At Irving Park United Methodist Church, the life of the congregation has always been carried by its people. Beyond Sunday worship, the church has long been a network of lay-led small groups and ministries — places where neighbors share their gifts, deepen their faith, and care for one another and the wider world. Whether someone's calling has been to work behind the scenes or to lead the way, there have always been countless opportunities to get involved.
A Culture of Participation
This is a congregation that invites contribution. Have a skill to share, or want to try something new? That spirit has defined church life for generations. The small groups described below reflect the kinds of ministries that have given the community its character — grassroots, relational, and rooted in service.
Prayer Network
The Prayer Network has long gathered faithful partners who pray for everyone who has requested a prayer, or who simply needs to be lifted up. It is a quiet, sustaining ministry — a reminder that the community holds one another before God in good times and hard ones alike.
Mission Team
The Mission Team has been a socially conscious group raising awareness and funding for vital outreach around the globe. Its projects have gathered around themes such as "Our Church, Our Community, Our Neighborhood, and Our World," connecting the congregation to local service partners and to international relief efforts including those of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Through Sunday suppers, hands-on service, and generous giving, the Mission Team has kept outreach at the center of congregational life. You can read more on our missions page.
Garden Group
For those with green thumbs, the Garden Group has tended the church's outdoor spaces — a small but meaningful ministry of beauty, stewardship, and care for creation that reflects the congregation's belief that God's ongoing work includes the created world.
Care Ministry
The Care Ministry has been a small group devoted to showing love and care for anyone who is ill, hurting, troubled, lonely, or simply in need of affection. Among its enduring traditions, members make prayer shawls, blankets, and cold-weather scarves and hats for distribution both inside and beyond the church. They pray over their work as they create it, filling each handmade item with love and with prayers for recovery and restoration. It is hospitality made tangible — warmth you can wrap around your shoulders.
Fellowship and Belonging
Alongside these named ministries, the congregation has always made room for ordinary fellowship — shared meals, conversation, study, and the everyday friendships that turn a group of worshipers into a community. These connections are the soil in which faith grows, and they have been a hallmark of Irving Park UMC across many seasons.
Many Gifts, One Body
The Apostle Paul wrote that the church is one body with many members, each gift essential to the whole. That conviction is visible in the life of this congregation, where prayer, mission, care, gardening, music, and teaching have each had a place. To learn more about the programs that have shaped this community, explore our ministries, our music ministry, and our heritage of missions and giving.