Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? You've come to the right place! Click on the questions below to learn more about how we worship together, what we believe, how we serve our community, and more.
How We Worship
What should I wear to worship at CPC? Come as you are! You will see people at CPC wearing anything from suit and tie to t-shirt and jeans. No matter your dress, you will be warmly welcomed.
What are CPC’s accommodations for persons with disabilities? CPC is completely wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spots are located at the west entrance and in the north parking lot. Video screens project readings and worship songs. Worship is available on screens in the narthex and on Facebook live for those who are unable to attend in-person worship.
Where should I enter the building? You can use almost any door to enter the church. The entrances closest to the sanctuary are located on the North East and East side of the building. These entrances are open on Sunday and during special events, but not during the week. For easy access to the church office, the Loft and the Ball Chatham Food Pantry, enter through the west doors under the carport. To enter Olsen Fellowship Hall, attend Boy Scout meetings or the Serenity Group, enter through the north doors under the awning.
Are children welcome in worship? Just as Jesus welcomed little children, so do we! We believe that children learn how to worship by being in worship with us, so we welcome them just as God made them with their wiggles, giggles, and loud whispers. Find worship bags outside the rear sanctuary doors for them to enhance their worship experience. We also offer a time just for children during the service. For parents who might prefer not to have their younger children stay in worship, we offer a staffed nursery for infants through preschoolers on Sunday morning. Sunday school is available for children ages kindergarten through fifth grade following the children’s sermon.
What We Beleive
What are the beliefs of the Presbyterian Church USA? CPC is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Learn more about what that means to us and about Presbyterians in general on the PC(USA) website. At the core of Presbyterian identity is a secure hope in the grace of God in Jesus Christ, a hope that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, empowers us to live lives of gratitude. Thus, we believe that in life and death we belong to God, trusting in the one Triune God: •God the Creator who creates, sustains, and redeems all that is. •God the Son, Jesus Christ (fully human, fully God), whose life we strive to bear witness to by sharing His sacrificial love to the ends of the earth. • God the Holy Spirit, the giver and renewer of life, who calls us and empowers us to share in what God is doing in the world. Presbyterians also believe that our knowledge of God and God’s purpose for humanity comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ. Our salvation (justification) comes through Jesus Christ, God’s generous gift to us and not the result of our own accomplishments. We believe that it is everyone’s job — ministers and lay people alike — to share this Good News with the whole world. This is also why the Presbyterian church is governed at all levels by a combination of clergy and laity, men and women alike. Thus, Presbyterians are distinctive in two major ways. They adhere to a pattern of religious thought known as Reformed theology and a form of government that stresses the active, representational leadership of both ministers and church members.
What do Presbyterians believe about baptism? Baptism symbolizes the love by which God reaches out to us even when we are very young. We baptize infants as a sign of God's amazing grace, knowing that God's promises do not depend on age or understanding. Baptism stands for the new beginning that God has given to us through Jesus. Through baptism we know that we live as God's children in Christ's family, the church. In this family we know the love of God through our love for one another, God's forgiveness through our forgiving one another, and hope from God through having faith toward one another and in one another. Baptism normally occurs during a worship service. At CPC we offer baptisms from a font where water is sprinkled or poured over the head of the person being baptized as well as full immersion baptism where the person is fully submerged in water. Baptism requires the permission of the Session and a meeting with the pastor presiding over the baptism. If you have not been baptized, CPC also baptizes adults! If you are interested in discussing baptism for yourself, contact the church office. Baptism need only be received once. Its effect is not tied to the moment when it is administered, and the PC(USA) believes that persons of other denominations are part of one body of Christian believers and recognizes and accepts baptisms by other Christian churches.
What do Presbyterians believe about communion? Communion is one of the principal sacraments of the Presbyterian church, a visible way of presenting God’s promise and blessing of grace (a sign of God's covenant). Communion helps us remember that Jesus died for us, that our sins can be forgiven and our lives can be transformed, so that we might live as the children of God. The sacraments are both physical signs and spiritual gifts, including words and actions, surrounded by prayer, in the context of the Church's common worship. They employ ordinary things—the basic elements of water, bread, and wine—in proclaiming the extraordinary love of God. The Lord's Supper is at once God's gift of grace, God's means of grace, and God's call to respond to that grace. Through the Lord's Supper, Jesus Christ nourishes us in righteousness, faithfulness, and discipleship. Through the Lord's Supper, the Holy Spirit renews the Church in its identity and sends the Church to mission in the world. The Reformed tradition understands that through communion we are invited to: •Thanksgiving to God, the Creator •Remembrance of Jesus Christ and God’s covenant promise of love and redemption based on grace •Invocation of the Holy Spirt •Communion of the body of Christ •A meal in the realm of God - receiving the elements (bread and grape juice) into our innermost being, the symbolic representation of the elements of life (food and drink) as well as the broken body and shed blood of Jesus •Nurture for Christlike living, committing ourselves anew to love and serve God and one another Communion may be referred to by a number of different terms in the Presbyterian Church - including, "The Lord’s Supper," "Breaking of Bread," and the "Eucharist." Each term adds to our understanding of the sacrament. The term "Communion" comes from the Greek word koinonia that translates as “fellowship” or “partnership,” referring to a common sense of sharing and communion with Christ and one another, emphasizing the unity of the body. The terms, “Lord’s Supper” or “Breaking of Bread,” refer to the New Testament stories of Jesus. It was Jesus who instituted this sacrament with his disciples, sharing bread and wine around a common table. It was also common practice for Jesus to eat and drink with people from various walks of life. Bread also links to the Old Testament covenant, connecting us to God's saving power and providential care as shown in the Passover and gift of manna in the Wilderness. The term “Eucharist,” comes from the Greek word eucharista, meaning “thanksgiving.” Use of the term Eucharist emphasizes that Jesus gave thanks before breaking the bread and offering the cup. Communion is a sign of our gratitude for God's steadfast love from generation to generation and represents God's gracious invitation to an ever-lasting covenant.
How are the communion elements distributed at CPC? We celebrate communion on the 1st Sunday of every month. Communion is distributed by one of two methods – passed in the pews or through receiving a prepared cup when entering the sanctuary. When served in the pews, trays of bread and cups of juice will be passed to you. When offered a prepared cup, pick one up on your way into the sanctuary and wait for communion to open it. In both methods, hold the bread and the cup of juice and eat and drink together with the community of Christ when invited to do so by the pastor.
How We Lead and Govern
How does CPC lead and govern as part of the Presbyterian Church USA? Chatham Presbyterian Church (CPC) is a member church of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the larger body that establishes the basic rules by which we are governed. CPC is part of the Presbytery of the Great Rivers, the body that serves our area of Illinois, and the Synod of Lincoln Trails, which governs a larger geographic region. Finally, the General Assembly is the overarching and most inclusive governing body of the PC(USA), which meets every two years to determine priorities, develop objectives and strategies, and provide resources to carry out the work of the whole church.
What is the Work of CPC’s Boards and Committees? At the local level, CPC is led by the teaching and ruling elders of the congregation (our pastor and elected members who participate in church governance), session, and the Board of Deacons.
Facility Use/Rental
Does CPC have space to host my event? CPC's facilities are available to rent for meetings and events. Contact the church office for more information, including special pricing for church members and pricing for non-members and organizations. Learn more about our facility use policy here.
How can I be married at CPC? We welcome you to be married at CPC if you are a member of our congregation, if you are a Presbyterian in good standing at another church, or if approved by the church session. The church offers a modern sanctuary that seats approximately 250 in padded, moveable chairs. There are four multi-stall restrooms and separate spaces for the bridal party. Contact the church office for more information.