St. Barnabas Lutheran Church has been a presence in Cary, Illinois, since 1964, when a small group of Lutherans began meeting on Main Street. The congregation has since moved to 8901 Cary-Algonquin Road, where it shares its campus with St. Barnabas Christian Preschool and a building that houses the Cary-Grove Food Pantry. Today the church is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), part of the Northern Illinois Synod, and one of a small number of congregations in the synod that carry the Reconciling in Christ designation, a public affirmation of welcome to people of every race, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, ability, and household circumstance.
The Sunday Gathering at 9:30
Sunday worship is held in person at 9:30 am and typically runs 45 to 60 minutes. The liturgy includes confession, prayers, Bible readings, a sermon, songs, an offering, the sharing of the peace, and Holy Communion. Members and visitors alike are welcome at the table, and baptisms of all ages take place during the same worship service so the whole congregation can witness the promises made.
The service is livestreamed on Facebook Live, and recordings are posted to the church's YouTube channel for later viewing. In the rare event that the stream drops because of a technical problem, a Zoom link is shared so that anyone at home can stay connected until the stream is restored.
There is no dress code. Visitors are invited to come as they are, and a free nursery is available for children through kindergarten, staffed by trained caregivers. Children are also welcome to stay in the sanctuary; the church's stated belief is that worship is more complete when people of all ages are present.
A Reconciling in Christ Welcome
St. Barnabas is a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation. The church publicly welcomes, celebrates, and affirms people of every race, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, health and mental health status, and neurodiversity, and it holds up the sacred worth of those who live with addiction, imprisonment, or difficult economic circumstances. A recent congregational survey, completed by 71 members, found that 95.4% of respondents were optimistic about being an inclusive church, and recurring answers to the question of what keeps people at St. Barnabas included the words welcoming, inclusivity, great community, family and friends, the music, and, frequently, the name Pastor Sarah.
The Cary Campus and Its Neighbors
The Cary-Algonquin Road campus has been added on to over the years, and the building now hosts far more than Sunday worship. St. Barnabas Christian Preschool, licensed by the State of Illinois, serves children ages 3 to 5 on site. Across the parking lot, the Cary-Grove Food Pantry operates as an independent nonprofit out of a separate building, distributing produce, meat, non-perishable goods, and personal care items to clients each month; the food pantry accepts donations of both food and household supplies. Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the church on Tuesday evenings, and local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops use the building as their meeting space. A community exercise class also gathers in the building during the week.
For all of that activity, the building still feels rooted in its original purpose. The leadership describes the church's rhythm as building community together through worship, service, education, and fellowship, a phrase that appears in congregational materials and that names the four commitments that organize nearly everything the congregation does.
Children, Sunday School, and First Communion
Sunday School meets at 9:15 am, fifteen minutes before worship, for children from preschool through fifth grade. The program uses a mix of games, songs, crafts, Bible study, and fellowship to bring the story of the day to life, and the children return to the sanctuary during the hymn of the day for a children's sermon before the larger service continues.
Communion Class is offered each spring for students in second grade and older, along with their parents. The class covers the meaning of the Lord's Supper, what Jesus taught about it, and includes a hands-on session of baking communion bread. After the class, students are welcomed at their first communion during 9:30 am worship the following Sunday. The class takes place in the Family Life Center, which families enter through the office, the middle entrance of the building.
A nursery for children through kindergarten is available during worship and is staffed by trained caregivers, free of charge.
Middle School and the Barnie Waters High School Youth Group
Confirmation at St. Barnabas is a two-year program for seventh and eighth graders. Students gather on Wednesday evenings during the school year to study the Bible, explore what Lutherans believe about God, and take part in service projects in the congregation and the wider community. Multimedia, small group activities, and large group teaching all play a role.
The Middle School Youth Group gathers once a month for students in grades 5 through 8. Activities blend service, fellowship, and faith formation, and the program is described by the church as rooted in service, joy, and fellowship.
The Barnie Waters High School Youth Group is a partnership with Living Waters Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake. Each month, students from both congregations come together for service activities, fellowship, and fun, with meeting locations alternating between the two churches and area spots like pickleball courts, the Feed My Starving Children packing site in Libertyville, and local food pantries. Every summer the group goes on a mission trip focused on issues such as food insecurity and poverty, and two annual fundraisers, a Jazz Night and a Chili Cookoff, help keep the trip affordable for everyone. All high school students are welcome, and visitors are encouraged to bring a friend.
Music and the Three Choirs
Music is woven into Sunday worship and into the wider life of the church. St. Barnabas offers three musical groups. The adult choir and the children's choir both rehearse after worship on Sundays, and the bell choir meets Wednesday evenings at 5:30. Singers and ringers of all experience levels are welcome to join.
Witness, Service, and the Food Pantry Partnership
St. Barnabas takes seriously the call to serve neighbors both near and far. The Witness Team organizes the church's biggest public-facing events, including the Easter Eggstravaganza, the summer Parking Lot Party, the Trunk or Treat, and the Morning in Bethlehem experience in December. The Caring Team takes communion to homebound members, assembles school kits for Lutheran World Relief, prepares care packages for residents of low-income housing, and arranges volunteer shifts at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Members also partner with the Cary-Grove Food Pantry, packing meals, donating supplies, and helping with strategic planning for future needs.
Other recurring service touchpoints include packing meals at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville, an annual Adult Mission Trip inspired by the youth mission trip, and a holiday dinner and caroling visit to Gable Point Senior Living Center in Crystal Lake. Council members have also identified a long-range partnership with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, with the Gable Point community named as the local program site the congregation supports.
Stewardship, Property, and the Life of the Congregation
The Stewardship Team frames giving as more than financial. Stewardship at St. Barnabas is described as gratitude for all the gifts God has given, recognition that nothing is truly owned but is held in care for a while, and a way of walking the talk of Christian faith. The team runs an annual fall stewardship campaign and also oversees the Altar Flower sign-up, where members can dedicate a Sunday's flowers in honor or memory of a person or event for $35 and take the arrangement home after worship.
The Property Team keeps the building and grounds in good repair, with seasonal work days scheduled throughout the year. The Technology Team tends to the audio, video, and projection systems that make the livestream possible. The Finance Team oversees the budget, which is voted on each year at the Annual Budget Meeting held in November.
Adult Faith Formation and Social Groups
Several recurring groups give adults a way to grow in faith and find community outside Sunday worship. Adult Bible Study meets on Fridays from 1:00 to 2:30 pm in Room A/B, and newcomers are welcome to drop in at any time. The Book Group gathers most Sunday evenings at 7:00 pm on Zoom to discuss a chosen book. Walk this Way is a walking group that meets in the warmer months, sometimes following the church's walking path after Sunday worship and other times gathering at area spots like The Hollows. The Prayer Shawl and Knitting Group knits and crochets shawls together, and the Prayer Team meets on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm, both in person and on Zoom, to lift up prayer requests from the congregation and the community.
Lunch and Learn gathers on the second Tuesday of each month with a shared meal and a guest speaker on a rotating topic. Decided Later is the church's young adult social group, open to people roughly 18 to 40, meeting once a month for activities like bonfires, BBQs, and game nights.
The Pastoral Team and Church Council
Pastor Sarah Wilson leads the congregation. The pastoral and program staff includes Dawna Gates as Parish Administrator, Gloria Peetz as Music Director, Hannah Brescia and Susan Kelly as Co-Youth Directors, Mark Gates as Technology Director, and Sam Damiano as Director of Marketing and Communications.
The 2026-27 Church Council includes Mike Dunker (President), Jenny Vogt (Vice President), and Karen McKune (Secretary), alongside team representatives Kurt Kreutzmann (Caring), Brenda Kolak (Christian Education), Vic Morris (Witness), Danielle Proebsting (Fellowship), Liz Damiano (Finance), John Ulaszek (Property), Ted Wagner (Stewardship), Sean Rochford (Worship and Music), and Danny Whyte (Youth).
Getting Started at St. Barnabas
For anyone considering membership, St. Barnabas offers a two-part Explore St. Barnabas series in the spring and the fall. After Sunday worship, the group gathers for about an hour to talk about the church, the Lutheran faith, and the ELCA, with time for questions. Those who choose to join are welcomed at a New Member Sunday that follows.
Baptisms of all ages are scheduled in consultation with Pastor Sarah and are always celebrated during Sunday worship so the whole congregation can share in the promises made. Weddings and funeral services are available through the pastor and the church office.
Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am to noon. The phone number is 847-639-3959, the email address is office@stbarnabas-cary.org, and the mailing address is 8901 S. Cary-Algonquin Road, Cary, IL 60013. A Connection Card is available online for visitors who would like to share contact information or a prayer request.
Generosity and Giving
Giving is part of the rhythm of life at St. Barnabas. Offerings are received during Sunday worship and can be made by cash, check, or digital means. For those following along on the livestream or catching up later on YouTube, the church offers several digital options, including Zelle (using giving@stbarnabas-cary.org as the payee through Chase Bank), text-to-give, and the Tithe.ly mobile app for one-time or recurring gifts. Offerings can also be mailed to the church office. Members who want to support the church with a planned gift, a gift of stock or mutual fund shares, or other specialized giving can contact Pastor Sarah.