Family Friendly Community Magic Show Rescheduled at Tree of Life

On February 1st an eagerly anticipated family friendly community magic show by magician extraordinaire Kevin Sarnwick had to be cancelled due to illness. But the show is back on this Saturday, March 15 at 10 am at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry. All families are welcome. 

 

The event is free to the public, but each family attending the show is encouraged to register here. If you registered for the original show on February 1, you are all set and do not need to register again. Families are also asked to bring either a nonperishable food or personal care item in support of our neighbors in need. 

 

                                        Magician Kevin Sarnwick performing his floating ball illusion, just one of many amazing feats performed to the delight of all ages. 
 

Kevin Sarnwick is a Crystal Lake magician known for his entertaining and mind-boggling children’s shows using sleight of hand, psychology, and misdirection. The children who attend his shows are thoroughly amazed by his magic tricks and leave his shows with big smiles on their faces. 

     

Magician Kevin Sarnwick performing his floating ball illusion, just one of many amazing feats performed to the delight of all ages.  Photo courtesy of Tree of Life Congregation.

 

“I think this is a really unique opportunity for children and their families to do something good for the community and have fun at the same time,” said Chaplain Dave Becker, minister of Tree of Life. “We are so pleased to host this event and so proud of the volunteers who have put it together.”

Tree of Life Congregation Hosts Family Friendly Magic Show for the Community

Magician extraordinaire Kevin Sarnwick will perform a fun-filled, free-admission mid-winter magic show for families with young children at 10 am Saturday February 1, at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.  All families are welcome. 

The event is free to the public, but each family attending the show is encouraged to bring either a nonperishable food or personal care item in support of the FISH of McHenry Food Pantry. FISH, which stands for Friends in Service Here, has been helping provide emergency food and supplies for disadvantaged residents of McHenry since 1973. In addition to being a great family outing, this performance supports an important cause.

Magician Kevin Sarnwick performing his floating ball illusion, just one of many amazing feats performed to the delight of all ages.  Photo courtesy of Tree of Life Congregation.

Kevin Sarnwick is a Crystal Lake magician known for his entertaining and mind-boggling children’s shows using sleight of hand, psychology, and misdirection. The children who attend his shows are thoroughly amazed by his magic tricks and leave his shows with big smiles on their faces.

“I think this is a really unique opportunity for children and their families to do something good for the community and have fun at the same time,” said Chaplain Dave Becker, minister of Tree of Life.  “We are so pleased to host this event and so proud of the volunteers who have put it together.”

Ben Ross assists magician Kevin Sarnwick while Ben’s mother looks during an interactive and engaging children’s performance. Photo courtesy of Tree of Life Congregation.

Advance reservations are required and can be made using here, calling 815 322-2464 or scanning this QR code:

Mrs. Claus to Visit Tree of Life Cookie Walk This Saturday Dec. 14

                                            Mrs. Claus a/k/a Judy Ayers will host the Tree of Life Holiday Cookie Walk.

The Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry is holding a Cookie Walk & Holiday Decoration Sale this Saturday, December 14 from 9 am to 2 pm.  Mrs. Claus will welcome shoppers all day and live music will be featured from 1 to 2 p.m.

This fundraiser will offer homemade holiday cookies, candy, and baked goods as well as a holiday decoration sale of gently-used items.  Shoppers can take a break for refreshments at a holiday Coffee & Cookie Café.

Tables groaning with holiday goodies await shoppers at the Tree of Life Cookie Walk.

“Our cookies can be a delicious addition to your holiday table—or a wonderful gift for neighbors and friends.  A box of special cookies also is a perfect hostess gift,” said Ivy Sitkoski, event chair.

Ten percent of the event proceeds will benefit Compassion for Campers, a Tree of Life ministry providing gear and supplies to the unhoused population of McHenry County.  Compassion for Campers distributes gear on the first and third Fridays of each month at  Community Resource Days at Willow Crystal Lake, 100 S. Main, where a variety of support services and resources are available.  

Part of the proceeds will benefit Compassion for Campers.
 
For more information, please visit https://tinyurl.com/y69yubk9
or contact the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 815 322-2464, office@treeoflifeuu.org or Mary Robinson at maryrobinson87@comcast.net .
                        

Compassion for Campers Adds Gear Distribution Options for June

Compassion for Campers, the program that provides supplies and gear for the McHenry County homeless will hold its monthly outdoor, warm weather distribution at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, 503 W. Jackson Street in Woodstock today Tuesday June 15 from 3:30-5 pm.

Clients select from gear on display at St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Woodstock last November.

Compassion for Campers is also joining a collective effort by McHenry County Outreach, a loose cooperation between service providers in the area including Pioneer Center, the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Warp Corps, and others for an enhanced service opportunity for the unhoused at Willow Creek Crystal Lake, 100 Main Street in Crystal Lake on Friday June 25 from 10 am-3pm.  There will be a mobile shower available, free use of laundry facilities, onsite case management services for people who are looking for the assistance, and lunch in addition to the usual camping gear and equipment.  

Willow Creek Crystal Lake on Mainstreet downtown will host a new, cooperative service to the unhoused that will include showers, laundry facilities, social service agency referrals and case management in addition to Compassion for Campers gear.

The program has stocked up on seasonal supplies including insect repellent, sunscreen, rain ponchos, and lighter socks and clothing.

“Meanwhile Compassion for Campers will continue to have some gear including tents, sleeping bags, mats, and stoves available at Warp Corps, 114 North Benton Street in Woodstock for walk-in pickup when the store is open,” according to Patrick Murfin, a volunteer coordinator, “making it easier to continuously meet the needs of our unhoused neighbors.

Compassion for Campers is grateful to St. Ann’s Episcopal, Willow Creek Crystal Lake, the Faith Leaders of McHenry County, McHenry County Outreach, Warp Corps, and Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry for their invaluable ongoing support.

Contributions to support the program can be made by sending a check made out to Tree of Life UU Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road, McHenry, IL 60050 with Compassion for Campers on the memo line. The donations are placed in a dedicated fund and not used for any other purpose.  Tree of Life also donates all the administrative expenses of the program so 100% of all donations go directly to client assistance.

 

Bursting With Pride—Woodstock Pride Fest Comes Roaring Back

In 2019 Woodstock Pride launched the first Pride Fest in McHenry County with astonishing success especially considering that thirty years earlier hardly anyone dared to publicly come out as Gay, Lesbian, or Transgender in our deeply conservative communities.  Although Chicago and some inner suburbs had well established gay bars, other gathering spots, newspapers, support systems, and advocacy organizations, none of that existed out here in the boonies.

In 2019 participants were welcomed to Woodstock Pride Fest under this colorful balloon archway entrance to historic Woodstock Square.

But thanks to courage, hard work, and growing public acceptance nationwide things changed.  And it all erupted in and around Woodstock Square.  I described it in a blog post:

Thousands of happy people descended yesterday on the Square to celebrate Woodstock Pride Fest.  It was a glorious afternoon that scared away the storms that TV weather folk predicted for the afternoon.  Thousands came and went over the five hour event.  They crowded the streets to participate in or cheer on the predictable colorful parade.  They thronged the Square cross walks where vendors, non-profits, advocacy groups, and churches including the Tree of Life Congregation from McHenry did brisk business from their booths.  Folks cheered speakers including Congresswoman Lauren Underwood of the 14th District, bopped to bands and DJs, and whooped it up with Drag Queens.

The crowd was remarkably diverse—lots of families with children and pets, proudly out teens including transgender youth, long-time couples, and older folks who could remember when McHenry County was shutdown, closeted, and fearful.  There were also good numbers of Latino and Black participants.  All mingled happily with straight allies, friends, and family as well as with the simply curious.

Expectations were that 2020 would be even bigger and better.  Then, of course, the Coronavirus pandemic changed everything and kept us hunkered down in our homes avoiding the crowds and human contact of a festival.  The Woodstock Pride folks adapted as well as they could.  They organized a Pride Caravan that wended its way around Woodstock driving past homes and businesses decorated for the occasion.  A few hundred participated but it was not and could not be the same.

But organizers have come roaring back with great plans for a weekend of Pride festivities starting on Friday, June 11 with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 5 pm to dedicate the Love is Love Stairway at the southeast corner of East Van Buren and Benton Street.  The dedication is co-sponsored by the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce.

At 7 pm Mixin Mingle, 124 Cass Street will host a gala Drag Variety Show, sure to be an entertainment highlight of the weekend.  Tickets are $10. Many of the performers will also participate in the Parade and Gazebo program on Sunday.

This year there will be an expanded, two day Pride Caravan on Saturday and Sunday.  In their invitation organizers wrote:

It went so well, we’re doing it again! Join us as we walk, drive or bike through Woodstock and view all our participating friends and allies celebratory displays! View the inspiring camaraderie and pride of your neighbors as we decorate, design, glitter and glam up our living spaces to unify in self celebration and pride!

How can you participate?

Decorate your front yards/homes with PRIDE inspired displays. Want to get mobile?? Decorate your cars, bikes, strollers, wagons for all to see as you travel from location to location, enjoying the weather, vibes and colors of what makes up our beautiful city, Woodstock!

Promenade locations will be shared to our Promenade Facebook Event on the first day of the event, June 12th.  Visit the event and be sure to select “Going” to receive notification when posted.

On Sunday, June 13 events will include:

11:00 AM—Parade around the Woodstock Square

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM—Vendors and Nonprofits Tables around the Woodstock Square.

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM—Music Performers and Speakers

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM—Food Trucks

Pride Fest is a family friendly event and there will be lots of unvaccinated kids in attendance as well as people from all over the Chicagoland area.  Attendees are asked to wear a mask and try to maintain social distancing.

Rainbow face masks at the Woodstock Pride Booth.  Booths will be setup a little different this year to try and allow for social distancing.

The Old Man at the 2019 Pride Fest Tree of Life UU Congregation booth.

While you are enjoying the Fest, don’t forget to stop by the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation literature and information table in the non-profit group tent.

 

Compassion For Campers and Faith Leaders Continue Gear Distribution

 

St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Woodstock.

The Faith Leaders of McHenry County and Compassion for Campers will continue to distribute camping gear and supplies to the homeless.  St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, 503 W. Jackson in Woodstock, will host the next distribution on Tuesday, September 15 from 3:30 to 5 pm.  More offerings are scheduled in Crystal Lake, McHenry, and Woodstock in September and October.

“The unhoused in McHenry County continue to need camping gear as we head into the fall months,” according to Patrick Murfin of Compassion for Campers.  “Indications are that many will still require such aid as we go into the colder months.” 

This week the Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church volunteers will also be on hand with items and box lunches.

Distribution of supplies will be drive through/walk up with face masks required, social distancing observed, and no gathering.  Among the supplies available while they last will be tents, sleeping bags and pads, tarps, camp stoves, coolers, mosquito repellent, sun screen, hygiene products, other sundries, and non-perishable food.

Donations can be made by sending a check made out to Tree of Life UU Congregation with Compassion for Campers on the memo line to the church at 5603 West Bull Valley Road, McHenry, IL 60050.  Compassion for Campers is a dedicated fund and no donations to it can be used by Tree of Life for any other purpose.  The church absorbs all administrative expenses so 100% of donations will be used to aid the homeless.

For more information contact Patrick Murfin at 815 814-5645 or e-mail pmurfin@sbcglobal.net .

Compassion for Campers Homeless Camping Gear Distribution Returns to McHenry

The camping gear distibution will take place in the First United Methodist Church in McHenry Paraking lot located at the rear of the church on West John Street seen here.

The Faith Leaders of McHenry County and Compassion for Campers will again be distributing camping gear and supplies to the homeless this Tuesday, September 1 from 3:30 to 5 pm at First United Methodist Church, 3717 Main Street in McHenry.

“Due to high demand we have increased our supplies of tents and sleeping bags and will have small propane camp stoves available in addition to plenty of mosquito spray, sunscreen, personal hygiene items, non-perishable food, and other essentials,” according to Patrick Murfin of Compassion for Campers.

Stocking the camping gear at an early event at the First United Methodist Church in McHenry.

Another distribution will be held in two weeks at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, 503 W. Jackson in Woodstock on Tuesday, September 15 from 3:30-5 pm and additional events will continue into the fall.

Distribution of supplies will be drive through/walk up with face masks required, social distancing observed, and no gathering. 

The Faith Leaders of McHenry County is an informal group of clergy serving local congregations or as chaplains as well as lay leaders and volunteers who meet regularly to address the needs of the community. The group came together to share wisdom, experience, positive community action as the Covid-19 epidemic arose.  It has also taken up the issues of racism and privilege brought to the fore by the Black Lives Matter Movement and the protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and other Persons of Color and immigration justice.

Compassion for Campers is a program founded by the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry which has been serving the homeless every summer for the past eight years.  Monetary donations from the Faith Leaders and their congregations have been added to Compassion for Campers funds to purchase the gear.  

Additional donations can be made by sending a check made out to Tree of Life UU Congregation with Compassion for Campers on the memo line to the church at 5603 West Bull Valley Road, McHenry, IL 60050.  Compassion for Campers is a dedicated fund and no donations to it can be used by Tree of Life for any other purpose.  The church absorbs all administrative expenses so 100% of donations will be used to aid the homeless.

For more information contact Patrick Murfin at 815 814-5645 or e-mail pmurfin@sbcglobal.net .