Our Redeemer's Church in Schaumburg turning 50

Our Redeemer's United Methodist Church will be celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the next six months, beginning with a return appearance by its founding senior pastor to deliver the sermon on Palm Sunday, April 13.

Rev. Wayne McArthur will be the first in a series of monthly appearances by most of the church's former senior pastors, leading up to the half-century anniversary of its chartering on Sunday, Oct. 12.

"I did not know him, as I go back only about 25 years," said Dr. Bruce Bedingfield, a church member involved in organizing the anniversary celebrations. "He must have been a younger pastor at the time. He is going to preach that day, though he's long retired."

Though October will see the 50th anniversary of the church's chartering - which members see as its more formal start - Our Redeemer's first worship service as a community was, in fact, on Palm Sunday 1964.

Guiding the current congregation through the coming history lessons is June Guthrie, the last founding member who's still active in the community, Bedingfield said.

Though present members of the congregation are well-informed about the coming celebrations, church officials also hope to get the word out to those who lived in the area and were members at earlier times.

They might want to revisit the church and reconnect with other past members and the returning senior pastors, Bedingfield said.

Our Redeemer's United Methodist Church is located at 1600 W. Schaumburg Road, at the corner of Springinsguth Road.

For more information about the church's upcoming celebrations, visit its website at orumc.org.