Church in Oak Park: About First UMC

Our worshiping congregation is a group of people who are diverse in age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic situation, and religious background. We gather to share the journey we each take in experiencing God and working to make disciples for Jesus Christ.

We worship every Sunday at 10:00 am in an experience that celebrates and glorifies God through prayer, music, praise and the spoken word. Everyone is welcome to join us in person in our sanctuary and online.

At First United Methodist Church of Oak Park, we believe that faith is a journey, a journey shared in a supportive community.

We invite you to review this site and Plan Your Visit to learn more about us—our ministries, our congregation, as well as our historic church building. Our journey is both life-affirming and life-sustaining. We welcome fellow travelers on the journey of life!

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

United Methodists share a common heritage with all Christians. According to our foundational statement of beliefs in The Book of Discipline, we share the following basic affirmations in common with all Christian communities:

God - God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons.
Jesus - We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus of Nazareth; and his life, death and resurrection demonstrates God's redeeming love.
The Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit is God's present activity in our midst. When we sense God's leading, God's challenge, or God's support or comfort, it's the Holy Spirit at work.
Human Beings - Genesis 1:27 asserts that we've been made in the image of the Creator. Like God we have the capacity to love and care, to communicate, and to create.
The Church - The church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today.
The Bible - We believe that the Bible is God’s Word and is the primary authority for our faith and practice.
God’s Reign - The kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope.
Sacraments - With many other Protestants, we recognize the two sacraments in which Christ himself participated: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park was the first established congregation to settle in the Oak Park area. Established in 1870, the congregation worshiped in a small one room school house. Under the name of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Oak Park, a church was erected on Lake Street, near Forest Avenue, which opened for worship in 1874. The church grew and flourished and, anticipating the need for expansion, purchased the land for our present site in the early 1920’s. Plans for the new church building were being developed when the old church was destroyed by fire in 1923. Built between 1923 and 1925, our current church building was dedicated in March of 1925. Our history is rich with a tradition of meaningful Christian ministry in our congregation, community, and for those in need. We carry forward the spirit of the past while we meet the spiritual needs of today’s people.

Our historic church building was designed by Tallmadge and Watson in the modern English Gothic Revival style. Built with Bedford limestone, the building features a Memorial Tower and Memorial Chapel. Designated an Oak Park Historic Landmark in 2005, the design and the blueprints of the church are preserved at the Art Institute of Chicago. Recent renovations have been made to maintain and enhance the building’s original features.

The stained-glass windows, designed by Giannini and Hilgart, were installed in the sanctuary as memorial gifts between 1957 and 1966. The windows depict Jesus’ life and ministry, his apostles, and Old Testament prophets.

While we our surrounded by history, the life within the building is focused on the present and the future. HOPE IS HERE!

We are excited about the new blessings revealed to us each day and our work to create disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world is our focus. Whether it is welcoming the curious and the new to our Membership Exploration Classes or continuning our growth in one of our study groups, we know getting to know and experience God is a never ending road.

Our next chapter is still to be written. But our core values of serving others, working for justice, and growing in faith are sure to be a part of it! Come and help us write the next chapter of our service of God and God's people in our community!

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF OAK PARK

Church in Oak Park, Illinois