Tree of Life Peace Corps Send-off for Devi Madaus—Woodstock North and University of Wisconsin Grad

24 year old Devi Madaus is headed to Mongolia for a hitch with the Peace Corps.

University of Wisconsin, Madison graduate, Devereaux Anne Madaus, universally known as Devi, will be recognized on Sunday, May 12 at a send-off event held at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry, Illinois.   Devi will be joining the Peace Corps in June and will serve in Mongolia.                                                   .
 
Members of the Woodstock, McHenry, and Madison communities, and surrounding areas are invited to attend online via Zoom or in person as Chaplain Dave Becker will speak about peace and volunteerism during a worship service this Sunday, May 12, beginning at 10:45 am. 

Julia Ward Howe's Proclamation may not be a direct ancestor of modern American Mother's Day, but it continues to inspire both the peace and feminist movements.    

Chaplain Becker will also celebrate the first Mother’s Day Proclamation-- Julia Ward Howe’s 1870 Appeal to Womanhood Throughout the World a/k/a the Mothers Peace Day Proclamation.

In addition to Devi, several former Peace Corps and AmeriCorps volunteers will also be recognized at the event, including her grandfather Whit Sears who served twice with his late wife D.D. in Africa and Thailand.

The current Peace Corps logo.

The Peace Corps is a volunteer program of the United States government. Volunteers live and work side by side with community members on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives for generations.  It was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy fulfilling a campaign promise and as an answer to the challenge, “…ask what you can do for your country.”

The service will also include Flower Communion, an annual UU tradition representing the giving and receiving of spiritual gifts in  community.  Attendees are invited to bring  cut flowers to share.

Tree of Life is liberal religious member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations with a commitment to the human principles of Love and Justice which welcomes people of all spiritual practices and belief systems asking only that each person upholds our commitment to respect and fairness.

For more information email office@TreeofLifeuu.org or visit www.treeoflifeu.org .

 

Tree of Life UU Offers New Climate Change/Climate Justice Curriculum—A Tool Kit for Young Activists

Tree of Life student Devi Madaus and her friend Elias meet to o Woodstock Square to  plan their Religious Education  lesson for Introduction to Climate Justice.  Elias, an exchange student from Germany, is looking forward to sharing his experiences of Fridays for Future with the 4-12th graders!

The religious education program of the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 West Bull Valley Road in McHenry, is pleased to announce a breakthrough new curriculum for 4-12 grade students starting on Sunday, January 12.

In Climate Change/Climate Justice topics will include: Food Supply, Human Health, Immigration, Energy, Transportation, and much more. Using curricula from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the 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 provide budding climate activists a tool kit for action.

The program welcomes interested students beyond the congregation community.

Classes will be held on Sunday mornings from 10:45 to 12:15. Parents may now register their new students on line.  For information contact Interim Director of Religious Education Heather Madaus at dre@treeoflifeuu.org or call the Tree of Life office at 815 322-2464.

Fresh, Fair, and Often Funny Chatting With the Tea Party at Tree of Life UU

The Tree of Life UU Congregation’s Word Players readers' theater troupe presents the acclaimed docudrama Chatting with the Tea Party by Rich Orloff on Friday, November 10, at 7 pm at the church, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.

Chatting With the Tea Party is about one person’s journey across America exploring the question, “Who are these people?” It’s a documentary style play about a New York liberal playwright who decides to travel around the country interviewing leaders of local Tea Party groups, to get to know people whose political beliefs are diametrically opposed to his. For a year playwright Rich Orloff attended Tea Party meetings and events in cities large and small in every region of the country. The play shapes the highlights of over 63 hours of interviews plus notes from the events to go beyond sound bites and stereotypes to show the people behind the politics. In a journey that’s at times disturbing, humorous, moving, and always thought-provoking.

A finalist for the Woodward/Newman New Play Award and the NuVoices New Play Prize, Chatting With the Tea Party has had readings at 15 theaters around the country and had its world premiere production in New York City in early 2016 at the Robert Moss Theater.

Daniel Pegarsch as playwright Rich Orloff.

The Word Players production features a cast of four with Daniel Pegarsch as the inquisitive playwright.  Ron Relic, Sue and George “Kaz” Kazlusky each portray a dazzling array of roles including local Tea Party leaders, Orloff’s skeptical and critical New York liberal friends, famous historical persons, and a sampling of Americans in a polarizing time.  Also appearing as the Card Girl is Devi Madaus.

Ron Relic plays impassioned local Tea Party leaders, one of Orloff's skeptical New York Liberal friends, historical characters, and other characters.

The Play is directed by Patrick Murfin.

Tickets are $10 available at the door. Proceeds benefit the Social Justice Ministry of the Tree of Life Congregation.

For more information call Tree of Life at 815 322-2464, e-mail office@treeoflifeuu.org, or visit http://treeoflifeuu.org/2017/11/06/chatting-with-the-tea-party-this-friday/ .