A United Methodist Heart in Oswego Since 1896
At the corner of Washington and Madison Streets in downtown Oswego, Illinois, a simple sanctuary with a bell tower has gathered worshippers for more than 130 years. The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church carries the motto "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" and describes itself as "the Heart of Oswego for over 150 years." Its members include descendants of the German Evangelical Association who first built the sanctuary in 1896, alongside families who walk through the same doors today for traditional or contemporary worship, Sunday school, youth group, or a weekly community lunch.
A Building That Grew With the Town
The church was dedicated on Sunday, July 12, 1896, by members of the German Evangelical Association, sometimes called the German or Albright Methodists. They built their new sanctuary on the site known as the Stone Castle, where Presbyterians had worshipped from 1846 to 1857 and the German Evangelicals themselves had met from 1861 to 1895. The original building was a straightforward sanctuary topped by a bell tower that once alerted the local fire department to blazes in the area.
After the nearby Congregational Church burned, members of the two congregations voted to form a Federated Church using the Evangelicals' building. In 1947 the congregation voted to become an Evangelical United Brethren Church, and the Federated Church took the name Church of the Good Shepherd, EUB in 1957. When the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist churches merged in 1968, the congregation became The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist, the name it still carries.
Over time the church purchased a neighboring building to serve as an education wing, eventually housing Sunday school rooms, youth space, the church office, and Little Shepherd Preschool. A recent renovation joined the two buildings with a new entrance, a gathering area for fellowship, and a dining space that now hosts a weekly community outreach lunch and monthly family nights.
Two Sunday Morning Services
Good Shepherd offers two distinct Sunday morning services, both in person at 5 W. Washington Street. The 8:30 a.m. traditional service includes a thematic message from the pastor, scripture readings, responsive readings, prayers, and a time for sharing Joys and Concerns. Organ and piano accompany hymns drawn from the United Methodist Hymnal and other sources, and the Adult Choir performs music ranging from classical to modern gospel.
At 10:00 a.m., the contemporary service is led by the praise band and features both original songs and contemporary favorites, with a message from Pastor Steve. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. Worship is also livestreamed online and remains available anytime on the church's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Children are welcome in either service. The sanctuary and education wing are handicap accessible and equipped for hearing assistance. The traditional service is occasionally listed as 8:15 a.m. in some materials, but the consistent weekly time is 8:30 a.m.
Children, Sunday School, and Nursery Care
During the school year, Sunday School meets from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. for children age 3 through high school. The Pre-K through 5th grade classrooms are all on the second floor of the education wing. Parents do not need to be church members to enroll a child; registration is open to anyone wanting to introduce their children to Sunday School.
The year is built around a theme called "Celebrate Wonder" with a strong emphasis on community service projects woven into the lessons. Nursery care is available for children newborn through age 8 or 3rd grade, both during Sunday School and during the services, with a separate registration form required. Children are always welcome to stay with their families in the sanctuary if parents prefer.
Vacation Bible School runs in mid-June, typically four mornings from 9:30 to noon, welcoming children ages 3 (potty trained) through entering 5th grade. Older students entering 6th grade and up are encouraged to volunteer. Registration is required, with a small per-participant fee payable by cash, check, or online. The 2026 program, "Emerald Crossing," walks children through the lush landscapes of Ireland as they explore the life of the shepherd-king David and the words of Psalm 23.
Anyone working with children or youth 18 and younger follows Safe Sanctuary guidelines, which align with United Methodist policies and Illinois DCFS regulations. Volunteers complete a training video, a DCFS mandated reporter course, and a background investigation.
Youth Group and Confirmation
Good Shepherd's youth program welcomes students in grades 6 through 12, meeting Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. The group combines discussion, outings, and service projects, including regular packing trips to Feed My Starving Children in Aurora. Trunk or Treat, Friends-Giving, and the annual Youth Group Christmas Party are among the year's highlights.
Confirmation uses a roughly 22-week curriculum and is coordinated by Youth Director Rachel Conover. Confirmation is designed to deepen faith and community connection for youth, parents, and adult mentors who walk alongside confirmands during the process. Adults interested in volunteering as mentors are encouraged to reach out through the church office.
Adult Christian Education
A Sunday morning Adult Christian Education class meets at 9:30 a.m. in the Meditation Room between the two worship services. Recent studies have included "Jesus Revealed: The I Am Statements in the Gospel of John" led by Janet McCarty. During Lent, Pastor Steve leads a six-week Monday evening study at 7:00 p.m. in the Gathering Room; recent curriculum choices include Adam Hamilton's "The Message of Jesus."
For a different pace, Bible Between Bites gathers every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at the local Panera for conversation over coffee. A church book club also meets periodically, with rotating hosts and rotating reading lists.
A Music Ministry for Every Voice
Music has been central to Good Shepherd since its founding, and the program today reflects that heritage. Cheryl Todd has served as organist, adult choir accompanist, and handbell choir director for more than nine years. Sue Gilla, a retired special education teacher with a music degree, accompanies the One A-Chord Choir on piano. Jonathan Tatar directs the Adult Choir, bringing experience from Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center, and the Auditorium Theatre to the role.
Jon Conover leads the contemporary praise band. A performing artist whose career has taken him across the United States and into Europe, Jon returned to Christ-centered music after years in the mainstream music industry, and many of his originals now carry stories of trusting and depending on Jesus. The Bell Choir, Youth Choir, and Children's Choir each perform monthly during worship.
Missions and Outreach
The church's missions work spans local hands-on projects and partnerships with national organizations. Members regularly assemble Personal Dignity Kits for the Midwest Mission Distribution Center, packing kits after both Sunday services for distribution locally and around the world. The youth group partners with Feed My Starving Children in Aurora, joining the packing line and inviting others to register with the church's group code.
Beyond the building itself, Good Shepherd runs a weekly community outreach lunch and hosts monthly family nights in the new dining space. Praise Band Leader Jon Conover also serves as president of Help, Sorry, Love NFP, a nonprofit that works with more than 20 churches and organizations across Illinois on mental health and addiction support. Friends-Giving, an annual open forum for prayer, praise, testimonies, and creative sharing, raises goodwill donations for the local food bank.
Little Shepherd Preschool
The education wing is home to Little Shepherd Preschool, a licensed preschool program with its own director, teachers, and registration process. Registration opens each spring, with programs designed for young learners in the Oswego area. The preschool shares facilities with the church's Sunday school classrooms and operates as a separate ministry with its own email contact.
Families looking for summer care can also sign children up for themed week-long camps run through the preschool, such as Mini Explorers Adventure Week, Little Animal Friends, and Creative Makers and Messy Art. Each camp runs Monday through Friday and is open to children in the community, not just church families.
Beliefs and Sacraments
Good Shepherd teaches the basic Christian affirmations shared across denominations: the divinity of Christ, the reality of God, the power of the Spirit, and the authority of Scripture. As United Methodists, members interpret Scripture through the lens of tradition, experience, and reason, and hold that a conversion to Christ must bear fruit through charity, compassion, and meeting the physical needs of neighbors.
The church recognizes two sacraments ordained by Christ: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is offered to people of all ages during Sunday morning worship services and signifies entrance into the household of faith, repentance, and new birth in Christ. Children of believing parents are especially welcomed as subjects of baptism, with the church committing to nurture them until they make a personal profession of faith.
Visiting and Getting Involved
The church office is open Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., by appointment, and can be reached at 630-554-3269 or office@goodshepherdoswego.org. The pastor can be reached at pastor@goodshepherdoswego.org. The building sits at 5 W. Washington Street in Oswego, with parking available on site, and the sanctuary and education wing are accessible to those using mobility devices and to those with hearing assistance needs.
Online giving is available through a secure donation page, and donations may also be mailed to PO Box 695, Oswego, IL 60543. An Endowment Fund managed with the United Methodist Foundation of Northern Illinois supports long-term stewardship and planned giving for the congregation.
Visitors are invited to come as they are. Whether someone is exploring faith for the first time, returning to church after time away, or looking for a new congregational home, the doors at Washington and Madison remain open every Sunday morning and every weekday the office is open.