847-628-6118 | Worship every Sunday @ 9:30 a.m.
847-628-6118 | Worship every Sunday @ 9:30 a.m.
Learn more about our church, history and team.
The message displayed on our sign on Plank Road reads “Love of Neighbor, Love of Children, Love of Creation – A Just World for All.” This mission campaign introduced by the United Church of Christ took root and blossomed at St Paul’s. Loving God and one another shapes and inspires our life together – from worship, to learning experiences for all ages, to serving meals, distributing diapers, and hosting the community drum circle and lots in-between. God does extraordinary things through ordinary people and doesn’t wait for perfect – Thanks be to God! Come worship with us on Sunday morning and meet a caring community, seeking to follow Jesus with purpose and heart. Welcome! I pray you feel God’s love in this place.
On October 31, 1875 the cornerstone of St. Paul’s Evangelical German Church was laid in downtown Elgin. St. Paul’s first pastor Rev. Katendahl described the faith of the founders like this, “Without fear and with enthusiasm they proceeded with the work of laying the cornerstone.” In 2009, like the faithful members before them, “without fear and with enthusiasm,” the congregation sold the downtown building and visioned new ways to be the church and serve the community. New construction of the church on Plank Road was completed in December 2012 and our mortgage paid off in 2017. Today, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ is an Open and Affirming congregation, seeking to grow in faith and serve one another united in Christ’s love, guided by the Holy Spirit, and relying on God’s grace.
[In the form of a doxology, or statement of praise]
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.
Amen.
