Des Plaines Churches - First Church

Watch Sunday's message (12/28/2025):
Pastor Hope Chernich

Exchanging Darkness for Light

Audio: Exchanging Darkness for Light

You can catch the latest Sunday Live Stream by clicking on the graphic above or on this link. We also send our stream to Facebook , and here’s the Facebook Link.

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Created in the Image of God

This Winter at First Church.

Pastor Hope Chernich,

First Church of Des Plaines

What do you believe about humanity? We don't often stop to think about this question, but your answer really matters. It shapes how you see yourself, how you treat other people, how you make friends, and even how we set up rules for living together.

Your beliefs about people affect everything. If you think people are basically bad and need to be fixed, you'll see the world one way. If you think people are basically good, you'll see things differently. These beliefs change how you think about helping others and holding people responsible for their actions.

Those of us who follow Jesus believe something specific: humans are made in the image of God. This isn't just a nice saying—it's a belief that changes how we see everyone around us. What we believe about God directly affects what we believe about people and how we treat them.

This winter, First Church is exploring these questions together. What does it mean to be made in God's image? How do we respect people who are different from us? Why do we exist? What's our purpose? What went wrong with humanity, and why do we need to be saved?

Join us for worship Sundays at 10am as we explore these questions through the Bible and our own thinking.

On January 21, 28, and February 4, we're also hosting conversation circles after worship. These are spaces to think more deeply, share what you're discovering, and wrestle with hard questions together.

Whether you're exploring these ideas for the first time or returning to them with fresh questions, there's a place for you here.

**To learn more or talk with a pastor, email Pastor Hope at pastorhope.fumcdp@gmail.com**

May God's peace and blessing be yours,

Pastor Hope Chernich

Good things:

We pray.

Each week, our prayer circle comes together to uplift the needs of those we know, and those we don’t. If you would like us to include you –and we would like to include you – use the QR code to let us know.

Your contact is confidential.

If you believe you need more than prayer support, our Pastor invites you to come in, meet her, and have a heart-to-heart. You’ll like her; she’s a good listener.

We are all lost sheep. We are finding our way. We can do this together.