Who We Are
• A congregation of 570 members
• 3 styles and times of worship
• 8:15 a.m. Blended, with Communion every week
• 9:30 a.m. Contemporary with band & video clips
• 10:30 a.m. Traditional with full Chancel Choir
• ALPHA Course offered at least twice annually
• 20 ALPHA Courses with 300+ alumni
• Rotational Model Sunday School classes for Grades 1-4
• Mom's Morning Out
• Youth Classes for Grades 5-6, Junior High & Senior High
• Youth Fellowship activities & service on Sunday afternoon
• Youth mission trips to various parts of the country
• Youth ALPHA & Confirmation Classes
• Boys & Girls mentoring Groups
• Christian based preschool & pre-kindergarten
• Prayer Group & Prayer Ministry
• Book Club reading group
• Grief Support group
• Gardeners of Eden group
• United Methodist Men's group of 24
• Master's Men that sponsors Community Prayer Breakfast
• United Methodist Women of 84
• Five United Methodist Women Circles
• Six Sunday Morning study groups
• Eleven weekday study and fellowship groups
• Walk to Emmaus Reunion groups
• Jacob's Table free community meal every Monday
• Senior Community Luncheon
• Love Cares assistance to residents of Duneland School Corp.
• Transportation to doctor appointments
• 3 to 4 work teams annually to vaious parts of the country
• Participant in Rebuilding Duneland each April
• Participant in community churches Sharefest each October
• Participant in Community Christmas Sing
• Supporter of Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry
• Volunteers at United Churches Resale Shop
• Host of Duneland Unit of Boys & Girls Club at the MAC
• Host to Boy Scout Troop 929
• Host to Girl Scout Troop 109
• Host to Cub Scout Troop 929
• Host to Scout Leaders Meetings
Church
Membership
Church membership is a commitment to Christ that is expressed
by supporting the church through prayers, presence, gifts
and service. We welcome everyone's participation in the ministries
of the church. We believe that a person should be integrated
into the life of the congregation before becoming a member.
Participation in a small group is the best way to get connected.
Recurring Small Groups offered 2 or 3 times per year are ALPHA,
DISCIPLE, Beginnings, Boundaries and Serving from the Heart. Many
other groups meet Sunday mornings and on weekdays & evenings.
Confirmation classes are a 13-week course (for those entering
7th grade and above). Small Groups
info >
Children
in Worship
Children are welcome to stay with their parents for the whole
worship service. Other options are: after "Moments for
Young Disciples" at the 8:15 service, all children age
3 through 5th grade are welcome to go to "Children's
Church" in Room 301/303. After "Moments for Young
Disciples," at the 10:30 service, children ages 3 through
kindergarten are welcome to go to enrichment activities in
Room 202. More info >
Nursery
Care
Skilled nursery care givers are on duty during Sunday services
for ages 3 and under. The Nursery is located down the hall
in the first door on the left from the Sanctuary.
MAC
- Methodist Activity Center
The Methodist Activity Center (MAC) is located adjacent to
the main church at 135 Lincoln Avenue. It is a community outreach
developed by the Vision Team of our church to provide safe,
enriching, educational and social activities for all people
within the Duneland area. The building also serves as the
main meeting place for our youth and as the home for the Duneland Unit of the Boys & Girls Club.. Please watch for upcoming
events, or contact the church office if you have ideas for
future programs. More info >
Holy
Communion
Holy Communion is a celebration of God's forgiveness and grace
offered through Christ. Christ invites to His table all who
love Him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live
in peace with one another.
Baptism
Baptism is a recognition of God's call to each of us to follow
Christ and is the rite of initiation into the Family of God.
Infants of members are baptized and invited to "confirm" their faith after they reach seventh grade. Baptism is the
means of membership for adults who have not been baptized
before. We recognize baptism from other churches. Baptism
may be sprinkling, pouring, or immersion in water.
Prayer
Ministry
Prayer Ministries include a Prayer Room on the 2nd floor,
circles of prayers, prayer chains, and email prayer concerns.
You may make your prayer requests by using the yellow sheet
in the Friendship Pad and putting it in the offering plate,
by calling the church office at 926-1478, or by sending a
note to chesterton.umc@verizon.net.
Weddings
We view marriage as a sacred covenant between God and the
couple. Premarital counseling is required for couples being
united by the church. Weddings need to be scheduled at least
three months in advance. Fees and agreements for use of the
church are available from the church office.
Funerals
The pastor is available for funerals of members and, as time
permits, for non-members. The church offers funeral luncheons/refreshments
when requested by the family.
Chesterton
U.M. Church: A Thumbnail History
| 1834 |
Methodists in Porter County organized by Jacob Beck |
| 1852 |
Northwest Indiana Conference organized |
| 1861 |
Calumet Society of Methodists formed and Rev. Grime
appointed |
| 1861 |
Lot at Ind. and Second purchased for $150 (site of Thomas
library) |
| 1862 |
Rest of lot purchased for $100 |
| 1863 |
Work ceased for Civil War |
| 1865 |
Methodist/Episcopal building completed for $2,000 on
Indiana Ave. |
| 1879 |
Swedish Methodist Church organized |
| 1905 |
Swedish Methodist building erected on Lincoln Ave. |
| 1913 |
Original Methodist Church remodeled and steam heat added |
| 1927 |
Present sanctuary built for $65,000 at 434 S. 2nd St. |
| 1936 |
Membership was 303 |
| 1946 |
Methodist/Episcopal and Swedish Methodist churches merge |
| 1962 |
Centennial year - 1,037 members |
| 1965 |
Education wing added under leadership of Carl Parish |
| 1968 |
Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist merge to create
the United Methodist Church |
| 1976 |
Two worship services begun by Dean Stuckey |
| 1976 |
Budget was $102,511 |
| 1984 |
Chancel was remodeled and a Steiner-Reck tracker pipe
organ installed |
| 1986 |
Third Street house purchased (later moved to 11th St.
in 1997) |
| 1990 |
Chesterton population is 8,500 |
| 1996 |
Building Hope Campaign raised $705,000 |
| 1997 |
Elevator, new entrance & air conditioning added
& parking expanded on Third St. |
| 1998 |
New improvements dedicated |
| 2001 |
Offices, Nursery & Pre-School Renovated |
| 2002 |
Membership was 590 and budget $337,000 |
| 2003 |
Former Bethlehem Lutheran Church purchased for $160,000
becomes the MAC |
| 2004 |
Chancel is remodeled and video screen and projector
added |
| 2005 |
Methodist Activity Center consecrated |
| 2005 |
Three Worship Services begun on Sunday morning |
More about church history >
For more information,
visit:
Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church
www.inareaumc.org
Indiana United Methodist Historical Society
www.depauw.edu/library/archives/historicalsociety/
North Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church
www.nicumc.org
The United Methodist Church
http://www.umc.org
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