Sunday April 18
9:00am Coffee with Questions
10:45am Service: Becoming as a Perpetual State of Being
11:45am Religious Education
12:15pm Inquirers
Tuesday April 20
11:00am Pledge Team
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Wednesday April 21
2:30pm Chalice Circle
7:00pm Social Justice
7:15pm Dream Team
Thursday April 22
8:00am Men's Breakfast
Friday April 23
7:00pm Women's Circle
All activities will be offered using Zoom
No activities will take place at the church.
Rev. Jenn is on parental leave until April 24th
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Becoming as a Perpetual State of Being
Sunday, April 18, 2021
10:45am
Rabbi Maralee Gordon
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Judaism has much to teach us on the advantage and rightness of always striving to go beyond where we are at any given moment in time. Can we learn to not only be comfortable with but to embrace the state of becoming?
- Guest Speaker: Rabbi Maralee Gordon
- Worship Leader: Carol Alfus
- Chalice Lighter: Ray Beth
- Hymns: Billy Seger
- Story for All Ages: Genesis with Heather Madaus
After the service we will have Religious Education classes, breakout rooms for coffee hour and Inquirers for newcomers.
Problems with Zoom? You are in Zoom but can’t hear anything? You can hear but you can’t see? You can’t open the chat to get help? During Sunday services, you can call or text 815-669-0403 and a member of the tech team will try to help.
Meeting ID: 914 978 219 Passcode: 105215
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Did you miss last week's service? |
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Congregational Events and News |
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Flower Communion
We will once again be celebrating this uniquely Unitarian Universalist ritual, and we need everyone’s help. Since our celebration must be virtual, we are asking all of you to submit pictures of yourselves with flowers, any flowers—from this year’s tulips to a past summer’s bee balm or roses. These will be made into a special video for our May 9 service.
You can share your pictures in three ways:
Please submit your pictures by Friday, April 30. Thanks in advance for helping us create an amazing garden of beauty for Flower Communion!
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From the Board
BRUNCH WITH THE BOARD - April 25 after our Service.
Please join members of the Board after our service on April 25 for a virtual brunch! This is an opportunity to offer comments, ask questions, give suggestions and dialogue as we work toward realizing our values and principles in community. We hope to see you there!
NOTES FROM THE BOARD:
The Board had an extra meeting this month so we have been quite busy.
The Policy and Procedures, Anti-racism and Mission and Vision Subcommittees submitted written reports. We will share their progress with you in next week's Happenings.
Our treasurer reports that we are doing okay with our income and expenses, keeping within the range each month. Once the Pledges are all in, we'll have a better understanding of how to proceed with our budget for next year.
COVID review: We will be offering a weekly COVID breakout room during coffee hour where members can go for assistance related to COVID vaccinations.
The COVID Committee reported McHenry County's metrics are troubling, but our vaccination rate is 19%, good but not great. Rev. Jenn, Janet Burns, Irene Raven, Steve and Leah, members of the Covid team, attended Conversations on Reopening, sponsored by the MidAmerica Region of the UUA which gave important information and ideas for how to reopen keeping our values and principles at the forefront of our decision making process and assessing how to deal with various challenges.
We approved the Tech Team meeting in the church to work on re-opening with Hybrid Services. They have been vaccinated and are in line with the CDC guidelines.
We approved Cassandra meeting outside with 2 or 3 Choir members who are all vaccinated and will remain socially distanced while singing.
We discussed our ministerial search and are in the process of discernment. We have had a conversation with Christine Purcell from the UUA on various possibilities.
We are working on an Interim Appraisal for the UUA.
We are looking at the Board and Nominating Committees' Terms of office and working toward being in compliance with the current By-laws.
We will be offering an opportunity for members and friends to have a conversation with the Board after Sunday Service on April 25 - Brunch with the Board.
We passed a motion requesting that all church committees develop a mission statement for each committee.
For more detailed information about this and other Board meetings, please refer to the minutes which are posted on the church's website with a link in the Happenings after they are approved.
If you have questions for the board, don't hesitate to reach out. We'd love to hear from you.
Tree of Life Board
Leah Mikkelson President, Sue McCowin President-Elect, Irene Raven, Secretary, Janet Burns, Treasurer. Ivy Sitkoski, Mike Bissett and Steve Lyons, members
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Cherish the Flame
Reignite Your Passion; Rekindle Your Commitment
We will announce our final total Sunday morning.
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We Welcome New Members
Membership can be an important step in your spiritual journey. If you have been attending Tree of Life and feel now is the time to join us in full fellowship, we welcome you. Contact Judy Stettner (office@treeoflifeuu.org or 256-682-1119) to arrange to sign our book. You can learn more about Tree of Life membership here
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Get to know us with Inquirers
Faith Forward Inquirers is a weekly program to welcome new attendees and introduce them to Unitarian Universalism and Tree of Life. We meet online Sundays from 12:15-1:15pm using the same link as the Sunday service. These sessions are the main path to membership.
The schedule has changed.
April 18th- Campus Tour & Orientation
April 25th UU History, Principles & Sources
May 2nd - Worship & Liturgical Year
May 9th- Social Action & Community Service
May 16th - Pastoral Care & Small Group Ministry
May 23rd - Small Group Connections
May 30th- Membership 101 & Congregational Life
June 6th - Q&A with the Minister
These sessions will repeat throughout the year and can be taken in any order. Questions? Contact Judy at office@treeoflifeuu.org
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We invite members of all ages to join in family-friendly Worship on Sundays followed by Religious Education classes:
Birth to 5th grade: noon
6th grade-12th grade: 11:45am
Classroom link for all classes:
Mark your calendars!
On the following days there will be NO Religious Education classes; all are invited to join in Worship at 10:45 through the Zoom link provided in our newsletter and on our website.
April 4 Spring Break
May 9 Mother’s Day
Our final day of classes this year is May 23.
Please encourage your students to get outside and Play in June!
Heads Up to Families
Have any of your children experienced anti-racist/culturally responsive teaching in their school? Teachers who are doing that are in line with our UU values! Those of us on the anti-racism task force would like those teachers to be celebrated. Here is a link to a letter of appreciation that can be edited and sent to principals and school board presidents, to let them know that antiracist/culturally responsive teaching is very much appreciated by families: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13YR8QiGOIAKtL59UDcAbIpcPzxBA8wClFcT2cYow6_w/edit
Let’s acknowledge teachers who are doing this good work, and maybe even help antiracist/culturally responsive teaching to become more widespread! Any questions about this initiative can be directed to Ivy Sitkoski, Janet Burns, or Irene Raven.
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TOL Women's Circle meets April 23rd at 7pm for Games and Conversation
Meeting ID: 845 9837 5720
Passcode: 749735
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Our next Women's Book Club Discussion will be on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 7:00 pm. We will be discussing Washington Black by Esi Edugyan.
Meeting ID 521-385-171
Meeting Password
730531
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Chalice Circles - Soul Matters at Tree of Life |
Our UU faith is a theology of connection and through the Soul Matters themes we explore those connections – reflecting on our lives, our gifts, and the needs of the world around us. We practice deep listening to receive the stories of each other and we learn to hear our own voice as well – growing the confidence to speak our truth wherever we are.. Everyone is welcome to join. We currently have 4 circles meeting: 2nd Sunday 9 am, 3rd Wed. 2:30 pm, and 4th Sunday 9 am and 7 pm. New circles are a possibility. For more information: https://treeoflifeuu.org/tree-of-life-rooted-in-love-extending-that-love-to-all-of-humanity/ For questions: Contact Janet Burns, janetrugi@yahoo.com
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Thursday mornings at 8:00am men of Tree of Life are invited to gather online to shoot the breeze. No agenda or particular topic- just men in community. You can join us online with this link Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/96545523207 Meeting ID: 965 4552 3207
One tap mobile +13126266799,,96545523207# US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 965 4552 3207
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Compassion for Campers—Compassion for Campers had our last monthly distribution at Warp Corps in Woodstock on April 13th. Starting in May we will likely hold weekly lunches in Woodstock using bag, boxed, or catered lunches since we will not be able to cook. Warp Corp will continue to distribute our most crucial supplies—tents, sleeping bags and pads, stoves on a walk-in basis. Congregation groups and committees who want to provide a lunch should contact Sue Rekenthaler at tomatos@mc.net More details and a schedule to be posted soon.
UU Prison Ministry/Criminal Justice Reform—The Bad Apples in Law Enforcement Accountability Act which would end qualified immunity for law enforcement officers for excessive force, shootings and murders, and other offenses advanced out of the Illinois House Restorative Justice Committee this Thursday. It will go to the floor of the House with the backing of the Black Caucus but faces furious opposition from police unions and conservatives. Let your Reps know you strongly endorse this critical reform.
Woodstock Pride Fest—Pride Fest will return to Woodstock Square on Sunday, June 13 from noon to 5pm sponsored by our friends and partners at Woodstock Pride. Social Justice hopes to have a TOLUUC info booth. For more information check out the Facebook event.
Social Justice Team Meeting—The Social Justice Team met by e-mail last week. The next regular Zoom meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 21. Zoom meeting link https://bit.ly/2Lvpwvi.
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McHenry County Jail Immigrant Detention Contract |
The Social Justice Team is now a member of the Coalition of the Coalition to Cancel the ICE Contract in McHenry County along with 28 other community, Latinix, and immigrant justice groups. The Coalition now has if own public Facebook group for convenient one-stop information on the campaign and related issue. The resolution will be in two different committees before it is (hopefully) brought to the full county board for a vote—Law & Government - Tuesday, April 27 8:30am; Finance - Thursday, May 6 8:30am; County Board Committee of the Whole (where the resolution will be discussed) - Thursday, May 13 9:00am; and hopefully will be called by the Board Chair for a vote at the County Board Meeting - Tuesday, May 18 7:00pm. People to make public comments at these meetings are needed as well as continued contact with Board members and letters to the editor are still needed. Weekly public vigils and events will be held every Friday beginning April 24 in McHenry and then May 1 (May Day) on the Square in Woodstock; May 8 in Algonquin, and May 15 in Huntley. Check the Coalition Facebook group for more information.
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Becoming water protectors may take generations. This week we will look at a short story, a few statements from individuals from the first nations, regional water infrastructure planning and evidence of risks to our water supply in north eastern Illinois.
Topic: We are water.
Date/Time: April 18, 2021 09:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Questions for Discussion:
1. What is a water protector?
2. Why care about water supply?
3. Is potable water a common good or privately owned?
4. Whether our community uses groundwater or surface sources, are we facing drinking water shortages?
5. How can we adapt our water use habits, and infrastructure to remain viable with increasingly severe weather patterns and continued growth?
Please join us via Zoom at 9am:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 837 0697 3849
Passcode: 2021
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No news is good news....
We thank the following people for Sunday's service: Sue Kazlusky and Worship Arts, Tech Team, Rev. Mary Dicken, Heather Madaus, and Billy Seger.
"The world that was is not the world that will be. Our world is becoming something new. We are becoming something new. May we rest in the space of becoming."
Rev. Mary Dicken
Happy April Birthdays to:
Nick Madaus, April 5th
M.E. Tanabe, April 6th
Randy Rapp, April 9th
Owen Burns, April 14th
Beth Hoover, April 17th
Chris Laux, April 24th
Bruce Weiss, April 26th
Marcie Carlson, April 29th
Jeff Spitza, April 30th
If you are in need of assistance or know somebody in the congregation that does, our care committee can be reached at care@treeoflifeuu.org
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CAUUC (Chicago Area UU Council) Spring Workshop May 8th - Re-opening and Re-imagining Church
Join CAUUC at their annual Spring Workshop on re-opening and re-imaging Church. A panel consisting of 2 ministers, the head of a Task force for reopening and an audiovisual technician, will be discussing possibilities for re-opening. After the panel presentation, there will be breakout rooms for affinity groups to share ideas, collaborate and build community. Please register before May 7th using the link below.
Conference Title: Re-opening and Reimagining Church - A panel discussion on lessons from the pandemic
Date/Time: Saturday, May 8th 9:30am-11:30am via Zoom
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The Future Change Framework: Strategic Direction for a Post-Pandemic World
- Saturday, April 24, 2021, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm EDT
- MidAmerica Region is offering a 3-hour workshop with Ian Burbidge, Associate Director of the RSA Lab, and developer of the Future Change Framework. Ian will work collaboratively with participants to surface challenges and opportunities they are experiencing/exploring via the RSA’s Future Change Framework. We’ll explore:
- What we know about crisis and change
- What participants have learned from the pandemic to date. This comprises of a scanning exercise to spot changes—the actions and activities that people are taking, the events that are happening, the trends that are emerging—and a mapping exercise to place these insights onto the framework.
- Looking ahead to a changing context and hopes and opportunities for the future
The Future Change Framework Workshop is for any congregational leader, lay or ordained, interested in exploring the challenges and opportunities presented to us as we move into a post-pandemic world. Congregational teams are especially welcome. Registration is limited to 200. The link for registration follows:
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Billy and Cassandra in Concert
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Peter Mayer in Concert
Peter Mayer, celebrated, Folk singer and songwriter, joins the Unitarian Church of Evanston's Green Team for a special Virtual Concert on Saturday, April 24 at 7 pm. Proceeds from the concert benefit The Talking Farm, a local Evanston initiative that helps people learn to farm, grow, harvest, and eat their own food. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased through Eventbrite. Please join us in celebrating Earth and Spring with a joyous night of music!
Here is the link to our Facebook event with all of this information and a link to purchase tickets: https://fb.me/e/69Hk4ocjr
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REGISTER NOW!
If you haven't registered for Virtual GA 2021 already, there is no better time than right now! Registered attendees are among the first to hear program announcements, such as the Ware Lecturer, and only registered attendees will have access to the NEW! GA app. So, register early to join online discussions, familiarize yourself with the GA schedule, and find your place in our community of communities. Register Here
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CONline 4
April 30 - May 2, 2021
For: People Ages 18 to 39
Cost: Free
It’s time for CONline 4, and we are all about that bass, so join us for a beat-bopping weekend! This weekend will be filled with worship, small groups, workshops, and FUUN! Whether it’s your 1st time or your 4th, come join us for all or part of CONline 4. Registration is now open and free! Open to all Unitarian Universalist young adults and friends between the ages of 18 to 39.
It takes many people to make CONline 4 happen, and we know a lot of you want to help.
- If you want to lead a workshop or a small group at CONline 4 please indicate so on your registration form.
- If you want to participate on the CONline 4 Planning Committee and beyond, email uuyarn@uusf.org.
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Rev. Jenn Gracen
Interim Minister
Judy Stettner
Congregational Administrator
Heather Madaus
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 -Sue McCowin
Janet Burns - Treasurer
Irene Raven- Secretary
Steve Lyons - Trustee
Ivy Sitkoski- Trustee
Mike Bissett- Trustee
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Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation
5603 Bull Valley Road
McHenry, IL 60050
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