Visitor Info
Freedom to Engage
If you are interested in visiting one of our worship gatherings, know that you will be comfortably welcomed, but you will also be allowed the freedom to remain anonymous. Recognizing that many of us experience feelings of intimidation when walking into an unfamiliar setting, we offer those who visit Redeemer the freedom to engage with us at whatever level feels most comfortable. There are designated welcome staff who will be clearly identified, and to whom you are encouraged to direct any questions you might have, including restroom locations, our Journeyland kids program, or to obtain further information about the church. In the back of the pub on the bar is a welcome center, where you can find more information about Redeemer, as well as a questionnaire you can fill out if you would like to connect more formally with us. However, you will not be under any pressure to do so, and are welcome to remain anonymous to whatever degree you desire.
Location and Timing
Special Note: Since Christmas Day falls on Sunday this year, we will not be gathering for worship on December 25th. We will resume our worship gatherings the following Sunday, January 1st, at 9:30am.
We meet from 9:30-10:30am on Sundays at Emmett’s Ale House in downtown Downers Grove. It is a comfortable and classy gathering space, and is completely handicapped accessible. For driving directions to the facility, visit our “Where We Meet” page. There are ample parking spaces in the vicinity, and the Downers Grove Metra station is only two blocks away.
We seek to limit our worship gatherings to one hour, meaning we will begin with a welcome and music promptly at 9:30am. However, there is an initial window of around 15 minutes each week while the music is playing and most people are standing, making it very comfortable to come in and out, check kids in to Journeyland, etc. If you are running late, please do not let that deter you from coming. Many of those who attend Redeemer are from young families, and we fully recognize the challenge of “getting out the door” on time. There will always be seats available in the back so that you will not feel exposed if you do happen to arrive late.
Style and Culture
The style and culture of Redeemer is laid back and authentic. Our core values are Deep Faith, Relentless Hope, and Simple Love, which mean among other things that we value honest dialog and conversation, realistic assessment of the lives we live, and a lack of pretentiousness. We resist lingo that is exclusively “Christian,” believing this limits Jesus’ message only to those who have spent significant time in a church. We believe people gathering as a church is akin to gathering with friends. Thus, we dress as casually as we would for socializing on the weekend.
Our choice of Emmett’s as a gathering spot reflects our style and culture in that we are a group that values conversation and community. We view faith as a journey and genuinely respect the different questions and perspectives each of us bring to the table. At Redeemer we are non-confrontational and will gladly engage with you, no matter where you are at in your faith journey. Following our worship gatherings, Emmett’s will open with a brunch buffet, which provides us with yet another opportunity to spend time conversing and sharing life together.
Music
We take time in our worship gatherings to perform and sing music, which has a style that more or less fuses elements of rock, folk, and gospel. The entire group is invited to sing along, and lyrics are projected on the wall in an easy-to-read manner. The songs are often new to most people, but tend to be written in a manner that makes them easy to learn and participate in. The lyrics reflect our mission to transform the world that is into the world that ought to be, and our belief that Jesus is the source of that transformation. We value artistry and creativity, and so it is a priority for us to deliver music that is well-rehearsed and excellently done.
Teaching/Preaching
The teaching portion of our worship gatherings, often referred to by churches as preaching, is intended to be both thought-provoking and relevant. Even though our speakers believe Jesus’ message to be true, we choose to present it in terms of a claim, rather than assuming everyone present shares the same convictions. We find this to be helpful for a number of reasons, including our desire to engage with those who disagree with us and our desire to create an opportunity for people to process their questions and doubts about faith and religion. The teaching you will hear is an invitation to consider the claims of Jesus and the Apostles in a safe and non-threatening environment.
We recognize the ability to teach in many different people using many different styles. While our pastor, Jonathan Tripple, handles the majority of our teaching in a style unique to him, you may visit on a Sunday when someone else has that role and will do so according to their own personality and teaching style. We believe there is great benefit in hearing from a variety of voices, and we invite both men and women to teach and help us better understand the claims of Jesus.
Communion and Prayer
Near the end of each worship gathering we celebrate communion. This is an ancient Christian ritual that we believe dates back to an event Jesus himself shared with his Apostles, sometimes referred to as the Last Supper. As part of the event, we serve loaves of bread and grape juice. Our intent is to recognize the magnitude of Jesus’ death through crucifixion, which we believe is the source of our redemption and hope. In the piece of bread, which you will be invited to tear from the loaf, we see symbolized Jesus’ body being torn apart as he died. In the juice, which is offered to you in a goblet, and into which you are invited to dip the bread, we see symbolized his blood, which ancient people recognized as one’s life-source, and which flowed out of Jesus as he died.
We practice open communion, meaning we do not pass the bread and wine through the seats, nor do we file to the front row-by-row. Instead, during one of our songs someone will introduce and give a brief explanation of communion, while servers take their place at the front with the bread and juice, and an open invitation will be extended to all. If at any time during the song you would like to come and experience the communion event, simply slip out of your seat and make your way to the servers.
We believe communion is a significant spiritual event, and that it is often a catalyst for spiritual healing. Thus, we do not restrict it to certain people, and we invite anyone who desires to engage with the significance of Jesus’ death to participate.
While communion is taking place, we provide an opportunity for those desiring prayer to have someone pray for them. Those available for prayer are entirely compassionate and non-judgmental, recognizing the redemptive power Jesus has shown in their own lives. They are more than willing to pray for any requests you have or challenges you are facing, even if someone else might see such concerns as mundane. We believe Jesus is the God who created us, and as such, we believe he cares about each of the concerns of our hearts.
Journeyland Kids Program
We offer an engaging and stimulating program for kids of all ages up to and including 5th grade, while those in 6th grade and older are invited into the worship gatherings. We refer to our kids program as Journeyland and as such, we believe the best way to engage kids is through an interactive format that encourages and enhances their own faith journeys. Journeyland includes activity-based learning centers, music and dance, and engagement with the same themes being taught in the larger worship gatherings. Our hope is that this will provide an opportunity for families to process their faith journeys together.
We are resolutely committed to security regarding our kids’ program. We perform multi-state criminal background checks on all of our Journeyland staff members, whom we refer to as “guides,” and also cross-check them against the Illinois State Police registry of known sex offenders. Further, we do not ever leave a child alone or unattended, and staff our kids programs with multiple workers. We also have a security monitor who will graciously but firmly direct unauthorized people away from the kids’ area.
If you decide to check your kids into Journeyland, you will find the check-in station immediately through the front door of Emmett’s at the hostess’ stand. At Redeemer, we utilize a secure online check-in system called KidCheck. The first time you check your kids in, you will be asked to fill out an online registration form covering contact info, allergies, etc., after which you will be given a key tag with a barcode, similar to what you might use at a grocery store or gym. You can use this key tag each time you visit Redeemer to access your family’s information and check your kids in to Journeyland. If you forget or lose your key tag, you can also use your 10-digit phone number, and can always ask for a replacement key tag, which will override any previously assigned tags. Each child will have a name tag printed at check-in with their names, your name, and a unique, randomly generated alpha-numeric code. A final tag will be printed for you, labeled “Guardian Receipt,” which will have the same alpha-numeric code as each child you have checked in. Please keep this receipt as you will need it in order to check your child out of Journeyland. We will not allow a child to be checked out of Journeyland without first confirming a match between your guardian receipt and their name tag. We enforce this policy even for those who have been attending Redeemer long enough to be recognized by the Journeyland staff. Please know that your child’s safety is of utmost concern to us, and we appreciate your respectful compliance with our policy.
*Journeyland Pre-Registration* One of the advantages of using a secure online check-in system is that it allows you to pre-register your children prior to visiting Redeemer. If you know you plan to visit, you can save time at your initial check-in by creating a KidCheck account online. Creating a KidCheck account is necessary to check your kids into Journeyland, whether it is done prior to your visit, or by using one of our computers at your first visit. To create your KidCheck account and pre-register your kids, visit https://go.kidcheck.com/signin.aspx?register=1. Registration is free and secure, and please be sure to enter Redeemer Church of Downers Grove in the box titled “Your Church/Daycare.” If you choose to pre-register, then when you visit Redeemer, simply let the check-in attendant know that you already have a KidCheck account, and provide them with one of the 10-digit phone numbers stored in your online profile. They will then be able to access your information and provide you with a key tag for future check-ins.
Regarding allergies, we provide a nut-free snack during the Journeyland program, and are happy to offer gluten-free alternatives as well. Following registration, your child’s allergy will be clearly indicated on his or her name tag so that our staff can make the appropriate accommodations. Please be sure to inform us of the severity of your child’s allergy on the initial questionnaire.
We embrace all children, including those with special needs. If your child has special needs, simply inform the Journeyland staff at registration. A number of our staff are either educators or former educators. They are highly capable and more than happy to assist your child in any way necessary for them to enjoy and engage with Journeyland.
If your child has a hard time being left in Journeyland, you are welcome to join him or her for as long as you feel necessary. Simply inform a Journeyland staff member of your intentions and you will be given a name tag authorizing you to join the program area. If after leaving your child he or she becomes upset to the degree that the Journeyland staff is unable to provide comfort, a staff member will come and notify you.
Other Child-Related FAQs
If you would rather not check your kids into Journeyland, you are more than welcome to keep them with you in the worship gathering. There is freedom for them to use electronic devices, books, crayons, etc. Our request is that you seek to limit distractions for those seated around you by using headphones with all audio devices. We completely understand that a child can become restless, and so if yours happens to, please consider taking him or her to the back of the pub, where there are toys available, and space for moving around.
Nursing mothers who would like a more private space to feed their babies are welcome to make their way to the banquet room, where there are rocking chairs for your convenience. The banquet room is on the north side of the dining room, where the Journeyland kids program is held. Before passing through the Journeyland area, please inform the staff of your intentions and they will direct you.
More Info
If you have questions that are not fully answered here on our website, please visit our Contact Page to send us an email, or to locate our phone number.
