United, we are more.

At United Church of Hyde Park, we deliver meaningful, personalized spiritual experiences for 21st century humans. We place people over platitudes and put our faith to work out in the world, where faith is sometimes hard to come by...and where it's often needed most. UCHP offers a safe place for not only diverse people to flourish, but diverse ideas, as well.

We run counter to the top-down theologies common to many religions and instead, approach things from the bottom-up--where our people reside. Communities by definition are a confluence of their individual and collective experiences. We've discovered over the years that the more diverse and inclusive we are, the stronger we become. 

Humans have never been so overwhelmed by information. We're all drinking from media fire hoses, whether we want to or not. Industry treats people as commodities, and it dehumanizes everyone. Have you ever wanted to have coffee with "a consumer"? Of course not. UCHP offers an intimate respite from all the noise, as well as a healthy sense of inquiry to our members, where peace, perspective and wisdom can be cultivated. 

We're delighted to welcome you to Hyde Park's dogma-free zone, where our faith, work and love live. 

We reach out from the get-go.

Founded and organized over a decade ago, UCHP's bi-weekly Saturday Open Breakfast is one of our favorite community outreach activities. The benevolent and approachable vibe can be sensed right away as men remove their hats while they're greeted by warm food aromas and smiles. Emblematic of our mantras of unity and inclusion, some people come to eat, others to help. But everyone is instantly accepted as a member of our community, so much so that many stay after the meal is finished to enjoy the music, games and even trivia contests. We invite you to join us for a communal meal and fellowship on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

Other community outreach activities we routinely enjoy at UCHP include Halloween pumpkin picking, dairy farm visits to the country for neighborhood kids, our annual fourth of July picnic, movie night, children passing out our Easter flowers to people in the neighborhood, community gardening and landscaping, and many others. Sometimes when the weather is right, you might even find Pastor Hill keeping office hours on our front steps.

We really like each other.

We have fellowship hour after church.  We celebrate everyone’s birthday.  We support special functions that involve members.  We throw a July 4th party.  We go to concerts together.  We stand on our steps quarterly and converse with our neighbors.  We serve in our church and community together.  We welcome visitors to join us.  

Our people.

Pam Thomas

Most of our people come from somewhere else. Such is the nature of a diverse community. Pam was born and raised in South Carolina, where she graduated with a B.A in Public Affairs and an M.A. in Conflict Resolution from Columbia College, SC. As you might expect, she embarked on a career in service where she's helped people with developmental disabilities and mental illness.

Pam is currently a Manager at The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services where she oversees six state agency's healthcare providers and suppliers. A promotion brought her to Chicago in January of 2005. While she found our winter a bit of a shock, she loved our historic Hyde Park neighborhood and was intrigued by UCHP. "I attended one service and was hooked. What I found was a small, diverse congregation, and even before it began, I felt like I was welcome."

Pam currently co-chairs our Sharing God's Love committee, which leads many of our community outreach efforts, including Open Breakfast where she has served as co-organizer for over three years.

Ann Audrain

Ann and her husband Cal have been members and active participants in the United Church of Hyde Park for over 40 years.  Their four children were raised in the church and actively involved.  While now retired Ann taught school for over 30 years and has had a particular interest in education and children in the church.  Over the years she has taught church school at many levels, participated in adult classes and fostered many study groups.  Being an active participant in a caring community of believers has been the foundation of her church involvement.  She has been involved with the Open Breakfast since it’s beginning and worked with others to provide a nourishing breakfast, but also a welcoming and caring space where all are treated with respect and dignity.  She is still active on the Sharing Gods love Committee and works to reach out into the community, works to foster fellowship within the church and encourages continuing to learn and study about our faith by attending study groups within the church.
It is important that the church reflects the diverse world we live in, that all are welcome and can explore together what it means to be a caring church community

Suneeta Brooker-Solesi

Suneeta is from the small island of Barbados where she was an officer in the military with special emphasis on youth development and involved in performing arts.  After graduating with a BSc. in Management and French, she moved to France for work and also completed a MSc. in International Business in Grenoble.
 
Upon moving to Hyde Park, Suneeta attended service and immediately felt at home.  The UCHP family was very hospitable and church services were very uplifting and thought-provoking.  In no time, Suneeta started attending the Lenten Series, had volunteered at the Annual Quilt Show and soon after became a member.
 
Suneeta is now a member of the choir and sits on the Church Council.  She’s also a member of the Sharing God’s Love committee and participates in Open Breakfast.