A Disciples of Christ congregation on West Thomas Street
The Christian Church of Arlington Heights meets at 333 West Thomas Street in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a few blocks west of the town's downtown. Members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the congregation has built a reputation for blending Sunday worship with weekly prayer, a monthly Taizé-style gathering, and a long list of hands-on service projects that reach into the surrounding suburbs of Chicago's northwest side.
Following Jesus in community
The congregation describes itself as a community committed to following Jesus and to being disciples of Christ. At the heart of that commitment is an effort to live into the two great commandments: to love God and to love neighbor. Members grow in that love through shared worship and individual prayer, Bible study and discussion, care for one another, and service to the community around them. Disciples congregations are non-creedal, united by a single affirmation that Jesus is Lord and Savior rather than by long doctrinal statements, and this church values the freedom of its members to think and practice their faith in different ways while still supporting, challenging, and holding one another accountable.
Sunday worship and a week of prayer
Sunday morning worship begins at 10:45 a.m. in the sanctuary. The service is open to those attending in person and to anyone joining through Zoom, and recordings of recent sermons are posted to the church's YouTube channel. Earlier in the morning, the church gathers for a weekly prayer meeting that leads directly into the worship hour.
On the first Thursday of every month except July, the lights dim for Taizé Prayer at 7:00 p.m. The service draws on the Taizé community in France, weaving simple, repeated songs with scripture, silence, candlelight, and communion. It is offered in person and through Zoom, making it accessible to members who cannot easily come to the building on a weeknight.
Fifth Sundays: words turned into deeds
In 2015 the congregation launched its Fifth Sunday Services. Whenever a month contains five Sundays, the fifth begins with a brief worship service in the sanctuary and then moves into Jordan Hall for hands-on mission projects, an effort to translate the congregation's words into deeds. The model has become one of the defining rhythms of the year, taking place about four times annually and giving members of all ages a chance to serve together.
A faith for all ages
Sunday school at CCAH runs across three generations. There are classes for grade school children, a teen class for high schoolers, and an adult Sunday school class, all meeting at the same time on Sunday morning. Youth and family ministry is supported in part through Camp Walter Scott, a ministry of the regional Christian Church in Illinois-Wisconsin (CCIW) that hosts youth and family camps during the summer months.
Coming alongside neighbors in need
The congregation's outreach reaches well beyond its own walls. CCAH partners with Exodus World Service, which since 1988 has mobilized the Christian community to welcome and befriend refugees through education, practical service projects, and the empowerment of refugee champions. In the summer months the church prepares and serves dinners through PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) for people experiencing homelessness in Arlington Heights. Each winter the Rachael-Rebekah Circle's Mitten Tree collects winter essentials, many of them hand-knitted by members, for the Wheeling Township community. A Green Team keeps the congregation socially and environmentally aware in its daily habits.
For anyone walking through a season of loss, the church hosts the Grief Recovery Method, an eight-week program led by certified Grief Recovery Specialist Dana Auman. The program is designed to help people release unresolved pain after a loss of any kind, including death, divorce, the end of a relationship, loss of a career, health, trust, or faith. Job-seekers in the community can also be connected through church member Don Nosbaum to Business and Career Services, Inc., a nonprofit that links job seekers and employers at no charge.
Holiday traditions around the table
The holiday season is a particularly visible time at CCAH. The church hosts a free Thanksgiving dinner that anyone in the community is welcome to attend, a Christmas Day dinner that has become an annual tradition, and a Christmas Eve service at 4:30 p.m. filled with music, candlelight, and an inspiring message. These gatherings are open to members, neighbors, and visitors alike.
Groups that gather between Sundays
Between Sundays the church life keeps moving. The Disciples Women's Group brings women together for Bible study, service projects, and fellowship. A Men's Breakfast meets on Saturdays throughout the year, with a meal and a chance to connect with other men in the congregation. A church book club gathers people around a wide range of literature, and small groups and discipleship programs give members additional places to grow in faith.
The people who keep it running
Behind the weekly schedule is a small staff and a larger community of volunteers. Katherine (Katy) Harvey serves as Director of Administration and Communication; a lifelong member of the Disciples of Christ who grew up in the Christian Church in Eureka, Illinois, and graduated from Eureka College, she joined the CCAH family more than a decade ago and has served on the worship team, as an Advent coordinator, and with A/V responsibilities before stepping into her current role. Bob Harvey serves as Director of A/V and Social Media Manager, ensuring that Sunday services run smoothly both in-house and online and maintaining the church's social media and online presence. Office hours run Monday mornings from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. and Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and gifts can be brought on Sunday, mailed to the church, given through a bank's bill pay, or made online with a credit or debit card.