On a residential stretch of West Kirchoff Road in Arlington Heights, St. Simon's Episcopal Church gathers a congregation that has made welcome its defining word. The parish celebrates God's love for all and seeks to embody Christ in the world, a mission it lives out through inclusive worship, hybrid gatherings that knit together those in the pews and those at home, and a wide network of small groups and outreach projects.

An Affirming Parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

St. Simon's is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and the wider Episcopal Church, under Bishop Paula Clark. The congregation is welcoming and affirming of LGBTQIA+ siblings, celebrating the diversity of creation, and vowing, with God's help, to strive for justice and peace among all people and to protect the dignity of every human being. The parish stands as a progressive, open-doors church in a northwest suburb of Chicago.

The congregation takes its cues from three core beliefs. Each person is beloved of God; Jesus is the form God took so humanity could know and understand God, fully divine and fully human; and the Holy Spirit leads into all truth, speaking through prophets and sages and living in each believer and in the community as a whole. From that foundation, the church steps into the world offering itself as an instrument of God's love.

Sunday Worship at 9:30

On Sunday mornings, the people of St. Simon's gather at 9:30 a.m. in a hyflex service that combines those in the sanctuary with worshippers joining by Zoom and Facebook Live. Masks are welcome but not required for those in the building. Online participants are not passive viewers: they read lessons, lead prayers, and occasionally preach. The service follows the Episcopal liturgy from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, and the church invites newcomers to simply enjoy it without worrying about understanding every piece.

The Eucharistic table at St. Simon's is open to everyone, member or not. Worshippers may stand or kneel at the rail. Anyone who prefers a blessing may cross their hands over their chest and a priest will bless them instead. A "soft space" at the front of the church gives toddlers and preschoolers a place to see the altar while keeping their hands busy with quiet toys, and parents are asked to sit in the front pew to supervise. Kids' Activity Bags, stocked with books, coloring supplies, and activity pages, are available in the foyer Kids Zone.

After a brief break following the Eucharist, the Adult Teaching and Conversation Hour begins around 10:50 a.m., running roughly September through May. Sessions are offered both in person and online, drawing the community together to grow in faith and draw near to one another.

The Building, Parking, and Accessibility

The church sits at 717 W Kirchoff Road, with two parking lots serving worshippers. The West Parking Lot offers entry through the North side directly into the sanctuary, or through the West Entrance, which leads to the Nursery and Church School classrooms. The East Parking Lot has spaces for those with limited mobility and an East Entrance that is wheelchair accessible. The sanctuary is on the main level, and an elevator on the West side of the building provides access to the Parish Hall on the lower level. Diaper changing stations are available in both the men's and women's restrooms on the lower level.

A nursery room is open for parents who need to let a toddler move around. The room is not staffed, but it offers a couch, a rocking chair, and a livestream of the service on St. Simon's Facebook.

Children, Youth, and Families

Children are full participants in worship at St. Simon's, encouraged to receive bread and wine or grape juice with their families. Jo Gantzer, the Associate for Parish Ministry, also leads ministry with children and families. Drawing on more than fifty years of experience in Christian formation at the parish, diocesan, national, and international levels, including service as Canon for Lifelong Learning in the Diocese of Michigan, Gantzer supports parents as the primary faith formation instructors in their children's lives. During the COVID years she produced a weekly e-newsletter called Church School Take-Outs, with lessons, videos, and crafts for children and the adults in their lives.

The parish takes child safety seriously and publishes a Keeping God's People Safe policy.

Music at the Heart of Worship

Congregational singing sits at the center of worship at St. Simon's. Piano and organ are both used in regular services, and the Music Ministry is open to anyone who enjoys making a joyful noise. The choir welcomes new voices to its weekly rehearsals and sings in worship two or three times a month. Instrumentalists are encouraged to share their gifts, with particular interest in regular participation from guitar, flute, and percussion. The parish also hopes to revive a handbell group as a way to bring together new and experienced musicians.

The Music Director position is currently open, and the Tech Production Team keeps the online worship experience running in the meantime.

Walk-In Wednesday and the Rhythm of the Week

Midweek community life at St. Simon's begins with Walk-In Wednesday. Each Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m., the congregation gathers in the second-floor conference room for an informal potluck supper. All are welcome to bring a dish to share. At about 6:50 p.m., the gathering transitions into a short service of Vespers or Compline.

On Thursday evenings, two parallel book groups meet. The Women's Book Group gathers on the first Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the St. John Room, with a Zoom option; the east door opens at 7:00 p.m. for socializing before discussion begins. The Men's Book Group meets on the third Thursday at 7:30 p.m., typically drawing twelve to sixteen participants around a chosen book led by a rotating discussion leader.

Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. bring Centering Prayer at the church, beginning with instruction on the simple method of silent prayer taught by Contemplative Outreach. No preparation or consistent attendance is required, and all who seek God's presence are welcome. Fellowship with Art gathers occasionally for shared projects such as watercolors, paper crafts, and cookie decorating.

Sacraments at St. Simon's

The parish welcomes anyone who wishes to experience the church's sacramental life. Baptisms are occasions for the whole congregation to welcome new members into God's family, and those seeking baptism for themselves or their children are invited to spend several months with the parish first.

The Episcopal Church joyfully celebrates marriage between two people of all genders. Weddings at St. Simon's begin with a conversation with the Parish Office. At least one party must be a baptized Christian, and the marriage must conform to state law and the canons of the church.

Funerals at St. Simon's follow the church's conviction that the burial rite is an Easter liturgy. White is the color for altar hangings and clergy vestments at every funeral, signaling the assurance of resurrection. The Book of Common Prayer provides the framework, and the parish offers assistance with planning services of celebration of life.

Faith in Action: Outreach in the Community

Outreach at St. Simon's reaches across the wider Arlington Heights area. The outreach team sponsors delivery of breakfast and lunch boxes to PADS guests housed at local hotels. During the summer months, the parish coordinates Grab-n-Go Summer Suppers, providing a hot meal once a month to underserved neighbors who drive up and receive a warm protein, fruit, drink, vegetable, and dessert. At the holidays, the congregation provides Christmas gifts through the Revive Foundation. Additional activities include coat drives, support for Feed My Starving Children, brown bag lunch assembly, and Amnesty International letter writing campaigns.

Common Good is the parish's newest ministry team, a nonpartisan effort to address pressing social issues. It produces a resource-rich newsletter that engages the community and the country on policies that affect the welfare of all God's people.

Caring for One Another

Caring Ministries brings together several strands of mutual support. Helping Hands offers practical assistance to parishioners facing illness or other situations, from meal delivery to grocery shopping and errands. Lay Eucharistic Visitors take communion to those unable to attend church because of illness or disability. Caring Connections extends fellowship through visits, calls, notes, and cards. Pastoral care is led by the Rev. Jenny Hulen, an experienced priest and former hospital chaplain, who walks alongside parishioners during times of pain, sorrow, and crisis.

Common Prayer and the Daily Office

The 1979 Book of Common Prayer is the worship book for the parish, containing the services, daily prayer, the catechism, and other elements of the praying life of the congregation. For those wanting a shorter form, Daily Prayer for All Seasons offers inclusive and expansive language for God along with poetry, meditation, and prayers from the broader community of faith.

The People Who Lead St. Simon's

The Rev. Jenny Hulen serves as rector. A "denominational mutt," she grew up Missouri Synod Lutheran, became a Southern Baptist in college, and found the Episcopal branch of the Christian faith in her mid-thirties. She earned her Master of Divinity in 1990 at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and her Diploma in Anglican Studies at Seabury-Western Episcopal Seminary in 2012, and was ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in 2013. Before her call to parish ministry, she served as a hospital chaplain for twelve years. She and her husband Peter lived in Beijing and speak Mandarin, and came to the Chicago area most recently from St. Louis.

Jo Gantzer serves as Associate for Parish Ministry, answering most calls to the office and supporting families with young children. Michael Bruce serves as Senior Warden and Cleo Nykol as Junior Warden, with a vestry of Pat Grund, Dave Howley, Rachel Jarosik, Alan Medsker, Rich Millburn, Myk Snider, and Karen Waechter.

Getting Connected

Bulletins, sermon videos, and the weekly newsletter are available online. Giving is available online, by text message to 73256, and through an annual campaign each October. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for questions about baptism, weddings, funerals, or getting involved.