A Reconciling Congregation on Gary Avenue
St. Andrew United Methodist Church has stood at 250 North Gary Avenue in Carol Stream, Illinois, since 1970, anchoring a corner of the village with a steady witness of welcome. The congregation describes itself as a reconciling congregation, opening its doors, hearts, minds, and arms to everyone regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, language, country of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical ability, socio-economic condition, education, or family status. The church's mission is short and direct: "To Love God and Love Our Neighbor," as the community moves toward perfection in love.
From a Borrowed Gym to a Rebuilt Sanctuary
St. Andrew was established in 1965 in what was then a brand-new Village of Carol Stream, two stoplights outside Chicago on North Avenue. The first worship services met in the gym of what is now Roy DeShane School. By 1970 the church had grown enough to build its own sanctuary on the Gary Avenue site, and the building shaped the next seventeen years of congregational life.
That changed in the summer of 1987, when fire destroyed the church building. The congregation did not pause. Within days, plans were in motion for alternate space for Sunday worship, Sunday School, choir practice, meetings, offices, and the Early Learning Center. For the next five years, St. Andrew worshipped in the original building of St. Isidore Catholic Church on Gary Avenue and Army Trail Road. The choir rehearsed at Heritage Presbyterian Church on Kuhn Road, the Early Learning Center held classes at Geneva Road Baptist Church, and the pastor's office and church offices were given free of charge by the Brust Funeral Home on Gary Avenue. In time a new sanctuary rose on the original site, where the congregation continues to gather today.
Sunday Worship at 9:30
Worship is held every Sunday at 9:30 a.m., both in person and online via YouTube and Facebook. The service is traditional in shape with an upbeat feel, drawing on a wide mix of well-aged hymns and newer songs led by a Chancel Choir, a Praise Band, and an Accompanist. Time is set aside for both public and silent prayers. Holy Communion is celebrated every week, and the table is open to everyone who wishes to come forward. The church's own words sum up the welcome: "Sox Fans, Cubs Fans, Catholic, Protestant, Not-sure-I-know-what-I-believe, Spiritual but not religious, non-Christian - you are welcome. We believe this is Jesus' table."
Children hear a children's message as part of the service and are then invited to Sunday School for their remaining time. After worship, adults gather for an hour of Sunday School from 11:00 a.m. to noon.
Faith Formation for Every Age
Intentional faith development runs through every part of the church's life. The elementary-age Sunday School uses the Celebrate Wonder curriculum from Cokesbury Publishing, built around songs, videos, and hands-on activities that engage children's curiosity. Ruth Barnes and Henrieta Ribeiro coordinate this work through the church office.
Adult Sunday School meets every Sunday after worship and runs through a wide variety of topics, usually working through DVD-based discussion. Advent and Lent bring their own dedicated study materials. There is no homework, and the goal is as much relationship-building as content. Weekly Bible and book studies, plus occasional educational seminars during the year, round out the discipleship rhythm. The congregation points interested members to resources from the Discipleship Task Force of the Northern Illinois Conference.
A Choir, a Band, and a Bell Tower
Music sits at the heart of St. Andrew's worship. Music Director Janet Schultze directs the adult choir for worship and seasonal cantatas, leads an expanded hand chimes and bells program, and collaborates with the Praise Band. Accompanist Judit Barna Mohai supports the adult choir, the children's choir, prelude, postlude, and congregational hymns, and plays with the trio Trio Esperanza. The church is also home to JAM (Jesus and Me), a children's choir, and a Bell Choir. Special Music Sundays set aside time for gifted music ministry from within the congregation.
Serving the Neighborhood in Love
The church's outreach work has grown into one of the most visible parts of its identity. On Monday evenings from 5:00 to 6:00, the Food Pantry opens its doors to anyone in need. Thanks to a partnership with Panera Bread, the pantry distributes bread, bagels, scones, muffins, sweet rolls, and cookies alongside non-perishable food and toiletries. Each dollar given through the partnership with Neighborhood Food Pantries is matched at eight times its value, working toward a hunger-free DuPage County.
The Clothing Closet runs alongside the Food Pantry on Monday evenings, offering a weekly selection of clothing for men, women, and children supported by donations from the church and wider community.
On Saturdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., the St. Andrew Citizenship Mentoring Center partners with World Relief Wheaton to prepare legal permanent residents for the naturalization exam. Mentors work one-on-one with students on reading, writing, civics, government, and U.S. history. The same Saturday hours host Basic Learning English classes, and Friday evenings at 6:30 bring a virtual English Conversation class with instructor Pat Sovonick.
Once a month, the Sandwich Ministry gathers volunteers to prepare 150 bag lunches, each with a sandwich, condiments, a granola bar, and a bottle of water. The lunches are delivered to Hesed House in Aurora, the second-largest homeless shelter in Illinois, Mutual Grounds, a domestic violence shelter for women and children, and the Jim Profitt House for homeless veterans in Chicago. A separate Veggie ministry extends the food effort further.
St. Andrew also works with the Village of Carol Stream police department on restorative justice cases, and supports the broader CROP Walk Against Hunger, which brings together walkers from a dozen congregations in Carol Stream, Bartlett, and West Chicago for a five-mile walk each year.
United Women in Faith and United Methodist Men
The local chapter of United Women in Faith was organized in 2012, adding to more than fifty years of the organization's broader ministry. The chapter runs a Secret Sister program throughout the year. United Methodist Men meet for breakfast on the second Saturday of each month, supporting one another and the church through service projects and fellowship. A Young Adult Fellowship gathers members in their twenties and thirties around shared faith and community.
Leadership
The congregation is served by Rev. Solomon Sudhakar, an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church who also serves on the Northern Illinois Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. He is married to Rev. Satya, also an ordained Elder in the UMCNIC, and the couple have two daughters. Margaret Zucco serves as Administrative Assistant, and Clarence Slack as Custodian. Music is led by Janet Schultze and Judit Barna Mohai.
Where the Doors Stand Open
St. Andrew United Methodist Church calls itself a reconciling congregation, and the language shows up in everything from the welcome at Communion to the Monday Food Pantry line to the citizenship classroom. Worship, formation, music, and service are stitched together as one practice of loving God and loving neighbor in Carol Stream.