May 29, 2020
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.
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All activities will be offered using Zoom
No activities will take place at the church.
Friday May 29
7:00pm Bedtime Story
Sunday May 31
9:00am Coffee with Questions
10:45am Service: Lou Ness
Monday June 1
4:00pm Faith Forward Spiritual Practices
7:00pm Bedtime Story
8:30pm Parent Support
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Tuesday June 2
7:00pm Bedtime Story
7:30pm Mindfulness
Wednesday June 3
7:00pm Bedtime Story
7:30pm Lullaby on Facebook Live
Thursday June 4
8:00am Men's Breakfast
1:30pm Mindfulness
6:30pm Jail Brakers
7:00pm Bedtime Story
Friday June 5
7:00pm Bedtime Story
7:00pm Women's Book Club
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Oh, the Places You'll Go
Sunday, May 31, 2020
10:45am
Lou Ness
The Tree of Life family celebrates and sends its Class of 2020 graduates into the world. Consider what lessons and values, you as a community have embedded in their hearts. While celebrating achievement understand this - They step into the next great adventure begins.
This service was rescheduled from May 17th.
Meeting ID
914-978-219
Meeting Password
105215
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Compassion in the Time of Covid - Groundhog Day, Leviticus and Love
Sunday, June 7, 2020
10:45am
Rabbi Maralee Gordon
Have you ever thought of Groundhog Day (the movie) and Compassion in the same breath? How about Groundhog Day and Leviticus in the same breath? We'll tie it all together in examination of Compassion in the Time of Covid.
Meeting ID
914-978-219
Meeting Password
105215
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Congregational Events and News
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Did You Miss the Service?
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Yoga for Everyone -- A chance to move, breathe, and stretch
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Beginning Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th, Cynthia Allen will be offering weekly 30 minute yoga sessions. Fridays, 9:30 – 10:00 am will be a gentle Chair Yoga and Saturdays, 9:30 – 10:00 am will be a Flow Yoga session.
To get the Zoom links, to find out more about Cynthia and the classes, and to see contact information, please
click here
for the flier posted on our website.
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Bedtime Stories Continue and Grow
Beginning Monday, 4/13, we will offer online Bedtime stories for the young and the young at heart! Every Monday-Friday at 7pm we will meet in community to hear a bedtime story.
Click Here to join us.
Meeting ID
981-9703-5632
Meeting Password
434977
Put a Great Big star on your calendars for Wednesdays
Join Billy Seger and Cassandra Vohs-Demann on Wednesday nights in May at 7:30pm LIVE on our Tree of Life Facebook Page for a bedtime story and a song! Adults and kids are all welcome to join us! Want more story time? Check out our nightly "Bedtime Stories" program on the Tree of Life website for more fun!
https://treeoflifeuu.org/events/bedtime-stories-2-2020-05-04/
Parent Support Group
Need to decompress? Parents unite Mondays at 8:30pm.
Our Coming of Age Students Still Want to Hear from YOU!
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The Women's Book Group will meet on the first Friday of next month, June 5 at 7 pm to discuss
A Visit from the Goon Squad
by Jennifer Egan.
Please bring one question to our discussion.
Meeting ID
521-385-171
Meeting Password
730531
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If you identify as an adult woman, we invite you to join us June 26th at 7pm for Women's Circle. We meet to socialize, decompress and be in community. Women's Circle meets every fourth Friday of the month so join in any month. Use this link to join us online
https://bit.ly/3e1s3tj
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Just a quick reminder that Religious Education is coordinating the sorting and collection of caps and deciding what items will be this year's addition. The items vary in length, bench height, and colors and selection will depend on the weight of collected caps. Location of items will depend on item selected. So stay at home and collect plastic caps numbered 2, 4, & 5. If you go out, caps can be left outside TOLUUC garage (call 815-338-5538 so we know to bring inside) or the front stoop of Sandy Light's house. We will see the bags. Secure the bags to avoid wind.
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Centering our Hearts and Minds
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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
bit.ly/2AlSFXl
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
Click Here
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.
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Faith Forward Goes Online
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Faith Forward Spiritual Practice
is a 12-session series that helps participants develop regular disciplines of the spirit – practices that help us connect with the sacred. Spiritual Practice affirms religious diversity while seeking unity in our communal quest for meaning and wholeness. Each session offers a forum for learning, sharing, and growth that can enrich our personal faith journeys. Join us on Mondays online at 4pm by
CLICKING HERE
. Facilitator: Judy Stettner. The following is the Spiritual Practice schedule:
May 11 Defining Spiritual Practice
May 18 Finding your Spiritual Practice
June 1 Keeping Sabbath
June 8 Prayer
June 15 Meditation
June 22 Mindful Walking and Eating
June 29 Worship and Ritual
July 6 Discernment and Devotional Reading
July 13 Hospitality and Belonging
July 20 Work and Service
July 27 Retreat
August 3 Life as Spiritual Practice
You can drop in on these sessions anytime; they do not need to be taken in order. This schedule will repeat every 12 weeks. We encourage you to register ahead of time by emailing
office@treeoflifeuu.org
so materials and suggestions can be sent to you ahead of time. This will make our time together more effective. You can also find the handouts
HERE
Our session this week in Keeping Sabbath
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After consultation with the McHenry County Planning and Development’s Community Development office which is spearheading serving the homeless population during the current Coronavirus lock down the Social Justice Team has agreed that we will have to adapt our Compassion for Campers program to meet a broader need. We will donate the $1000 from the Tipppen's gift to buy food now. We will reserve the several hundred dollars in the Compassion for Camper fund for other needs such as gas cards or other needs. We continue to seek volunteers to provide transportation of meals to the homeless being housed in county motels and hotels. We could take prepackaged meals one day a week and/or to one hotel delivering them safely without direct contact.
Click Here
for a sign-up form on our web page. Or contact Patrick Murfin at
pmurfin@sbcglobal.net
or Sue Rekenthaler at
tomatos@mc.net
if you can help in any way.
Thanks again for your generosity. Our Second Sunday collection in May was for CASA of McHenry County and raised $230. On Sunday June 14 the Second Sunday collection will go to the McHenry County Family Resource Center (Formerly the Garden Quarter) serving mostly Latino students and families in McHenry.
Our UU the Vote project will once again participate in a turn-out-the-vote postcard project with handwritten and addressed cards being sent to registered voters in Wisconsin and Michigan, both crucial battle ground states. In each state cards will alert voters to vote-by-mail options. Post cards, a message to copy, and targeted addresses will be provided. We are asking you to provide postage of 35 cents each which can be ordered for home delivery from the
USPS here
If you are interested in signing up to send 5 to 10 or more cards contact Lisa Messinger at
Lmessing1@gmail.com
.
Woodstock Pride is organizing a
Woodstock Pride Promenade
, a safe alternative to last year’s Woodstock Pride fest on Sunday June 14 from noon to 3:00 pm starting on Woodstock Square and driving through town in decorated vehicles past businesses and homes which register for participation . This will be similar to the virtual graduation, birthday, and other celebratory parades you many have seen on TV. Sign up as either a vehicle entry or as a home or business at the link above. Contact Patrick Murfin at
pmurfin@sbcglobal.net
If you are interested in a Tree of Life presence in the parade.
The Social Justice Team will meet by Zoom on the third Wednesday of the month, June 17at 7 pm
bit.ly/2Lvpwvi
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Food Pantries Need Our Help
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The food pantries serving McHenry County have been overwhelmed with a 30% jump in usage and a loss of surplus food donations from restaurants and groceries. The Social Justice Team and the Board would like you to consider making a contribution to the
Northern Illinois Food Bank
which services all McHenry County pantries. All contributions are tax-deductible. To make a gift by mail, send your check made out to Northern Illinois Food Bank to 273 Dearborn Court, Geneva, IL 60134. To make a gift by phone, call (630) 443-6910.
To donate on-line visit this link.
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Sundays at 9am
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 816 739 315
Password: 425243
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,816739315# US (Chicago)
+19294362866,,816739315# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 816 739 315
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Gratitude to
Rev. Dr. Michelle Lattanzio
, Worship Arts,
Billy Seger
, and the Tech Team for Sunday's service.
Caring thoughts to
Sandy Light
and her dad,
Andy Parke
. Andy had surgery last week and did not receive good news. Sandy says he is now on his journey.
Healing thoughts to
Jen Anderson
whose best friend's husband is suffering from cancer.
Wishing patience and energy to
Patrick Murfin
as he moves all of his "junk" downstairs so daughter
Maureen
and new baby daughter (arriving soon!) can live upstairs in drier conditions.
Hugs to
Suzanne Solin
who is feeling very sad and frustrated that the rescue group she works for won't allow her to be at adoptions due to her work at a hospital.
Judy Ayres
is excited to be dreaming of great grandchild #3 coming this fall.
M. E. Tanabe
is sharing joy for the
Kuhls
and sadness for TOLUUC as their family moves to Michigan.
Rev. Dr. Michelle Lattanzio
was joyful to be with TOLUUC last Sunday and we were happy to welcome her back to the "pulpit!"
"We are a season of becoming.....gathered on a threshold of what was and what will be."
Rev. Dr. Michelle Latttanzio
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General Assembly is now meeting in your house!
Virtual General Assembly (VGA) 2020 offers Unitarian Universalists an opportunity to gather and deepen our connections with each other and our faith. In addition to the General Sessions, Synergy, Service of the Living Tradition and Sunday worship, registered attendees can also enjoy daily morning worship, Welcoming celebrations, live workshops, an on-demand library of programming, presentations by featured speakers and special events such as coffee hours, worship reflection time, and evening entertainment.
Go to
https://www.uua.org/ga
for all the information you need and to register today.
Get excited for June: Director LaTonya Richardson shares program highlights in a new
facebook video
.
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Community Resource
In an effort to provide the county with the most up to date guidance regarding COVID-19, MCDH has created the
McHenry County Department of Health Resource Guide
. This tool will provide guidance on seeking medical care along with recommendations on staying safe during this time. This tool is not designed to diagnose or treat COVID-19, but can assist the community with more information about this new coronavirus.
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Judy Stettner
Congregational Administrator
Heather Madaus
Interim Director of Religious Education
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Cassandra Vohs-Demann
Director of Music
Billy Seger
Accompanist
Leah Mikkelson
Board President
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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
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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
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Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation
5603 Bull Valley Road
McHenry, IL 60050
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