Tree of Life UU Knit Ministry Yarn Bombs Park with Scarves

Some of the conspirators caught in action--Lisa Jacobsen, Sue Rekenthaler, Janet Burns, and Nora Burns.

They conspired for months in a remote church building secluded by trees on a semi-rural road on the fringes of a major metropolitan area.  They carefully gathered their materials and assembled them in quiet, cabal like meetings when the only sound was often the ominous clicking of their tools.  Then in the dead of night on the eve of a beloved holiday they launched their bomb attack on an innocent children’s playground.  Oh, the humanity! Oh, those cultish enemies of the state!

Several members of the Knitting Ministry of the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry, Illinois, met twice a month at the church since last fall and knit or crocheted 33 scarves and 7 hats.  Each one was unique and a work of art.

The consequences of the bombing.....

In the dark of Monday night, February 13, the eve of Valentine’s Day, they took the products of their work to a playground by the Hillcrest Apartment complex in McHenry, home to many low income families, and festooned the equipment, hedges, and trees with their handiwork.  Each scarf came with a heart-shaped tag that read, “I am not lost.  I was handmade for you.  If you are cold please take me.” There was also a small button attached to each one that read, “Handmade for you with love.”

The note...

Lisa Jacobsen, a long-time PADS volunteer and coordinator of the Congregation’s summer program for the homeless, Compassion 4 Campers, who helped organize the Knitting Ministry, said that the group, who sometimes called themselves the Knit Wits, just, “wanted to give as a loving act toward strangers.”

The stealth attack was evidently successful.  Sue Rekenthaler, another knitter, reported that all of the scarves were gone when she drove by the park shortly after 9 am on Valentine’s Day.

Tell tale evidence.....

The knitters will be right back at it.  They meet at the church on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month at 1:00 pm and invite anyone to join them.  “If we meet at an inconvenient time for you, feel free to work at home and donate your hats, scarves, mittens, gloves or other appropriate projects to our cause. There is a box of yarn in the coatroom, feel free to take what you love for your project,” said project coordinator Janet Burns.

For more information call Janet Burns at 847 542-7678 or the Tree of Life Office at 815 322-2464.

 

Tree of Life UU Celebrates Resistance With the Justice For All Ball

The Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry, wants to dispel the gloom many feel these days with the Justice For All Ball on Saturday, January 28 from 7 to 10 pm.

“People are concerned about the hateful rhetoric and resulting violence against Muslims, Latinos, and the LGBTQ community these days,” said Tree of Life Social Justice Committee co-chair and event organizer Janet Burns.  “We want take that concern and begin the work of healing our world joyfully.  We are going to have a family friendly all ages event that welcomes everyone including the LBGT community.   People can come in glitter, boas, tutus, costumes, or whatever their heart desires. We will celebrate diversity and self expression.

Break out the glad rags and snazzy threads like Beth Denise Hoover and Thomas Steffens for the Justice For All Ball.

Music will be provided for the evening by The Red Garage a Chicago blues, rock, and soul band with a touch of jazz.  Non-alcoholic refreshments and light snacks will be available.

The price of admission is an at-the-door donation to a social justice organization of your choice such as non-perishable food pantry donations, diapers for all ages for the Diaper Bank, monetary donations to PADS, Environmental Defenders, ACLU, Amnesty International, McHenry County Citizens for Choice, ICDI, Habitat for Humanity, etc.

If they choose to, attendees can endorse a Declaration of Conscience authored by The Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association and Thomas Andrews, President of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee that affirms, “our profound commitment to the fundamental principles of justice, equity and compassion, to truth and core values of American society.” 

For more information call 815 322-2464 or e-mail office@treeoflifeuu.org.