Short Stories:

An Afternoon Tea

Prayer flags holy fire

Welcome Iglesia Casa de la Gracia

Listen to the audio of this message about being a witnss to Christ

Watch Sunday's message (5/18/25):
Pastor Hope Chernich

Accepting Difference
As A Witness

Watch the whole series as presented in future weeks.

Pastor Hope Chernich,

First Church of Des Plaines

Pointing Others to Christ:
What Does it Mean to Be a Witness?

Fascinated by True Crime

Many people love True Crime shows and podcasts. We want to understand why people do bad things. We want to find out the truth and see justice happen. In these shows, witnesses are very important. They saw what happened or knew the people involved. Witnesses share facts and their own feelings and ideas, helping everyone understand the truth.

The Importance of Witnesses

In church, we also talk about being a "witness." This means sharing how God has impacted our lives. In the Bible, Jesus' followers were witnesses. They saw what Jesus did, how he died, and how he rose again. They shared these experiences with others, even when they didn't fully understand everything. By telling their stories, they helped people know God.

Being a Witness Today

Today, when we experience God's love and kindness, we become witnesses too. Even though we don't see God face-to-face, we can feel God's presence and love in our lives. We don't need to have all the answers. We just tell others what we've experienced personally.

Finding Hope Together

Right now at First Church, we're learning how to share our experiences of God with others. Many people today want justice and hope. We want to understand why bad things happen.

If you want to learn more about how God is working today and how God's love can change your life, join us Sundays at 10am at First Church. Everyone is welcome!

This is the series schedule. Watch or listen to past week messages here.

April 20 : We Are Witnesses

April 27: Being A Witness Beyond Doubt

May 4: The Call Of A Witness

May 11: Listening As A Witness

May 18: Accepting Difference As A Witness

May 25: Following God's Spirit As A Witness

June 1: The Joy Of A Witness

June 8: A Uniting Witness

Brrrr... It's still chilly outside. Let's warm up with a few snaps from last summer's festivities!

Scenes from a music festival at First Church, Des Plaines in the summer of 2024.

Good things:

We pray.

Each week, our prayer circle comes together to uplift the needs of those we know, and those we don’t. If you would like us to include you –and we would like to include you – use the QR code to let us know.

Your contact is confidential.

If you believe you need more than prayer support, our Pastor invites you to come in, meet her, and have a heart-to-heart. You’ll like her; she’s a good listener.

We are all lost sheep. We are finding our way. We can do this together.