Bethel United Church of Christ invites the Elmhurst community to join Bethel members and friends for the opening of its new Welcome Center on Saturday, September 19, 2015. The official ribbon cutting, with special guests, will be at 4:00 pm followed by an open house ending at 5:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served and music will be provided by the York High School Jazz Combo. Those attending can see the new fellowship space and renovations that have been made to the existing church building and grounds, and talk with church members who have been involved in numerous ways in the fundraising, planning and building process.
On Sunday, September 20, the Bethel congregation will formally dedicate its new Welcome Center during a festive morning worship service at 10:00 am. Bethel’s Senior Minister, Rev. Gretchen Sylvester, will lead worship and preach. Music will be provided by the Bethel voice choir. Following worship, the congregation will process to the Welcome Center to enjoy a celebratory coffee hour in its new space.
Construction of the center, completed in July of this year, culminates a seven year, $3 million Journey Forward Campaign to fund expanded programming and facilities for Bethel’s congregation and the community at large. In addition to adding the Welcome Center, Bethel purchased a property on Huntington Lane, which was converted to the Bethel Administration Center, and has completed extensive repairs and upgrades to the existing church and Bethel Learning Center facilities. The architectural firm providing design and space planning for the project was Jaeger, Nickola, Kuhlman Associates, and construction management was provided by Frederick Quinn Corporation. Community Bank of Elmhurst provided construction financing.
Bethel UCC was founded in 1953 and is an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ. It has ministries for all ages including the Bethel Learning Center for pre-school children, adult and youth education and mission trips, community service projects, and fellowship gatherings, and it offers an exceptional music program through Sunday worship, the Music at Bethel concert series, now in its 17th season, and other musical events throughout the year.
Bethel UCC is located at 315 E. St. Charles Rd. in Elmhurst. For more information, please call the church office at 630-279-4040.