First and foremost: welcome! If you are thinking about visiting Irving Park United Methodist Church for the first time, we are glad you are here. To help you feel at home before you ever walk through the door, here are a few "who, what, and where" details about who we are.
Who Gathers Here
The simplest answer is: people like you. Our community has long included parents, families, and children; people who are single, married, and at every other stage of life; those who are straight and those who are LGBTQ; people of every ethnicity; local friends and far-off neighbors; lifelong Christians, newcomers, and seekers still figuring out what they believe. As a reconciling congregation, our welcome is explicit and wholehearted — there is no "right kind" of person to be before you belong here.
What to Expect
Worship here has long been a relaxed, personal, and communal experience — one that connects the traditional stories of faith with the realities of our everyday lives. You are welcome to come in your Sunday best or in casual jeans; bring your water bottle or coffee mug if you like. The atmosphere is warm and unhurried, with room to participate as much or as little as feels comfortable on a first visit.
Music has always been part of the experience, blending traditional hymns with global and praise styles, and Holy Communion has long held a central place in the congregation's worship life. Above all, expect to be greeted as a guest and treated as a neighbor.
Children and Families
Children are welcome everywhere in this community. The congregation has a long tradition of welcoming young families, with Sunday-school programming for children and nursery care for infants and toddlers as part of church life. Families have never had to choose between worshiping together and caring for their little ones — both have always had a place here. You can learn more on our children's ministry page.
Where to Find Us
The historic church building stands on the corner of Grace Street and Keeler Avenue in the Old Irving Park neighborhood on Chicago's northwest side. It is just two blocks from the Irving Park Blue Line station and a short distance from the Irving Park exit of Interstate 90/94, making it easy to reach by transit or by car. Both the Grace Street and Keeler Avenue entrances have served the congregation over the years; the Grace Street side has traditionally led to offices, meeting rooms, and the fellowship hall.
Come as You Are
There is no need to prepare anything or to know anyone in advance. A first visit is simply an invitation to experience a community that has welcomed neighbors for more than a century. When you are ready, learn more about what we believe or explore the congregation's long history in Old Irving Park. We would be honored to welcome you.