2020


If you are looking for a convenient way to continue your financial support of TOLUUC, you now have two additional options. You can give online at https://treeoflifeuu.breezechms.com/give/online
There you can make a one time payment by bank transfer or credit card or set up monthly giving. You can also text a gift to (815) 332-0643. Please indicate if your gift is toward your pledge or general fund. Contact the office with questions.

Many congregations (UU and all others) have been reporting Zoombombing. This is where individuals (sometimes several) will join their Zoom event and yell, write, and show horrible and shocking things. We have been following this situation and have made some adjustments to keep this from happening. The only sure way is to keep our Zoom links from being searchable on the internet but we are committed to making our services open to the public. If we are Zoombombed, we will try to remove the offenders quickly. If there are too many of them, we may have to stop the worship service and end the session. We will quickly create an new session and email or text out the information.


The Happenings
Calendar
All activities will be offered using Zoom
No activities will take place at the church.

Friday April 3
7:00pm Women's Book Club


Sunday April 5
9:00am Coffee with Questions
10:45am Service
5:30pm Coming of Age
Monday April 6
6:00pm Childcare Meeting

Tuesday April 7
7:00pm Poetry Group
7:30pm Mindfulness

Wednesday April 8
7:00pm RE Committee Meeting
7:00pm Social Justice Team

Thursday April 9
1:30pm Mindfulness

Upcoming Services

Commitment Sunday
Sunday, April 5, 2020
10:45am
Judy Stettner

Together we will recommit ourselves to this congregation and what it stands for and the richness it brings to our lives. Join us for this inspirational service with original music from Cassandra and a new member welcome.


Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 914 978 219
       +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)  
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acbavMNOgO

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Life Breaking Forth- Anew
Sunday, April 12, 2020
10:45am
Lou Ness

Within the center of our confinement - Life is Breaking Forth - Anew. Without human intervention the season changes, tiny plants begin to show colors. I ask myself, What will I be left with in this new making self? Who will I be when I step back on the other side - Newly made from my experience? Is this not the essence of Easter? Resurrecting self, newly made out of struggle.

Same Zoom information as above.
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Congregational Events and News
Women's Book Club
Women’s book club will meet virtually on Zoom at 7 pm on the first Friday of next month, April 3, to discuss The Underground Railroad, a Novel by Colson Whitehead.  We ask that each participant bring one question about the book to enrich our discussion. If you need help setting up zoom please call Irene Raven at 815-382-6220 or Judy Stettner 256-682-1119. 

Centering our Hearts and Minds
Come join us as we practice mindful centering in our actions and deeper connections to all whom we know. We celebrate our shared humanity and we bring simple gratitude to the small things that sustain life.  We use our practice to explore our wholeness and to better see that wholeness in all others.
Twice a week we meet through Zoom. Each session is 1 hour …..and at the start and finish it’s a chance to say hello to TOLUUC friends and meet people outside the congregation who are joining us.
Tuesday evening practice at 7:30 pm CDT  will use the login link  https://zoom.us/j/828048674     Meeting ID: 828 048 674
One tap mobile          +13126266799,,828048674# US (Chicago)
Thursday afternoon practice at 1:30 pm CDT will use the login link  https://zoom.us/j/668235918     Meeting ID: 668 235 918
One tap mobile          +13126266799,,668235918# US (Chicago)
Whether you join us not, please consider taking time to gift yourself with occasional periods of silence and gratitude. Such a gift to yourself is always a gift to others… and ultimately, to all life.
For questions, feel free to contact M. E. (Emi) Tanabe.  m.e.tanabe@comcast.net  


Religious Education
  Our children and youth Religious Education program is on Spring Break until April 5th. Heather is very interested in receiving input from parents and students about what kind of connections they would be interested in maintaining as we take this journey. You can reach her at DRE@treeoflifeuu.org

Tree of Life is committed to a healthy congregation and will be following these guidelines in regards to kids and online activities

Social Justice Notes
The Social Justice Team in working in cooperation with Member Care, Religious Ed, and interested members of being of service during the Coronavirus emergency. We are making funds from a generous $1000 unrestricted gift to the Team by Jack and Dora Tippens available to meet urgent needs of members and friends of the congregation and others in the wider community. Please contact SJ Team Chair Patrick Murfin at pmurfin@sbcglobal.net  or 815 814-5645 or Karen Meyer of Member Care at ksdmeyer676@gmail.com or 813 338-6023 if you have a need or know someone who does.

Lisa Messinger and family working from home completed and mailed 200 hand written Turnout the Vote postcards to Wisconsin primary voters as part of our participation in the UU The Vote campaign.

Patrick Murfin is participating in weekly McHenry County Faith Leaders zoom meetings to share information and resources about local response to the Coronavirus emergency.

We are looking for ways to meet the needs of the homeless population. Hotel housing vouchers are now available through the County Housing department but they have been having difficulty reaching all of those in need. PADS seasonal church sites have been closed, PADS bus service has been suspended, the Kishwaukee Valley Road office is closed to the public, and PADS is not currently taking any new enrollees. The new year round shelter at the The Chapel in McHenry in McHenry will not open until June 1, if then. Many homeless are banned from PADS and cannot use any of their services. We will be discussing how our Compassion for Campers Program can help this year.

The UUA Standing With Love campaign is asking members to side with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts as they fight for their sovereignty and their right to their Tribal lands. Late last Friday afternoon, the Tribe was contacted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to inform them that the Secretary of the Interior has issued an order that will terminate the Tribe’s ability to self-govern, strip the Tribe of their reservation lands, and effectively terminate them as a recognized people. Information on how to help can be found at the Standing With Love web page .

The Social Justice Team will meet by Zoom on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 pm. Use password 02515 Meeting ID 718-062-4935. This will be good for all of our monthly meetings held on the third Wednesday of the month.
Coffee with Questions
Sunday Mornings 9am-10am
Socializing and talking about current events. BYOC (Bring your own Coffee)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 816 739 315

Dial by your location
       +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
     Meeting ID: 816 739 315
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acbavMNOgO
Community Care Committee
The Care Team is available at Caring@treeoflifeuu.org or by calling Karen Meyer.
In this stressful time caring for each other is more important than ever. A member of the team will be reaching out to all active members and friends this week to check in and make sure we are all healthy and safe. We encourage you to do the same. Thank you to Paula Yensen for sharing this website to help us reach for happiness at this time https://www.actionforhappiness.org/news/how-to-keep-mentally-healthy-during-uncertain-times


Thank you, Gina Swinney and Worship Arts for another fine service.
  
Thanks to Rev. Susan Fredrich Gray , UUA President, who asked us to:
  *Consider Pastoral Care and connect with each other.
  *Slow down and breathe.
  *Lean into the mission of TOLUUC.
  *Care for one another.
  And finally---"Be well and take good and gentle care of yourselves."
 
Ivy Sitkoski is concerned for two longtime friends who may have COVID-19.
 
Lisa Messinger and Till Spitza are grateful to Heather and others for making masks to help cover the shortage of N95s.
 
Dylan Barber was in the process of getting a new job and is now trying to get through it all, reminding us to "help because you can."
 
Heather Madaus was grateful that Jason got to connect with the TOLUUC community and Coffee with Questions on Sunday. 
 
Julie Huddle connected with college friends, each facing their own challenges with family matters at this time.
 
Michael Chellson thanks all the unsung heroes still working to provide us with necessities. 
 
Ted Funn delivered masks to the Island Lake Police Department.
 
Lisa Campagnolo reminds us that people are losing their battles from other natural causes as well, and she is grieving for others at this time.
 
Lora Cantele shared concern for her daughter, Emily , who is working in home health care.
 
This community is holding the Madaus family in thought, prayer, and light as Jason faces a serious health concern while isolated in Texas. 
Beyond Our Walls
Contacts
Judy Stettner 
Congregational Administrator 

Heather Madaus 
Interim Director of Religious Education 
Cassandra Vohs-Demann 
Director of Music 

Billy Seger
Accompanist
 
Leah Mikkelson
Board President 
Click here for our Congregational Covenant
Click Here  to see the latest Board Minutes
Office Hours: Hours will vary from below while our staff practices social distancing to flatten the curve

Monday 10-2 
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 10-2
Thursday 10-2  
Friday 10-2
Others by appointment
Our Board Members:

Leah Mikkelson - President
President Elect - Irene Raven
Randy Meyer - Treasurer
Mike Bissett - Secretary
Steve Lyons - Trustee
Marcia Johnson- Trustee
Patrick Kerin- Trustee
Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation
5603 Bull Valley Road
McHenry, IL 60050