At Tree of Life UUC, we nurture a community that welcomes diversity, supports the spiritual growth of its members, and acts to create a more just society. | | |
Sanctuary
Sunday October 25, 2026
10:00am Crystal Lake or Online
Sanctuary is a place but it is also a religious, legal and political principle with ancient origins in the earliest human societies. It is already a fully developed practice in ancient Israel and is the central theme in The Odyssey. Both the Israelites and ancient Greeks shared the idea that any person might be a god in disguise so you are compelled to treat them with hospitality. Any house, every house is a sanctuary where the host extends hospitality to the stranger. Join Alan this Sunday in an exploration of the idea of sanctuary and how it relates to the UUA value of generosity.
- Speaker: Alan Shear
- Worship Leader: Sue McCowin
After the service everyone is invited for coffee and conversation. Worship services are at 10am at Tree of Life UU Congregation 8505 Church Street (in Ridgefield) Crystal Lake, within a multi-congregational shared church building.
To Attend Online – We conduct our services live on the Zoom platform to allow for a more interactive experience. You will need to have the free Zoom app on your device and have it updated to the latest version. www.zoom.us
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Book Club Meets Tonight
Friday Nov. 6th at 7:00pm
Thanks to all who brought recommendations and descriptions to our last meeting! We have an exciting roster for the year to come. Our book for November is Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt, by Ben Reeves. We’ll be meeting to discuss it at 7:00pm on Friday, November 6, in the library at RCLPC, and online. To attend online, please use the link below. For any questions contact Ivy Sitkoski, isitkoski@gmail.com.
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2026 Tree of Life Service Auction:
Serving Looks & Raising Funds
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We want to be sure you all know about our upcoming fundraiser, the Tree of Life Service Auction, which will take place on Saturday November 14th
The fun begins Saturday November 14th at 5pm AND online starting Sunday November 1st. If you have never participated in one of our auctions, let us first tell you that they are lots of fun and while you don’t have to be rolling in the money to have fun and win big, we hope you will bid generously because this is our biggest fundraiser of the year.
We are trying to meet our budget obligations to pay our hardworking staff and fund our programs AND support four great community organizations: Crystal Lake Pride, Compassion for Campers, Family Health Partnership Clinic, and Veterans Path to Hope. All four of these organizations put our values into motion and truly benefit our entire area. You will get an opportunity to learn about these great organizations through the auction and hopefully be inspired to give generously to them.
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November 14th will be huge fun! Ron Relic will return as our very entertaining and experienced auctioneer, we will have fun, family-friendly drag performers bringing lots of energy to the evening, hors d'oeuvres will be circulating the room while you check out the silent auction baskets and other offerings.
One of the biggest benefits of participating in the auction is that you will be able to fill your social calendar with fun events with your Tree of Life friends. Our theme this year is Serving Looks and Raising Funds, so have fun and dress to the nines for the night. Extra points if you bring on some Pride or Hollywood Glam! Your friends are sure to enjoy themselves so make sure to invite them.
| | Now here is the plan. We need to raise at least $15,000 and we can do that and more with your help. Like we said, invite your friends, check out our online auction website and share it with your friends, ask a business you frequent to donate something to our auction, volunteer to help with food, checking people in, setting or cleaning up, donate a party, an outing, a service or talent, art, something awesome you made, or that awesome like new object that you don’t need but know others would die for. You can fill out a form to let us know how you would like to volunteer your time or what you want to donate. | | |
Our online auction begins Sunday November 1st and ends the night of the auction so get your donations in this week! Time is running short to pull this off, but we know this congregation can do it! So go team!
Questions? Contact fundraising@treeoflifeuu.org
| | Check out this video from our 2026 Auction Team: | | Get Involved with Our Community | | |
Hop on the Meal Train for our friend Jodi McGovern!
Deliver Meals To 1114 Red Lilac Dr, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 (312-320-4140) *The address is her sister's house, where Jodi will be staying post-surgery.
Notes from Meal Train Organizer Linda Karlen: Jodie is expected to be home from the hospital on Thursday, October 22nd and has requested meals for 4 days. (I've started our meal train on Friday, 10/23.) Please note - no fish or shellfish. If more meals are needed, I'll send another notice. I'd suggest doing a gift card or home delivery from a Crystal Lake restaurant if you aren't cooking/delivering.
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Joys & Concerns
Sandra Bartholmey is grateful that Ryan Broussard is back and thanks him for all the support he provided when Zoom first started. Sandra asks that we send our healing thoughts be sent to her friend, Rich Woosman, who is declining from a fibromyalgia condition. He is currently in rehab, but is not improving, so he will probably be released.
Erica Tesla is joyful that her cottage home bakery business was approved by the county, and she will be ready to offer products this week. Erica’s concern is there is so much for her to do. Congratulations and good luck to Erica on this new venture. Erica is also joyful that Liam completed her marching band season and knocked it out of the park.
Liam Tesla is joyful that she completed a very successful marching season. Liam is grateful to have completed her Certified Food Protection Manager credentials, which will open up many opportunities for her. Congratulations to Liam on these wonderful accomplishments!
Sue Rekenthaler is grateful that Compassion For Campers has found a home at Live4Lali in Woodstock, at least through the end of December. Sue is optimistically hopeful that her grandson will move back to this area from California. Please keep him in your thoughts as he interviews for a job in Champaign.
Mariela Gonzelez shared an update from Rev. Dave. His daughter, Elizabeth, underwent neurosurgery last week to remove a tumor that was causing her brain to swell. The surgery went well, and she is home resting and recovering. Your thoughts, prayers and cards are appreciated but please no phone calls at this time. We are keeping Elizabeth in our healing and loving thoughts this week.
Patrick Murfin’s wife, Kathy, is back in the hospital with a recurring infection. The doctors are having a hard time finding an antibiotic that will effectively treat the resistant strain of bacteria. Please keep Kathy in your healing thoughts for a full recovery.
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We are Creating Real Connections
Your membership development committee is leading this initiative to strengthen our connections as a community. Whether you worship with us in person or online, whether you are just finding us or you are a long-time member, we hope you'll embrace this program.
On Sunday mornings, you will be handed a card like the one to the left as you enter our worship space. Our tech team will share an online card in the chat or you can grab it from the QR Code on your screen during announcements. During coffee hour, we'll have a special table where you can bring your coffee and treats and participate in a guided discussion intended to allow new people make friends through interesting questions to consider. We welcome volunteers to lead these discussions, contact Judy at the email address above.
This card is for everyone. The more you fill it out the better we can support your growth with Tree of Life. A small group will gather every Monday to go through the returned cards and connect them to different staff and program leaders. Want to be part of supporting your congregation in this way? Volunteers are welcome to join the team. Contact membership@treeoflifeuu.org
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Zaden Saucedo 10/1
Suzie Hester 10/10
Terry Kappel 10/11
Jane Richards 10/16
Cheryl Voss 10/22
Gloria Walsh 10/27
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Sue McCowin & Randy Rapp
October 20th
| | Sharing treats after the Sunday service is one of the ways we build community. TOLUUC needs your help - please sign up! Text Beth Hoover (708/218-2648) if you can help. | | |
Empowering Parents as Primary Sexuality Educators: A New Small Group Ministry
As parents and caregivers, the information, attitudes, and values we share with our children—whether intentionally or by default—carry extraordinary power. Yet many of us struggle to wield this power with confidence. Our own upbringings, anxieties, and lack of positive role models can make challenging conversations feel daunting.
Our children absorb messages every moment of their lives, often from a popular culture that does not reflect our family or values. In today’s world, failing to talk to our youth carries just as much weight as initiating the discussion. To help bridge this gap, we are thrilled to invite you to Parents and Caregivers as Sexuality Educators, a supportive small group program designed to help you find courage, clarity, and skills alongside fellow adults.
Why This Program Matters
Navigating the transition from childhood friendships to the complex world of adolescent romance and sexuality can be confusing for youth and adults alike. There are rarely easy answers—only nuances and shifting dynamics. However, research consistently shows that when parents keep lines of communication open, the impact is lifesaving:
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Positive Outcomes: Teens who talk regularly and specifically with their parents about sex are more likely to wait longer to engage in partnered sexual activity and are better prepared to protect their health when they do.
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Bridging the Recall Gap: Studies show differences in how parents and teens remember conversations about sex. Regular, direct, and specific dialogue ensures our core values and safety messages actually make an impact
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Unconditional Acceptance: As children grow into adolescence, feeling deeply loved and accepted at home provides a critical anchor during years of rapid change.
Grounded in Faith, Informed by Science
Guided by our First Unitarian Universalist Principle—affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person—this program helps us cultivate a sex-positive foundation. By examining our values together, we can drop negative scripts from our past and practice finding the right words before bringing challenging topics to our youth.
While rooted in a spiritually grounded small group ministry format, the program’s approach to sexuality is secular, holistic, and science-based. Designed to complement our lifespan Our Whole Lives (OWL) curriculum, it focuses on the Circles of Sexuality:
- Sensuality & Intimacy
- Sexual Health & Reproduction
- Sexual Identity
- Societal Sexualization
While youth OWL classes deliver important knowledge directly to young people, this adult program focuses on our ongoing responsibility as parents to guide, inform, and listen. It acknowledges that our children face vastly different cultural pressures than earlier generations did.
Who Should Attend?
These sessions are designed for adults raising children across a wide age spectrum—from elementary through high school. Whether your child is just beginning to ask curious questions or navigating high school relationships, this program offers practical skill-building activities, open dialogue, and a compassionate space to explore both your hopes and fears.
Join Us
Step into a welcoming community where you can embody your role as your child’s primary sexuality educator with intentionality, grace, and confidence. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the first two sessions as they are important for setting the foundation for the remainder of the group meetings.
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Dates & Times - Select Sundays 1:15-2:45pm
- Session 1 Nov. 1
- Session 2 Nov. 8
- Session 3 Nov. 22
- Session 4 Dec. 6
- Winter Break
- Session 5 Jan. 10
- Session 6 Jan. 24
- Session 7 Feb.7
- Session 8 Feb. 21
- Session 9 Mar. 7
- Session 10 Mar. 21
- Session 11 Apr. 4
- Session 12 Apr. 18
- Make-up days: May 2, May 16, and May 30 as needed
Location: Faith Community UCC, 2023 IL ROute 176 Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Facilitators: Facilitated by Heather Madaus and Gina Gault
Registration: Registration is not required, but please email Heather Madaus so that we may have enough materials for everyone
Come practice the skills, find the words, and discover the support you need to nurture open, healthy, and lifelong lines of communication with your children.
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Help needed for WonderLab on Sunday Mornings
Are you looking for a way to support our youth and make Sunday mornings special? If this sounds like you, please email learn@treeoflifeuu.org
| | WonderLab: All students are welcome to join in our WonderLab experience with activities and tasks for all ages as we explore our monthly themes together using legos, compasses, toilet paper, paint, and more! Please wear clothes that can get dirty! | | |
10/25 Courage: Being Generous
11/1 Healing: Sharing in Community
11/8 Healing: Hearing each other
11/15 Healing: Love at the Center
11/22 No Class: Joint worship at Prairie Circle
11/29. No Class: Thanksgiving weekend
12/6 Awe: Honoring Spiritual Practices
12/13 Awe: The Interdependent Web
| | Mindfulness & Personal Growth | |
Fourth Sunday Chalice Circle is becoming Chalice Lite!
After services on the fourth Sunday of the month, join us from 11:30-12:30p In the Green FEx room. That means that YOU are welcome to join in on our discussions. Even if you didn’t read the packet. Even if “I forgot it was today!” And even if you don’t know what a Chalice Circle is. Please join us for a sacred discussion of our monthly Soul Matters themes, using the questions found in the Soul Matters packets to stimulate our sharing and discussion. Grab a snack and some coffee and meet us in the FEx rooms!
This group will meet on the fourth Sunday of every month, except when holidays force a different date (December and March), the schedule is as follows:
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October 25
November 22
December 13
January 24
February 28
March 14
April 25
May 23
June 27
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Soul Matters at Tree of Life
Chalice Circles Creating Community
As part of our UU faith, we explore how we find meaning in our experiences and how we grow the deeper relationships of community – reflecting on the many ways to embody love and live in our values. In our Chalice Circle program, we use the Soul Matters themes to explore the value of our lives, our gifts, and the impact of the world around us, while growing a communal unity. Together we practice deep listening to receive the thoughts and reflections of each other and we learn to hear our own inner voice as well – developing insight and confidence to speak our truth. Newcomers and long-timers are all invited to take part with a commitment to meet monthly through June. We have both on-site and online circles (see proposed schedule below). If you would like to know more or you’re interested in joining a circle, please see M.E.(Emi) Tanabe at church or contact the office at office@treeoflifeuu.org
2026 - 2027 Circle schedule
In person/Onsite:
- 3rd Sundays 11:30 - 12:45p
- 3rd Sundays 7:00 - 8:30p
- 3rd Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:30p
- 4th Sundays (Chalice Lite) 11:30 - 12:30p
Online:
- 3rd Wednesdays 1:30 - 3:00p
- 4th Sundays 7:00 - 8:00p
| | Social Justice & Earth Care | | |
Jail Brakers will meet at 7:00pm on Monday October 26th at Tree of Life UU, 8505 Church St. Crystal Lake. If you have any questions contact our leader Sue Rekenthaler at 815-354-2579
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Thanks to our partners at harm reduction program Live4Lali, Compassion for Campers is able to resume serving the unhoused and housing insecure in McHenry County with distributions on the First and Third Fridays of the month. Our next distribution will be this Friday, November 6th & 20th, 10:00am to noon at their offices at 665 W. Jackson Unit C2 in Woodstock. We will be able to use the space until at least the end of 2026 or until we find a new location.
One way to support our mission is to participate in the Tree of Life UU Congregation (TOLUUC) Service Auction: Serving Looks & Raising Funds on Saturday, November 14 at 5pm in our shared space at 8505 Church Street in Ridgefield AND online starting Sunday, November 1st. The Live and Silent Auction supports the staff and mission of TOLUUC and four great community partners including:
- Compassion 4 Campers
- Crystal Lake Pride
- Family Health Partnership Clinic
- Veterans Path to Hope
This event will be huge fun! Ron Relic will return as our very entertaining and experienced auctioneer, we will have fun, family-friendly drag performers bringing lots of energy to the evening, hors d'oeuvres will be circulating the room while you check out the silent auction baskets and other offerings." Admission donation is $20. Reserve a spot at https://2026-Tree-of-Life-UU-Service-Auction.auctria.events or pay at the door.
Meanwhile, financial support drives this ministry and we remain critically dependent on donations. Your continued giving makes a real difference in the lives of our neighbors, and we thank you! If you have any questions reach out to Patrick at pmurfin@sbcglobal.net or Sue at compassionforcampers@treeoflifeuu.org
| | Tree of Life is celebrating our membership with Environmental Defenders of McHenry County: | | |
This Sunday 3:00p at the Woodstock Opera House!
The Woodstock Community Choir is proud to announce our Fall 2026 concert: Roots & Rhythm. Gospel, folk, blues, and early rock and roll. The foundation that so much of American music was built on. These genres have deep roots that crossed boundaries, shaped culture, and still resonate today. We hope to see you at the concert.
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An Invitation from MCJC
& Bruce Weiss (the MCJC "let's get together" chairperson)
The MCJC Community would like to extend an invitation to the RCLPC Community and the TOLUUC Community to come and enjoy Charles Troy’s highly entertaining and brilliantly-crafted 90-minute audio visual presentation “The Creation of Wicked” that will take place at 1:30pm on Sunday November 1, 2026 at RCLPC. This is a free admission event, and a dessert social will take place immediately following the presentation. Seventeen musical numbers from "Wicked" will be shown during the presntation.
RSVPs are requested so that the MCJC “let’s get together” committee has an idea of how many people to plan for. RSVPs should be made to Bruce Weiss by email at woodstockbruce@hotmail.com no later than Sunday October 25, 2026
| Connections, Communications, & More | | |
How Do I Contact Reverend Dave Becker?
Our minister Rev. Dave Becker
can be reached at minister@treeoflifeuu.org or
815-761-0433 call or text. He looks forward to hearing from you.
Please note that Mondays are Chaplain Dave's sabbath. If you need assistance on a Monday please reach out to the office.
| | Support the financial health of Tree of Life without spending more! | | |
Join iGive today (for free) via this link: https://www.iGive.com/TreeofLifeUnitarianUniversalistCongregation When you login & shop their 2,000+ stores (think Chewy, Walmart, Expedia and so many more), we'll earn donations at least TWICE what we earned through AmazonSmile. The average donation through an iGive store is about 3%, with some offering 25% or higher! Make it all automatic. Download the iGive Button & turn your browser into an automatic donation generating machine!
$15 New Member Shopping Bonus!
When you make your first purchase within 30 days they'll donate an extra $15 to Tree of Life!
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Giving through an IRA: Qualified Charitable Deductions
Did you know that people who are 70½ or older and who have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) have the option to donate to TOLUUC through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)?
Sometimes referred to as an “IRA Charitable Rollover,” a QCD can help you support TOLUUC's mission while maintaining tax advantages. Consider these factors (and talk with your tax and/or financial advisor) when deciding whether a QCD is right for you.
- The IRS allows donors 70½ or older to transfer up to $100,000 directly from their IRA to charity each calendar year.
- Beginning in the year you turn 73, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution.
- You pay no income tax on amounts you donate using a QCD.
- The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you can benefit even if you do not itemize deductions on your tax return.
- You can make an outright gift to TOLUUC or make a payment on an existing pledge.
To donate via QCD, contact your IRA plan administrator and specify that you want to make an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution to Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation. The check should be mailed to Tree of Life UUC at 8505 Church Street, Crystal Lake IL 60012.
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Connect with Us - Did you know we're on Facebook and Insta? Our page is our public outreach page and is maintained by staff. Follow us and like and share our posts. The group is for you! You can request to join by searching for "Tree of Life- A UU Congregation in McHenry" in Facebook.
| | MidAmerica Messenger - Much of our leadership gets this monthly newsletter by email. It is full of helpful information for anybody looking to deepen and strengthen their connection to Unitarian Universalism. If you want this information sent directly to your inbox use this link to forward it to yourself. You will then be given the opportunity to sign up for the newsletter. | | |
You can browse the new inSpirit catalog on their website.
To have a copy sent to you, please contact the bookstore staff at bookstore@uua.org, providing your name and mailing address, or use this form. You may place orders online, email, or call and leave them a message. Your purchase supports the bookstore, the important work being done by publishers Beacon Press and Skinner House Books, and the programs and services of the UUA that serve to support congregations—thank you so much!
Did you know there's an audiobook service that allows you to support an indie bookstore while listening to great audiobooks? It's called Libro.fm and inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop is a partner bookstore.
To start, create a free account and choose inSpirit as the bookstore you’d like to support. You can sign up for a monthly membership or buy and listen to audiobooks on your own schedule with their a la carte options. They also have gift options for the holidays. Now your audiobook purchases will contribute directly to the work of the UUA to support our congregations.
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