At 744 Fair Oaks Avenue in Oak Park, Illinois, Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church is an open and affirming Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation known for intellectually challenging traditional Reformed worship, a wide-ranging music ministry, Logos formation for grades 1-12, and mission partnerships extending from Oak Park and Chicago to Uganda, Gambia, Thailand, and Cuba. Its life combines a 1924 founding with worship, education, hospitality, creative service, and mission in the community and around the world.
Called to Proclaim, Nurture, and Serve
Organized in May 1924, Fair Oaks traces its history to a congregation committed to reflecting Christ's example of love, service, and humility. Much has changed through the years, but that commitment remains constant. The congregation defines its calling as proclaiming by word and deed the good news of Savior Jesus Christ, nurturing children, youth, and adults into Christian faith and discipleship, and serving in Christ's name the Oak Park community and beyond.
Fair Oaks calls itself open and affirming and says it embraces and respects all as God's children across sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, color, physical or mental ability, education, economic situation, religious background, national origin, and documentation status. It describes itself as a community of 'agents of grace' that seeks to meet people where they are spiritually and create space for all who enter. Its worship remembers God's presence in the world and in human lives, responds to God's love and redemptive action in Jesus Christ, and looks to the Holy Spirit for transformation and renewal.
A Sanctuary Built in Two Stages
The original building was completed in 1927 and included the narthex, classrooms, gymnasium, and offices. As the congregation grew, planning for a sanctuary began in 1944. The addition was dedicated in September 1951, giving Fair Oaks the limestone sanctuary that still anchors its worship life.
Both portions of the building are modified Gothic. Indiana limestone gives the newer sanctuary a slightly different color from the older stone, while a slate roof covers the structure. Random concrete block inside the sanctuary contributes to its acoustics. Heavy arched wooden trusses resemble the upturned hull of a ship and recall the Latin source of the word nave. Light oak finishes the interior woodwork and furnishings. Three patterned-glass lancet windows contain sixteen Christian symbols, and symbolic medallions appear in the side windows. Stone and oak also carry images of the Word of God, the Hand of God, wheat, and grapes associated with the Lord's Supper.
Sunday at Ten: Traditional Reformed Worship
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary, with plenty of on-street parking near the church. At 9:00 a.m., the Education Hour includes Children's Sunday School, Mid-High Sunday School, and Adult Education during the program year. The congregation and guest children are welcome throughout worship, and an usher can direct families to the nursery or Loft.
The service is intellectually challenging and inviting. Relevant preaching, corporate prayer, time for individual meditation, and a varied repertoire of music are hallmarks of its traditional Reformed liturgical style. Members of the congregation regularly serve as worship leaders and liturgists, and participation by all age groups is central to the shared worship experience.
Fair Oaks also livesteps worship through its YouTube channel. Sunday sermons are recorded, allowing the congregation's preaching and music to remain available beyond the scheduled service.
Young Children Have a Place in Worship
Children are always welcome in worship. Optional childcare for infants and toddlers is available in the nursery during Sunday School and worship. The Prayground nursery for children under four sits beside the Loft, an overlook where families can participate in the service while tending to young children. The Loft includes a rocking chair and supplies for young worshipers. Worship aids in the narthex help children engage with the elements and actions of worship.
Children's Sunday School meets at 9:00 a.m. from September through May for children from age four through fifth grade. Lessons are developmentally appropriate and interactive, incorporating hearing, reading, play, observation, and cooking as ways of exploring the Bible story.
Logos Builds a Faith Village on Wednesdays
Logos is Fair Oaks' weekly intergenerational experience for children and adults. During the school year, from late September through mid-March, participants in grades 1-12 study the Bible, share a meal, make music and art, play, worship together, and build relationships across generations. Church membership is not required. Registration is required, although guest nights offer opportunities to try the program.
Bible Study
Age-appropriate, interactive lessons use the Faith for Life curriculum to nurture children and youth into intelligent, biblically informed journeys of faith. Co-pastors and trained teachers lead the classes.
Worship Arts
Music, art, writing, handbell ringing, and preparation for liturgy help young people discover their gifts and take responsibility for offering them in the worshiping community. Children are involved in these arts throughout congregational life.
Recreation
Noncompetitive games and art projects give children, youth, and adults time to build relationships, practice cooperation, and delight in play without the pressure to compete.
Family Time
A family-style meal brings participants together around tables with adult volunteers. This shared time is intended to grow a sense of the family of God across generations.
The program follows one rule: 'Treat Everyone as a Child of God!' Grades 1-5 meet from 4:00 to 6:15 p.m., grades 6-8 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and grades 9-12 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Logos is Greek for 'word' or 'wisdom,' and the community formed there is understood as part of the village it takes to raise a child.
Questions, Faith, and Friends for Middle and Senior High
Mid-High Youth Group serves students in grades 6-8 at a stage when curiosity, questioning, doubt, creativity, and exploration need room to flourish. Club Time generally meets from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month at the church, with some gatherings centered on volunteering or recreation. Mid-High also joins Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. and Logos on Wednesday afternoons.
Senior High gives students in grades 9-12 space to be known, honest, and heard. The group emphasizes that teenagers belong in the church without pressure to be perfect. Logos includes bell choir, Bible study, dinner, and recreation. Spring confirmation classes explore what it means to be Christian, Presbyterian, and part of Fair Oaks. The class is generally offered to tenth graders, but any interested student is welcome.
Senior High also undertakes an annual mission trip to a different part of the country. The week centers on building relationships, learning about another community, and volunteering rather than treating service as a short extension of classroom instruction.
Adults Study, Read, Serve, and Create
Adult learning includes a weekly Thursday morning Bible study from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the parlor or on the patio when weather permits, plus Sunday Morning Adult Education at 9:00 a.m. The Fair Oaks Book Group generally meets at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each program year. It selects fiction and nonfiction that can inform faith and often gathers in homes for conversation and fellowship. Each selection is available one month in advance at the main branch of the Oak Park Public Library.
Adult participation extends through music, youth formation, mission, and creative service. Maker's Ministry uses sewing and craft skills to make prayer blankets, baptism quilts, and handcrafted contributions for church events such as the Fair Oaks Market. The Green Team works through the Interfaith Green Network of Oak Park to bring sustainable practices into the church's building, activities, community involvement, and native garden.
Music from Chancel Choir to Handbells
Music enriches worship and many other parts of church life. Depending on the service, the congregation may hear:
- Chancel Choir, Men's Choir, and Women's Choir
- Praise Blessings and Joy for children in grades 1-3
- Musical Notes for children in grades 4-5
- Intermission Bells for middle-school students
- Encore Bells for senior-high students
- Fair Oaks Ringers for adults
- Guitar Ensemble and Clarinet Choir
Linda Van Dyke directs instrumental music, teaches private clarinet and saxophone lessons, and performs professionally. Cathy Dunn serves as organist and brings experience as a pianist, stage director, singer, and former Lyric Opera soprano. Rose Guccione directs vocal music while teaching at Dominican University and working as a professional opera singer and stage actress.
This range of ensembles connects the traditional worship service with the church's intergenerational life. Younger people learn hymns, handbell technique, and other musical skills in Logos, then contribute those gifts to the wider congregation.
Mission Close to Oak Park and Chicago
Fair Oaks' Faith in Action and Mission Committee coordinates ongoing work, evaluates new opportunities locally and globally, encourages hands-on projects, and helps the congregation understand its mission. Its goal is to build strong relationships with local agencies while strengthening the church's focus and involvement in global mission.
Oak Park and Chicago partners include SisterHouse, which supports women in sobriety and healthy relationships, and Austin Coming Together, which coordinates collaboration across more than 50 nonprofit, faith-based, public, and private organizations. A House in Austin offers early learning, parenting support, and parent education on Chicago's West Side, with Fair Oaks providing financial support. The IWS Children's Clinic offers medical, dental, behavioral health, and social services to children. New Moms receives financial gifts and special offerings, while Sarah's Inn receives support for domestic-violence services, crisis intervention, and prevention education.
Beyond Hunger receives food and financial donations as well as volunteers for food collection and distribution. Fair Oaks also supports Housing Forward through financial donations, meals, supplies, and preparation of new housing. Housing Forward meal teams provide meals regularly or periodically, with opportunities for volunteers of different ages and time commitments. Learning Edge offers free one-to-one tutoring and academic enrichment, and its Monday evening sessions meet at Fair Oaks during the school year. The Night Ministry receives funding, supplies, and food for delivery to people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Through Community of Congregations, the church takes part in interfaith ministries, holiday gift baskets, and multi-faith programs in Oak Park, River Forest, and nearby areas. Its Green Team participates in the Interfaith Green Network, supporting sustainable practices and the church's native garden.
Mission Across Uganda, Gambia, Thailand, and Cuba
Global mission includes Friends of TASAAGA, which provides funding and strategic guidance for a Ugandan nonprofit working with young people and rural communities affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty. Gambia Rising keeps Gambian students in school through scholarships, ranging from nursery school to higher education. Working Water The Gambia builds and repairs sustainable water wells in rural villages, providing dependable clean water and reducing the daily burden of collecting it. Thailand Mission provides scholarships for high school, college, and divinity school students in Chiang Mai.
The Havana-Chicago Presbytery Partnership connects the Presbytery of Chicago and the Presbytery of Havana around peace and justice. Through Young Adult Volunteers, the church supports overseas projects, theological education, local and global mission, and disaster assistance. These relationships extend Fair Oaks' calling to serve beyond its own neighborhood while keeping mission connected to concrete educational, health, environmental, and humanitarian needs.
Co-Pastors, the Session, and Deacons
Co-Pastor Hailey Braden Lynch has a particular passion for ministry with families and exploring the Gospel with children. Co-Pastor Ben Lynch serves with Hailey, whom he describes as his wife and best friend. Associate Pastor Kori Robbins brings a hope for the church's future and a deep love for its people. Staff and elected leaders share the responsibility for the congregation's work.
In Presbyterian practice, the pastors and elders together form the Session. Fair Oaks has 12 elders, with four beginning three-year terms each year. The Session prays, deliberates, and votes on major decisions, while individual elders lead areas such as adult education, worship and the arts, children and youth, Logos, outreach, stewardship, property, finance, and congregational activities. Cathryn Steeves serves as clerk of Session.
Deacons carry out a ministry of caregiving and hospitality under moderator Lisa Johnson. Their work includes preparing meals during times of stress, welcoming new people, sending care packages to students away at college, organizing coffee and treats after services, checking connections within the congregation, joining pastors for home visits and communion, and praying. This network of ordained elders and deacons supports both the congregation's spiritual life and the practical care expressed through its worship and mission.
Learning and Fellowship Across the Church Year
Fair Oaks gathers beyond Sunday worship for Fall Feast around Thanksgiving, a progressive dinner in winter, and a summer block party that welcomes neighbors living on the surrounding blocks. Adults have regular opportunities for Bible study, education, and book discussion, while children and youth move among Sunday School, Logos, youth groups, music, and confirmation.
Giving is also part of the church's shared life, with online gifts, pledges, and planned giving through life insurance, retirement accounts or assets, and wills. Worship, learning, music, hospitality, creative service, and mission at Fair Oaks all return to the congregation's shared calling: to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, nurture people into faith and discipleship, and serve in Christ's name.