Stay connected with all that’s happening at First Congregational UCC, Elmhurst.
You’ll find our most recent newsletter, along with an archive of past editions. We invite you to explore stories, updates, and upcoming events that reflect the life and spirit of our church community.
Founded in 1890 by a small group seeking an English-speaking congregation in Elmhurst, First Congregational Church has a long-standing commitment to education, Christian fellowship, and inclusive community.
Now part of the United Church of Christ, we are a welcoming church inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ. Rooted in God’s unconditional love, we strive to live our faith through compassion, service, and joyful learning for all ages. Together, we grow in faith and reach out to the world with grace and purpose.
At the beginning of this year, we welcomed Ken Jarabek to our staff team as our Church Bookkeeper. Ken brings a wealth of experience in the accounting field, having dedicated 30 years in financial management. He is semi-retired, and we at First Congregational Church feel truly blessed to have him as part of our team.
Ken and his wife, Julie, have been happily married for 43 years and are proud parents to their two daughters, Elizabeth and Stephanie. They are also blessed with four wonderful grandchildren: Grace and Mia, who are in high school, as well as Avery, age 7, and Ryan, age 5. Family is at the heart of Ken and Julie’s lives, and they cherish the time spent with their grandchildren.
In his free time, Ken enjoys golfing, exercising, and boating.
Jen Reed is a lifelong Elmhurst resident and long-time entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in graphic design, web design and digital marketing. As the church’s Communications Coordinator, she brings a wide-ranging skill set developed through years of running her own businesses and supporting others in bringing their creative visions to life.
Jen has worn many hats over the years—designing and managing websites, creating print and digital collateral, launching e-commerce projects, producing newsletters and social media content, and offering hands-on support to both technical and non-technical teams. Her work is rooted in a deep love for design.
While most of Jen’s experience comes from independent and self-directed work, she welcomed the opportunity to take on a part-time role at the church as a way to give back to her local community. She’s excited to contribute her skills in a setting that values connection, shared purpose, and service to others—and she hopes to elevate the church’s communication and outreach in ways that reflect its welcoming and community-focused spirit.
Jen has been married to her high school sweetheart for 30 years and is the proud mom of three children, two dogs, and two cats—keeping life full, lively, and never short on fur.
Meg McGarry was born and raised in rural Wisconsin, where her love for music, theater, and the arts began early. A multi-instrumentalist, she studied piano from a young age and later added percussion, guitar, and trumpet. Her first experiences in music ministry began in the Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir and accompanied services on piano—joking that the small stipend she earned one summer helped her buy a tennis racquet and gave her a “heavenly advantage” on the court.
Throughout her education, Meg was actively involved in prestigious music ensembles and performed as a featured soloist with groups such as the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra and the Ripon College Chamber Choir. She studied vocal performance at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music and served as a vocalist and jazz pianist with the 132nd Army Band. Her performance highlights include singing the national anthem at Lambeau Field during the Packers’ Super Bowl XXXI season and sharing the stage with artists like Janice Siegel, Fred Hersch, and Diana Krall. She was also a contestant on American Idol, traveling to Los Angeles for the experience.
In the Chicagoland area, Meg has performed with The Chicago Master Singers, The Naperville Chorus, and at the Sandwich Opera House. She has directed and performed in both community and professional theater, currently serves as board president of Fox Country Players, and teaches music, theater, and dance at the Paramount School of the Arts. She has spent nearly a decade writing and directing theater programming for youth and adults.
In 2009, Meg joined the band Guided Path and began leading worship at UCC churches. What started as a musical opportunity became a deeply personal calling, and she has joyfully served in music ministry ever since. Meg believes that returning to church through music was an answer to prayer and that finding a home in the UCC felt like finding her faith family.
Meg lives in Plano with her husband Kevin, their two amazing children, Aidan and Rose, two tabby cats (Faron and Francis—aka “Fat Frankie”), and two rabbits named Angelica and Eliza. In the rare moments she finds spare time, she enjoys writing poetry, quilting, motorcycling, and cozy gaming. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to create meaningful worship through music and considers it a profound honor to serve as Music Director at First Congregational UCC.
Martha Mendoza is a dedicated leader in Christian education with deep roots in both Puerto Rico and Illinois. She immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 7 and has since built a life centered on faith, education, and service. With a degree in Early Childhood Education and nearly two decades of experience working with children and youth, Martha brings both passion and expertise to her ministry.
Martha believes in nurturing global Christians—young people who learn to follow Christ through Scripture, music, art, and cultural exploration. This belief shines through in her leadership of First Congregational’s Youth Group and Sunday School programs, where she creates engaging, meaningful experiences that help children grow in faith and compassion.
Whether leading the Children’s Sermon on Sunday mornings, teaching Confirmation, or planning fundraisers to support youth mission trips, Martha brings warmth, creativity, and tireless energy to everything she does. Her loving spirit is cherished by our children, families, and congregation alike. We are truly blessed to have her guiding our Christian education ministry
And Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag′dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rab-bo′ni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Mag′dalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.