First Congregational Church of Des Plaines was founded in 1869 with a congregation of just 13 people. Church construction was completed in 1871 and after many years of expansion, reached its current size of 48,000 sq. ft. in 1929. The sanctuary for worship seats 550 people and the entire complex now features offices, classrooms, play rooms, two Sunday school chapels, a choir room and a fully functioning kitchen.
Affiliated with the United Church of Christ, First Congregational offers a regular pre-school, Sunday school, teen and adult study groups, and a weekly Youth, Bell and Chancel Choir session where all are welcome to attend and sing. The church also supports missionary programs, planning a yearly trip (most recently to New Orleans to help Hurricane Katrina victims) and support PADS and Project Survivor, a welcoming mission to refugees. First Congregational also opens their doors for weddings, baptisms and funeral service to the public regardless if they are a member of the congregation.
Phat Bao Temple is a worship center serving the needs of the Des Plaines Vietnamese Buddhist community. It is a part of the Buddhist Council of the Midwest.
Faith Alliance Bible Church offers a wide range of ministries and events outside of standard worship, including two weekly youth programs, TGIF and Leaders for Life, and Covenant Kidz, a Sunday morning children's ministry. It also has studies for adults and boast an impressive missionary program. Most recently, a group of four adults and 16 students traveled to the Philippines to help construct a school.
Built in the mid-1980s, this church has one of the largest Mar Thoma parishes in the United States. Mar Thoma is a Christian denomination based in southwestern India. This church has a bible study group and family retreats. There is another Mar Thoma church in Chicago.
This international Roman Catholic congregation of vowed women is dedicated to spreading the word and love of God to all people, particularly to families. The sisters serve families actively through ministry in schools, hospitals, parishes, prisons and social service agencies. Presently, the Nazareth family extends to 1,400 sisters serving in 12 countries along with 700 lay associates.
The Bridge Community Church (formerly known as Des Plaines Bible Church) was established in April of 2009 and still serves the previous congregation and newcomers. It is a nondemoninational Christian church, and offers many services in addition to the standard worship service. These include Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based 12-step program that focuses on helping people with issues ranging from grief to alcoholism and drug addiction, and Solid Ground, its children's ministry, available to children ranging in age from infants to fifth graders. It also offers small group, men's and women's ministry programs and spiritual growth classes. In between services there is also a spacious lounge to connect with others and a coffee bar to enjoy.
The congregation of Evergreen Community Church is made up mostly Asian-American young adults who are devoted to supporting and spreading the word of Christ to this generation and generations to come. The church holds small group meetings for Bible study and team-building exercises throughout the week, as well as Sunday Bible Fellowship and Sunday Morning Prayer. El Roi Romanian Baptist Church shares sanctuary space with Evergreen at different times.
Immanuel Lutheran Church was founded more than 100 years ago when St. Stephens Congregation of Des Plaines disbanded. The church is affiliated with the Immanuel Lutheran School, which is across the street. This institution offers worship services weekly, as well as Sunday school and Bible study.
Originally located in a single-family home, this Islamic Community Center has grown in the past 12 years and is now able to build a mosque to better serve its congregation in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. This center provides its congregation with many activities and educational programs within the community. Members of the organization not only worship at the mosque, but also participate in educational and community activities.
The Salvation Army is a non-profit religious organization that is part of the universal Christian Church. This particular location offers domestic violence services, emergency food and nutrition programs and other emergency assistance services for those in need.
The Romanian Baptist Church serves Des Plaines' Romanian community by offering church services four days a week, as well as youth groups and mission trips. Located on Northwest Highway just east of Wolf Road.
Serving the Russian Orthodox community of Des Plaines as well as other parts of the Chicagoland area, Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral offers other services beyond standard worship. This church has religious study for children ages 3 and up every Saturday at multiple times to fit your child's schedule. There is a also a youth group for children and teens 10 years of age and older that is a part of Russian Orthodox Teens of America (ROTA).
Beginning with a humble membership of 19 and now hosting around 1,000 patrons, the Trinity Lutheran Church has been serving the Des Plaines community since 1925. In addition to regular service, the church also offers child care, Sunday school, youth and adult studies and choir programs for children, teens and adults. Trinity also participates in and supports PADS, Meals on Wheels and American Cancer Society's Relay for Life among other volunteer and social services. The church's website includes a Just for Fun tab which has Bible related trivia, crossword puzzles and games for children.
First United Methodist Church of Des Plaines has been serving the community since 1870. Aside from regular Sunday service, the church also offers children and youth ministry, weekly dinner and programs for adults and youth and choir programs for children six years of age to adults. It offers twice weekly, morning and afternoon child care in its Mother's Day Out program. In addition, First United Methodist also sponsors an annual youth mission trip.
Apart from Sunday worship service, St. Martin's Episcopal Church offers youth, adult education and ministry programs. Sunday school is divided into two age groups: toddlers to first graders and second to fifth graders. Teens are welcome to act as acolytes and older teens sometimes provide readings during services. The youth group meets once a month, and there are spiritual development classes for adults. Community outreach includes partnerships with North School, Meals on Wheels and PADS, an annual coat drive.
St. Stephens has been serving the Catholic community of Des Plaines since 1952 when construction began on both the church and Our Lady of Destiny Catholic School, with which St. Stephens is affiliated. Construction was completed and the church and school blessed by Samuel Cardinal Stritch on June 1, 1954. Aside from regular worship service they offer religious education service for children in grades kingergarten to eighth grade on Wednesday afternoons and evenings.
This church, founded in 1969, was formerly The United Pentecostal Church of Des Plaines. Since 1996 the congregation has been led by Pastor Charles L. Reid III or Dr. Chuck, as he is known to some. It has 10 ministries including Healthy Living, the Usher Board, Christian Education and Dare to Live, a substance abuse program. Bethesda hosts group Bible studies at locations, such as nursing homes, outside the church upon request.