Emmanuel Episcopal of LaGrange

LaRae Rutenbar - Rector

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LaRae Rutenbar was ordained in the Episcopal Church in May of 1980, just four years after the Episcopal Church officially began ordaining women to the priesthood.  Since that time she has served as a hospital chaplain, parish priest, interim rector, interim dean, transitional consultant and supply clergy for many of the Episcopal Dioceses around the nation. Her passion for preaching reflects a desire that those who share in the community of faith, live out our faith and belief in our daily lives and relationships.   LaRae is originally from the beautiful state of Montana, but since ordination has served parishes and institutions in Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee.   She has two adult children:  Michael and Libby.  LaRae’s husband, Mark, is also an ordained Episcopal Priest.   She graduated from Rocky Mountain College, in Billings, MT with a B.S. in Psychology and has her M.Div from Virginia Theological Seminary. 

The Rev. William (Bill) Rimkus has been a Deacon in the church for twenty-five years, eleven of which have been in service here at Emmanuel.  Deacon Bill is married to Rebekah and is the father of five children and grandfather to three.  He is self-employed and enjoys painting in various media.  (Take a look at our Youth Group gathering space downstairs - Bill's artwork is amazing!)  One of Deacon Bill's many gifts to the church is his powerful preaching which offers sermons that both challenge and inspire the congregation.

I have served as Organist-Choirmaster at Emmanuel Church for twenty-four years.  My main career has been as a high-school science (physics & biology) teacher from which I am now retired.  I began my church musical career while in high school, playing organ for the local Methodist Church.  Over the years I have studied organ, harpsichord, voice, liturgy and choral conducting at North Central College, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Superior, Cincinnati Conservatory and Chicago Music Conservatory, in addition to numerous Episcopal Music Conferences at Evergreen, CO and Monteagle/Sewanee, TN.  I have served as music director or organist at various denominations including Presbyterian, Lutheran and United Church of Christ.  I was confirmed at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn while serving as organist there during my college years.  The quality and beauty of the music as well as the orderliness of liturgy and liberal theology convinced me that this was the right church for me.  My most exciting position was serving as interim organist for two years at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Episcopal), Peoria, IL. Emmanuel is now my home church and I enjoy working with our two choirs and playing one of the finer organs in the Chicago area in our majestic French Gothic building.  My life outside of church includes gourmet cooking, gardening, bicycling, especially Wisconsin trails, and the duties of being a grandfather.

Ben Nesler has been a high school Social Studies and English teacher at Evergreen Park Community High School for ten years and chair of the Social Studies and World Languages departments for the last seven.  One of his professional highlights was attending the 2012 Nobel Laureate Peace Conference in 2012, where he and his students saw the Dali Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Sean Penn speak.   Ben met his wife Heather while they were both studying to be teachers at Illinois State University, and upon graduating they moved to the La Grange area, as Heather grew up in Western Springs.  Ben and Heather, along with their daughters Charlotte and Kathryn, have attended Emmanuel-La Grange for three years.  Ben enjoys spending time at the family summer home on the Kankakee River and collecting records

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Susan Aldrige - Parish Administrator

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As parish administrator, my jobs include working on bulletins, answering phones, scheduling various activities, and general office work.  I also get a chance to interact with the wonderful parishioners that come in and out of my office.  I am a former elementary teacher and love the fact that I still get to work in a profession that deals with people.  My husband Glenn and I are proud parents of three children who love to come and visit my office and see what is happening. I have had the chance to meet lots of new people and I am humbled by the kindness and generosity I get to see firsthand within the parish and the support they give to surrounding communities.  I feel extremely blessed to have a job that I look forward to everyday and that I truly enjoy. 

Susan E. Cox- Senior Warden

Bill Hoekwater - Junior Warden

Jim Beyer -2016

Mark Campbell -2015

Jennifer Enriquez - 2015

Penny Longo - 2016

Mike McCrohan - 2014

Isabel Noth - 2014

 Open Seat  - 2014

David Shallow - 2015

Jamie Workman -2016 

Linda Brongel -Treasurer

Jeffrey Milliken - Treasurer Emeritus

Ann Hileman, Clerk