Our Mission Statement

God calls us to

• follow Christ
  

• make disciples
  

• and live the gospel

Our Beliefs    (as stated in our church's constitution)

 

CONFESSION OF FAITH

This congregation confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This congregation confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.

• Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
   

• The proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
   

• The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God's Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God's revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.

This congregation accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.

This congregation accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true declarations of the faith of this congregation.

This congregation accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the Gospel, acknowledging as one with it in faith and doctrine all churches that likewise accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.

This congregation accepts the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord, namely, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further valid interpretations of the faith of the Church.

This congregation confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scripture and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the world.

return to top of page

Our Location

Our street address is:

1380 N. Waukegan Road

Lake Forest, IL  60045-1147

Click here to see a MapQuest map.

Click here to get driving directions.

return to top of page

Our Staff
 

Richard Holmer
Senior Pastor
rholmer@stjameslutheran.org

Chris Meyer
Business Manager
cmeyer@stjameslutheran.org

Donna Jarvi
Secretary
djarvi@stjameslutheran.org

Debbie MacAyael
Sunday School Director

Doug Dusthimer
Youth Ministry Coordinator

Caitlin McGarrigle
Nursery Attendant

Tim Haskett
Music Director

Wendy Unrath
Organist

Donna Jarvi
Damascus Road Director

Gretchen Haskett
Handbell Ensemble Director

Wendy Wiegers
Children's Music Director

Daniel Heiman
Brass Ensemble Director

return to top of page

Church Council and Officers

Anne Linn
Council President

Jim Davoux
Council Vice President

Ann Anderson
Council Secretary

Rob Davis
Congregational Financial Secretary

Jon Paul
Congregational Treasurer

John Crotty
Church Council--Stewardship Liaison

Tim Goebel
Church Council

Faye Holm
Church Council

Shelly Holmstrom
Church Council--Women of St. James Liaison

Erick Opsahl
Church Council--Fellowship Liaison

Bill Rettmann
Church Council

Carole Tanner
Church Council--Evangelism Liaison

Joe Voelcker
Church Council--Finance Liaison
 

return to top of page

A Brief History
 

St. James Lutheran Church received its charter in January of 1962. Our first home was in the Lake Bluff Jr. High School and remained there for the following three years. The first service held on March 11, 1962 had 90 worshipers in attendance with Rev. Edward Hammer serving as the mission pastor.

By January of 1963 the church constitution was adopted. Two months later, Lutheran Church Women organized, and in April the first confirmation class was confirmed.

Ground breaking for the first church unit occurred in October of 1964, with the dedication in 1965.

Rev. Edward Livingston became our second pastor in November of 1966, and nine years later, in 1975, G. Anton ("Tony") Danielson received the call.

By the end of 1979 baptized membership surpassed the 500 mark, and an expanded facility to include an educational wing seemed imminent. This unit was dedicated in November of 1980.

The Rev. Barbara S. Gazzolo joined the staff in November of 1982.

In keeping pace with increasing membership, the present sanctuary was dedicated in 1990. A pipe organ was installed by March of 1992.  The 24 rank tracker pipe organ was built by Robert Sipe.

In 2000, Pastor Danielson retired after 25 years of service. 

In the July 2001, Richard E. Holmer accepted the call and became our new senior pastor.

In April 2005, Pastor Gazzolo retired after 22 years of service.

Pastor Karl J. Hester was called to serve as full time Associate Pastor in April 2005.  Pastor Hester accepted a call to Portland, Oregon in November 2007.

Currently the Baptized membership exceeds 570.
 

return to top of page