Serving at Elmhurst Presbyterian
People Make the Church Work
We welcome all to participate in our church: in worship, social activities, mission work, and leading the church.
We would love for everyone to join and become full members, but recognize that is not what works for everyone at every time in their lives. Thus, you only must become a member if you would like to serve in leadership roles, which are outlined in the Presbyterian Book of Order.
Here at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church, we consider the giving of time and talents as stewardship. When most people think of stewardship they think of financial commitment; and, while it is true that church members are asked to pledge financially each year, stewardship extends beyond money. We encourage everyone to be good stewards & find a place to serve the church.
Consider serving on one of our committees!
Is the Spirit calling you to the work of the church? There’s definitely a committee for you, your talents, and interests. Read up on your options below.
Committees meet approximately 8 times per year at Leadership Breakfasts, which are on Sunday mornings prior to worship during the school year. Additional meetings are called as needed for each committee.
Committees
Our B&G Team takes care of our beautiful church building and all the property it sits on. They are the crew responsible for keeping everything in working order in the sanctuary, offices, classrooms…in short, everywhere. It’s a big job and we have an amazing team doing it together.
Team members: Steve Mortensen (chair), Marj Schuham, Jim Davidovich, Paula Reckley, Steve Reckley, Dawn Yanahan, John Yanahan
Contact: asmort@comcast.net (Steve, B&G Chair)
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Gardening Team – The Gardening Team lives under Building & Grounds but does not have official meetings. They plant and tend to the vegetable garden and help manage the grounds of the church. God calls us “to be faithful stewards of Creation and to show ways to live responsibly in the world God has given us” (an essential belief of the Presbyterian faith).
With the climate changing and species dying at a faster rate than ever, we must do more to care for Creation. At EPC, we are working to restore natural ecosystems on our property. Our team’s work often includes tending to the raised beds in our organic vegetable garden, removing invasive plants on the grounds, tidying up the garden beds, and cleaning up the grounds. There are always jobs for children and adults. Please bring gloves, rakes, yard waste bags, and clippers.
Contact: suzanne.springate@gmail.com (Gardening Team Leader)
CC&RH is the team in charge of taking care of us when we are together. (Guess who makes all the coffee on Sunday mornings?!) They also put on social events regularly, usually centered around food. Some of the annual events CC&RH hosts are Soup Sunday, making & decorating cookies for those who can’t leave their homes at Christmastime, and our St. Paddy’s Day Parade Hospitality.
Team members: Jennifer Gordon, Alan West, Connie Nestler (co-chair), Berlirce Chetgna, Karen Fitzgerald (co-chair), Ted & Rita Steiskal, Karen Fitzgerald, Bedsy Lee, Pat Campbell
Contact: illinifitz@gmail.com (Co-Chair Karen) & cjnestler65@gmail.com (Co-Chair Connie)
Team members: Clare Collins (chair), Erin Fitzgerald, Bedsy Lee, Emerson Azcoitia, Micaiah Brown, Faith Lee, Haley Sliwa, Kim Smith
Contact: collinsc@district96.org (Clare, Chair of Faith Formation)
Team members: Doug Fitzgerald (chair)
Contact: fatfitzman@yahoo.com (Doug, Church Treasurer)
The HR Committee provides counsel, recommendations and support to the Head of Staff, staff members, and all leadership teams. Representatives from the HR team meet regularly with the Head of Staff and other staff members. The team members conduct due diligence to follow Presbytery requirements and best practices in HR supervision. The team assures records are kept for key employment agreements, requirements, and job specifics (pay, title, job functions, etc.,) along with Illinois State compliance. The HR team provides regular reports to the Session on activity by the team. The HR team provides support, but all staff members report to the Head of Staff. The HR team recognizes and celebrates staff members’ good work and accomplishments in a variety of ways, both individually and publicly. The team tries to model grace and patience for all.
Team members: Patti Berner (chair), Cheryl Kopecky, Kay Pankau, Tom Turek
Contact: ElmhurstChurchHR@gmail.com (Patti, HR Chair)
Our Mission & Outreach Team leads the church in outreach by promoting a variety of causes to support through benevolent giving, donations, and volunteering. We communicate with and educate the congregation about mission opportunities, as well as organize and facilitate mission events.
Team members: Alan West, Jeffrey Deutsch, Anna Lu (chair), Suzanne Pitz, Amy Mortensen, Suzanne Springate, Alex Waite, Suzanne Waite
Contact: annapearson8@gmail.com (Anna, Mission Chair)
Team members: Art Pitz (Chair)
Contact: artpitz@hotmail.com
Team members: John Lu, Bill Berner, Erica White, Keith Baumann, Edward Mbewe (Chair)
Contact: edwardkmbewe.cpa@gmail.com (Edward, Chair)
Team members: Carol Ewert (chair), Susan Leslie, Kathy Thompson, Cheryl Turek, Susan Smentek
Contact: cewert56@comcast.net (Carol, Worship Chair)
Serve
Maybe you hear God calling you to serve the church, but something about committee work doesn’t work for you right now. No worries; there are still more ways to serve! Below are some opportunities that are more sporadic or sign-up-for-one-event-at-a-time that might be right for you.
Other Ways to Serve
This group of people crochets prayer squares and prayer shawls to spread the Love of Christ to those in need.
Team members: Mary Mueller, Joy McGuire
Contact: elmhurstpresbyterianoffice@gmail.com
We need ushers every week to walk the collection plates down the aisles for our offering. It is as straightforward a task as you can get and takes about 3 minutes during worship any given Sunday.
Contact: elmhurstpresbyterianoffice@gmail.com
Livestreaming our worship service weekly, managing sound and lights, and supporting the EPC Praise Band takes a lot of effort! We need volunteers who are willing to learn the ropes alongside our A/V technical experts so that they have help and backup as needed.
Contact: elmhurstpresbyterianoffice@gmail.com
Each week a different member of the church leads the worship service. You are given a script to read from and lead the service almost in tandem with the pastor. It helps to be comfortable with public speaking and to do the task with energy and love. If you are interested, contact Carol Ewert on the Worship committee to sign up!
Contact: cewert56@comcast.net (Carol, Worship Chair)
Leadership Roles
All of these positions are nominated and elected by the congregation.
The minister, known also as a Teaching Elder, is nominated by a Pastor Nominating Committee. That committee is nominated by the church. The Pastor’s work is known as “the ministry of teaching and pastoral care.” They preach and teach the Word and the faith of the church so that the people are shaped by the pattern of the gospel and strengthened for witness and service.
Session is the governing body of the church moderated by the pastor. Nine Elders on Session represent the congregation and guide the spiritual path of the church. Their work is known as “the ministry of discernment and governance.” There are three classes of Elders, each with three members, who serve three-year terms. That way, there is always rotation of new leaders and seasoned members on Session
The Clerk of Session manages the business of the session, files reports as needed with the Chicago Presbytery, but does not have voting privileges.
The Diaconate, or the Deacons, are a group of nine church members who attend to the spiritual and physical needs of the congregation. Their work is known as “the ministry of compassion and service.” There are three classes of Deacons, each with three members, who serve three-year terms. Each member of the congregation is assigned a Deacon to whom they can reach out if they need assistance. Each Deacon is responsible for caring for a “parish” of the congregation.