Best day is friday , they treat you like family. I've been attending with my family for six years…read more the last years its improved a lot.

Very welcoming congregation. I have even brought Jewish and Mormon friends to service and they have…read moreeven felt comfortable and enjoyed the experience. Love the music- contemporary but not overly trendy. Great sermons that you can often bring back into your own life. Wonderful volunteer opportunities. Something almost every week! Lots of gatherings- from small community bible study groups to cocktail hours after work to morning mommy meetings. "Dinners With Grace"- a monthly potluck hosted at someone's home is also a lot of fun. They also host an annual wine tasting event that all of my friends go to (and love)! Lots of foodies at this church =) Many young families- also some singles in their 20's, a few older folks. But mainly couples in their young/mid 30's with young kids. Plus, Sunday School offered every Sunday for the little ones! Come at 10am for coffee and increedddible muffins to socialize. Church is from 10:30-12ish. Free parking in the school lot- bonus!!

This review is about my experience staying at the Temple for few nights, not the meditation sits,…read morewhich were great! Years back, I had stayed few days at the Zen Buddhist Temple, which was ran by this nice lady monk who had since moved. Because I had a phenomenal and transformative experience, I decided to come back for a second retreat! When I came back, the Temple was ran by a male monk from Korea (could be the same monk now, not sure), and I left there with an uncomfortable and unpleasant time. Reflecting on this, I realized that there were certain assumptions that the male monk failed to inform me, before I checked in. I don't want to go into exact details of what those issues were because I don't want to ruin people's view of the Temple. But, if you have any plans to stay at the Temple overnight, ask what rules and expectations are for guests, especially when it comes to the access and use of the kitchen...

Very welcoming and friendly experience. We were introduced to the meditation center from a friend…read moreand will continue to go. I highly recommend if you are looking for a Zen Buddhist temple.

We had our costumed Halloween wedding reception at Second Unitarian, and it was the perfect venue…read morefor us. The admin Kate was very friendly and responsive, and best of all, she was totally cool about rescheduling our reception to an entire year later because of covid. I also found the venue extremely affordable for its size and how nice it is; of the three we saw it was the cheapest but also our favorite. In terms of the space itself, the beautiful church windows lend a gothic aesthetic and look great for any wedding (especially a Halloween one). We had about 100 people and that number comfortably fit in the sanctuary seated at long rows of tables. I'm very glad we found this venue, and would recommend it to anyone.

Having lived in Madison, Wis. during my freelance musician career days, I was a frequent performer…read moreat the Frank Lloyd Wright Unitarian church there. I remember being inspired by the welcoming embrace of the Unitarian congregation, and would never turn down the opportunity to play a service. It's been many years since I've stepped inside a church on a Sunday, but this past weekend my friend, EW, was the preacher for the lay-led service at "2U", so I decided to check it out. There's a welcoming coffee hour, so get there 15-mins. early and you'll be greeted with some friendly faces before the service. There was very little that was traditional about the service, overall, as it was dedicated to "Facing Your Fears"- something I've made a pact with myself to do in 2011. Within the first five minutes the preacher said "feel free to shake what your momma gave you" with someone saying "shake it don't break it" in reply. This is not your parent's church! (Unless your parents literally go here). There is a real sense of humor here, an openness to all people and faiths, and it was easy to feel at home, even as a newbie. My friend EW did a reading for the kids from "the Monster at the End of this Book", then launched into her sermon on facing her fears. This was a lay-led service, that church volunteers may lead. The whole service tied in incredibly well, and afterward I felt more grounded than I had in a long time. I hate to generalize, but "self-actualization through faith and community" might be a good boilerplate phrase for Unitarianism. When times are tough, a faith community can help get us through even the roughest patch. You don't have to go it alone. Since this is the year of Transformation for me, I will definitely be back from time to time for community support. And the welcoming atmosphere at Second Unitarian can help me along my path with a smile, a song, and a Hallelujah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOoEYxt0PPA

The preaching by the Coordinating Pastor, Dr. Jon Pennington, is very clear and biblical teaching,…read moreincluding a gospel presentation every Sunday! The meaningful worship time covers both contemporary worship choruses and hymns. The sanctuary is cozy and attractive. it is the only evangelistic church in Lakeview area of Chicago.

I've been to SO many Chicago churches, and this is the most genuine group of people I've met. The…read moregroup is small, the worship lively (and contemporary), and the preaching is practical and timely. Jon (the pastor) is very welcoming, and has become a close friend over the years. The church service is casual, and all are welcome. If you are just checking out churches, you'll feel very welcome here. If you are truly looking to be fed and challenged in your walk with God, then C3 is the place for you! *Services start at 10:00am and 4:00pm every Sunday*

Hands down the best church in Chicago! The congregation is incredibly welcoming, and once people…read morejoin, they truly feel at home. We absolutely love the pastors--their messages are inspiring and heartfelt. The music is uplifting and always fantastic. If you're looking for a place to grow in faith and community, I highly recommend experiencing this church and its services.

Reviewing as a member of the Lakeview Orchestra, which the Church has allowed to use their space…read moreone night per week: this is a great place to rehearse compared to the other places our group previously played in. The space is a little tight up front but the sound is intimate and allows us to play a wide range of dynamics. Easy to get to, just west of Wrigley Field. Our orchestra board chair is a member of the church and spoke to their long tradition of supporting the arts and launching new organizations, which is a unique mission for a church in my experience. According to their lovely website they have a very open and welcoming atmosphere for which I congratulate them: "Holy Trinity is known for being a place of welcome. In the early 1990s it was one of the first "Reconciling in Christ" congregations in Chicago, publicly welcoming gays and lesbians. In the past decade young adults and a growing number of families with young children have found a home. At the same time, many people who have struggled with exclusive or hurtful forms of religion have breathed a sigh of relief within a community of acceptance and openness. A number of Chicago urban folks travel to our Lakeview location to find a spiritual home that is both rooted in ancient practices and in honest conversation with the questions and issues of our day and time."

Prior to Lakeview Presbyterian, my experience with religion and church was not the most positive:…read morethe pastor in my first church never heard of the Apocrypha, the second only looked at her congregation as units for tithes. I pretty much gave up on religion, and pretty much relegated it as an arm of politics. But one day, I thought to myself, why not? I have to stop by Redbox to return a dvd anyway .... The very first sermon was amazing. Rev. Joy illustrated that maybe God's temperament changes between the Old Testament and the New not because of political expediency in the "scrivener's" of the Bible, but because God is with us, and also adapting in our journey. My life has never been the same. Rev. Joy and Larissa are always open to discuss all things religious and secular. Ask them anything Dan Brownish and seemingly heretical and they will give you an epistle demonstrating their understanding and faith. But the church also provides services to the Lakeview community. It provides lunches to elders in the neighborhood, it offers Cafe Pride giving Lakeview youth a warm and safe space to hangout on Fridays, the congregation is active at Pride and Market Days, and it offers an amazing Free Trade Bazaar. So if you want to grow religiously, or just academically - go to Lakeview. If you want to meet cool diverse people - go to Lakeview. If you want your blood pressure checked by the church's nurse, Sue Cox, go to Lakeview.

I moved here last summer and went to a ton of churches looking for the right fit for me. Lakeview…read morePresbyterian is definitely the church that made me feel the most comfortable and I ended up joining in May. I would describe the atmosphere as laidback, welcoming, diverse and intellectual. It is a More Light church http://www.mlp.org/ and is very active in social justice issues. The pastor, Joy, is really good at what she does. If you're looking for a church actively working on what they are preaching, this is the place. Check it out some Sunday (preferably at 11 am) and say hello :)

Alright, I'm a parishioner so I felt I had to represent. I'm not exactly sure what a "repressed…read moregay" or lesbian churchgoer looks like, so I can't say and really, what does that have to do with Church anyway? Having belonged to several parishes, I'm also not sure what a "typical family Catholic Church" looks like either. Aren't they all kinda based on family? What consistently makes me love this place is the neo-Gothic architecture and the two organs. It's worth it to come in and just see and hear those. A mass is a mass. It's surely not for everybody. And it's not entertainment, really, so expect a good solid Sunday mass (I have never reviewed a mass before...I guess there's always a first). The 11 o'clock is the "high" mass--nothing but bells and smells here but it's traditional and that's why we do it. And the "sing song" choir music happens to be a rounded choir repertoire featuring classical and contemporary composers. In my opinion, it's music typical in quality and caliber to what one may find at a Cathedral. Again good music, but religious music--there will be chant, there will be a distinctive sound...there will be no inclusion of Jars of Clay or clapping. There will be no percussion instruments. 4:30 on Sunday is much more contemporary music played on the piano with acoustic guitar and a more pop-ish sound (although still Catholic music--nothing you'll find on a "worship" CD. It always cracks me up when people call church "a downer." Yes...if you expect it to be the Super Bowl every week then it will, indeed, be a downer. But I've always found this church to have a real sense of community and an awareness of its location in an urban setting in the middle of Boys Town. This isn't a suburban parish and I'm always thankful for that.

I've been a parishioner for about 3 years and I enjoy going to Mass here very much. I try and check…read moreout the 11am mass during non-summer Sundays since I find the choir amazing and a real uplift during Mass. It does sometimes cause the Mass to go over a little, but honestly, the difference between an hour and 1h 10 mins is really nothing. And singing is like praying twice (or something like that), so it's like your praying three times here. :P The architecture here is also nice - the somewhat hidden chapel is very beautiful. They do an architecture tour once in a while and it's interesting to learn about the stained glass windows and all the statues - some which have a close bond to Chicago. I haven't had any major sacraments here, so I can't comment on anything administrative wise, but as far as churches go, it serves its purpose!

I really enjoyed visiting this church. The architecture is beautiful, and even though it's not very…read morelarge, it has a special charm that makes it stand out. I've visited many churches in the area, and this one is definitely one of my favorites. The people here are very kind and welcoming, which made the experience even better. There are also so many beautiful works of art inside that are worth taking the time to admire. Overall, it's a wonderful place to pray and reflect, and I would definitely come back again for Sunday Mass or during the holidays.

Beautiful church. Grateful to the lady that unlocked the doors on 12/22/2023, to allow us to come…read morein and pray.

This church is terrific. Really caring and open to diversity, lots of people who are into social…read morejustice, creating community, and serving others. The sermons are inspiring and the coffee after the services in the Narthex is pretty good, too :) They do local service work to support organizations like the Night Ministry, sponsor a warming center for the homeless, participate in Rebuilding Together, and they host a local Community Supported Agriculture organization. While the church has been around for awhile, it began a revitalization process in 2006 with new leadership. We became members shortly after that. Worship is pretty traditional, people are very welcoming but not pushy, and the service emphasis is refreshing.

Love this church! I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a local community that cares about justice…read moreand accepts all people. Young families, activities for kids, and communion every week!