Special Announcements
Summer is finally here. The days are long. The sun is bright. Life slows down just enough for us to breathe.
When we step outside into the warmth, it is easy to connect with the ancient words of Genesis 1:31:
“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.”
Creation was not just a one-time event in the past. It is an ongoing reality that we experience every single day. Look around you this season:
- The morning light breaking through the trees.
- The evening cool settling over your neighborhood.
- The vibrant colors of fresh garden tomatoes and blooming
flowers.
- The shared laughter at family barbecues and community picnics.
These are not just random seasonal markers. They are modern glimpses of God's original, "very good" design.
In the rush of daily life, we often forget to notice the world around us. This summer, let us challenge ourselves to slow down. God took time to look at His creation and appreciate it. We should do the same.
Taking care of creation is our shared holy responsibility. Here are three simple ways to honor God's work this summer:
- Rest deeply by spending quiet time in prayer outdoors.
- Protect nature by recycling, conserving water, and reducing waste.
- Share abundance by donating extra garden produce to local food pantries.
Let every evening sunset and every morning sunrise remind you of God's love.
May your summer be filled with rest, joy, and a deep appreciation for this beautiful world.
(Editor’s note: Due to the vacation of our fearless leader, Steve, there are no articles from him. He will be writing once more for our next newsletter. In the meantime, this said editor has requested an article from AI, and within seconds it produced the above article. I hope you enjoyed it.)
Too often we take our abundance in America for granted. Our grocery store shelves are full, fast-food restaurants abound and just drive along LaGrange Road in Orland and see how many restaurants there are. Now imagine how much of the food that gets served gets thrown in the dumpster. Our pantry gets excess food from another pantry that they cannot use. The other day I received a call from someone who was offering us a pallet of frozen turkeys. We would have to go pick them up and figure out how to store them while we figured out where to distribute them.
They were coming from the South Side of Chicago. We consume and produce more food than any other country, and yet there are “food deserts” in many places on the South side of Chicago.
I believe that as individuals we need to connect to a variety of food banks and give food or money to help stock these food pantries. There are several in our neighborhood.
- St. Damien
- St. Christopher
- St. Stevens
- Together We Cope
- Greater Chicago Food Depository
To name just a few. We have so much while others have so little. That is just not the Christian way.
In Christ
Art James Council Vice President
BIRTHDAYS
JUNE
BIRTHDAYS
- 2 Traci Stephens
- 5 Robert Minnick
- 13 Elaina Minnick
- 21 Bonnie Trella
- 21 Bob Hecht
- 24 Jay Kropack
- 29 Debby Nowlan
- 30 Darlene Soucek
JULY
BIRTHDAYS
- 1 Calvin James
- 13 Sherri Miller
- 17 Gary Schoenbeck
- 19 Lottie White
- 23 Carol Schaafsma
Updated per newsletter.
OUR CURRENT SELF HELP GROUPS’ MEETINGS
- SUNDAY~ AA 7pm
- MONDAY~ AA 10:30am/ NA 7pm
- TUESDAY~ ❖
- WEDNESDAY ~AA 10:30am/ OA 7:30pm/ NA 7pm
- THURSDAY ~TOPS 5:30pm/ NA 7pm
- FRIDAY ~ SSACNA 2nd Friday/month 7:30pm
- SATURDAY~ NA 10:00am
Crisis Center:
We had a presentation in March by Jennifer Kanacki to educate the congregation on the Crisis Center of South Suburbia. During this time, envelopes were passed out so that members could make a donation to this worthy cause. We will be accepting donations until Easter. Please make checks out to Redeemer’s and put a comment on your envelope about the amount and write Crisis Center, so that it will be directed to them. Thank you for your support.
Domestic Violence Outreach Services
(Crisis Center for South Suburbia)
- 24-hour hotline~ 708-429-SAFE (7233)
- Live Safe Patient Advocacy
- Law Enforcement Victim Outreach
- Community Education
All services are free and confidential
WWW.crisisctr.org
BOOK CLUB. . .
JUNE
Will be on June 30 at Amy Ogarek’s home. The book is yet to be
determined.
JULY
Will be at the home of Linda McHugh. Date and title TBD,
Blessings:
God's blessings on the congregation at Redeemer's, and their families throughout the fall season!
ANNIVERSARIES
JUNE
ANNIVERSARIES
- 1 Dan & Deb Frawley
- 5 Gary & Diana Carr
- 11 Jay & Dorothy Kropack
- 11 Art & Kathy James
- 23 Steve & Deb Nowlan
- 25 Dave & Connie Martin
- 30 Harold & Judy Carver
JULY
ANNIVERSARIES
- 6 Bob & Sue Hecht
- 31 Jim & Cathy Thrun
Updated per newsletter.
READERS
JUNE
READERS
- 7 Dan Frawley
- 14 Gary Rickert
- 21 Jerry Marquardt
- 28 Steve Nowlan
JULY
READERS
- 5 Linda McHugh
- 12 Deb Nowlan
- 19 Bob Hecht
- 26 Drew Ogarek
Updated per newsletter.
Help:
THRIVENT MEMBERS Please contact Deb Frawley or Marilyn Fisher to find out how you can help the Pantry and/ or church out financially!
Little Free Pantry:
Please continue to donate graciously!
Woman to Woman:
WOMAN TO WOMAN:
Eve.....What a perky lady! She definitely had advantages. Stop and think about
it. When she and Adam met, she didn't have to wonder, Is this the right man for
me? She didn't have any immediate concerns if some sweet young thing was vying for her man's attention.
When they were wed, she didn’t have to worry about forgetting someone from the invitation list or deciding who the attendants would be. No decisions were
necessary on which photographer, caterer or florist. Talk about simplifying life.
Guess what? No mother-in-law or father-in-law conflicts. Never once have to
hear, "Sure wish you could fry chicken like my mom." They never have to squabble over whose family they would spend the holidays with.
There was no friction about Adam not picking up his dirty clothes, at least not in
their garden home. Nor did she have to take any ribbing about where she put
Adam's lost snakeskin sandals.
Eve was unique. She's the only gal who didn't have to go through puberty, peer
pressure of pimples. She didn't go through the agony of handing her parents a bad report card or the knee knocking experience of trying to explain why she was late getting home. She never once had to hear her parents say, "Why aren't you more like your sister?"
When she and Adam talked, it wasn't filled with endless tales of the good ol' days and the good ol' boys. Nor did she have to compete with Sunday night football. They had a romance, marriage, honeymoon and home life that was made in paradise.
Eve had it all...............well, almost all.
Til next month-------------nice chatting with you.
Jan Strojny
Things To Do:
Don & Sue Reitsma
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Special Performance
Park Place at Central, 15601 S. Central Avenue
Doors Open 10 AM | Entertainment 11 AM
Admission $7 | Lunch & Bingo
Get your tickets at Oak Forest City Hall
15440 S. Central Avenue
Oak Forest Senior Commission
708-687-4050 | OAK-FOREST.ORG
Presented By The Oak Forest Senior Commission
Please Pray for. . .
Fern Schara, Pat Kropack, Lottie White, Pete & Debbie Animagi, Mike
& Traci Stephens, Ryder Conrad, Noah Coyle, Chris McAuliff, Gary
Miller, Leah Miller, John Tondini, Marie Burge, Tim Anthony, Laura
Besowshek, Gary Cummins, Kuzmanich Family., Aven, Pamela, Nick,
and Linda Bedier
Please use full names- first and last , and put your name on the prayer
request slip.
🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
Please inform the office for any name removals or additions. Thank you
REDEEMER’S ANNUAL PICNIC
WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 7…..
After our first outdoor worship. Bring a side or dessert
Our next outdoor worship dates are:
- JULY 5
- AUGUST 2
- SEPTEMBER 7
Please remember to donate food, money and other resources to your local organizations who are supplying those in need.
Also, don’t forget-- to help Marilyn in supplying her pantry. Any large donations, please put in bag and leave by the back door, or contact Marilyn at 708-687-2432 and she can meet up with you. Monetary donations are always accepted and can be sent to church. If you are sending a check, please make it out to Marilyn Fisher.
Kind Words
Dear Redeemer’s Lutheran Church,
Thank you for your gift of $300 to help individuals and families escape homelessness this Spring season. As you know, we sheltered in place and followed CDC and State government guidance in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Your support helped us pivot services to keep homeless individuals and families safe at local hotels, as all congregate shelters closed, while continuing to provide essential lifesaving services. Thank You!
Sincerely,
Rohit D’Souza,
Philanthropy Manager, PADS
I pray this letter finds you and your congregation hopeful and enjoying the waning weeks of summer during these unprecedented times. As always, thank you for your generous support of the ELCA, the synod, and our shared ministry. The impact that our congregations have in the world is truly amazing! I am proud to be a part of this effort and look forward to working with all of you in finding new, faithful ways to continue this inspiring work of Kingdom Building.
Many blessings of thanks!
Heather Haynes,
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Dear Redeemer’s Lutheran Church
Thanks be to God for YOU! Your support through your benevolence and other giving is a blessing.
Please keep Bishop Curry and the MCS staff and all congregations of the synod in your prayers as we continue to press through this new way of being.
In Christ, Heather Haynes (Executive Assistant to the Bishop)
To the Redeemer's Family!
Connie Martin
TRIPLE BERRY CRISP
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ c. fresh blackberries
- 1 ½ c. fresh raspberries
- 1 ½ c. fresh blueberries
- ¼ c. sugar
- 2 c. all-purpose flour
- 2 c. rolled oats
- 1 ½ c. packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ c cold butter, cubed
👩🏻🍳🍴🍽️🍛🥗😋🍕🥤🍔👨🏻🍳👩🏻🍳🍴🍽️🍛🥗😋🍕🥤🍔👨🏻🍳
- preheat oven to 350
- Gently toss together all the berries, and white sugar in a large bowl; set aside.
- Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate large bowl.
- Cut in butter with 2 knives or a pastry blender until crumble mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press ½ of the crumble into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan.
- Cover with berry mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumble over berries.
- Bake in the preheated oven until fruit is bubbly and the top is golden brown. 30-40 minutes.
- Serve with whipped cream. Enjoy!
The Redeemer's website is maintained by Jerry Marquardt
New to Redeemer's? Here are some common questions
You’ll find everything from jeans to casual clothes to business suits at our worship experiences. At Redeener's, we don't care about what you look like or what you wear. We want you to be comfortable.
If you are visiting us for the first time, we will not ask you to stand up or ask you to give money. Many people want to check out a church and “be anonymous” for a while. That's ok by us!
It can be a intimidating visiting a church for the first time. So we will do our best to welcome you. We are dedicated to making sure you feel right at home. We'll answer any questions you have and make sure you get a hot cup of coffee and know exactly where to go.
When you get here, just head straight upstairs (or take the elevator) to our narthex to sign in! Your family is in good hands!
Giving is entirely up to you. If this is your first visit, we don't want you to feel any obligation to give. You are our honored guest. Also, if you start attending regularly, you'll only be expected to give what you feel you should.