Ministries
Our Book of Common Prayer identifies ministers within the Episcopal Church as "lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons." The ministry of lay persons is "to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church."
At the Church of the Redeemer, our ministry is blessed by lay people who use the different gifts given them by God in a variety of ways to serve both God's people inside and outside our parish.
- Acolytes
- Adult Forum
- Altar Guild
- Altar Flowers
- Building & Grounds
- Choir
- Coffee Hour (Anglo)
- Coffee Hour (Hispanic)
- Confirmation
- Congregational Development (Anglo)
- Congregational Life (Anglo)
- Congregational Life (Hispanic)
- Elgin Episcopal Book Club
- First Communion
- Folkloric Dance
- Great America Outing
- Outreach
- Religious Education / Church School
- Quinceñeros
- Soup Kettle
- Summer Mission Trip
- Worship Service (Anglo)
- Worship Service and Music (Hispanic)
- Youth Group
Our acolytes assist our clergy at our services. Acolytes carry the cross in procession into and from the altar, bear candles to illuminate the reading of Christ's word, help the priest with the preparation of the altar, and perform other duties to enhance our worship of God.
Contact: Cheryl Mason / 630-372-5895
Adult Forum meets at 8:15 a.m. twice each month prior to the 9:00 a.m. Sunday service. This ministry provides an opportunity for both instruction and discussion on topics relevant to living a Christian life. This year's focus is Sacred Scripture. The current topic is the letters of St. Paul.
Contact: Marmarie Kostelny / 847-622-1991
Altar Guild members prepare the Church for services, caring for linens, polishing silver and brass, ordering supplies, and taking care of vestments. The clergy count on their ministry - the ministry of caring for sacred things.
Contact: Joan Rasmussen / 847-741-3568
Altar flowers provide a meaningful way to remember loved ones through memorials, as well as provide an opportunity to offer thanksgivings, or recognize a birthday, baptism, wedding, anniversary, or special event.
The Altar Flower sign-up sheet can be found on the wall in the narthex and all that is needed is the name of the person or family making the offering, the name of the person for whom the offering is being made, and the associated event or anniversary. The donor is asked to contribute $40 or $20 per vase of flowers. Checks made payable to the church need to be marked for flowers. All flower offerings are recognized each Sunday in the worship bulletins.
For more information contact the parish office at 847-742-2428
Building and Grounds (Anglo/Hispanic)
Sometimes, our priests think they're the early birds when opening the church office on weekday mornings. Often, however, they find dedicated church members intently planting flowers, pruning, weeding, picking up the church grounds, cleaning our kitchen after serving dinner to the hungry and homeless, or making any of a number of repairs that spring up in a venerable, but old church building.
Contacts: Beverly Hopkins / 847-888-0020
Alex Feliciano /
We are blessed with the leadership of LeRoy Budnik, whose ministry as Choir Director and Organist has guided the Church of the Redeemer in weekly offering exception praise to God. LeRoy has enhanced our worship through music by each summer giving voice lessons to all who are interested.
Contact: Sheryll Brasure / 847-695-0732
It's an Episcopal tradition as entrenched as the candles on the altar ... this time when parishioners greet one another and welcome visitors. Coffee hour is one way we get to better know one another and learn what's going on in our church. Usually, a family or two or three of our single members make the coffee and arrange the goodies for us all to enjoy. It's fun, and a great way to become involved and get acquainted. Perhaps, this is a ministry for you.
Contact: George Honig / 847-888-3654
Contact: Elsi Saldana / 847-697-0533
Contact: Elsie Saldana / 847-697-0533
Congregational Development (Anglo)
Congregational Development is a ministry that reaches out to make Church of the Redeemer better known and to invite others to join us in community, worship and service.
Contact: Bob Warski / 847-695-6630
Contact: Jeanne Kuttnauer / 847-741-1435
Congregational Life (Hispanic)
Contact: Lidia Hernandez /
Church World Services began CROP Walks to help stop hunger. CROP Walkers have been walking for 34 years to help some 3,200 local food pantries, food banks, and meal sites throughout the U.S. provide food to families in need; to help communities drill borehole wells that reach deep into the aquifer, and to provide emergency food and drought-resistant seed for replanting in parts of Africa; to help provide shelter and food for refugee and displaced families, and rebuilding, replanting, and micro-credit assistance when families are able to return to their homes.
We walk because they walk — millions of people around the world walk every day for food, for shelter, for water, for survival.
Contact: Laura Honig / 847-888-3654
Elgin Episcopal Book Club, a ministry co-sponsored by St. Hugh Episcopal Church of Elgin, provides Episcopalians in the Elgin area the opportunity to read and discuss fiction and non-fiction books relating to spirituality, theology or church history. The group meets every other month in members' homes.
Contact: Bob Warski / 847 695-6630
Contact:
Folkloric Dance (Anglo/Hispanic)
Our Folkloric Dance Group "El Zenzontle" meets every Thursday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. to practice the colorful movements that are bringing them wide attention. At special Eucharistic celebrations, worshipers are delighted as the troop arrayed in ancient Indian dress dances up the nave to the chancel to present the offerings of the people. More than 20 members present the Folkloric dances of different states in Mexico including the "concheros" dance. They are available to add wonderful dance, music and color to special events.
Contact: Rosa Lopez / 847-899-3744
Every year, in the month of August, our youth and youth parents go to Great America and join with many other parishes from the Diocese for a day of fun and relaxation. In 2005 we had 41 people from Redeemer; in 2006, we expect this number to increase. If you would like to join us please call the office to sign up. It's a lot of fun!
Contact: Mary Roberti / 847-742-6653
Contact: Elsie Saldana / 847-697-0533
Religious Education / Church School
Contact: Mae Kostelny
Contact: Kris Guffa / 847-531-8063
A youth mission trip to a location near Savannah, Georgia, is being planned with St. Michael's of Barrington for this coming June.
Contact: Rachel Hultz / 847-697-5212
Worship Service and Music (Hispanic)
Contact: Estela López / 847-697-3283
Our young people meets occasionally. to share fun and ideas about life in our area. Two popular events offer special opportunities for fellowship to our group.
Contact: Fr. Pedro López