First and Santa Cruz Lutheran Church stands as one of the last historic Lutheran congregations serving downtown Joliet. Located at the corner of Benton and Ottawa Streets, our story is rooted in more than 150 years of Lutheran witness, service, and community in the heart of the city.
The history of First Lutheran Church reaches back to the early years of Lutheranism in Joliet. Historical records indicate that the first Lutheran congregation in the city was organized in the early 1870s, and a church building was established on Ottawa Street shortly thereafter. For generations, First Lutheran served the growing immigrant communities of Joliet, welcoming worshipers from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds while remaining committed to proclaiming the Gospel and serving the city.
Santa Cruz Lutheran Church was founded more than a century later as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s commitment to Hispanic and Latino ministry. Beginning in the early 1990s, Santa Cruz developed as a vibrant congregation dedicated to bilingual worship, community outreach, and ministry among Latino families in Joliet. The congregation celebrated its first worship service in 1991 and quickly became an important center for Lutheran Latino ministry in Northern Illinois.
In 2005, First Lutheran and Santa Cruz entered a unique partnership by sharing a common home in the historic First Lutheran building. Rather than merging into a single congregation, the two churches chose to maintain their distinct identities while joining together in worship, education, outreach, and mission. This partnership created a model of ministry that honors both heritage and innovation, bringing together multiple languages, cultures, and traditions under one roof.
Today, First and Santa Cruz Lutheran Church continues to embody the rich diversity of downtown Joliet. Through bilingual worship, Christian education, community partnerships, and ministries such as the Blessing Bench Food Pantry, the congregation seeks to share Christ’s love with neighbors from every background. As a bilingual and multicultural faith community, we celebrate our history while looking toward the future, trusting God's call to welcome, serve, and grow together.
Our story is still being written. Grounded in the faith of those who came before us and energized by new generations of disciples, First and Santa Cruz Lutheran Church remains committed to being a place where all are welcomed, all are valued, and all are invited to experience God's grace.