One of the most profound and influential questions in our civilization has been to ask, “Who is my neighbor?” Each of the monotheisms asks this question and how it is answered has defined our shared history for millennia. From Aristotle’s philosophy to Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan, ‘The Neighbor Question’ continues to impact everything from … Continue reading The Neighbor Question
Kristal Larson is the Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County, an organization committed to making Lake County a place for LGBTQ+ identifying persons and their families a place to feel welcome and thrive in their personal and professional lives. She blends her passion for social impact with her lived queer experience to increase … Continue reading Spirituality and Gender Non-Conformity Throughout History
From standing side by side with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to running for president, civil rights icon Jesse Jackson was a political and moral force When he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 26 years ago, he was referred to as “the conscience of our nation”. What lessons does the life … Continue reading Keep Hope Alive: Lessons from Jesse Jackson
From standing side by side with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to running for president, civil rights icon Jesse Jackson was a political and moral force When he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 26 years ago, he was referred to as “the conscience of our nation”. What lessons does the life … Continue reading Keep Hope Alive: Lessons from Jesse Jackson
Please click into this service to get the correct online link. We celebrate the well-lived life of our long-time member Dave Dreyer who passed away peacefully and pain free Monday, January 19, 2026 following a courageous battle with cancer. Dave’s generosity, kindness, and humor knew no bounds whether here at Tree of Life, at PADS, … Continue reading David Dreyer Memorial Service
The Venerable Bhante Sujatha is Abbot of The Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center in Woodstock, IL. Bhante believes he is here to “prepare the field for other people, who — when they achieve happiness — will hopefully plant the seeds and do the rest.” He says, “I hope to help people here by … Continue reading Awakening In The Midst Of Life
Click on this service to get the correct Zoom link rather than using the blue button. What if the very risks we face in the world today that require us to be more resilient thrive on that very resilience? Author, activist, and journalist Soraya Chemaly challenges us to rethink some of our beliefs about resilience … Continue reading What’s Wrong with Resilience?
This worship service draws insight, hope, and inspiration from our Unitarian, Universalist, and UU histories with select stories of how ordinary people have shown up for justice in very different ways and contexts. To borrow a phrase from the Biblical book of Hebrews, “ we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,….”to guide … Continue reading Rooted in Solidarity: UU Stories of Resistance and Resilience
We might be surprised by the extent the definition of ‘human’ has changed over the centuries. We also might be surprised by how many ancient ideas remain embedded in our contemporary self-understanding of human nature. Join us on Sunday, February 1 for a quick tour of the many aspects of human identity that compose our … Continue reading Humour Me
Attending to the Inner Teacher: For this service, we’ll spend some time thinking about what Parker Palmer and others have called our Inner Teacher. Where does it come from? How do we come to pay attention to it and, ultimately, to trust its guidance? Once we do, how do we encourage its regular appearance in … Continue reading Attending to the Inner Teacher
