409 CENTER PARKWAY
YORKVILLE, IL 60560
630.553.7308
WHO WE ARE
OUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS
OUR STAFF
WHO IS THE UCC?
WHO WE ARE
WHO WE ARE
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
To live as Jesus lived: Love without Judgement, Welcome without Exception,
Serve with Compassion, Teach by Example.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
God's community of unconditional love, made real for everyone, everywhere.
OUR CORE VALUES
An open and welcoming church environment.
Assisting persons in time of hardship.
Spiritual nurturing of children and young adults.
Our responsibility to identify and respond to local, national and worldwide needs.
Our time of fellowship and breaking bread together.
The gift of music as a part of worship.
Our responsibility to be good stewards of the earth and environment.
The need for direct and open communication.
The Bible is Holy Scripture and a guide for life's journey.
Our local church autonomy.
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ Shepherds' Leadership Team (SLT) is a group of leaders (members of our church) who meet monthly to guide the activities of the church and make decisions to support the purpose, vision, mission, core values and core beliefs. The Shepherds' Leadership Team (SLT) is comprised of 11 elected "Shepherds" who protect, guide and watch over a person or group of people within his/her ministries. Also, on the Shepherds' Leadership Team (SLT) will be a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Recording Secretary and the Pastor.
OPEN AND AFFIRMING COVENANT
YCUCC is an open and affirming congregation that seeks to meet each child of God - persons
from the full diversity of creation including gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and
expression, physical and intellectual ability, age, race, nationality, economic and
social status, faith background, marital standing and family structure - where they
are on life's journey as together we seek to transform all our lives through Christ's Gospel.
YOUTH MISSION STATEMENT
To live like Jesus; serve people in need, volunteer in the church, accept all, uplift others, communicate through love, support our community.
OUR HISTORY
Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ traces its roots to 1834 when settlers formed Baptist and Congregationalist Churches north and south of the Fox River.
Today members of Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ come from Kendall County and the Fox River Valley. We are in covenant with the Fox Valley Association of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ.
PROUD MEMBER
Member of the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce
OUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS
OUR SPRITUAL LEADERS
YORKVILLE CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Pastor :
Rev. Elizabeth Hartung
Biography
Rev. Elizabeth Hartung graduated from Valparaiso University with a History and Education degree. She began teaching high school Social Studies shortly after that. During that time she earned a Masters of Public Administration from IIT. After a decade plus in the classroom, she realized God was calling her elsewhere. She began working at her local church and entered seminary. She graduated from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2013 and was ordained in 2015. She and her husband, Bob McGee were married in 2016. This is their second marriage after both being widowed. They have a beautifully blended family with five daughters and a son-in-law. Bob and Elizabeth now call Yorkville their home and are enjoying all that the Yorkville area has to offer.
Christian Education Director:
Barb Thurlby
Biography
Barb joined the YCUCC staff in 2017 as Director of Christian Education. Grounded in faith, and a commitment to serve, she served in social services for 15 years prior to joining our church staff. Barb holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Trinity Christian Collage and a master’s degree in Human Services Counseling from Liberty Christian University. Her passion to inspire and nurture children in the love of Christ is the driving force as she leads a committed team of leaders to encourage children to grow in faith, love others and serve with generous hearts. She is the mom of two amazing children, Matthew and Amy and loving Gram to McKenzie and Zoey. Barb and her husband Robert reside in Yorkville. She enjoys reading, biking, traveling and coffee!
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40
OUR STAFF
WHO IS THE UCC?
WHO IS THE UCC?
YORKVILLE CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
OUR FAITH IS 2,000 YEARS OLD. OUR THINKING IS NOT.
We believe in God's continuing testament. This is why we are committed to hearing God's ancient story anew and afresh in our lives and in the world today. We try to remain attentive to God's creative movement in the world. Religion and science are not mutually exclusive, and your head and heart are both welcomed into our places of worship. We prepare our members and leaders to be engaged in ministry in the present and future church, and we embrace all kinds of communities and new modes of thinking. Why? Because God is still speaking,
NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE ON LIFE'S JOURNEY, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
We believe in extravagant welcome. This is why we insist that God's communion table is open, not closed, and God's gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable. We advocate justice for all. Our congregations extend hospitality as a sign of God's inclusive love. We teach that evangelism — offering bread to those in search of it — is God's mission. Our perspective is global, not provincial. We work with — not against — people of other faiths. Why? Because God is still speaking,
NEVER PLACE A PERIOD WHERE GOD HAS PLACED A COMMA.
We believe the church's mission is to change lives — individually, systemically and globally. We work to make transformation possible, but trust in God's grace. This is why we insist that churches must be places of vitality in worship, learning and advocacy. We are committed to working for justice, and we believe that lives are changed through global experiences and friendships. Why? Because God is still speaking,
The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under supernatural guidance by the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme and final authority for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error in the original autographs.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
Return of Christ
The return of Christ for the Church could occur at any moment. This “blessed hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. Jesus will physically return to earth to set up His kingdom, and there will be a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Divinity
God is sovereign over all things such that there is no aspect of reality outside of His ultimate control. Though God’s rule extends to all things, it is particularly His sovereignty over the work of salvation that is a theological distinctive. We believe that it is exceedingly good and glorious news that salvation is not dependent on the desires and deeds of man, but is grounded instead in God’s eternal decree of election.
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins.
WHAT IS
THE GOSPEL?
The gospel is the good news of God's grace invading the darkness of this world. It is the grand narrative of creation, fall, redemption and consummation ordained by God and orchestrated through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Christ's crucifixion is the heart of the gospel. His resurrection is the power of the gospel. His ascension is the glory of the gospel.
Christ's death is a substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. It satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and appeases His holy wrath. It also demonstrates His mysterious love and reveals His amazing grace. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name by which men can be saved. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have in glorifying God because of what He has accomplished. Therefore, we want all that takes place in our hearts, churches and ministries to proceed from and be related to the gospel.
