Resurrection Lutheran Church: A Franklin Park Congregation Shaped by Word, Art, and Outreach
Resurrection Lutheran Church stands on Grand Avenue in Franklin Park, a western suburb where generations of families have put down roots. The congregation traces its life back to 1944, when Lutheran Sunday services began in a neighbor's basement with Mission Pastor George Curran. Within months the charter was signed and the Reverend Samuel Besecker was called as the first pastor. Eighty years later, the church continues to live out its motto - "Serving Our Neighbors by Sharing Our Blessings" - through traditional Lutheran worship, a thoughtful Christian education program, and one of the area's busiest community outreach ministries.
A Sanctuary Carved in African Mahogany
The most striking thing about Resurrection Lutheran Church is its chancel furniture, hand-carved from African mahogany by Professor Ernst Schwidder of Valparaiso University in the early 1960s. The pieces were designed by the church's Chancel Design Committee to tell the entire story of Christ - Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension - in wood and stone.
The pulpit is oversized and bold, a deliberate statement that the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. The carved verse from John 1:14 runs across its front. At Resurrection, the pulpit is the only place from which scripture is read, a notable liturgical choice even today. The altar is shaped like a funeral bier, inviting worshippers to encounter an empty tomb. Behind the altar hangs a figure of Christ emerging from burial wrappings, looking heavenward and offering the sign of peace, an artistic decision that caused some controversy when first installed because the figure is darker-skinned. The Ascension is suggested by stained-glass windows whose upward angles and palette (deliberately without red) imply a heavenly realm without overt symbol. Across a corridor in the Chapel, the Pentecost scene blazes in reds, oranges, and yellows, the tongues of fire alighting on the apostles, positioned to remind visitors that the Spirit draws outsiders into the life of the church.
The building itself has grown with the congregation. The original sanctuary at Grand and Hawthorne Streets was dedicated on December 8, 1946; it now houses Sunday School classrooms. A parsonage followed in 1948, a steeple in 1950, an education wing in 1954, and the current sanctuary in 1962. In 1991 a Friendship Hall was added, which includes a basketball court used by the congregation and the community.
Worship on Sunday Morning
Sunday worship at Resurrection is held from 9:30 to 11:00 AM in the main sanctuary. The service is traditional and liturgical, with the pastor proclaiming the gospel from the hand-carved mahogany pulpit and the congregation gathering at the altar/funeral bier for Holy Communion. Masks are optional for those attending in person.
For those who cannot be present, the entire service is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Viewers do not need an account on either platform to watch. Shortly after each service, the sermon is released as a podcast, making the proclamation available throughout the week. Printed bulletins are uploaded in advance as downloadable files, and a flipbook version is also offered.
Music is central to worship. The choir is led by Director of Music Henrietta Atkin, who also writes the occasional "Music Moment" column that traces the origins of favorite hymns and worship styles. The congregation has a history of presenting jazz liturgies, including a jazz funeral for All Saints' Sunday featuring Chicago musicians, a vivid way of marking the communion of saints through music.
Food4Life and the Giving Closet
The largest expression of Resurrection's mission beyond its walls is Food4Life, the food pantry and clothing closet that has been operating since 2009. The pantry is open every Monday from noon to 3:00 PM, including most holidays. Numbers are handed out starting at 11:30 AM, the waiting area opens at 11:45 AM, and first-time guests fill out a brief form.
The scale is significant. Resurrection serves roughly 300 families a month from the greater Leyden Township area and surrounding communities. The Giving Closet provides clothing alongside the food. Schools, support groups, churches, businesses, civic organizations, and local libraries all contribute to keep the pantry stocked, and the congregation itself donates time, food, and money in substantial quantities.
Donations can be made online through the church's giving page, with a dedicated giving fund for the Food4Life Pantry. There is also a Share the Gift fund that provides emergency aid to individuals in the community. Anyone in need is welcome to visit once a month; anyone wishing to donate food can call the church office.
Bible Study and Christian Education
Adults who want to dig deeper into the readings of the week gather on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 PM for Bible Study. Each session explores the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday, and the group meets both in person and on Zoom. It is described as fun and enlightening, and visitors are welcome to drop in.
Christian education for children has long been part of Resurrection's life. The original 1946 sanctuary now serves as the Sunday School classrooms for first, second, and third graders, a fitting reminder that the building has always been intended for formation as well as worship.
The Care Team and Prayer Chain
Resurrection's Care Team extends the congregation's pastoral reach beyond Sunday morning. The team is trained to visit members who are homebound, in nursing homes, hospitalized, dealing with life issues, or bereaved. Volunteers are also trained to take Holy Communion, consecrated by the pastor, to those unable to attend worship. Cards and letters go out to congregation members who are bereaved, hospitalized, or serving in the military.
The Prayer Chain is a group that prays for members and friends with special concerns. The group is notified by phone or email when a prayer request comes in. Anyone can contact the church office to add a name to the Prayer Concerns list.
A Pastor with a Passion for Justice
The congregation is served by Pastor Darryl Thompson Powell, who has been at Resurrection since 2017. An ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for more than thirty years, Pastor Powell has served congregations in Detroit, western Michigan, southern California, Chicago, and Elgin. He previously served the wider church as Program Director for African Descent Ministries of the ELCA and as president of the board for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries. His ministry is shaped by two convictions: proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and working for justice. For more than three decades he has been involved in anti-racism work, and in 2024, with support from the Louisville Institute, he began a pastoral study project on how Black pastors and white congregations can minister together more effectively.
He lives in Elk Grove Village with his wife, Carla, also an ELCA pastor. They are the parents of three young adults. The pastor's study opens onto a Friendship Hall basketball court and a sanctuary of carved African mahogany, fitting surroundings for a ministry that takes both word and justice seriously.
Getting Connected
Resurrection Lutheran Church is located at 9777 West Grand Avenue in Franklin Park, Illinois. The church office can be reached at 847-455-7013 or office@rlcfp.org. Sunday worship runs from 9:30 to 11:00 AM, with the service livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 2:00 PM in person and online. The Food4Life pantry and clothing closet are open Mondays from noon to 3:00 PM.
Giving is simple: donations can be made online through the Tithe.ly app or via the church's online giving page, with options to direct gifts to the general fund, the Food4Life pantry, flowers, or the Share the Gift emergency fund. Newsletters are published monthly and available on the church's Messengers page. Volunteers for the food pantry, clothing closet, and Care Team are always welcome, and the congregation's front doors stand open on Mondays as a steady sign of stability for neighbors in difficult economic times.