OVerview
Wicker Park Lutheran Church (WPLC) has been a hub of spiritual and social resources in Wicker Park since 1879. We are the oldest active community/religious organization in Wicker Park. Over these 145 years, we have consistently shaped Wicker Park by supporting neighbors, businesses, and the local economy. In fact, our economic impact is over $2 million each year (read more here)! You are invited to celebrate the fundraising halfway point of our $1.4 million A Place for All project, learn more abut our progress, network, and tour the building.
CONTENTS
From 2022-2023 Wicker Park Lutheran Church had an economic impact exceeding $2 million dollars! This exceeds the national average for historic, urban congregations!
Independent Economic Halo Study (July 2023) using research from the University of Pennsylvania
RSVP & EVENT BASICS
- Date: Saturday, May 18
- Time: 3-5 p.m. (open house, stop by any time)
- Includes:
- 3-4 p.m. — Reception with food, drinks, music, networking, children’s activities, and tours.
- 4 p.m. — A Place for All renovation presentation and celebration!
- 4:30 p.m. — Continued festivities.
- Location: 1500 N Hoyne Ave. Chicago, IL 60622
- Parking, Accessibility, Public Transportation: Visit this page.
- Details: See below in our FAQ section.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
Q: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS EVENT?
A: There are three main purposes of the event: (1) celebrate the success of A Place for All capital campaign, (2) facilitate community networking, and (3) share a bit about our campaign to further enhance our neighborhood.
Q: WHERE is the Event? Is there Parking? iS IT A.D.A. Accessible?
A: It will be held at Wicker Park Lutheran Church, 1500 N. Hoyne Ave (at the corner of Hoyne & Le Moyne). Additional details about parking, accessibility, public transportation options, and the facility can be found here.
Q: Are you asking me for Money or to Join Your Church?
A: No! This is not a ploy to get you to join the church and this is not a fundraising event. We are going to celebrate, share about the campaign, and have a lot of fun!
Q: What If I’m Not Lutheran Or I’m Not REligious?
A: Awesome! You should come. In fact, we estimate that over 90% of the people who use our community hub each week are not Lutheran and many are not religious. We welcome all faith backgrounds and those without any religious affiliation.
Q: Is this for WPLC members/Visitors or The Neighborhood?
A: Both! This is a non-religious, open house event for everyone. We’re going to have historic tours, children’s activities, food, drinks, live music, and will share a bit about our A Place for All project. The event is free!
Q: WHY HOLD A Celebration Before the Work is completed?
A: WPLC has been at the corner of Hoyne & Le Moyne for over 145 years and we haven’t renovated in such an expansive way for over 118 years. To date, we’ve already raised more money than any other capital campaign in our recent history, so we think a celebration is in order! Come take a historic building tour, learn about our project, and get to know some of your neighbors and make new friends.
Q: What if I Have Another Question?
A: We’re here to answer any questions you have. You can contact the church office at office@wickerparklutheran.org or 773-276-0263 to get connected to the right person.
ABOUT OUR CURRENT PROJECT
Wicker Park Lutheran Church has been at the corner of Hoyne & LeMoyne since 1879. The current building dates from 1906 and presents limitations to how the community can gather. We are embarking on a $1.4 million+ campaign to address these limitations in the second phase of a $3.6 million project.
This next phase will better (1) welcome diversity with an elevator and ADA-accessible, gender-neutral bathrooms, (2) preserve and restore our historic architecture, and (3) enhance community spaces. We’re over halfway to hitting the goal with multiple grants and numerous individual donors!
