Little Home Church by the Wayside
INITIATIVES
We are an Open & Affirming Congregation
We accept, embrace and affirm the dignity and worth of every person, as we are all created in God’s image.
Persons of every race, ethnic background, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, size and weight, socioeconomic background, marital status and faith background are welcome to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, and blessings of participation in our congregation.
The Vision for the Little Home Church is ‘Celebrating and Sharing God’s Love in Christ.’ In our individual faith journeys and in our congregational efforts to live out our Vision, we strive for justice and equality for all of God’s children. Wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
LHC Endowment Fund - Growing Our Legacy
The LHC Endowment Fund provides the means for people to express special gratitude to God for blessings they have received. The principal is held permanently and only the earnings are used to fund ministry. As a result, a gift to the Endowment Fund endures forever.
Endowment gifts are theological statements which demonstrate one’s belief that we are never ultimately proprietors, owners, but only stewards, lifetime guardians entrusted by God to use wisely what God has placed in our hands. When an individual creates an endowment gift for the church during or beyond their lifetime, it declares to the present and future generations the importance of our faith and trust in God. We have each drawn water from the wells we have not dug; we have sat under shades trees we did not plant and we each have a wonderful opportunity to provide the means for the church to have a strong and empowering ministry for generations to come.
The LHC Endowment Fund will provide on-going benefits through long-term investments while keeping the core endowment principal intact to fund future years of use for the mission and ministries of Little Home Church. The endowment fund is managed by the Endowment Fund Trust which consists of five trustees, all of whom are voting members of LHC and serve three-year terms. The pastor, moderator and moderator-elect of the church council are advisory members of the ‘Trust.’
VIDEO
Click Here to view our 'Joyful' Restoration and listen to the beautiful piano music presented by Pastor Larry Dieffenbach.
DEDICATION & RIBBON CUTTING
August 17, 2025
Since 1871, Little Home Church by the Wayside has faithfully served the residents of Wayne and the surrounding community. Nearly 150 years later, LHC still holds its place as a house of worship, a resource for community support and service, and a local landmark. The Community House will be a home base for our congregation and the local community, a space where people come together to be inspired, to be uplifted, to be creative, to be comforted, or simply, to be.
On Sunday, August 17, 2025, the Little Home Church by the Wayside UCC in Wayne, Illinois, joyfully dedicated our new Community House, a project years in the making. The construction of Community House was part of a $1.6M capital campaign to renovate the existing church structures and build the new building. Community House replaced the Guild House on the campus, which was torn down in 2021.
Construction began in the fall of 2024 and concluded in July 2025. The Community House is a 2200 square-foot building that includes a Gathering Room to accommodate 80 people, a meeting room to accommodate a smaller group of up to 16, two fully accessible bathrooms, and a kitchenette. The Sanctuary, Parish Hall, and the Community House are all connected by WiFi, which allows for larger groups to experience church services, hold seminars, lectures, and other events, enabling the church to bring people together in fresh new ways. The design was created by Bret Mitchell of Mitchell Architectural Studio, PLLC, interiors and furnishings were led by Kit Dewitt of KDI Design, and the building was constructed by Loberg Construction Company.
Like the sanctuary and Parish Hall before it, this will be a place where shared experiences lead to lasting memories.
For additional information or to reserve space, please contact our church office: 630-584-4013.
