On the Edge of Marquette's Campus
Redeemer Lutheran Church sits at 1905 West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee, on the western edge of Marquette University's campus. The congregation has anchored this stretch of the near west side for more than a century, and from that location Redeemer reaches out as a Reconciling in Christ community, runs one of the city's well-known weekday food ministries, and opens its doors to a steady stream of neighbors, students, and visitors each week.
A Welcome That Means All
Redeemer's own welcome statement opens with, "Like Milwaukee, our congregation is a reflection of God's diverse creation." Members differ in age, race, religious background, education, and income, and the congregation embraces that variety openly. The statement then names more than twenty dimensions of identity (sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health, immigration status, faith history, and many more) and says plainly, "we advocate for the inclusion and equity of all." The conclusion is the same: "all are welcome, and all means ALL!"
The church's affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is paired with participation in Reconciling Works, the network that supports LGBTQ-affirming Lutheran congregations. This identity shapes how Redeemer talks about itself: its mission is to "show and tell the love of God through Jesus Christ," and its vision is to be seen as "a gift to the community," where no one "hungers for food or gospel" and "all are valued as children of God."
Sunday Worship
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m. and takes place both in the sanctuary and online through a livestream on YouTube. Printed bulletins guide most of the service, with hymns in a red book nearby. Visitors can expect a few distinctive features:
- Warm greetings at the door and again in the worship space.
- An unhurried sharing of the peace. Members see it as an expression of the coming kingdom of God, and it can "go on for a good while."
- An open invitation to Holy Communion. All are welcome at the table, with both wine and juice available.
- Preaching rooted in the assigned biblical texts for the week.
- Quiet moments set aside for prayer and contemplation.
Worship draws on "ancient, traditional, and eclectic elements" and "thoughtful and creative liturgy." Pastor Heidi Borkenhagen serves as interim pastor, and a Weekly Pastor's Note goes out by email before each Sunday, offering a preview of the upcoming sermon and scriptures. A printed bulletin is available for download each week, and Tidings, the congregation's quarterly newsletter, keeps members posted on the wider life of the church.
Olga's Noon Run and the Lunch Table
The center of Redeemer's neighborhood ministry is Olga's Noon Run, often called OLGA NWS. The program provides food to people facing hunger on the near west side, and Deb Pipkorn serves as its food manager. A volunteer cook team gathers Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon to prepare the meals. Then, four days a week, "Lunch at Redeemer" is served in the Gathering Space at 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, open to anyone who walks in.
The kitchen that feeds these meals is part of the church's recent story. Under the Fearless & Faithful campaign, Redeemer added a new commercial kitchen, a flexible event space, and additional offices so that more neighbors could be fed and more groups could be hosted. The annual report sums it up: "Every dollar reflected in these pages represents a soul fed, a family supported, and a stranger saved."
Music in the Life of the Congregation
Music is led by Director of Music Jeff Bray, who also serves as the wedding music coordinator. Hymns, choral music, and instrumental work anchor the Sunday liturgy, and the building's piano and organ are used for both regular services and wedding ceremonies. Outside musicians can be invited to participate at the director's discretion.
Weddings and Gatherings
Redeemer hosts weddings in its light-filled sanctuary, which holds up to 230 people (with a maximum of 200 guests for wedding ceremonies). The wedding fee is $2,000, with a $1,000 non-refundable deposit to hold the date and the balance due at least 30 days before the ceremony. Couples may bring their own ordained officiant, or invite Redeemer's pastor, who asks that the couple complete premarital counseling; the suggested honorarium is $500. The Director of Music fee is $200, and the wedding coordinator (the church's communications specialist) is $200. The sanctuary and dressing rooms are available up to two hours before the ceremony. The narthex, where food and drink are permitted, works well for receptions and other celebrations that cannot take place inside the worship space.
Beyond weddings, Redeemer rents its spaces to outside groups at market and nonprofit rates. The Sanctuary, an Event Space (up to 144 people) with built-in projectors, screens, sound, microphones, and instrument hookups, a Gathering/Prefunction room for small groups of 5-20, a Mission Partner Space for up to 36 with tables and chairs, and a twelve-seat Conference Room are all available for meetings, workshops, dinners, dances, and gatherings of many kinds.
Forward in Faith
Forward in Faith is the campaign that finished the work begun under Fearless & Faithful. The completed improvements, including a working kitchen, a welcoming event space, and updated offices, have given Redeemer the physical capacity to keep saying yes to its neighborhood. Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Fabulous 44 Alcoholics Anonymous group gathers on Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the building. A community of partners, including Christ the King, Saint Paul's, Christ Church Mequon, St. Luke's Slinger, Marquette's Midnight Run, and others, extends the church's reach into the wider city. In a neighborhood where hunger and hope live side by side, Redeemer Lutheran Church keeps doing what its centennial generation started: feeding people, opening doors, and proclaiming that all are welcome.