Tree of Life UU Congregation Finds New Home in Ridgefield

The historic Ridgefield/Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church is welcoming Tree of Life UU Congregation to share its facilities, TOLUUC will worship in the modern addition on the right at the same time the host holds their service in the sanctuary of the old church. 

Two of the oldest congregations in McHenry County will share space and fellowship starting this Sunday, May 10 at 10 am at 8505 Church Street in Ridgefield.  The Ridgefield/Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church (RCLPC) was organized in 1839 and has occupied their classic New England-style meeting house since 1872.  The First Congregational Church of Woodstock was organized in 1866 and built a church near the Square.  A new brick building on the same site opened in 1906.  Through various name changes the congregation evolved and moved to McHenry in 2013 and became the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation (TOLUUC).

When TOLUUC decided they needed to sell the McHenry property, the Congregation began a search for potential partners with which to share worship space.  RCLPC was clearly the best match and was eager to move forward.  The building in McHenry on Bull Valley Road will be continuing its role as a religious gathering place as Sikh group, Gurdwara Kukh Nivaran Sahib bought the building and anticipate holding their first service in August 2026. 

At the last service in the McHenry building on April 26 members made a symbolic recessional behind the Chalice, pulpit banners, and other Congregational symbols.

The Congregation will also be joining the McHenry County Jewish Congregation (MCJC) who's former synagogue was located less than a mile away in Ridgefield and who shared TOLUUC's worship space for a year.  

A banner at Ridgefield/Crystal Lake Presbyterian proclaims the new partnership.

This is not a merger or consolidation.  TOLUUC service will be held in the Fellowship Hall while the RCLPC congregation will have their worship service upstairs in their sanctuary. We plan to gather after service to enjoy a combined fellowship hour with coffee and treats.  While Tree of Life, RCLPC and MCJC will all offer their own worship services, programs, identities, and governance we are looking forward to supporting each other around projects and causes we share in common. 

Flower Communion in McHenry.

Tree of Life's first service in the new facility this Sunday will celebrate the multi-congregational shared church building with Rev. Matthew Johnson, Congregational Life Consultant from UUA MidAmerica Region.  Chaplain Dave Becker will officiate with an observance of Flower Communion, originated over 100 years ago in Czechoslovakia and cherished by UU congregations around the world, celebrating the beauty of our uniqueness and diversity, interconnectedness, life, and community.  Members and friends are invited to bring a flower or two from their yard, garden, local florist, nearby field or store to share with all in the multigenerational ceremony.  It will also commemorate Mother's Day.

After the service everyone is invited for a social hour shared by our new friends from Ridgefield/ Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church.

The service will be shared on Zoom.  Join from Zoom Workplace app - Zoom or from your bowser. 

  

Walking the Walk—An Action Calendar for McHenry County October 25 2025

Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation Chaplin Dave Becker took part in a UU led witness/protest ar the  Broadviewl CE facility last Friday which thankfully was not attacked like previous faith  events.

Look for new opportunities for action, education, community, and solidarity here every week 

Anti-ICE and Military Occupation Protests.  The massive No Kings events thankfully unfolded across the region without Federal harassment or confrontations, but ICE raids have grown and spread creating daily chaos and community clashes as the Feds continue to ignore or openly violate numerous court orders.  While the National Guard remains blocked from deployment in the streets and the Broadview receiving/detention center was forced to remove illegal fencing from the streets, access if still limited by the village and enforced by the Illinois State Police protests continue daily.  Chaplain Dave Becker and Sue McCowan took part in Unitarian Universalist led witness/protest in Broadview last Friday which thankfully was not attacked like previous faith  events.  A Federal judge has called to heel the Broader Patrol chief who was caught on cameras tossing a tear gas canister into an crowd and will require him to report personally every evening with all body cam footage of clashes with the community.  Despite this there are fears that the Feds will use Halloween trick or treating or Day of the Dead observances as "threatening" to kidnap squads.  Be aware of local alerts from the McHenry County Rapid Response team.

Indivisible McHenry County, the local lead organizers of the highly successful No Kings Day even on October 18 in McHenry will meet on on Saturday, November 1st at 1 p.m at the First United Methodist Church in McHenry, 3717 Main Street in McHenry.

Walking the Walk—An Action Calendar for McHenry County October 24 2025

      

Look for new opportunities for action, education, community, and solidarity here every week.

Anti-ICE and Military Occupation Protests.  The massive No Kings events thankfully unfolded across the region without Federal harassment or confrontations, but ICE raids have grown and spread creating daily chaos and community clashes as the Feds continue to ignore or openly violate numerous court orders.  This week’s kidnappings spread across the region and the Latinx heart of the city Little Village was especially hard hit this week.  While the National Guard remains blocked from deployment in the streets and the Broadview receiving/detention center was forced to remove illegal fencing from the streets, access if still limited by the village and enforced by the Illinois State Police protests continue daily. 

Special Flower Communion Ceremony at the Broadview Detention Center, Lexington and Beach Streets this Friday at 8 am.  Unitarian Universalist clergy and lay people have been regulars and have been gassed, targeted by non-lethal ammo, and assaulted.  This Friday they will take their turn as the lead religious faith leading the resistance.  Ministers including Tree of Life’s Chaplain Dave Becker will lead a Flower Communion service.  Please note that tear gas, pepper balls, and pepper spray have been used indiscriminately at this site. If you do decide that you want to come, consider having a buddy system. It is highly recommended that you bring googles and a good quality respirator or gas mask as well as flowers for the ceremony.  Also be prepared to document any confrontations with cell phones.