On a residential block in Clarendon Hills, a white frame colonial church first opened its doors in 1938. Almost a century later, that modest building has given way to a three-hundred-seat sanctuary where roughly four hundred fifty members gather each week to worship, learn, and belong. Community Presbyterian Church of Clarendon Hills takes its name seriously: the word "community" is not just geography but a way of being church together. The congregation embraces diversity in race, sexual orientation and identity, socioeconomic status, physical ability, and age, and proclaims itself open and affirming of LGBTQIA+ persons. Founded as a mission of the Presbytery of Chicago in 1929, CPC continues to weave its story into the life of the surrounding neighborhoods.
A Church on Prospect Avenue Since 1929
Community Presbyterian Church was organized on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1929, as a mission of the Presbytery of Chicago with an initial membership of thirty-four people. At the time there was only one church and one school in the village to serve the needs of three hundred residents. The Rev. Malcolm S. Sweet arrived in 1936, and two years later the cornerstone of the first Community Presbyterian Church building was laid. That white frame colonial-style structure stood where the current sanctuary stands today.
Dr. Glen J. Schillerstrom became the third pastor in 1942. The years that followed brought steady growth and a long campaign to build a larger sanctuary. To mark the church's twenty-fifth anniversary, the cornerstone was laid for the present three-hundred-seat sanctuary, which was completed in 1954.
Through the 1960s and beyond, the church shaped many of the youth and education patterns that continue to define its ministry today. In 1971 Ross Ludeman became CPC's first Associate Pastor, beginning a two-pastor leadership model that has remained a hallmark of the congregation. The Rev. Christine Chakoian was called in 1996, and her tenure saw membership reach nine hundred as the sanctuary was remodeled and a custom Martin Ott tracker organ was installed. The Rev. Beth Freese Dammers began her service as pastor and head of staff in May 2015, and the Rev. Dr. Nancy Kahaian currently serves as Interim Head Pastor alongside Associate Pastor Rev. Dean Choi.
The current sanctuary houses a two-manual mechanical-action Martin Ott pipe organ, designated Opus 93, with twenty-two stops and twenty-seven ranks of pipes. Construction began in 1999, the instrument was transported from St. Louis in November 2000, and it was first heard in worship in February 2001. The dedication recital, performed by David Schrader, took place on April 22, 2001. Martin Ott, the son of a German organ builder, holds the title of Orgelbaumeister, master organ builder, and has built more than one hundred tracker-action organs.
Casual Traditional Worship on Sundays
Sunday worship gathers at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary and via livestream, lasting about an hour. The congregation describes its style as "casual traditional," rooted in the rhythms of Reformed worship while leaving room for new expressions. On a typical Sunday, members might hear a Bach prelude, sing a traditional hymn, and listen to a contemporary arrangement performed by the choirs, sometimes all in the same morning. Pastors and choir often wear robes; people in the pews dress comfortably and casually.
Worship includes communion, prayers for joys and concerns, and the passing of the peace. Communion is served the first Sunday of each month. The church practices open communion, in keeping with a conviction that God's invitation to the table extends to everyone, regardless of church membership, denominational background, age, race, ability, gender, or sexual identity. Both Deacons and Elders serve the elements.
For those unable to attend in person, every service is livestreamed at chcpc.online.church, and recordings are posted on demand by Monday afternoon. The online host greets worshippers each week and a digital pew pad lets visitors sign in with no registration required. Prepackaged communion elements can be delivered to home worshippers who wish to share in the sacrament from their living rooms.
Once each summer, the entire congregation moves outdoors for Worship on the Lawn, a service held under a large tent on the south lawn. Bluegrass music, a taco truck, folding chairs, and blankets transform the grounds into an outdoor sanctuary. The service is not livestreamed that day; in case of rain the gathering moves into the sanctuary.
Open Table, Open Hearts
Inclusion shapes the way the congregation understands itself. The church greets all with the words "Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here," and the Sunday morning liturgy repeats them. CPC embraces diversity in race, sexual orientation and identity, socioeconomic status, physical ability, and age. It is open and affirming of LGBTQIA+ persons, encourages honest expression of both faith and doubt, and is egalitarian in theology and practice, celebrating women in leadership of all kinds.
The congregation particularly values the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s emphasis on grace and serving others, its support for ordaining women as ministers, and its openness toward full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ members. Members hold to the priesthood of all believers, valuing the equality of all people over hierarchy and trusting that God calls everyone to ministry, not just clergy.
Baptism is celebrated as the sign and seal of God's grace and covenant in Christ, witnessing to the truth that God's love claims people before they are able to respond in faith. The congregation, on behalf of the whole church, assumes responsibility for nurturing baptized children in the Christian life. Dates for baptism begin with a request made through the church office and are approved by the staff and the Session.
Children and Youth at CPC
CPC welcomes children of every age into the life of the congregation. Infants through two-year-olds are cared for in the nursery across from the church office on the main floor. The nursery is always available for use, and even when not staffed it carries a livestream of the worship service, so parents need not miss a moment of the sermon.
Children ages three through fifth grade begin worship in the sanctuary with their families. Grace Space, an inclusive area on the north side of the sanctuary in front of the chancel, holds books, puzzles, fidget items, coloring and activity pages, play-doh, streamers, and worship bags, all designed to help young worshippers engage with the service. Two or three adult volunteers sit with the children during worship to help them follow along. After a brief "Growing with God" time, the children are invited to room 6 on the lower level for Faith Formation. On Communion Sundays, various other Sundays, and throughout the summer, children stay in the sanctuary for the whole service. Kristin Duy, Director of Children and Family Ministries, oversees this ministry alongside the CPC Kids' Academy.
Middle schoolers, called The Rock, and high schoolers, called Cubes, meet on Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., September through May. The Rock has packed meals at Feed My Starving Children, gone Christmas shopping for their own families, prepared soup jars for older CPC members, and handed out candy at Halloween. Cubes gather for small group discussion, dinner provided by parents or the group itself, and raucous games that include scavenger hunts, laser tag, and the famous WF (Westminster Fellowship) games in Fellowship Hall. Each year the high school group takes a fall and spring retreat, and confirmation is offered with Confirmation Sunday celebrated in May.
For decades, CPC youth have traveled on summer Mission Caravans. Recent summers have sent the high schoolers to rehabilitate homes in Kentucky and to serve children with special needs at Camp Courageous in Iowa. College students stay connected through periodic communications and a winter retreat during school break. Youth also participate each spring in a 30 Hour Famine with World Vision, fasting from all food and drink except water and raising money to fight global hunger.
CPC Kids' Academy
The CPC Kids' Academy combines a preschool for children thirty months to five years old with a before- and after-school program for kindergarteners through fifth graders. The Academy is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and holds accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), recognized as the gold standard for early childhood education. It has served the Clarendon Hills community for more than fifty years and grew out of the merger of CPC Preschool and CPC Child Care Center in 2021.
The Academy is open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and offers Little Learners (for children thirty months by September 1), Preschool, and Pre-K classrooms, each with morning and full-day options. The Creative Curriculum is hands-on and play-based, fostering creativity, social-emotional development, problem-solving, and academic foundations in math, science, and language. The Academy also provides before- and after-school care for kindergarteners at Prospect and Walker schools, and care for first through fifth graders at the same schools. A summer camp for children ages three through incoming third grade offers Full Day options of up to ten hours and a Camp option from 8:30 to 2:30, with up to two snacks and lunch provided daily. A Tuition Assistance program supports families in need.
Adult Education That Asks Big Questions
Adults gather for Sunday morning classes at 10:45 a.m. from September through May, offered both in person and on Zoom. Recent series have explored Presbyterian culture and social justice, the basics of Presbyterian polity, and the origins and distinctive views of American Presbyterians. A five-week fall rotation has featured speakers from CPC's mission partners, including The Night Ministry, Bridge Communities in Glen Ellyn, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Sharing Connections, and The Boulevard.
During Lent the group has worked through books like Kathy Escobar's Turning Over Tables, a study that asks how Christians might disrupt unjust power. A January four-week unit introduced members to the Qur'an alongside the Bible, taught by Sheikh Hassan Mostafa Aly and Reverend Doctor Robert Cathey. Throughout the year the church hosts single-topic Sundays, including a documentary screening and discussion on supporting aging parents, an art appreciation hour in the sanctuary, and reports from a Civil Rights Trail pilgrimage. Each fall brings an Advent study, and recordings of every session are posted so busy members can catch up on their own schedule.
Music That Spans Centuries
Music is woven into the fabric of CPC's worship life. The Chancel Choir, a mixed-voice ensemble of adults of all ages, leads worship most Sunday mornings from September through early June. Its repertoire ranges from J. S. Bach and G. F. Handel to Lloyd Larsen and Amy Grant, performed both with accompaniment and a cappella. Twice each year, typically during Advent and Lent, the choir presents major choral works during worship. Rehearsals are held Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
The Clarion Bells handbell ensemble performs every four to six weeks during worship and is open to adults and youth. The ability to read music is required, but prior bell-ringing experience is not. The group plays a four-octave set of Malmark English handbells and a three-octave set of Malmark choir chimes, rehearsing on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. The Martin Ott tracker organ anchors the worship space and was the focus of a recent concert celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary.
A Concert Series for the Community
Since 2019 the CPC Concert Series has brought three or four concerts a year to Clarendon Hills, covering a wide range of musical styles from classical to modern, instrumental and vocal, often featuring musicians from the Chicago area. Past performances have included the Chicago Brass Quintet, the Orion Ensemble, the Avalon String Quartet, the KAIA String Quartet, and a vocal trio, Artemesia. Children's concerts have welcomed Jim Gill, the musician and author known for celebrating active play. The series relies on the support of sponsors and free-will offerings.
Small Groups and Fellowship
CPC offers a wide range of small groups for adults. Read * Pray * Share meets Thursdays from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in a hybrid format, blending literature and Biblical discussion. Circle of Voices, a women's book discussion group, gathers on the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the parlor. Presbyterian Women Bible Study Circles meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month, either in members' homes or in the church parlor, in morning, afternoon, or evening time slots.
For active members, the Tuesday Walkers head out to a nearby park each week from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., year-round, fast or slow. A 50+ Sunday Luncheon offers food, fellowship, and occasional entertainment. The CPC Gardeners keep the grounds beautiful and welcome new hands. Throughout the year, parties, picnics, a Progressive Dinner, Advent by Candlelight, a Mardi Gras Party, and an All-Church Picnic fill the social calendar.
Presbyterian Women
Presbyterian Women hosts monthly fellowship and program meetings on the first Tuesday of the month, September through May, in Fellowship Hall. Meetings feature potluck and bag lunches, a Christmas Open House, and the Faith and Fellowship Breakfast in May. The group supports mission projects at home and abroad through its PW Mission Pledge distributed by the Presbytery of Chicago, and direct giving to organizations including Association House, Pillars Community Services, Family Shelter Services, and Kemmerer Village. The Horizon's Bible study guides the program year, with morning, afternoon, and evening Circle options meeting on the fourth Tuesday of every month.
Caring for One Another
Caring ministries at CPC include Stephen Ministry, a one-to-one lay caring ministry grounded in Jesus' command to love one another. Stephen Ministers are trained lay caregivers who offer a confidential presence during difficult seasons such as illness, grief, job loss, disability, or struggles of faith. The program is led by Stephen Ministers Barb Coop and Gregg Morton.
Deacons serve the congregation by ushering and greeting, organizing fellowship hour, baking bread for communion, caring for the homebound, planning fellowship events, and coordinating Charlotte's Closet, which provides gently used clothing to local organizations. Through the J.O.Y. (Jesus Outreach to You) program, Deacons serve communion at home two or three times a year with members who cannot attend worship. They also distribute donated flowers to those who might appreciate a smile.
Visitation keeps homebound members connected, and a Caregivers Support Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Parlor for those caring for older adults. Mission Stitchers meets Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. for anyone interested in sewing, knitting, or crocheting for charity.
The Amos Group and a Commitment to Justice
In mid-2020, in response to the social unrest that intensified after the death of George Floyd, CPC formed the Amos Group, named for the prophet's call that "justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." The group is committed to understanding the history of racism and the laws, policies, and institutional barriers that hold people back, and to facilitating conversations that recognize the role of white people in perpetuating those barriers. Beginning in 2024, programming and oversight of the Amos Group were folded into the Mission, Education and Outreach Committee to ensure that education and mission efforts consider social justice concerns across the church's work.
Long-Time Partners in Mission
CPC's local mission partners include LOVE Christian Clearing House, a clearinghouse that connects people in need with church-based resources; People's Resource Center in Westmont, which supports food, job training, and English language learning; HCS Family Services, whose food pantry receives monthly donations through the Meal-a-Month program; the Northern Illinois Food Bank, which the congregation supports with donations and volunteer hours; Family Shelter Services (now part of Metropolitan Family Services), the only shelter in DuPage County for people fleeing domestic abuse; The Boulevard, a Chicago medical respite program for homeless adults leaving the hospital; and The Night Ministry, which brings health care and other services directly to people living on Chicago's streets. Association House in Chicago, a multi-faceted social service agency, is also a long-standing partner.
Globally, CPC has maintained a sister-church relationship for more than ten years with Iglesia Presbiteriana-Reformada in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, a town about an hour outside Havana. The Cuban congregation runs Sunday worship, weekly Bible studies, children's programming, and a Living Waters Well that provides clean, free water to the community. As part of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the congregation also participates in the denomination's four Special Offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing, the Pentecost Offering, Peace and Global Witness, and Christmas Joy.
Leadership and Governance
All aspects of CPC's mission are governed by the Session, which is made up of the pastors and eighteen elders elected by the congregation for three-year terms. Session committees include Administration and Personnel, Christian Education for Children, Christian Education for Youth, Communication, House and Grounds, Mission, Education and Outreach, Nominating, Finance, Endowment, Stewardship, and Worship and Music. The Board of Deacons, set forth in scripture (Acts 6:1-6), ministers the congregation in witness, wisdom, and service, with deacons elected from among the congregation.
The Endowment Funds, first established in 1991, provide a permanent foundation for the church's mission beyond annual giving. The Endowment Fund was joined by the BJ Wright Trust Designated Fund in 2019 and the Legacy Fund in 2021, with gifts to the funds invested in companies whose missions and products do not conflict with the moral and theological convictions of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The Tree of Life, located in the narthex, offers a way to remember a loved one: with a contribution of $750 or more, a leaf is inscribed on the tree and a donation is made for a lasting legacy.
Stewardship and Giving
CPC practices gratitude, not guilt. Giving may take many forms: time, talent, prayers, and financial support. An annual stewardship campaign each fall invites members to make monetary pledges to support the church's ministries. Members and friends can give online through Realm, by mail, by Electronic Funds Transfer through their bank, or by credit card. Recurring gifts and one-time gifts can both be set up, and the church encourages those using credit cards to cover the three-percent processing fee so CPC receives the full gift.
As Presbyterians, CPC is part of a connectional church. The congregation makes an annual contribution to the Chicago Presbytery based on a per capita formula, and supports the Synod of Lincoln Trails and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The Two-Cents-a-Meal program invites every member of all ages to contribute a few cents at every meal as a first step in the battle against hunger and poverty.
Office, Parking, and Visiting
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with summer hours of Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Visitor access is available at door 5C; ring the buzzer and wait to be let in. Plenty of parking is available in the church lot and along Prospect Avenue and Norfolk Street. The church parking lot has handicap-accessible slots, and the elevator is most easily reached by parking near door 7D. Visitors are warmly invited to fill out a digital connect card or to introduce themselves during fellowship hour, often held downstairs in Fellowship Hall or out in the garden. The staff can always be reached at 630-323-6522 or office@chcpc.org.