WHO WE ARE
A Home for
Everyone
At Epiphany United Church of Christ, we strive to embody the radical welcome demonstrated by Jesus Christ. No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.
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Welcome to our first-time guests!
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Welcome to those who have no church home, need strength, have doubt, want to follow Christ, or even do not believe.
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Welcome to those who were baptized here and have worshiped in this place for generations!
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Welcome to people of all sexual orientations & gender identities, to people of all racial & ethnic heritages, and to families of every shape and size.
As part of the United Church of Christ, Epiphany UCC proudly embraces a rich diversity of theological and biblical perspectives. We believe that through baptism and confirmation, every individual brings unique talents and gifts to offer, enriching the life and mission of our church.
Community
Outreach
Epiphany is a vibrant church committed to both
local and global outreach.
We joyfully work to meet the needs of community in the North Center, Roscoe Village, and Ravenswood neighborhoods of Chicago and beyond.
Whether it’s through the local Welcome Meal, providing educational opportunities, or supporting missions for social justice, we are a living, breathing example of Christ’s love.
Nourishing Beyond the Plate
The Welcome Meal has been providing for our neighbors each Wednesday night for dinner since 2002!
We gladly welcome anyone who is in need of a hearty meal or looking to connect with the community. We typically fill stomachs with roughly 45 meals a week!
Doors open at 4:30pm and dinner is served at 5:45pm. Groups, families, and individuals are encouraged to volunteer for the meal. Help is typically needed between 4:30pm and 7:30pm. Funding is supported by members and friends of Epiphany UCC.
the Welcome
Meal
Epiphany's History
Epiphany is a member of the wider Protestant denomination in the United States called the United Church of Christ that draws its heritage from a variety of traditions going back centuries.
Epiphany UCC has roots in the German Lutheran tradition, brought to the United States by immigrants in the 19th century. In 1894 Reverend William Grotefeld offered to serve the growing German-speaking Christian community on Chicago's Northwest side. The worshiping community started in a storefront, and under the leadership of Reverend Paul Brauns. Epiphany officially took shape as a community-focused congregation.
By 1895, the first building was erected at the corner of Roscoe and Claremont. In 1900, Reverend C.F. Weiss took the helm and guided the congregation through much change, including purchasing land for a new building on which the current church stands.
In every decade, Epiphany has embraced change with open arms, maintaining a strong presence that reflects its commitment to inclusivity both in worship and outreach. Included in those commitments, in the late 1990s Epiphany became home to the Common Pantry, Chicago’s oldest emergency food source. And in 2001, the congregation proudly declared itself an “Open and Affirming congregation” to LGBTQ+ individuals. Through all of these transformations, Epiphany remains dedicated to meeting the needs of its community while honoring its rich, diverse history.
pastoral staff
Pastor
Larissa forsythe
Rev. Larissa Forsythe brings over 20 years of experience in theatre and performing arts and a love of learning, exploring, and adventuring to her role as Senior Pastor of Epiphany UCC. She was ordained in 2014 after graduating from Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, Missouri with a Master of Divinity degree. During her ten years in ministry, Pastor Larissa has been active in advocacy, community organizing, and working to enrich the Church through engagement with the Arts. She is passionate about the ongoing conversation between God and God's people as we try to discern what it looks like to faithfully follow The Way of Love in our particular time and place. She loves witnessing God's Spirit working in and through our congregation - using our gifts and our shortcomings, healing our wounds even as we learn to be a healing presence for others, and calling us out of our comfortable spaces and towards transformation.
Associate Pastor of Faith Formation &
Family Ministry
Megan dalby- jones
Pastor Megan brings a wealth of experience from both congregational and hospital settings, where her passion for art and storytelling helps build connections across faith traditions, generations, and communities. As Epiphany’s Associate Pastor of Faith Development and Family Ministry, and a pediatric chaplain at Advocate Children’s Hospital, she deeply believes in the power of shared stories to unite us. Pastor Megan holds a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School and completed a two-year chaplain residency at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. She and her wife live in Park Ridge with their two sons, two cats, and a golden retriever, creating a vibrant and loving home.
Music Director
Philip seward
Philip Seward has worked internationally as a composer, pianist and tenor. His more than twenty years of prior liturgical work includes serving as music director in protestant churches both mainline and non-denominational. Liturgical compositions include O Magnum Mysterium, Drei Spirituals, Psalms for a Pandemic, Alleluia, Carol Suite, Lenten Vespers, The Greatest of These, Three Songs for Guitar and Tenor, many psalm settings, liturgical responses and anthems. He composed The Joseph Cycle with poet KC Conway for the Edgewater Singers and Blessing for the Lira Ensemble which premiered it at Chicago’s Symphony Center.
Some of his award-wining compositions include Hans Brinker, How to Date A Coloratura and High Fidelity. Other works for the stage include Sincerely Yours, Juan Peron’s Hand, The Proposal, The Party, Juliet, and The Rose Prologues. Productions of these works have taken place in Chicago, New York, other American regional theatres and in the United Kingdom. Lyric Opera of Chicago has commissioned three works for outreach including Stone Soup which has also been produced by American regional opera companies. The Lyric Opera Chapter Executive Board also commissioned a setting of Psalm VIII in memory of former Artistic Director, Ardis Krainik.
Other works for theatre include a world-premiere score for T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral produced in a Jeff recommended production at City Lit theatre. incidental music for the North American premiere of Mileva Einstein at Oakton College. A House Divided produced by Opera Today in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and soon to be released as a web series addressing the current American political divide. Mr. Seward has also composed several art song folios based on texts by American poets and his own texts.
As an active performer, Seward lists among favorite shows he has sung Die Fledermaus, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, South Pacific, The King and I, Cinderella, The Beggar’s Opera, A Chorus of Disapproval, The American Clock, and Frank McCourt’s The Irish...and how they got that way.
Dr. Seward completed his DMA in Music Composition at the University of Salford in the United Kingdom. He currently works as a profession of Instruction at Columbia College Chicago and heads the Music Lab at writingmusicaltheatre.com in conjunction with the Academy for New Music Theatre in Los Angeles. His musical works are published by PH Publishers and sheetmusicdirect.com. Please visit him at www.philipseward.com