Yorkville Congregational
409 CENTER PARKWAY
YORKVILLE, IL 60560
630.553.7308
Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.
WHO WE ARE
OUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS
OUR STAFF
WHO IS THE UCC?
WHO WE ARE
YORKVILLE CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Sunday Morning Worship at 10 am
OUR MISSION
It is our mission to nurture the divine spark within all people so that together we can advance God's peace and justice, serve others and care for creation with open minds, generous hearts and willing hands.
OUR VISION
We seek 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.
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 guide for life's journey.
Our local church autonomy.
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.
OUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS
OUR SPRITUAL LEADERS
AT YCUCC
Pastor :
Rev. Mark Gregory
Biography
Rev. Mark Gregory became our Pastor in August of 2008. He had previously served at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Barrington IL.
Pastor Mark is a lifetime member of the United Church of Christ, having been baptized and confirmed in the Westchester Community Church, in Westchester, IL, way back in 1954.
Mark attended Western Illinois University, for four years, graduating in 1976 having earned a Bachelor of Business degree with a major in Marketing. He then spent 26 years as an independent manufacturer’s sales representative in the Chicago area.
Mark received his Master of Divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, IL, which he attended from 1997-2004.
Mark lives in Yorkville, IL, with his wife of 18 years, Rev. Michelle Prentice-Leslie.
Mark and Michelle love to travel, especially to visit their 3 grandchildren in CA, and our amazing National Parks. Mark loves hiking and backpacking in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. He also enjoys reading, listening to ALL kinds of music, walking and playing with his two dogs (Golden Retriever Mesa and rescue mutt Madison), working with tools, and spending time with family and friends.
From Pastor Mark
If there be any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being of full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus… Philippians 2:1-5
I believe that as Christians we are called to “be Christ” to others, to give ourselves to others Christ gave himself to us. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are to look for the good in all people. And we are to extend ourselves for others. Our God is The God of covenant relationship, and I believe God desires for us to be in loving covenantal relationship with God, and with each other.
As “Christ-Ones”, we are to teach about the Gospel through our words, but even more through our actions (Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light shine before all people in such a way that they may see your good works and give glory to God who is in heaven.”). I believe Jesus Christ has called us to love people into the Gospel, by accepting them where they are, as they are. I was proud to be a part of the process that resulted in Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ becoming an “Open and Affirming” congregation.
I also believe that we are called to stand for justice in this world (Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”). I know that based on the experiences of my life, based on the places I feel called to work and serve, that working for peace and justice are a part of what God expects of me, expects of all of us who claim Christ as our brother and Savior.
On the Bible
I love helping adults and kids alike explore the Bible and discover how it applies to our life today. I believe the Bible is the “inspired Word of God”, not the literal Word of God. It is a book of history, wisdom, consolation and witness. It is both his-story, and her-story. An although the Bible comes to us out of an ancient culture, so it is necessary to understand the Bible stories in their original context in order to understand its truth for us today. And I believe that through the movement of, and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “there is yet more light and truth to break forth from God’s Word” for each of us, in our time and place.
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
OUR STAFF
AT YCUCC
Building Manager:
Mary Ellen Anderson
Biography
Mary Ellen has been a member of YCUCC since 1978. She has always been involved in the church as a Sunday school teacher, former Christian Education Director and has served on numerous committees. She earned her BS degree from ISU, taught in the Aurora schools for ten years, six years at a local preschool in Yorkville, and six years in the corporate world as a receptionist/office manager. In 2008 she joined the church staff as our first building manager. She coordinates building repairs and service, building use by the community, private groups and church programs and maintains the church calendar of events. She works closely with families as our church funeral and wedding consultant.
Mary Ellen and Fred are proud parents of three sons, Bill who lives in Yorkville, Bob who lives in Colorado and Jim who lives in Plano and enjoy being called “Papa and Nana” to their four grandchildren. She loves dogs and always has treats with her for her four-legged friends. Mary Ellen loves to bake, play cards or any other competitive board game.
Obey the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24
Administrative Assistant:
Liz Cronshaw
Biography
Liz joined the YCUCC staff in 2018 as the Administrative Assistant. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Operations Management, she worked as a National Accounts Site Manager in the secular world. During a difficult pregnancy, Liz came to know our Lord, Jesus. As a stay at home mom, she spent the next 10 years raising her son, attending countless bible studies, and studying the Word. In 2016, Liz returned to the work force part-time with a local temporary agency, until she became the Administrative Assistant at YCUCC.
Liz feels very blessed to have her husband (John) and her son (Jacob) to walk her journey in this life. As a family, they enjoy going to baseball games, doing home improvements and spending time together as a family. Liz’s personal interests include staying in the Word, bible studies, and connecting christians & the community through needs and good deeds through her website.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
WHO IS THE UCC?
WHO WE ARE
AT 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.
