Worship with us online
To help prevent the spread of COVID, we're not meeting in person as a community. But we are offering live-streamed worship services on Sunday mornings at 10:30. Join us at that time by clicking here. You can also find recent services by clicking here.
Once this "Stay-at-Home" period has passed, please join us as we worship together in person!
Every Sunday morning at 10:30
Intergenerational Worship. The organ, piano, djembe drum, hammered dulcimer, and often the folk harp are instrumental in helping us worship God. We have an accessible entry. Fair Trade Coffee Hour follows worship. On the first Sunday of each month, we celebrate Communion, which is open to all.
Our Sunday morning schedule
10:20 | The Explorers Room opens for infants, toddlers, and 3s. These youngest ones are also welcome in worship.
10:30 | Worship begins. Children of all ages attend the first part of worship with their families.
11:00 | Midway through worship, children age 3 to Grade 8 depart for Sunday School. On the first Sunday of each month, children only depart for a 25-minute Chapel Time before returning to the Sanctuary to participate in Holy Communion.
11:30 | Fair Trade Coffee Hour. People of all ages enjoy good company--and good food.
Wednesdays in Lent
Join us on Zoom for our 6:00 pm Lenten services, beginning of February 24. We'll start at 6:00 and finish around 6:20. This service will provide an opportunity for music, art, scripture, prayer, and reflection. There’s an option to call in and listen at 1-312-626-6799.
German-language Good Friday service
This year we'll offer our annual German-language Good Friday service again. The service will be viewable online. Please check back for details.
Evensong services are suspended for the time being
Because of the surge in COVID cases, we are not holding our monthly Evensong services at this time. Please check back later for updates on when we will resume.
Looking forward to when we can come together for these services again, we invite you to click here to see a short video about Evensong at St. Paul's UCC.
Special services and experiences
Palm Sunday
Our Palm Sunday service ushers in Holy Week with songs, a giant Jesus figure, and the waving of palms--reminiscent of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, beginning the days leading through the Last Supper, his arrest, crucifixion, and death, and resurrection on Easter morning.
Tenebrae service on Good Friday
We traditionally hold a service of Tenebrae (shadows) on Good Friday. It features a dramatic reading of the Passion story as recounted in the Gospels, as well as moving music and the enveloping darkness as Jesus Christ moves through death and departs from us. Many find that attending this service is an essential step on their journeys to more fully appreciating the powerful message of Easter.
German language services
Every year, to honor the heritage of the founders of this now-diverse community, we offer two German language services--a Good Friday service and a Christmas service (3:00 pm, usually on the third Sunday of Advent). See the flyer above for infortmation on the 2021 Good Friday service.
Totenfest | All Saints Sunday
Throughout Christian history, the church has celebrated the lives of faithful people who have died. Totenfest is the distinctive practice that grows out of the Evangelical liturgical tradition of the United Church of Christ. Because of our congregation's German heritage, Totenfest has always been an important remembrance for us, celebrated near the end of the church calendar year and closely associated with All Saints Day. We celebrate Totenfest every year on All Saints Sunday, the first Sunday in November.
A Light in the Darkness
This annual Christmas Solstice service offers an exceptional time of reflection in a busy time of year. A Light in the Darkness also provides a special opportunity for travelers who will be unable to attend Christmas services with other members of their communities.