Pastor Lisa Orris

Lisa Orris has been the Lead Pastor at Hope Church in Crystal Lake for the past 10 years.  She recently stepped down and is the founder of Grief Guide. Her mission is to guide people in their grief and provide sacred spaces for healing.

She earned a BA in Criminology from Gannon University and a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary. After graduating from seminary, she accepted a call to be the Director of Evangelism for the Evangelical Covenant Church, where she served for 5 years. In 2023, she was recognized as a Woman of Distinction in McHenry County for her work in the community.

You will often find Pastor Lisa out on the lake soaking up the sun, walking around to get in her 10,000 steps and sitting under warm blankets by the fire in the winter.

Pastor Lisa begins her ministry at Faith on August 1, 2024.  Her first opportunity to lead worship is on August 4th.  All are welcome to come and meet her!

Our Marquee

When we are not announcing a current event or a particular seasonal message, our marquee will often reflect our passion for social justice and peace, as well as our desire to encourage an uplifting thought for the day.

ARTICLE I. NAME AND AFFILIATION

This church is duly incorporated as a not-for-profit religious organization under the laws of the State of Illinois, under the corporate name of Faith Community, United Church of Christ.  It shall be in free and voluntary fellowship with other congregations of The United Church of Christ and a member of this denomination.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of our church is to give loving service to God and to humankind. We will strive to create a Christian community where each individual can worship, gain understanding, and grow in awareness. Here each soul’s uniqueness and sanctity can be strengthened, as we worship and as we seek God’s truths in the Christian message.

ARTICLE III. DOCTRINE

This church recognizes the Bible as the sufficient rule of faith and practice, and holds that living in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ is the true test of fellowship. Each member shall have the right to follow the word of God according to the dictates of his/her own conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. The following Statement of Faith, therefore, is not a test but an expression of the spirit in which the church interprets the Word of God.

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:

You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death.

You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.

You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races.

You call us into your church 

to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,

to be your servants in the service of others,

to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil,

to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table,

to join him in his passion and victory.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen.

Adopted by the Second General Synod, June, 1959; Revised 1975. R. V. Moss.

ARTICLE IV.  MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to any persons who make public confession of their faith in the triune God or present a letter of transfer from another Christian church.

ARTICLE V. GOVERNANCE

The government of this church shall be vested in its members, who exercise the right of control in its affairs, subject to legal matters in the Articles of Incorporation granted to it by the State of Illinois. The Governing Body of this church shall be the membership assembled in church meeting. The vote of a majority of members present at the meeting shall be the action of the church. A quorum shall consist of 5% of the members.

ARTICLE VI. ORGANIZATION

The powers of the congregation shall be delegated by election at the annual meeting to the following:

1. Officers – Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary. All officers shall be members of the church.  All officers will be elected for a two (2) year term.
2. Council – Officers, 1 representative from each of the Ministries and Standing Committees and up 2 members at large.  The Pastor is an ex-officio member.
3. Ministries and Committees– Christian Education, Worship and Congregation Care, Missions and Stewardship, Buildings and Grounds and Pastoral-Parish Relations.

Other Ministries and Committees can be formed as needed by the Council.

ARTICLE VII. CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS

The Annual Meeting of the church shall be held in January.  At this meeting officers shall be elected and all organizations and officers of the church shall submit annual reports in writing for the year ending December 31.  The church fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

Special Meetings may be called by the Pastor, the Church Council, or on written request of five (5) members of the church. To be held no later than six (6) weeks from the date of request. The nature of the business shall be stated in the call.

Meetings shall be held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled Sunday Worship Service. Written notice of meetings of the congregation shall be posted at least two weeks before such meetings.

ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this Constitution may be made at any corporate meeting by a two-thirds majority affirmative vote of the members present if such members constitute a quorum.  Public notice of the amendment having been made in the call for the meeting.

ARTICLE IX. DISSOLUTION

Upon dissolution pursuant to the laws of the State of Illinois of the church covered by this Constitution:

1. A meeting shall be called for the purpose of the dissolution of the church and its assets. All active members shall be notified in writing at the last known address, ninety (90) days in advance of a so-designated meeting.
2. A three-quarters (3/4) affirmative vote of a quorum of members present at the meeting shall be necessary for dissolution of the church and distribution of its assets.
3. In case of said affirmative vote, assets shall be transferred to the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ.