On a corner lot at 125 West Church Street, St. Peter's United Church of Christ has stood watch over downtown Elmhurst since 1876, when German settlers founded it as the first organized Protestant church in what would become the city of Elmhurst. A century and a half later, the congregation remains rooted in the same neighborhood, the same tradition of inclusive welcome, and the same red-brick sanctuary that replaced the original wooden building in 1924.
A Pioneer Congregation on Church Street
St. Peter's traces its origins to July 2, 1876, when a group of German settlers gathered to organize what was then the first Protestant congregation in the area. The founders belonged to the Evangelical Synod and emphasized the simple preaching of the gospel, alongside a tolerant and warm community life. In 1924, the original building came down and the current sanctuary went up. An education wing followed in 1962. A small cemetery established in 1878 on Alexander Boulevard, next to the campus of Elmhurst University, still belongs to the church today, and the office can answer questions about burial plots.
St. Peter's is a member congregation of the United Church of Christ, a denomination that traces its roots to the Pilgrims and counts among its milestones the ordination of the first African American Protestant pastor and the first woman pastor in American history. Locally, St. Peter's partners with Elmhurst University through scholarships, spiritual support, mentoring, and leadership for the campus community. The congregation is also an Open and Affirming (ONA) designation, formally welcoming people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. The mission of the church, summed up in three short phrases that greet every visitor, is to love God, nurture faith, and share gifts.
Sunday Mornings at 9:30
Worship happens Sunday mornings at 9:30, both in person at the sanctuary and via livestream on YouTube. The service brings together sacred music, a thought-provoking message, and warm fellowship, with time afterward for coffee, treats, and conversation directly behind the sanctuary. A podcast called "Still Speaking with St. Peter's" carries sermons and conversations beyond Sunday morning for those who want to listen anytime.
Two sacraments anchor the church's life. Baptism, celebrated with water and the Holy Spirit, marks the beginning of new life in Christian discipleship and is open to people of any age. Communion, served at the Lord's Table, recalls the table fellowship Jesus shared with his disciples at the Last Supper and after his resurrection. Confirmation is a year-long study for eighth graders who explore faith topics and decide whether to affirm the vows of their baptism as their own. The church also hosts weddings as acts of worship and walks alongside families in the funeral hour, offering sanctuary and pastoral care.
Children, Youth, and the Choir Loft
Families are a visible part of Sunday morning. Children in pre-kindergarten through third grade begin the service in the sanctuary with their families, then head out about fifteen minutes in, following the Mini Message, to Disciple Zone under the leadership of dedicated volunteers who share an age-appropriate version of the same message. Older children in fourth through seventh grade follow the same pattern as Seekers. Eighth graders spend a year in Confirmation, a broad study of faith topics. Activity bags for younger children with active hands are available at the back of the sanctuary, and small children are always welcome to stay with their families throughout the service.
Middle and high schoolers have their own community. ESS is the junior high fellowship for grades 6 to 8, and Senior Youth Fellowship (SYF) gathers the high schoolers. Both groups typically meet once a month for fellowship, fun, and service projects, take an annual mission trip, and welcome friends. The Children's Choir is a lively group that sings, rings bells, and plays rhythm instruments, sharing their gifts in worship about once a month from September through May. The Youth Ensemble is a more advanced group of musicians who alternate between ringing handbells and singing more challenging music; many of its members also lead the Children's Choir or play percussion for the Senior Choir. Each summer, Vacation Bible School brings children and youth together for a week of song, storytelling, crafts, science, games, and a closing celebration worship led by the youth themselves.
Music for Every Age
Music sits at the center of St. Peter's worship life. The Senior Choir, the cornerstone ensemble of the program, sings a wide variety of music most Sundays from September through May and welcomes singers of all ages and ability levels. St. Peter's Bells is an intergenerational three-octave handbell ensemble that rings several times throughout the program year; note-reading is not required. The Strauch Art School, offered in partnership with the church, hosts art classes for children in kindergarten through eighth grade as well as adults, with several evening parent and child painting sessions each year. Members of St. Peter's receive a discount on all classes.
Hands and Hearts Out in the Community
The congregation organizes its mission work under six simple words: Feed, Educate, Shelter, Clothe, Welcome, and Share. Volunteers pack meals for Feed My Starving Children, prepare sack suppers for Chicago's Night Ministry, and collect and distribute food for the Elmhurst Yorkfield Food Pantry and United Community Concerns Association. A Little Library program places children's books in local laundromats and other neighborhood spots, and the church partners with Just DuPage to provide literacy supplies for inmates and their children. St. Peter's supports PADS and Family Shelter Service, the area's homeless and domestic violence shelters, and an annual Adult Mission Trip repairs homes for low-income families and helps with recovery after natural disasters. A knitting group makes scarves and lap blankets for senior care residents and baby blankets for expectant mothers in drug rehabilitation, while annual sock and winter wear collections warm neighbors experiencing homelessness and children in need. Changing Tomorrows, the mission arm of St. Peter's, financially supports more than twenty partner organizations near and far.
Visiting St. Peter's
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Peter's. The church office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the phone number is 630-530-6000. Adult fellowship groups include a Sunday morning Bible study, seasonal book studies, a Men's Fellowship Breakfast, and Sister-to-Sister. The Sunday message is direct: no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.