A Mission-Driven Family on Route 47
Cross Lutheran Church & School sits along Route 47 on the south side of Yorkville, Illinois, a Kendall County town about an hour southwest of Chicago. Founded in 1881 by fifteen families (many of whom still have descendants in the pews), the congregation has grown into a multi-generational community of more than one thousand people committed to discipleship, alongside a fully accredited preschool-through-eighth-grade school with over four hundred students. Three words frame everything the church does: Love, Walk, Grow.
The motto is shorthand for the way Cross Lutheran understands the Christian life. Loving neighbors means serving them, both inside the church and out. Walking with God happens through continual worship, persistent prayer, generous living, and a willingness to both give and receive grace. Growing in faith together means experiencing biblical community, mentoring one another, reading and responding to Scripture, and courageously living transformed lives. Everything from the worship schedule to the Wednesday night meal program is built around those three verbs.
The church's identity as a Lutheran congregation rooted in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod shapes its teaching and its practice. Members affirm grace alone, faith alone, and Word alone, and practice the two Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Infant baptism is welcomed because, in the words of the congregation, it "captures the essence of the Gospel: God accepting us before we can accept Him." Holy Communion is celebrated on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of each month, when worshipers receive the body and blood of Christ together with the bread and wine.
Walking Through 145 Years of Ministry
Cross Lutheran began small. The first building was a twenty-four-by-thirty-six-foot structure that served as both church and school. Pastoral care was originally provided by Pastor John Strieter of Aurora, who made the trip south to serve the new flock. In December 1881, Pastor John Rabe accepted the call and became the first resident pastor and teacher, serving in both roles for nearly four decades.
By 1896 the congregation had outgrown the original house of worship and built a larger thirty-six-by-sixty-foot building, dedicated on August 30 of that year. A two-room brick schoolhouse followed in 1929, and the church was remodeled in 1947 with new stained glass windows, a balcony seating sixty-six, and a copper-covered steeple. Monday night services were added in 1896, and the first congregational meeting conducted entirely in English took place in 1927 - a quiet marker of how the surrounding community was changing.
The decades since have been a steady drumbeat of expansion. A new school building was dedicated in 1991, followed by a new gym, classrooms, library, computer labs, offices, and auditorium space in 1999. The first full-time youth minister joined the staff in 2000, and a second Sunday morning service was added in 2002 to keep pace with growth. A Saturday night service began in 1995, and the thrift shop that would become Caring Hands launched in 2006 and moved into its own building in 2011. The first full-time children's minister was added in 2016. In 2022, Wednesday night ministry was expanded to serve all ages, and in 2024 the new Christian Education Facility was dedicated for the school. Most recently, in 2025, the old school wing was converted into a Discipleship and Outreach Wing that now hosts community groups and ministry meetings throughout the week.
Senior Pastor Erik Gauss, who joined the staff in 2006, marked the congregation's 135th anniversary with a letter reflecting on what has kept Cross Lutheran going. The recipe, he wrote, was simple: "God's grace and mercy," then prayer, then Bible-based teaching, families, and decision making. The congregation has, by his telling, often ignored conventional wisdom in order to follow where God is leading rather than where the culture is pushing. The average life cycle of an American church, he noted, is around eighty years - or three generations of believers. Crossing 135 was, and is, a cause for genuine gratitude.
Three Sunday Mornings, One Family of Faith
Worship is the center of life at Cross Lutheran, and the church offers three Sunday morning services designed to give every generation a place in the sanctuary. At 8:00 a.m., a traditional service gathers in the Sanctuary with a more historic order of worship. At 9:30 a.m., a contemporary service features modern music and a relaxed atmosphere, and during the program year it doubles as the hub for Sunday School and adult discipleship. A second contemporary service follows at 11:00 a.m. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend the schedule shifts to two services - 8:00 a.m. traditional and 10:00 a.m. contemporary - to match the rhythms of summer in Kendall County.
All three Sunday services are livestreamed through the Hiscross app, through the church's streaming devices, and on YouTube. First-time visitors will find the doors that say "Church Entrance," with the Sanctuary straight ahead and a kiosk desk to the left where someone is usually waiting to say hello, answer questions, and point out the children's ministry spaces. Worship typically runs sixty to seventy minutes and includes singing, prayer, a sermon, and Holy Communion on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of each month. There is no dress code; people arrive in everything from three-piece suits to T-shirts and shorts.
Music is shared between the two styles. The Choir Ministry rehearses weekly from September through May and presents special music at Christmas and in the spring. A Praise Team leads the contemporary services, and instrumentalists - vocalists, wind, strings, brass, percussion, guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums - are recruited from the congregation for both traditional and contemporary settings. Ushers, greeters, communion servers, and members of the Altar Care team round out the weekly volunteer corps that makes each service run.
Twice a month, on the second Sunday of the month at 9:30 a.m., a Baptism Class meets in Classroom 165, down the hallway across from the Large Gym. The class is open to expecting parents, new parents, adults curious about being baptized themselves, and anyone with an honest question about what the water and the Word actually do. The ninety-minute class walks through Scripture and the Lutheran confessions to explain why the church baptizes infants and what God promises in the sacrament.
Kids 4 Christ and Cross Kids: Raising the Next Generation
Children's ministry at Cross Lutheran is built around three convictions: families worship together, parents guide faith at home, and each child has at least one other caring adult mentoring them. Sunday morning Cross Kids takes place in the Children's Ministry Main Blue Room for children from preschool (potty-trained) up through fourth grade. Check-in runs from 9:20 to 9:30 a.m. Each month the curriculum explores a Bible story and a memory verse through storytelling, large group games, worship songs, and small group discussion. Parents receive monthly updates with the bottom line, a memory verse, and ideas for keeping faith conversations going at home throughout the week. When Cross Kids is on summer break or not meeting on a particular Sunday, families are encouraged to worship together, with children's Bibles in the pews and busy bags available at every service.
On Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Kids 4 Christ gathers K-through-fourth-grade students in the new Children's Ministry space on the second floor of the new school building. A family meal is served in the Fellowship Hall from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. before programming begins. On the second Wednesday of each month, the All IN Wednesday format takes over: families eat together at 6:00 p.m., share a special activity from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and end with a short devotional in the Sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. Parents are encouraged to stay and join in on those nights.
The Nursery welcomes infants and toddlers up to age three during the last two Sunday services during the school year, and during the last service in the summer. Every nursery worker is CPR certified, and the room is staffed by people with childcare professions or education backgrounds. Songs, biblically-based books, and age-appropriate toys make it a nurturing first glimpse of how much God loves them. Families who need nursery care at the 8:00 a.m. service are encouraged to contact Nursery Director Shanin Loesche in advance so accommodations can be made.
Confirmation at Cross Lutheran is a family journey, not a classroom drop-off. The church walks alongside parents and students to encourage faith conversations at home and offers a monthly check-in to see how everyone is doing and answer questions. A Communion Instruction Night is offered each fall for anyone who wants to understand the church's teaching on the Lord's Supper, and a Confirmation Information Session is held for parents and students in the late summer.
Middle and High School Youth Ministry
The youth ministry is led by Jessica Dvorak, the Youth Ministry Coordinator, and is divided by grade band: 5th-6th, 7th-8th, and 9th-12th. On Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., all three groups meet together in Room 234 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. for a shared Bible lesson. On Wednesday evenings the groups split: 5th-6th and 7th-8th meet in Rooms 243 and 234 respectively from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., while the high school ministry meets in the Youth Center from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. Each Wednesday begins with a family meal in the Fellowship Hall from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
The All IN Wednesday format takes over on the second Wednesday of each month. After the meal, students and families move into a shared activity from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with details shared through the weekly E-Newsletter, and end the night with a short devotional in the Sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. The Youth Center, where the high school ministry meets, is near the original cemetery on the property, with its own parking lot and sand volleyball court. No pre-registration is required; students can show up with a friend and join in. Health concerns and special needs information can be shared directly with Jessica so the team can keep appropriate files on hand.
Community Groups: Where Adults Grow Together
Cross Lutheran believes that followers of Jesus are not meant to grow in isolation, so the church maintains a robust network of small groups that meet in homes, classrooms, and around tables. The community groups umbrella covers men's groups, women's groups, senior groups, and mixed groups, each with its own personality and pace.
For men, two early-morning options are available. A Saturday morning men's group meets from 6:00 to 7:30 a.m. in Classroom 167 with hot coffee, fresh donuts, and a focus on being husbands, fathers, grandparents, and men of God. The group is known for showing up; members frequently help other Cross families with moving, home repairs, and other practical needs. A second men's group gathers on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 7:00 a.m. in the Discipleship Wing, Room 50, for Bible studies based on books or themes from authors such as Max Lucado and J.D. Greear.
For women, four regular groups are on the calendar. Rise Up meets on the second Monday of each month from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. in Discipleship Wing Room 50 for a relaxed evening of encouragement, study, and community. An early morning ladies' group gathers at 6:45 a.m. on Thursdays at a leader's home, splitting its hour between prayer requests and Bible study. A Friday morning ladies' study meets from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Cross Youth Center. The Lutheran Women's Missionary League, the official women's auxiliary of the LCMS, meets on the first Tuesday every other month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, with a focus on affirming each woman's relationship with Christ and supporting global missions.
For seniors, a Sunday morning community group of mixed, retired members meets from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. in the Cross Parlor. The group works through a video series, a book of the Bible, or another resource and is known for lively discussion and good company.
The mixed groups are the most varied. A Tuesday morning adult discipleship group meets weekly from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Discipleship Wing Room 50, walking through a series chosen with input from members. A Wednesday evening adult discipleship group meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Classroom 161 with a month-by-month schedule shared through the weekly newsletter. A Sunday morning parents' Sunday School runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Discipleship Wing Room 49, designed to help parents model faith growth for their children. A Wednesday evening community group, led by a long-time Cross member, meets off-site from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. for a study of biblical principles and current topics from a Christian perspective.
Caring for One Another Through Hard Seasons
Beyond study groups, Cross Lutheran runs a full slate of care ministries designed to walk alongside people during illness, grief, incarceration, and other difficult seasons. The church partners with Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois to make trauma-informed, Christian counseling available to anyone who needs it; appointments can be made through LCFS's Central Intake line. Cross also partners with GriefShare, a thirteen-week support program for people grieving the loss of someone close, which uses expert-led video sessions and small group discussions.
A Substance Abuse Recovery Group meets every Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Caring Hands Thrift Shop's Prayer Cafe on South Bridge Street. The group is open, safe, and focused on encouragement, affirmation, and support. A Kendall County Jail and Prison Ministry reaches out to those incarcerated locally, with timing and locations shared through the church office. A Life Advocacy Team works with area organizations on diaper collections, baby bottle spare change drives, support for maternity homes serving single mothers, and other life-affirming initiatives. The team also maintains a "God's Garden for the Little Ones" memorial site at Cross for families who have experienced miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, or newborn death.
The Prayer Ministry supports all of this behind the scenes. The Prayer Chapel, located just to the right as you enter the main church building, is open for private prayer and meditation before, during, and after Sunday worship. Prayer ministers are available to pray with anyone who asks. Prayer requests can be submitted by email to prayers@hiscross.org or placed in the box outside the Chapel, and the E-Prayer Team circulates those requests through a confidential network of intercessors.
Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteers from Cross are certified to deploy after disasters to help with cleanup, debris removal, feeding, transportation, emergency shelter support, and listening and presence. Other ways to serve include the Sunday Bus Ministry for handicap-accessible transportation, meal preparation and delivery for families in crisis, support group facilitation, and one-on-one visitation at home, in the hospital, or in nursing homes.
Cross Lutheran School: A K-8 Education Rooted in Christ
The school has been part of Cross Lutheran since the very beginning. In 1881, the first pastor of the congregation was also its first teacher, and for many decades the line between church and school was essentially invisible. Today the school serves over four hundred students from two-year-old preschool through eighth grade and holds National Lutheran School Accreditation in addition to recognition by the State of Illinois. Cross Lutheran School was named Best Preschool in the Fox Valley for the seventh straight year.
Academics are rigorous. Every grade level offers a Christ-centered interpretation of math, language arts, science, social studies, and the fine arts, with additional programs for students who benefit from them. The Special Education Program, led by Assistant Principal Jessie Mouis, serves students with Individual Education Plans through a Resource Program and an early intervention Literacy Foundations Program in kindergarten through second grade. Adaptive curriculum is available to accommodate students of all abilities.
Outside the classroom, students can choose from a wide range of athletics, arts, and academic competitions. Pre-K through fourth grade students can join Bitty Soccer and Bitty Basketball. Older students compete in co-ed soccer and cross country, girls' volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, and co-ed track and field. The music program includes band for fourth through eighth graders, a Chapel Band for fifth through eighth graders, and grade-level choirs; the spring musical involves first through eighth graders. Academic competitions include the Spelling Bee and Scholastic Bowl. The school also takes seriously the formation of servant-hearted students, with annual service projects ranging from Fisher House donation drives and Phil's Friends cancer care packages to Kendall County PADS support, Feed My Starving Children packing events, and visits to local senior centers and animal shelters.
The school moved into a new Christian Education Facility in 2024, and the old school wing was converted in 2025 into the Discipleship and Outreach Wing that now hosts many of the church's adult ministries. The Cross Cares before- and after-school care program keeps the same Christian focus, with playground time, arts and crafts, and homework support. Tuition assistance is provided through the FACTS management company, with over $350,000 gifted each year in scholarships thanks to the support of the congregation and the Cross Lutheran Foundation.
Caring Hands Thrift Shop: A Ministry Beyond Retail
Caring Hands Thrift Shop, located at 1002 South Bridge Street in Yorkville, is technically a resale shop but functions primarily as a ministry. The shop sells clothing, antiques, and household items at affordable prices, but the deeper purpose is reaching people in the community who do not yet know who Jesus is. The shop has been voted Best Resale Shop in the Fox Valley for eleven years running, Best Antiques Shop for four years, and one of the Best Non-Profits for four years.
The shop hosts the Wednesday evening substance abuse recovery group in its Prayer Cafe. It is also the practical training ground for Cross Lutheran Foundation giving, with proceeds supporting the church's mission budget. Hours run Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Loving Neighbors Across the World
Cross Lutheran has committed at least one tenth of its general operating income to missions and ministries beyond its own walls, supporting a wide network of partners through The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and independent ministries. Deaconess Caitlin Ramirez serves as a career LCMS missionary in Latin America, teaching and mentoring women preparing for diaconal service through the seminary in the Dominican Republic and overseeing the VDMA Spanish translation project that puts Lutheran resources into the hands of Spanish-speaking pastors and deaconesses. Rev. Jonathan and Anita Clausing serve in eastern Africa, where Jonathan teaches at St. Peter Theological Seminary in Himo, Tanzania. Rev. Chuck and Karen Tessaro serve with Lutheran Bible Translators in Nigeria, working with local translation teams on the Ikwerre, Yala, Kukele, and Gokana languages.
Other partners include Groundwork Guatemala, which shares the gospel with adults, teens, and children in Guatemala City and surrounding villages through home visits, prayer, and medical care; LINC Chicago, which develops grassroots urban leaders; Mission India, which Cross supports by funding one church planter and one adult literacy teacher each year; and a small group in Norway working to plant a confessional Lutheran church body under the leadership of Bishop Torkild Masvie.
What Cross Lutheran Believes
The Statement of Beliefs is a thorough summary of historic Lutheran doctrine. The Bible is God's Word, God-breathed and God-inspired, the only authority for faith and life. God is Triune - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - one God in three persons. God the Father created the universe and desires an intimate relationship with every person. Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary, is both fully God and fully human, and through His death and resurrection removes the sin, shame, and guilt that separate people from God. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God among believers, empowering them to live the Christian life and giving every Christian gifts for service.
The church is described as the Body of Christ, both local and worldwide, called to worship, serve, and share the Good News. The church affirms the final judgment, the return of Jesus, heaven for those who receive God's forgiveness, and eternal separation from God for those who reject it. Members identify with the Confessions of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and live by grace alone, faith alone, and Word alone. The two Sacraments - Baptism and Holy Communion - are celebrated as ordinary means through which God delivers what He promises.
Planning a First Visit
Cross Lutheran is set up to make first visits easy. There is plenty of parking off of Route 47 and Ament Road; the lower lot is the most convenient, and the doors are clearly marked "Church Entrance." The Sanctuary is straight ahead when you walk in, and a kiosk desk sits to the left where someone will be ready to greet you and answer questions. Worship is sixty to seventy minutes long, with Holy Communion on the first, third, and fifth Sundays. People wear everything from suits to T-shirts, and no advance registration is required. Families with young children can keep them in the pew with busy bags, drop infants and toddlers in the Nursery during the 9:30 and 11:00 services, or sign kids three years old through high school into age-appropriate ministry during the 9:30 hour. Tours can be arranged through the church office.
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and can be reached at 630-553-7335 or churchinfo@hiscross.org. The school office, at 8535 Route 47, is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and can be reached at 630-553-7861 or schoolinfo@hiscross.net. Giving is available online through PushPay, and the Hiscross app puts the livestream, calendar, sermon archive, and registration forms in one place.