Set on the frontage road along the north side of 75th Street, just west of the Veterans' Memorial Tollway (I-355) in Woodridge, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church has been a steady presence in DuPage County for sixty years. The congregation's spiritual journey began in 1961 in an elementary school gym, was formally chartered in 1962, and moved into its own completed building in 1967. Several renovations and additions have shaped the space since, but the church's character has stayed the same: a small, family-oriented community that follows the leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and centers its life on the threefold call to Know Christ, Live Christ, Share Christ.
Sunday Mornings at Ten
Worship gathers one congregation every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The service is a blended liturgy led by organ and choir, mixing newer songs with older hymns. Holy Communion is offered every week, and the rail is open to everyone. Members come forward during the singing of Lamb of God to receive communion by intinction; when that distribution is complete, individual communion kits are offered at the altar for anyone who prefers them. The order of service follows the Lutheran tradition of lessons, prayers, and a sermon grounded in straightforward Bible teaching and applicable to daily life. Services typically run about an hour.
For those who cannot attend in person, the service is livestreamed each Sunday at 10 a.m. on the congregation's Facebook page. A Facebook account is not required to view the stream. An internet connection is all that is needed. Recordings can be watched later at the same place.
The church asks first-time visitors to dress in whatever makes them comfortable. Most members arrive somewhere between business formal and business casual, and shorts and sandals are just as welcome.
Sacraments at the Center of Faith
As Lutherans, the congregation honors two sacraments: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.
Holy Baptism is a ritual of word and washing with water that sets the baptized on a faith journey with God. The church gladly baptizes adults, infants, and children, and baptisms are scheduled on selected weekends during worship so the whole family of God can celebrate. Parents entering baptism partner with the church to help a child grow in faith at home, in the congregation, and out in the world.
Holy Communion is shared at every Sunday service. The congregation teaches that all are welcome at Christ's table, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic class, political views, or sexual orientation. Children are offered First Communion in third grade, after three one-hour Sunday classes attended with a parent or sponsor.
To schedule a baptism, families can reach Pastor Craig directly or call the church office.
What the Community Believes
Core beliefs include:
- All people are loved unconditionally through grace.
- Holy Scripture is inspired by God and open to interpretation.
- Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of sin for all people for all time.
- All people are equal, and God can call anyone (men, women, or LGBTQIA+) to ordained ministry.
- The church is a community of believers gathered around Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The community of faith leads in mission and ministry, with the pastor serving as a partner.
- All people are welcome at the Lord's table.
- Jesus is the Son of God, and salvation and forgiveness of sins come through him.
The congregation identifies itself as part of the ELCA, the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States, and describes its life as a living, daring confidence in God's grace.
Children and Sunday School
The children of Prince of Peace are a visible part of every Sunday. Children are welcome to remain with their families throughout worship, and the church is candid about the fact that wiggles, whispers, and small voices are part of the morning. Two structured programs run during the sermon, after the children's message:
- Children's Church for preschool through 2nd grade: an age-appropriate Bible story paired with a craft or activity.
- Sunday School for 3rd through 6th grade: a lesson centered on the day's Gospel, with Bible reading, discussion, prayer, and activities.
Both programs mirror the worship experience through song, milestones, hearing the Bible story, offering, and prayer. The lessons explore the same Scripture the adults hear upstairs, reinforced through crafts, service projects, conversations, and games. Class leaders are dedicated church members who have completed safe church training and background checks. There is no fee for either program.
Two seasonal observances mark the church year for young families. The Lenten Fair is held on Palm Sunday before worship, when students make Easter baskets for shut-ins, play games, and hear the Easter story. The Christmas Program takes place on the second Sunday in December during worship, with children and youth performing a play retelling the Nativity and singing traditional carols with the congregation.
The First Communion class is offered to third graders and older. Training begins with regular worship attendance and continues with three Sunday classes after church attended by both child and parent or sponsor. The first communion is then received during a Sunday service and celebrated by the whole congregation.
Youth and Confirmation
Middle school and high school students are invited into service projects, leadership roles, and worship leadership. Opportunities include serving as class leaders for Children's Church and Sunday School, lectors, liturgists, acolytes, sound board operators, and choir singers (for high school students).
Confirmation, or the Affirmation of Baptism, is a two-year program for 7th and 8th graders. Curriculum covers Bible basics, including the Old and New Testaments, along with Luther's Small Catechism. Students are expected to take part in two service projects per year, the Christmas program, and weekly worship. The program culminates in an 8th-grade ceremony where students, their families, and the whole congregation celebrate their affirmation of baptism.
Adults: Bible Study, Choir, and Fellowship
Because the congregation is on the smaller side, members describe an easy environment for forming relationships.
Thursday Morning Bible Study gathers weekly from 10:00 a.m. until noon. The group reads and discusses the Sunday lessons, with additional book studies during Advent and Lent. No prior knowledge of Scripture is required, and questions and challenges are welcome.
Sunday Choir sings each Sunday from September through May, with extra performances for the seasons. The choir is open to high school students and adults; rehearsal is at 9:00 a.m. before the service. Two mottos guide the program: "You can't do anything wrong here" and "For the perfection of their art is their prayer."
A-Men, the men's ministry, is open to all men of the congregation. Members host fellowship activities, take on projects around the church, and support the property committee. The group hosts three signature events each year: a breakfast on Easter, a breakfast on Rally Day (the first Sunday after Labor Day), and the annual Dexter McClure Pork Extravaganza. A recent addition to the group's calendar has been a baseball outing for fellowship.
Women's Group meets from September through May, with projects and activities throughout the year. Recent efforts have included gathering personal items and cleaning supplies for Sharing Connections, sending Christmas cards to troops and homebound members, and supporting other local collections.
Building on our Mission (BOOM) is the fundraising arm of the congregation, formed in 2003. The team meets a few times a year to plan candy and nut sales, restaurant gift cards, an annual garage sale, and a Christmas bake sale.
Adopt-a-Spot, in place since 2006, lets members sign up to maintain a small section of the church grounds through the spring and summer. Trees, shrubs, and flower beds are tended faithfully by volunteer hands.
Prayer Shawls are made and distributed by members to people walking through times of joy and sorrow, both inside and outside the congregation.
Altar Guild is the team behind the scenes each week: setting up and taking down communion, changing banners, filling oil candles, preparing for baptisms, and decorating the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter, and Pentecost.
Outreach and Community
Partnership with the wider Woodridge area is woven into the congregation's identity. Members collect food, personal supplies, and household items for the local food pantry and family social services organization. A back-to-school supply drive packs backpacks for students each year. Service projects are also built into the youth confirmation program.
The church building hosts several outside groups that meet on a regular weekly or monthly basis:
- Al-Anon meets Sundays at 7:00 p.m. The program offers recovery for families and friends of alcoholics.
- A Healthier Me meets Mondays at 11:00 a.m., covering nutrition, physical activity, and stress management.
Fundraisers that bring the community in include an annual Spaghetti Dinner, a Craft and Collectable Fair each November featuring local artisans and vendors, and seasonal candy and nut sales, bake sales, and a garage sale through BOOM.
The People Who Lead
The Rev. Craig S. Felde serves as pastor. A graduate of Lewis University and Concordia Evangelical Protestant Seminary, he also holds graduate qualifications in ministry from Cuddesdon College at Oxford University, in religious philanthropy from Indiana University's Lilly School of Philanthropy, and in pioneer ministry from Cliff College of the University of Manchester. He also serves as pastor of Sojourners Pub Church, which holds services in pubs and bars in Chicago's western suburbs. He is a decorated officer in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, a member of the Incident Command Staff at the USCG Marine Safety Unit Chicago, a longtime percussionist with the Joliet Symphony, and a youth soccer coach. His preaching and teaching focus on Scripture and how it relates to everyday life.
Laura Niemiec is the pianist and organist. A Woodridge resident since 1965, she began teaching piano as a high school freshman and now manages and teaches the piano program at the Burr Ridge Park District. She also accompanies several local schools and serves as a judge for the Illinois Music Association and Grandquist music competitions. After years as a substitute musician at the church, she became the full-time pianist and organist in 2019.
Todd Diehl directs the choir. With a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Voice Performance from Eastern Illinois University and a master's in voice performance and pedagogy from Northern Illinois University, he has served churches for decades as music director, soloist, choral trainer, conductor, and worship leader. He was a longtime regular with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and has sung operatic roles from Rossini and Donizetti to Bizet and Puccini, along with Gilbert and Sullivan and American musicals. He also maintains a private voice studio and taught voice at Downers Grove High School for eighteen years.
The congregation is also served by an elected Church Council, with a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and additional members covering property, youth and outreach, worship and music, fellowship, stewardship, finance, women's group, and Christian education. Council meetings are open to all members.
The Building and the Parking Lot
The church sits on West 75th Street, accessed from the frontage road on the north side of the street. From westbound 75th Street, drivers turn sharply right at Catalpa onto the frontage road; the church will be on the left. From eastbound 75th Street, drivers turn left on Woodridge Drive at the signal, then right just past the medical building, following the curve of the frontage road to the church on the left.
The parking lot is ample, with handicap spaces near the front door. Greeters meet visitors at the entrance and escort them into the sanctuary. A nursery is available during worship for parents who would like some quiet time with their child, complete with a diaper changing station; a PA system lets parents continue to follow the service. Children are also welcome to remain with their families in the sanctuary throughout worship.
Planning a First Visit
Prince of Peace describes itself as a small church with a big heart and a grace-filled, spirit-led atmosphere where mistakes and technology failures are met with laughter. The services are laid back. Members are encouraged to come as they are, to sit where they like, and to introduce themselves to the pastor or to greeters at the door. Communion is offered to anyone who seeks God's grace, and visitors who prefer to receive a blessing instead are welcome to come forward for that as well.
The church office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (except holidays). Pastoral emergencies and prayer requests can be submitted through the office or in person. Prayer requests are kept private and shared only in the printed worship bulletin.
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is located at 2600 West 75th Street in Woodridge, Illinois, and welcomes all who believe in Jesus to join in communion at the Lord's table every Sunday morning.