 LCC staff members John Pejchl and Tim Laabs presented three LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) and crosses to Victims Advocate Dawn Valenti at the 3rd District Chicago Police Station.
Dawn requested the HMCs to offer comfort at a vigil on Sunday, August 21, at Rainbow Beach in Chicago, Illinois, in honor of three civilian victims of a hit-and-run car tragedy one week prior. The Bible verse “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4) and the names of each victim, Devonta Vivetter, Donald Huey, and Jaylen Ausley, were written on each HMC. John and Tim shared a prayer with Dawn and Officer Penny Jefferson.
This week, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry responded to two emergency site visits to provide love and comfort to all those suffering and in need of comfort following tragic events, one of them a loss of life. The K-9s and their handlers were on-site, offering compassion and presence to employees, and teachers to help them process the grief, loss, and shock they were experiencing.  Six Flags Great America - Gurnee, Illinois Last Sunday evening, tragedy struck Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, when a shooting took place outside their gates, injuring three people. Tragedy often leaves those impacted feeling unsettled, afraid, shaken, and lost. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin), Myra (St. Andrews - Park Ridge, Illinois), Rhoda (Prince of Peace - Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin), Ruthie (LCC Staff), Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois), and Daniel Comfort Dog In Training spent time on Tuesday and will return again on Wednesday bringing comfort, kindness, love, and friendship to the employees of Six Flags Great America. It is during times of uncertainty that sharing God’s love and comfort while listening to and noticing others' pain matter to those who are afraid, hurting, and shaken.  The President of Six Flags Great America came up to thank the team for being there for the employees. This visit was very well received, and they are looking forward to Wednesday's visit with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Asher (Faith Lutheran - Lake Forest, Illinois), Mary, Rhoda, Ruthie, and Tobias. After giving much love and care to the employees, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers were invited to watch the roller coasters in action from a very safe distance. We pray for the three people who suffered injuries, first responders, and the employees at Six Flags Great America after Sunday’s violence. “Give us the grace to share the comfort of Christ with all those who long for his healing touch. Surround those who have been shaken by tragedy with a sense of your present love.”
Community Consolidated School District 15 - Rolling Meadows, Illinois  Teachers of Central Elementary and Carl Sandburg Junior High School of Community Consolidated School District 15 began a new school year with teacher institute day on Monday. The celebration of a new school year was mixed with sadness and loss as five of their students will not be there to start another school year. Nicky Dobosz (6 years old), Lucas Dobosz (7 years old), Ella Dobosz (5 years old), Emma Dobosz (13 years old), and Katriona Koziara (13 years old) were killed in a fatal car crash just weeks ago along with the Dobosz parents Thomas (32 years old) and Lauren (31 years old ). It is hard to imagine not seeing those children’s smiling faces in their classrooms. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Emma (LCC Staff), Hannah (LCC Staff), Malachi (St. Matthew - Hawthorn Woods, Illinois), and Myra (St. Andrews - Park Ridge, Illinois) were present at Central Elementary School, and LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Eunice (LCC Staff), Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois), Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois), and Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois), served at Carl Sandburg Junior High where the children attended to spend time with the teachers whose hearts are broken by the loss of this family. It was good to see the teachers smile at seeing the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs. Some of the teachers shared that they would like to have the Comfort Dogs back as the students and families continue to process this loss. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs will be back for the students at Central Elementary as they return to school.
We pray for all teachers, students, and parents as they begin another year for God’s protection and that this school year is filled with a love of learning, discovery, teamwork, and respect and care for others. We pray for God’s continued healing as teachers, students, and the community continue to grieve the loss of the four Dobosz children, their parents, and Katriona Koziara. LCC's K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry never goes where we are not invited and never charges those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
"With the support of Lutheran Church Charities, we feed hundreds of people and we embrace hundreds of people with the Gospel.” Oleksiy Navrotskyy (SELCU pastor) 100% of Your Donations Continue to Support Ukrainians in Need  SELCU Pastors Serving Ukrainians Since March 2022, Lutheran Church Charities has been working cooperatively with pastors of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) to provide humanitarian relief which combines the clear proclamation of the gospel. The SELCU pastors are producing a series of video presentations that summarize their work in Ukraine and which offer sincere gratitude to LCC donors. The first in the series is provided by Pastor Oleksiy Navrotskyy, who is a SELCU pastor in Nikolaev and is the full-time missionary in Ukraine for the Lutheran Church-Canada. Click on the video below to watch the powerful message from Pastor Navrotskyy.  Your Donations are Immediately Helping Ukrainians in Need!
This past week, Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) chainsaw volunteers Alan Holm and Ron Jones felled a split tree and trimmed dangerous hanging limbs on the grounds of their church, Shepherd of the Hills in McHenry, Illinois. Pastor Tom Rogers was very appreciative of their willing service to make the grounds safe for all.
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