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When to contact the Pastor

If you need help or support…there are many times when pastors can’t know about a person’s joys or sorrows.  Celebrating one’s joys and assisting one who needs help are big parts of the pastor’s ministry.  Do not hesitate to call on the pastor.

Before going to the hospital…the pastor will be present as you face your illness to offer support and prayer as you seek God’s healing and strength.

When a baby is born…this is a time of joy not only for parents, but also for the whole congregational family.

To schedule a baptism...the pastor will meet with you and the godparents/sponsors prior to the Baptism to rehearse and discuss the meaning, promises and responsibilities of Baptism.  Baptisms are not celebrated during Lent and are strongly encouraged at Easter Vigil.

When you need to talk…whether you would like to share a difficult situation or a joyful one, the pastor is available to listen.  The pastor is bound to respect a person’s confidence.  The brief service of Individual Confession and Forgiveness in our hymnal may be used by those who are burdened with guilt or other personal troubles.

When you want to share your spiritual journey…some find it helpful to have a companion with whom to share one’s experiences of God, especially in the context of relationships, feelings, and the joys and struggles of life.  The pastor is the resident spiritual director of the parish.

When you have questions...about God, life, meaning, responding to children's questions about God, any of the important questions in life.  The pastor may not have the answers, but will help you think through the questions.  The pastor is the resident theologian of the parish.

When you are in transition...moving to a new home, changing jobs or careers, even positive changes like the welcome news of pregnancy bring stress, worry, and concerns.  Contact the pastor for the companionship on the unsteady journey from old to new.  In some cases, a ritual (such as a house blessing) can assist and celebrate the transition.

To schedule a wedding...The pastor requires premarital counseling of all couples. This is a unique opportunity to examine and strengthen the marriage and its network of relationships, and to consider God's wise, joyful intentions for marriage.  Time is also spent planning and personalizing the ceremony.

Before you engage a lawyer…some lawyers require that a couple visit their pastor before they file for separation.  Whatever the outcome – divorce or reunion – the Church and the pastor will stand by to assist in the healing process.

When there is a death in the family…death is a crisis for the family and the Church.  Contact the pastor immediately to arrange for the funeral and for support in the time of grief.  It is hoped that members of the parish will have a funeral conducted in the sanctuary.

When addictions become a problem for you or someone you love…answers and solutions will not come easily, but the gravity of the problems call for outside help.  The pastor will assist you.

Young Adults:  20/30 Group

Resurrection is a church blessed with an unusually high percentage of young adults.  The 20/30 Group is a loosely organized network of adults in their twenties and thirties which occasionally gets together for meals, outings and social or service events.  Recent gatherings include hosting brunch for the Friendship Club, a wine tasting, a picnic by Lake Michigan, game night, and a night at Ravinia.  To get connected, email Pastor Brian.  (Hurry, before he's too old to be part of the group anymore!)

Ladies of a Certain Age

Why, you ask, do we call our fun-loving females over 40 “Ladies of a Certain Age”? – Because that’s what they call themselves!  These lively women gather informally, sometimes over lunch or drinks, to discuss just about anything - books, politics, religion, family life, business, art - the list is endless, but the conversation is never boring.  Connect with Lois Barliant to get the latest scoop on what these ladies are talking about.

Seniors:  Friendship Club

Resurrection's "seasoned Lutherans" (seniors) gather for lunch the first Wednesday of every month at noon, usually in the church parish hall and occasionally at a favorite restaurant.  Though the group is for seniors, all ages are welcome.  

In addition to gathering socially, the Friendship Club raises money to provide personally engraved medallions for all the newly baptized at Resurrection and to make an annual Christmas gift to Hawthorne Scholastic Academy  in gratitude for the use of the school's parking lot.  The big annual fundraiser is the Friendship Club Bake Sale, usually held in November the Sunday before Thanksgiving, featuring homemade jams, jellies, and other savory treats.  The Friendship Club also collects travel-size toiletries which the RAP kids assemble into hygiene kits for The Night Ministry.

For a schedule of upcoming events or more information, contact Gerry Katsma.

Choir

Those members and friends who are musically inclined often join our Adult Choir.  Our choir members are mainly volunteer singers who regularly take leadership roles in singing the liturgy and psalms.  To support and enhance our volunteer choir, our congregation maintains a section leader program for the benefit and experience of local university music students who regularly sing with the choir for a stipend.  Our present section leaders, Rebecca Robinson, Soprano, and Matt Marshall, Baritone, are both from DePaul University.

Rehearsals:  Due to the busy weekday evenings of our members, we have scheduled choir rehearsals mainly on weekends.  From September to June, choir rehearsals are held on the first Saturday of the month in the morning, and the third Sunday, after the 10:45 service.  All are welcome to sing with the choir.  No musical training is necessary.  Please contact the music director to share your gift of song.

Community Groups

Resurrection hosts a variety of community groups including regular meetings of Narcotics Anonymous, Lakeview Toastmasters, and Hawthorne Neighbors.  If your group is looking for space to hold meetings, please fill out the space usage request form, or contact the Resurrection Lutheran Church office.

Become a Member

Resurrection is always delighted to welcome new members!  People join our community in one of three ways:

• Those who have not been baptized join by Holy Baptism.
• Baptized persons from other Christian traditions, or inactive with a Lutheran background, join by Affirmation of Baptism.
• Active Lutherans moving from other congregations join by Transfer.

New members are welcomed by the gathered community during Sunday morning worship.  Existing members of Resurrection are personally selected to serve as sponsors for new members, to welcome them and help them become integrated into the life of the church.

Why join?  What difference does being a member make?  Membership is a tangible way to affirm and celebrate one's commitment to the church, which is not just for the person joining but also a gift to the rest of the community.  It strengthens the relationship between worshiper and worshiping community.  Constitutionally, members are expected to share Communion regularly and contribute their time, energy, money and service to the life of the church as they are able.  Members are eligible to serve on council and vote at congregational meetings, and are given priority in Resurrection Preschool, RAP, and the personal rites of the church (marriage, funeral, house blessings, etc.).

About once every three months, Resurrection hosts a two hour gathering for new and prospective members and interested others entitled "Welcome to Resurrection!"    The first hour includes welcome, introductions, and an overview of Lutheran Christianity.  The second hour focuses on Resurrection Lutheran Church.  Both include time for conversation and questions.  These gatherings are usually scheduled on Sunday afternoons and are followed by dinner and an optional tour of the facility for those available to stay.  Check the schedule below for the next Welcome to Resurrection! gatherings.

If you are interested in joining or attending a new member gathering, please speak with Pastor Brian.

Upcoming Events

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