Rev. Dr. Rebecca Armstrong is a minister in the liberal religious tradition, dedicated to the free and conscious search for truth. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago Divinity School, Meadville-Lombard Unitarian Seminary and The Chicago Theological Seminary. She is ordained and has practiced as a Humanist minister since 1992. After serving several Chicago area churches she chose to establish herself as a consulting minister in private practice, serving the spiritual needs of those without church affiliation. Most of her clients describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious” – a sentiment she shares!

Rev. Rebecca specializes in creating ceremonies for all of life's great transitions: weddings, christenings, coming-of-age, cronings, memorials, divorce and other rites of passage. In addition, she works with individuals, couples and families as a spiritual counselor and to create specialized rituals of transformation for healing, overcoming grief, house blessings, transitions into death, life review and spiritual legacies.A professional musician and mythologist, she worked for twelve years as International OutReach Director with the Joseph Campbell Foundation, leading seminars around the world on the importance of myth and ritual in contemporary life. As a minister, she has been a guest preacher, educator and workshop leader in churches around the country and abroad. She co-founded an interfaith group called Friends of Compassion which pioneered many service projects here and in India. It was that work that led her to India and her meeting with the Dali Lama. Her work has received wide attention in the media and she has been published in magazines, journals and books.

Dear Rebecca ~ Thank you so much for being our special guide and making our day even more perfect. It was truly an honor to have your there with us at such a profound moment of our lives. Thank you, also, for the unexpected gift of our vows -- we framed them and have them hanging in a special place. We look forward to sharing a cup of tea with you soon! All the best ~ Jeff & Masayo

 

Dear Rev. Rebeca ~ What can we say? You were simply fantastic. Really great. You made our special day extra special by hitting all the right notes. The Dylan Thomas love letter couldn't have been more perfect. It was our favorite part of the entire day -- such a nice surprise from you! Both of our families thought the ceremony was the highlight of the day.  ~ Deb & Chris

 

Dear Rev. Rebecca ~ Thank you so much for being a part of our wedding. Your warm spirit and kind words made the ceremony unforgettable. We will always be grateful for the memories you have created. ~ ~  Love, Kate & Andrew

 

Dear Rebecca ~ We’ll still savoring our wedding celebration. I’d like to thank you again for your part in shaping the event - your words, your thoughts, your presence, your energy, all that you brought to our ceremony - was a beautiful fit, and helped us in saying best what we wanted to say most.  It felt like we’d known you a long time. You have a gift, a wonderful gift, for creating ceremony, that is meaningful and real and sacred and joyous. Thank you for traveling so far to share that with us. It would not have been the same without you.
~Mer & Steve

Dear Rebecca ~ We can not thank you enough for all your insight and guidance in making our day truly memorable on many levels. Thank you for expressing our love so uniquely.
~ John & Robin


Dear Rebecca ~ Russell and I wanted to thank you for the wonderful wedding service you made happen for us. The whole experience was more wonderful than we ever even hoped it could be. Thanks again for your guidance and artistry!
~ Rebecca & Russell

Dear Rebecca ~ While we’re still basking in the afterglow of Saturday’s event, we want you to know how truly grateful we are to you for your gentle support, encouragement, and for seeming to know what we wanted without out telling, for helping us see what we did want, for candle ‘detective’ work, but most of all for beautifully weaving together a ritual we will never forget. It really couldn’t have been any better. Thank you, thank you.
~ Sue & Bob
 
Dear Rebecca ~ We just wanted to write and thank you for the lovely wedding service. You ‘pulled the stitches” of the readings and the music together with your quilting and weaving metaphors and poetry. We were thrilled at how smoothly things went and how lovely the whole service was. Your benediction was truly inspired!
~ Mary Beth & Scott,

Dear Rebecca ~ Let me tell you first that we had more compliments on you and the ceremony that you helped create than anything else about our wedding. I think that is the first and best thing a couple can hope to hear. Both of our father’s spoke specifically of you, of how your warmth, expression of emotion and elocution helped bring the words out from the pages of the books and into the hearts of the family and friends that had gathered. I can’t believe our good luck that we found you and that you were so creative and perceptive in your selection of the readings.
~ Joseph & Garratt


Dear Rebecca ~ I have such great joy about the way our wedding turned out. Everyone told me how touched they were - even the best man cried! I just can’t imagine how it could have been more wonderful!
~ Rebekah & Jeffrey

Dear Rebecca ~ It’s been more than a month since the wedding and we’re still getting glowing remarks about your work. The gods were with us when we found you and we’ll never forget you. Fondly,
~   Laura & Bill
 
Dear Rebecca ~ Thank you for a unique, memorable, fabulous ceremony! Your words to us were poignant and spoken with sweet truth. Thank you for a beautiful day!
~ Julie & Bobby

Dear Rebecca ~ Thank you for the tremendous ceremony. It was truly perfect - exactly what we wanted and had envisioned when we decided to get married. Thank you!
~ Brad & Marlese 

ceremonies@aol.com                

Phone: 847. 707. 1781