The Coal City United Methodist Church has stood at 6805 East McArdle Road for a quarter century, but its roots in this Grundy County town run back more than 165 years to a Sunday School started in the homes of Mrs. John Huff and Orlando Young in 1857. Today the congregation describes itself as "a multi-generational church family that welcomes children, seniors, and those in between to exciting worship, study, and fellowship experiences," and it has earned recognition as a Five Star Congregation along with a Welcoming Award from its denomination.
From a Drug Store Upstairs to a Hallelujah Service in 2001
The story of Coal City United Methodist Church begins in the spring of 1857, when Mrs. John Huff and Orlando Young began teaching Sunday School in their homes. Two years later, Rev. Albert Lawrence started a Methodist Episcopal Sunday School in the Robinson School House across the road from the John Hauschild home. In 1875, Oliver Drawn organized the first Coal City Methodist Sunday School, and in 1877 a second Sunday School with worship services began meeting in the village school house on Sunday afternoons, with the pastor paid from proceeds of church dinners and festivals.
By 1887 the congregation had grown enough to build its first church, a building that still stands on the corner of Broadway and Willow. Stained glass windows were dedicated there in 1953. A building fund formed in 1962 paid for a remodeled vestibule and bell tower, then an education wing that welcomed its first Sunday School students in 1965. By the late 1980s, the original building had been remodeled to its limits and the congregation was outgrowing it again.
On September 20, 1992, the congregation voted to build a new church on McArdle Road. Seven years of planning led to a groundbreaking, and the new building rose and was finished in less than two years. In May 2001, members and guests gathered for a Hallelujah Service and Celebration that officially opened the doors of the present building. In September 2007, the church expanded again, opening a twelve-room Sunday School wing on the memorable date of 9/9 at 9:00 in the morning, effectively doubling classroom space and adding a library with built-in shelving and family-friendly restrooms.
Sunday Mornings at Eight and Ten-Thirty
Worship happens twice each Sunday morning at Coal City United Methodist Church, with services at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Between them, at 9:15 a.m., Sunday School meets for every age, and a Fellowship Time fills the 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. window with coffee, pastries, and homemade treats. The congregation describes its services as "on the traditional side of blended," familiar and comfortable but far from stuffy.
Each service includes a Children's Moment, when the youngest members of the congregation hear a message in language they can understand, followed by carefully crafted biblically based sermons that address current realities for youth and adults alike. Musical expression ranges from classical to contemporary, from organ to oboe, from piano to projected multi-media, with the chancel choir and handbell choir providing leadership throughout the program year.
Childcare is offered at all services. The building is fully handicapped accessible, with wheelchairs, walkers, hearing assistive devices, large print bulletins, and large print hymnals all available for anyone who needs them. Ushers are ready to assist when visitors arrive.
Bible Study Through the Week
Christian education at Coal City UMC continues well beyond Sunday morning. The church offers a slate of Bible studies across the week, all open to everyone.
- Beginner's Bible Study meets Mondays at 6:30 p.m. for a step-by-step journey through the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.
- Disciple Bible Study meets Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. and again at 6:00 p.m., with both in-person and online options. Led by Pastor Jay, the study walks through the Bible in the first round and then examines the books in depth across Disciple 1 through 6.
- Wednesday Morning Bible Study gathers at 9:00 a.m., with subjects chosen by the group and varying by season.
- Women's Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m.
Small groups also meet in homes around the community, and the church offers "Discover Us" sessions throughout the year for anyone exploring membership and the United Methodist tradition. Membership is open to people transferring from other Christian denominations and to those making a profession of faith.
Women of Evening Star, Friendship, and Sunshine
Three women's circles keep service and fellowship woven through the life of the church. The Evening Star Circle gathers on the first Thursday of each month for food, fellowship, and Christian service, supporting local church needs and projects as well as the Baby Fold in Normal, Illinois. The Friendship Circle meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the church for fellowship and service through ministries such as funeral dinners, visiting the sick and elderly, and helping with church functions. The Sunshine Circle meets on the second Tuesday of the month, rotating between homes and the church, sponsoring fundraisers, social events, and a variety of church ministries.
The Moms Group meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, gathering to grow in faith while supporting other mothers and working to give the youth of the church every opportunity to grow in the Lord.
Music from Organ to Oboe
Music is woven into nearly every corner of Coal City United Methodist Church. The chancel choir is the primary vocal ministry, providing music for Sunday morning worship throughout the school year and rehearsing on Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. Youth and adults are both welcome to participate. The handbell choir offers special music throughout the year, with Thursday night rehearsals at 6:00 p.m. that are also open to youth and adults. Clare Everitt serves as pianist, and Director of Music Ministries Shanan D'Agostino leads the overall music program. Services have been known to feature oboe alongside organ and piano, with projected multimedia enriching the experience.
Youth in Mission from Appalachia to the Midwest
Children and youth are central to the future of Coal City UMC. Sunday School meets at 9:15 a.m. for all ages, and a youth group for grades 6 through 12 gathers on Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m. for dinner around a table, then moves into Bible study and conversation about how to live as responsible young people in the world.
Mission trips have become a defining part of the youth program. In 2016, the high school youth began participating in the Appalachia Service Project, spending a week each summer making homes in the Appalachian Mountains warmer, safer, and drier, and spending five months beforehand learning basic construction, cultural differences, and the practice of serving others. In 2023, the youth added a second mission experience, joining Midwest Mission to send tangible resources to those in need and to make an intangible difference through hope and empowerment.
A Community Vacation Bible School is offered each summer, drawing together area churches around a shared program.
When the Tornadoes Come, the Church Steps Up
Coal City has been hit by two tornadoes in two years, and the congregation has built a Disaster Relief Team that mobilizes the building whenever disaster strikes. The team provides meals, personal items, and cleaning materials to those affected and coordinates cleanup efforts in the community. The church has also been instrumental in the long-term recovery efforts throughout Grundy County.
Beyond disaster response, the church opens its building and people to serve in other ways. Financial giving, building use, and the sending of people and resources reflect a commitment to bringing hope to the hungry, homeless, hopeless, and anyone in need of relief. The congregation's stated mission is "to be a sanctuary where prayer, worship, acts of mercy and study of scripture empower persons to live as disciples of Jesus Christ." Abundant volunteer opportunities span councils and committees, welcoming and nurturing ministries, small groups, hands-on ministry, office volunteering, education, worship, and technology.
A Pastor, a Staff, and a Parish Nurse
Rev. Bradley F. Watkins II serves as Directing Pastor and can be reached through the church office. Elicia Bochenek directs family ministries. Stephanie Sarff oversees the nursery. Karen Hart serves as both Director of Welcoming and Nurturing Ministries and as Parish Nurse. Shanan D'Agostino leads music ministries, with Clare Everitt at the piano. Eric Kodat serves as Director of Technology, supporting livestreamed and recorded worship.
Finding Your Way to McArdle Road
Coal City United Methodist Church sits on the south side of McArdle Road, about one-eighth of a mile west of Broadway in Coal City, Illinois. From Joliet, take I-55 South to Exit 236, turn west onto Route 113/Division, pass through Diamond, enter Coal City, turn north onto Broadway, then west onto McArdle Road. From Morris, head south on Route 47, turn east onto Route 113/Division into Coal City, then north onto Broadway and west onto McArdle Road. From Dwight, head north on Route 47, then east on Route 113/Division into Coal City.
Office hours run Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to noon during the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the rest of the year. The phone rings at 815-634-8670, faxes at 815-634-2314, and email goes to ccumc@sbcglobal.net. Services can be watched online through the church's Facebook page and YouTube channel, and giving is available online as well as by text. A weekly and monthly newsletter is available by email subscription.
Worship is held in English, the building is fully accessible, and the people of Coal City United Methodist Church stand ready to welcome the next generation of families who find their way to McArdle Road.