Westminster Presbyterian Church sits on West Highland Avenue on the west side of Elgin, Illinois, where it has built a reputation as a thoughtful, confessionally Reformed congregation in the Presbyterian Church in America. The church's steady motto, "Making mature disciples of Jesus Christ," shapes everything from its Sunday liturgy to its midweek Bible studies and missionary support. Members and visitors who arrive for the 10:30 a.m. service will find a warm congregation that takes both the Bible and the church's historic worship traditions seriously.
A Mission Built on Word, Table, and World
Westminster describes its work through three concentric circles. The first is the Word: the church teaches Christ from all the Scriptures at all levels to all people, anchored in Christ-centered expository preaching. The second is the Table, where hospitality becomes a means of sharing life, edifying the family of God, and inviting outsiders into fellowship. The third is the World, as the congregation seeks to demonstrate and declare the gospel in homes, throughout the city of Elgin, and to all nations.
As a member church of the Presbyterian Church in America, Westminster holds to the Westminster Standards and is governed by the PCA Book of Church Order. The church is part of the Chicago Metro Presbytery. This confessional identity shows up in the service through recited creeds, the regular celebration of the Lord's Supper, and an intentional blending of historic and modern worship music.
Sundays at Westminster
The Sunday morning gathering begins at 10:30 a.m. and is described by the church itself as a "Service of the Word from beginning to end." Reverence, awe, joy, and adoration are the words Westminster uses to characterize the hour. The service is shaped by the Bible: Scripture is read, taught, and applied; prayers are saturated with biblical language; and the congregation sings songs and hymns drawn from Scriptural language and theology.
Music is led by a mix of traditional and contemporary instruments and is piano driven, supported most Sundays by a full band and vocal team. The team's philosophy is that they are "instruments of the Lord," seeking a fullness of sound rather than volume. On the first Sunday of each month, the congregation gathers around the Table to celebrate the Lord's Supper. A printed bulletin with the Order of Service helps visitors follow along.
Those unable to attend in person can watch a livestream on the church's YouTube page, and past sermons are available there as well.
Sunday School for Every Age
Sunday School runs from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and provides a weekly hour of deeper Bible study. The Adult Class meets upstairs in Room 1218 and is taught by Pastor Robin. The Youth class, for students in grades 6 through 12, also meets in Room 1218 and is led by Nathaniel Hasse.
Children's classes gather in the upstairs children's wing. Ages 2 to 3 meet in the nursery, while elementary children are divided by grade: K through 2 in the Children's Church room, and 3 through 5 in the staff room off the sanctuary. The children's classes use the "Growing in God's Word" curriculum from Ligonier Ministries and work through the Old Testament during the fall semester, picking up with the book of Isaiah. Amanda Hasse, the Children's Director, oversees the program.
Children and Youth at the Heart of the Church
Westminster treats the discipleship of children and students as a partnership with parents. The nursery, for children from birth through age 3, is staffed by church volunteers who have completed a background check and training course on child safety. A mothers' room is available for parents who would like to sit and listen to the service via livestream.
Children's Church is offered for children age 4 through third grade during the sermon. During the Doxology, the children are dismissed to meet the Children's Church Coordinator at the back of the sanctuary and return to their families during the closing song. Registration forms are required for both nursery and Children's Church participation, and the church maintains a written Child Protection Policy.
The Youth Ministry serves students in grades 6 through 12. Its mission is to partner with parents for the discipleship of students, providing a safe space for them to explore faith in Christ and grow in that faith. On Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., students gather to "go deeper," studying Scripture and the Westminster Standards and applying theology to daily life. Youth leaders pursue students intentionally, walking with them as they take ownership of their faith and learn to demonstrate and declare the gospel.
Women's Ministry, Men's Ministry, and WPC Moms
Westminster offers a robust set of fellowship and study options for adults. The Women's Ministry runs two Bible study groups. A Monday evening group meets twice monthly from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Conference Room, while a Tuesday morning group meets weekly from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Both studies are open to women of all ages and center on building supportive relationships around God's Word and prayer. Connections, a monthly bring-your-own-lunch gathering on the second Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., offers another way for women to get to know one another in an informal setting.
The WPC Moms' Ministry focuses specifically on women in the season of motherhood, providing space to recharge spiritually, find practical support, and build friendships. The ministry hosts Mom's Night Out evenings and is led by Rebecca Schwartz.
Men's Ministry gathers on the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room. The group encourages men to know and grow in the love and work of Jesus Christ, exploring what it means to be a man, to be masculine, and to be strong, while reminding one another to look to the Cross of Christ for true strength and affirmation.
The Music Ministry
Music plays a central role in Westminster's life. The Worship Team is a vocal and instrumental ensemble that leads music each Sunday morning, blending historic hymn writers with modern composers and original worship music. The Westminster Ringers, the church's handbell and chime ensemble, rehearse on Tuesday evenings and contribute to worship and special services throughout the year. An Audio/Visual team supports the church's technical needs during services. The Music Ministry is led by Jonathan Gilley, with Jeff Nehlsen overseeing the tech team. The Westminster Bells also released their first-ever album, "Good Friday," available on major streaming platforms.
Mercy Ministry and Administer Justice
Westminster's Mercy Ministry exists to extend compassion beyond the church walls, with a vision for long-term material, social, and spiritual development. The Mercy Ministry connects volunteers and resources with partner organizations serving those in need. Among those partners is the Elgin Wayside Center, a day site offering food, counseling, clothing, showers, laundry, and Bible studies to people experiencing difficulties with housing and daily life. Westminster volunteers provide lunch on the third Friday of every other month, lead a Bible study every Monday, supply needed items throughout the year, sponsor a table at the annual Friendship Dinner, and provide operational funding.
The church also hosts an Administer Justice Center on the first Saturday of every month from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The center offers free civil legal counsel, tax help, financial counseling, conflict resolution, and fraud prevention assistance to low-income individuals and families. Volunteer roles include attorney, client advocate, client intake specialist, follow-up advocate, hospitality specialist, interpreter, and prayer champion.
Reaching Out to the Nations
Westminster supports a committed group of missionaries serving around the world. Miriam Grady and her son Evan are moving from a church plant in Trnava, Slovakia to serve in Zlin, Czech Republic, helping with a local church plant, mother-and-child outreach, and English teaching. Jon and Sarah Pfeil serve with Mission to the World in Tokyo, where they helped plant Grace Harbor Church in the Tokyo waterfront area. Ben and Susie Thomas serve with Cru in Rwanda, where Ben directs Kigali International Community School, a Christian K-12 school serving families from more than twenty nations. Dan and Becky Young serve on the Mexico border with the Center for Church Planting, training and mentoring pastors and ministry leaders through the Inter-Border Network for Church Planting and Revitalization. Ian and Hanna Hammond, called by the Chicago Metro Presbytery, planted RUF International at Northwestern University in Evanston, reaching international students and scholars with the gospel.
Beliefs and Governance
Westminster confesses the historic Christian faith as expressed in the Westminster Standards: the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. The church is governed by elders and deacons under the PCA Book of Church Order, a structure that reflects the Presbyterian commitment to representational leadership and shared oversight. The session, board of elders, and diaconate shepherd the congregation together, while the deacons lead the Mercy Ministry and care for the practical needs of the body.
Giving and Practical Life
Westminster offers several ways to give. Online giving through credit, debit, or ACH is available, as is text-to-give by texting "Give" to (847) 582-4389. For donors interested in non-cash gifts such as stocks, bonds, real estate, or business interests, the church works with the Presbyterian Church in America Foundation to facilitate tax-efficient transfers. Alison Carlson, the church's business manager, assists with these arrangements.
A Church on Highland Avenue
Westminster Presbyterian Church occupies a place in Elgin where expository preaching, reverent blended worship, deep community, and gospel generosity meet. With its nursery humming, its handbells ringing on Tuesday evenings, its men and women gathering around Scripture on weeknights, its students digging into theology, and its missionaries serving from Slovakia to Rwanda, the congregation is steadily pursuing its calling to make mature disciples of Jesus Christ in the heart of the Fox Valley and to the ends of the earth.