Destiny

Destiny...

Friend, what is your destiny?

What is your high calling and purpose?

Parkview Church exists as a community of persons dedicated to discovery of destiny...individually hearing the calling, then together finding true purpose in Christ.

One person sensed a calling late at night, while doing grocery shopping. That calling led him to Parkview, where he has discovered more of God and more of himself...in community...destiny!

Another person sensed a calling as she drove past Parkview Church. She eventually attended, and experienced greater life-purpose...in community...destiny!

Anne Catherine has said, "If you hear truth calling out to you, follow that voice and everything will work out from there."

Could it be that you will hear that voice more clearly in a community of faith?

That is why Parkview exists: to assist the human search of destiny...in the family of Christ!

If you hear truth calling, you are welcome here!

God bless you as you follow that voice!

Mission

Parkview Church strives to be a reconciling community.

In a world of separation and brokenness, we seek the unity and wholeness found in Christ Jesus. No matter what individual background, what past or present need, we believe the Cross of Christ is able to heal, to unite and restore. And that is good news!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has said that Sunday worship is the most segregated hour in America. Sadly, that is too often the case. But not at Parkview!

God is creating integral community among us, causing us to be "children of reconciliation."

Our mission is to grow in the grace of Christ, made right toward God, and then toward one another. In all our activities, in all our giving, we seek this divine transformation.

Community

God has raised up Parkview Church with several key distinctives, strengths of worship, community and Word -- things so needed by our world!

Parkview distinctives:

• Natural racial reconciliation in worship and congregational life
• Presbyterian worship that is confessional, traditional, ‘merely Christian’ in doctrine
• Eldership model that recognizes varieties of gifts in leadership
• Accepting community and fellowship
• A mind for mission and compassion
• A prayer community
  

In other words, a faith community where you can find your spiritual voice!

Worship

The worship at Parkview centers on the table of the Lord, the table that the Lord spreads for us by His Word...every Sunday the centerpiece of our service is the service of the Divine Word. At this table we are fed with spiritual food, nourishment of soul which empowers the body for holy living.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God, the Bread that came down from Heaven for the life of the world. We feed on Christ when we feed on the Word...

So we also lift up the table of the Lord's Supper: the first Sunday of every month we remember the feast to which Jesus invited His followers: the Real Presence of Christ is mediated to us by the Holy Spirit as we take the cup and bread of the Lord's Table.

Our worship follows the Christian Year, and encounters us with the ancient liturgy of the Christian faith...yet seeks continual openness to the present movement of God's Spirit among us.

There is room for all at this altar, at this Table!

Whatever your tradition, or background, come and add your voice in worship!

You are welcome here.

Sunday morning service is at 11:00 a.m.

Prayer

The Lord Jesus said, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer.'"

If any one thing could characterize Parkview, we desire that this statement of Jesus would stand for us: that we would be a house of prayer for all people, a light to the nations!

God is raising up among us a spirit of prayer. We've started a local, informal weekly prayer service, to seek God's will for our communities and personal lives. And, our Sunday service usually ends with a collection of worshippers staying for extended prayer time in the chapel. For those so touched in these gentle moments of communion with God, it is clear why Jesus emphasized prayer!

If your heart cries out for a greater sense of Spirit intervention, feel free to join us in prayer!

Leadership

Parkview Church follows the eldership model presented in Scripture, seeking a representative government whereby elders are recognized by the congregation for spiritual gifts, and then ordained to the task of leading God's people as faithful shepherds.

The elders are elected to serve rotating terms on the session, the ruling body.

God has blessed Parkview with an incredible group of elders, of many and diverse gifts! Current session of Parkview Church:

• Lumumba Mbekeani
• Nancy Brand
• Vashti Varnado
• Pat Malespin
• Mary Ann Cruver
• Larry Lund
• Alice Morgan
  
• Karen Herd
• Marcy Shannon
• Dr. Ron Campbell, Moderator

Currently, David McKinney preaches and leads in worship.

God has blessed Parkview by raising up leaders who follow Him with heart and head...leading the way to 'still waters and green pasture!'

Beliefs

Our belief centers in the Lord Jesus Christ. As Scripture says, "He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End" of all faith. "He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who has given us life, and we celebrate Him as the Lord of the Universe, the holy Son of God.

We believe that Jesus Christ reveals the face of the Eternal God, whom Jesus called "Abba," dear Daddy, the Heavenly Father.

We believe that the Holy Spirit mediates divine life to us, when we call on the name of Christ Jesus.

We experience new life, new birth as we enter this divine relation: provided for us by the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit: it is this we lift up and preach as the Gospel! It is a mystery we proclaim, a Gospel mystery whereby humans now experience the actual life of God by the grace of God alone...a lived miracle of redemption which foretells greater redemption yet to come.

This Gospel of Christ reconciles us to God, and causes us to be reconciled to one another...what the world longs to know, this we proclaim in the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ!

This we believe and confess -- owning and living the ancient creeds of Christian faith...

Events

Come and grow in spiritual life, through prayer, worship and fellowship!

Sunday worship is 11:00 a.m.*

Intercessory and communal prayer 12:30 Sunday, in the chapel

New member class announced

Tuesday informal house prayer meeting 7:00 p.m., Maywood

Stay updated and add your thoughts through the PARKVIEW BLOG!

For more information, contact Parkview at parkviewpresby@yahoo.com or call 708-386-7151.

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*Note: Summer hours Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10:00 a.m. All other times of the year Sunday worship is at 11:00 a.m.

Architecture

The story of Parkview Church began in 1860 when 22 people organized a United Presbyterian Church at a Chicago store front on Van Buren and Third Ave. A church home was later erected at Paulina and Monroe, where, escaping the Chicago fire of 1871, it served as a benevolence distribution center.

Elmer Roberts, son of E. E. Roberts, designed the present building at Oak Park Ave and Jackson Blvd. Completed and dedicated on December 13, 1925, it stands today as Roberts built it, “an early English Gothic Church with a call bell tower.” A recent, extensive Church project restored the tuck-pointing and renovated the sills, doors, and amber stained glassed windows to their historic setting.

Parkview’s structure is beautiful. It is sacred space which soars the heart toward worship…and continues the Gospel mission of mercy started so many years ago. The call of the Lord Jesus Christ echoes daily from its tower: “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!”

Virtual pictorial tour soon to come!

Directions

Parkview Presbyterian Church is located at 641 S. Oak Park Ave, in Oak Park, IL.

It is just south of Madison Street on Oak Park Ave, at the intersection of Jackson Blvd and Oak Park Ave, across from Fox Park.

If taking the Eisenhower Expressway [290], exit at Harlem Ave, go one block north to Jackson Blvd [the first light] and turn right [east]. Take Jackson Blvd to Oak Park Ave, and you'll see Parkview on the northwest corner of the intersection.

Park on the street and join us in worship!

Sunday worship is at 11:00 a.m.

Prayer and seasonal services upon request.