How do I find the church?
5603 Bull Valley Road
McHenry, IL 60050
(815) 322-2464

We are located next to Huntington Bank .

What should I wear?
There is no dress code at our church. Depending on the season you will find sweaters and blue jeans, shorts and T-shirts, shirts and ties, pants and blazers, skirts and blouses, or “Sunday Best” attire with even a hat or two. Whatever you wear, you will find enough people dressed as you are to feel comfortable. The sanctuary may be a bit cool so dress accordingly.  Children particularly should wear comfortable clothes. They may play on the floor, work with art supplies, or go outside. Our congregation is more casual in dress than traditional Christian churches. Due to Covid, we currently meet outside for a shortened service and our children’s programming is also outside. Dressing for the weather and for outside play is a must if you attend in person. Alternatively, you can attend our online service from the comfort of your home dressed as you are.

Where do I park?
We have ample parking in our parking lot. There are two spaces designated for first time visitors by the pine trees. We also have 4 handicap designated parking spots close to the front door and the lawn where we have children’s programming and our outside service.  

Should I bring anything with me?
Everything you will need for most services will be provided by the church. We do have some special services when we ask people to bring such things as flowers, Easter Eggs, or covered dishes. You are welcome to attend these services without bringing anything, and we always have enough extra!

When should I arrive?
Our services begin at 10:45am but we suggest you arrive around 10:30am so you can ask questions of our visitor aides and get settled in the sanctuary. This is true for our online service too. It is good to join early to get settled into our online sanctuary.

Is the church building wheelchair accessible?
The first floor of our building is wheelchair accessible. Our front door has a ground level entrance. However the doors are not automated. On Sunday mornings we station two greeters at the door to assist with opening. We have fully accessible bathrooms (two with multiple stalls and one family bathroom off the kitchen). Our first floor includes the social areas, sanctuary, kitchen, and some classrooms. There is also a lower level with more classrooms that is only accessible by stairs. 

Do you have aids for the hearing and sight impaired?
We do not have hearing devices at this time. We use microphones for all speakers to help with hearing. We offer large print hymnals and orders of worship. We also project on large screen televisions during the service. 

May our child stay with us during the service?
Yes. Your child may stay with you during the service. Most children attend the first part of the service and stay through the children’s story. Children are invited to attend our Lifespan Faith Development (Sunday School) classes, which are held during the worship hour. Childcare is available for younger children. Our childcare workers have had complete background checks before being employed.

Will I have to stand up and introduce myself?
A general welcome is made to all visitors at the beginning of the service but you will not be asked to stand and identify yourself. When we share joys and concerns during a service, you can use this time to introduce yourself if you desire. We would very much appreciate if you would wear a name tag obtained from a visitor aide so we can greet you properly before and after the service.We encourage you to join us for coffee hour after the service and our Inquirers session (a series of orientations for newcomers). 

What will the service be like?
Because of the great diversity of our Sunday services, you will need to attend more than once to get a feel for who we are and what we do. Our services feature readings from many sources and traditions and there will be hymns representing these same traditions. Special musicians, both instrumental and vocal, greatly enrich our services with many types of music. Sermons and messages are also quite varied and range from the theological to the personal to the humanistic. An important part of our service is our Children’s Time. In all our services there is much good will and good humor as well as serious reflection.

What else happens on Sundays?
Religious exploration classes for children meet on Sundays (except in the summer).  Childcare is available in the nursery during the service each Sunday.

Do I have to join right away to participate in church events?
No. We have a special category called “Friends,” who are treated as Members in every way but these: You must be a Member to vote at our congregational meetings, and you must be a Member to serve on our Board of Trustees. As a Friend, you may participate in every other way.  We hope that you will want to join when you are ready.