Our Mission Statement:
Our Mission is to be a community of disciples with a heart for God and hands to help others.
Church Information
Overview
Since its beginnings in the early 1940’s, Yorkfield Presbyterian Church (YPC) has had a strong tradition of focusing on the clear message of the Good News and life of Christ as expressed through worship, spiritual walks, service and continuing growth, including: learning, fellowship, and service to God in the community and beyond. An evangelical priority is to reach out to the un-churched. Reflecting the demographics of Elmhurst and surrounding communities, the congregation spans members of all ages and stages in life. Long standing members offering spiritual maturity and direction work side-by-side with a growing number of young families, youth and new-comers to church. Many are from diverse faith backgrounds spanning Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Nazarene and other heritages. Among other reasons, many people who attend YPC say they were attracted by the genuine sense of caring and fellowship starting with their first visits.
Here are some statistics about us
Geographic Location
The church is located in Elmhurst (IL) 16 miles directly west of Chicago (30-45 minutes depending on traffic). O’Hare airport is about 15 minutes to the north and Midway airport is about 30 minutes away to the southeast. Residents of Elmhurst have easy access to the Tri-State Tollway (294), the East/West Tollway (I-88), I-290, I-90, I-94 and other major highways providing easy access to Chicago as well as other suburban areas.
Metra also supplies public transportation to the city and suburbs via train, and Pace offers public transportation within the suburbs via bus.
The area has a large commercial industry with many smaller shops in the area and multiple shopping centers a short distance away.
Worship
At YPC, worship is an important part of congregational life and outreach. Many opportunities for individual involvement and sharing of gifts in worship services are available as worship takes on many forms.
YPC has two Sunday worship services (Contemporary and Traditional) each week most of the school year. Sunday school for all ages is between services. Historically during the summer, Sunday worship is scaled back to one worship service and no Sunday school. In addition, since 1997 there has been a 5:30 AM prayer and meditation service every Wednesday.
The congregation is encouraged to share musical, dramatic and other gifts in both Sunday services via Chancel Choir, the Praise Band, Handbell Choir, vocal and instrumental solos, duets, skits, periodic performances by children’s Sunday School, etc. The choral music and the special music vary in style and instrumentation.
Worship services incorporate multi-media elements to reach those who learn and worship in different ways. This also creates opportunities for individuals to assist in worship services with their related gifts.
Learning to worship is important at YPC, as reflected by most youth attending Sunday worship services. About 15 minutes into each service, those below 1st grade are dismissed to a special class following the “Children’s Moment.” Older youth remain for the entire service, unless assisting with the younger children. Children through adults attend Sunday School between the two services. The average attendance is about 90 youth, with the largest number of participants in the 3-4 years old and high school age groups. Adult education classes average about 30-40 attendees.
Special programs that have become traditional for YPC are Youth Sunday, Special Lenten Series and Worship Through Music in addition to other seasonal events.
Ash Wednesday and Thanksgiving Eve services are frequently held in conjunction with neighboring churches.
Fellowship & Seasonal Events
Worship, educational opportunities, ministries and other events also foster fellowship, learning and the development of church family —growing in numbers and depth of relationships, love and support.
During the spring and summer we have a Women’s Retreat, All-Church Picnic, Vacation Bible School, Variety Show, Youth Fellowship Work Camp, Corn Boil, and All-Church Camp (at Saugatuck, MI). The Christmas season offers opportunities for mission giving along with the Christmas pageant and the Cookie Walk. Special musical events include All Music Sunday and the annual Children’s Musical. Youth Fellowship has done musical performances as well (e.g. Godspell).
Congregation —More Insights
YPC consists of over 206 families ranging in size from 1 to 6+ family members. About 250+ people regularly attend Sunday worship services.
An occupational overview of our church membership would show a predominance of white-collar professions, including, but not limited to: teaching, health care professions, communications, government, engineering, management and administration; others include self-employed and blue-collar workers.
Education levels represented range from high school graduates, to those with skilled trades and others with multiple advanced degrees.
Seventy-five percent of members reside in Elmhurst while most of the remaining 25% l ive within 15 miles of the church.
At any given time, a 10% or more percent of regular attenders may not be members of the Church.
In addition, several camps and retreat centers are used by the congregation including Presbyterian Camps (Saugatuck, MI) and others in Indiana and Illinois.
For other events, community resources are utilized such as swimming pools, parks and golf courses.
Educational and Small Groups Programs
Our educational programs include, but are not limited to:
Sunday School for all ages
Adult Education
Communicants classes
Inquirers’ classes
Special courses and seminars
Guest speakers
Small group Bible study
Women’s circles
Teacher training classes
Youth Fellowship (Middle & High School youth)
T.O.W.N. –an after-school Logos program for 1st-5th graders
Vacation Bible School
Men’s and Women’s Prayer Fellowship
Church Library
Mothership – support group for mothers.
Missions & Ministries
There is a strong mission emphasis at YPC. While supporting missions of the PCUSA, YPC also contributes both time and money to many ministries and missions (locally to overseas), many of which are indicated below.
Local Ministries examples include:
Educational and small groups programs
Knitting Ministry
Laubauch Literacy Center
Food Pantry
Prayer Chain
PADS –shelter/food for homeless
Vacation Bible School
Erie Neighborhood House
Recycling
YPC also provides space for programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, TOPS, Diabetes support group, Kindermusic and various other support groups.
International & Other Missions include:
Senior Youth Mission Trips – Summer
Adult Work Mission Trips
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YPC also supports both short and long-term missionaries to spread the gospel to other parts of the earth. A number of Christian ministers and missionaries have gone on from YPC to serve the Church throughout the world.
These are in addition to the supporting of PCUSA missions around the world.
Church Government
The primary church government consists of elders elected by the congregation to serve with the Pastor and other staff as members of the Session. These elders are then leading or actively involved in various commissions (e.g. Worship, Education, Mission, Administration & Personnel) with other members of the congregation. Deacons and Trustees boards, whose members are also elected, administer to the needs of the congregation (e.g. prayers, meals, shut-ins), and the church property and facilities. Stewardship
Stewardship of our time, monetary and other gifts from God is taken seriously by the members of YPC. The annual budget is carefully worked out by Session, and funded through members and non-members of YPC. Currently, about 160+ individuals/families pledge, while others contribute regularly, but without pledging.
Established in 1943, Yorkfield Presbyterian Church is a member of the Presbytery of Chicago Synod of Lincoln Trails and Presbyterian Church USA.