LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Emma, Hannah (LCC Staff), Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois), and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog In Training Lazarus and their handlers knew they needed to be there for the students and staff at St. John's Lutheran School in Lombard, Illinois, after the sudden death of their 8th grade teacher Mr. Golz. On Monday, the Comfort Dogs spent time with the classes offering the students the same unconditional love, gentleness, and care that LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Eve did before her passing last year. The students filled the Heart of Mercy & Compassion made in memory of Mr. Golz with messages of love for this kind and inspiring teacher. Mr. Golz was a beloved teacher at St John's Lutheran School. He took the students to Walcamp each year to learn more about the outdoors to help them grow in their faith in the Lord. On Tuesday, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were also present to comfort and provide a safe and quiet place for Mr. Golz’ wife, children, family, students and friends at his visitation. We ask God to watch over and comfort his wife and two young children who will forever miss his loving presence in their lives.
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog team from Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Katie and Phinehas, was present last night at two candlelight vigils, bringing love and comfort to the community gathered to support each other. Lutheran Church Charities has been invited by Lynsi Pasutti, Executive Director of Perry Chamber of Commerce, to bring additional LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs, as well as LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, to the shocked and hurting community that this horrific event has greatly impacted. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Charity (Brookfield Lutheran - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Eden (Peace – Columbus, Nebraska), Gideon (St. Michael’s - Bloomington, Minnesota), Joanna (Christ Lutheran – Lincoln, Nebraska), Katie and Phinehas (Trinity - Fremont, Nebraska), and their dedicated handlers, will arrive in Perry on Sunday to be present and BE THERE with those who are grieving, bringing them comfort, love, friendship, hope, and prayer.
Thank you for being a part of the Mercy and Compassion Ministry of Lutheran Church Charities.
Serving Together in the Comfort of Jesus! Some of you may recognize Chicago activist and community advocate Andrew Holmes, pictured here with his granddaughter last Friday at the offices of Chicago Survivors where Mr. Holmes serves on staff. Like LCC, Chicago Survivors provides crisis/ trauma response services to families after tragedies. Specifically, Chicago Survivors offers crime victim and support services to surviving family members of Chicago homicide victims. Mr. Holmes has consoled, supported and assisted dozens of families who have sustained tragedies and lost loved ones due to violence in the greater Chicago area. He has made numerous appearances at news conferences advocating for cooperation with law enforcement in helping to identify perpetrators. Through his work with Chicago Survivors, Mr. Holmes also accompanies and supports families through the difficult and emotionally-challenging legal process in the court system. Mr. Holmes is a local hero. What is not well known, is that Mr. Holmes himself tragically lost a daughter to a random shooting in 2015. He knows first-hand what it’s like to survive through tragedy and loss, which undoubtedly drives his compassionate work with others similarly impacted. LCC wanted to honor Mr. Holmes for his advocacy and support of families here in Chicago by recognizing and honoring his own loss. This past Friday, LCC’s Hearts of Mercy & Compassion ministry presented Mr. Holmes and his granddaughter with a heart and cross in remembrance of his beloved daughter, Tamara Sword. We pray that the Lord would continue to bless and inspire the work of Mr. Holmes and Chicago Survivors as they support people through some of life’s most difficult circumstances.
Thanks to You, We Are Able to BE THERE for Students and Staff The comfort dogs serve as a bridge, their presence encouraging conversations, soothing anxieties, and creating a haven of comfort in a time of profound sorrow. They remind us that, amidst the chaos, there's a profound beauty in the simplicity of their affection. We are so grateful to our LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams who dropped everything to BE THERE for the UNLV students and staff. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Lois (First Good Shepherd - Las Vegas, Nevada), Micah (Light of the Valley - Elk Grove, California), Phinehas (Trinity - Fremont, Nebraska), Reuben (First Lutheran - Yuba City, California), and Salome (Faith Lutheran - Las Vegas, Nevada) spent time with students who remained on the University Nevada Las Vegas campus during the winter break. Wherever the Comfort Dog teams went, the handlers could see relief as students spent time with the dogs, feeling safe and diverting them from oppressing thoughts of the shooting that happened on their campus last week. A resident assistant at one of the dorms even sent a photo to all her residents to get them downstairs to where the dogs were. It did not take long for the students to come to the Comfort Dogs once that photo was shared. The students relaxed, accepting the comfort, gentleness, and safety the Comfort Dogs offered them as they talked to the handlers about school, their lives, and dreams for the future. The Comfort Dogs also visited the UNLV School of Dental Medicine students who had finals this week. One of the students shared, “This is the best thing we needed today. We needed to spend time with a dog today.” The handlers could see their bodies relax, and their eyes and smiles light up during these special visits with the Comfort Dogs and handlers. The faculty from the school of dentistry was happy to see the students on the floor relaxed and spending time with Lois, Micah, Phinehas, Reuben, and Salome. On Tuesday, the Comfort Dogs visited the Sunrise Hospital staff that received and cared for the victims of the shooting. The teams presented to the emergency medical staff a Heart of Mercy & Compassion filled with messages of comfort and prayers. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their teams will spend time this week with the Las Vegas 911 operators and coroner’s office that responded to the shooting. These dedicated women and men respond and see so much tragedy every day. We hope the Comfort Dogs and handlers can share the comfort, hope, and love of Jesus, providing them a safe and relaxed place from their worries and stress. Hearts of Mercy & Compassion for the Lives Lost
Thank you for BEING THERE by working through Lutheran Church Charities
The team also expressed their appreciation for the community's outpouring of support during this difficult time. As Andrew Price's team prepares to take a day off to mourn their fallen colleague, let us keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Andrew Price’s Last Alarm November 13, 2023
Maui Wildfire Victims Honored with Ninety-Eight Hearts of Mercy & Compassion at New Memorial Site11/14/2023
Thank you for your generous support and for BEING THERE with LCC to show the love and presence of Jesus to the people of Maui. Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) and Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School in Kahului have come together to assist with service planning and establishing a new memorial site in Maui for the victims of the recent wildfires. With the support of our generous donors and the hard work of our volunteers, we were able to create a beautiful and meaningful tribute to those who lost their lives in the fire. Emmanuel worked with LCC President/CEO Rev. Chris Singer and Project Manager Tim Laabs to prepare, assemble, and place 98 Hearts of Mercy & Compassion at the memorial site, located off Hokiokio Place, just one block from the entrance into the Lahaina community, which is currently restricted for resident access only. Hearts of Mercy & Compassion for two more victims, whose names were released yesterday, will be added to the memorial. The team of volunteers gathered at the memorial site last Saturday morning for scripture, song, prayers, and a moment of silence in remembrance of each heart bearing the name of a person who died in the fire, as well as Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Several community members found the heart with their loved one's name and signed a message of love onto the heart. "To see this long row of Hearts and Crosses creates a deep impression of both the magnitude of life lost and yet also the hope that we have in Jesus," Rev. Chris Singer shared. "Listening to the stories from family members of those lost in this fire was an incredible experience. It was heartwarming to hear their words of thanks for honoring their loved ones and to feel our love and care for them," Tim Laabs said. The memorial site serves as a reminder of the love and presence of Jesus in times of tragedy. We thank you for your faithful prayers and support as we continue to assist the Maui communities affected by the wildfires in their long recovery process. Hearts of Mercy & Compassion for Four University of Idaho Shooting Victims Honored at Vigil11/14/2023
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Isaac (Redeemer - Spokane Valley, Washington) and his team, along with Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC), paid tribute to the victims of the University of Idaho shooting during a vigil held in Moscow on Monday, November 13. The event was held to honor the memories of Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Madison Mogen, who were murdered a year ago. Isaac and his team provided comfort and support to the attendees, offering a much-needed source of solace during this difficult time. Their presence was a reminder of the healing power of animals and the importance of community in times of grief. The four HMCs, in honor of each victim, were set up to provide a space for people to write messages of hope and healing. During our visit, we were overwhelmed by God's presence and the impact of Isaac's comforting presence. Isaac and the hearts and crosses served as a bridge for conversations, allowing us to show mercy and compassion to those grieving. It was heartwarming to see how the simple act of writing messages could provide comfort and closure to people. We were deeply moved by the gratitude and tears of those who thanked us for being there. The four speakers at the vigil were the victims' best friends and displayed immense courage as they shared their heartfelt messages. Their words resonated deeply with everyone in attendance, offering solace and hope in the midst of grief. After the vigil, Isaac's team visited each of the sorority and fraternity houses where the victims lived to present them with their sisters' and brother's hearts and crosses. The compassion and empathy witnessed during their visit left a lasting impact on everyone. "Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 LCC President/CEO, Rev. Chris Singer, along with HMC Project Manager, Tim Laabs, have arrived in Maui to work with Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Kahului to prepare and place 99 Hearts of Mercy & Compassion at a memorial site uniquely chosen for this purpose in Lahaina Leif Sjostrand (Congregational President), Russell Wilson (Head Elder), and Diane Wilson (Church Secretary) from Emmanuel have arranged for volunteers and newly trained Maui LERT team members to assemble the crosses and add names to the hearts for those who lost their lives in the Maui wildfires. Friday morning, volunteers will move the hearts and crosses to the memorial site located on Hokiokio Place in Lahaina, between the Lahaina Bypass and Honoapiilani Hwy. Saturday morning, November 11th, volunteers specifically trained to offer comfort and hope to those visiting the site will return to the memorial site with Pastor Singer. The Dedication Ceremony honoring the lives lost will take place at 10:00 a.m. Attendees are invited to write messages of hope and healing on the hearts, which will then be presented to the families. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support for all of the communities affected by the wildfires who are now facing the long process of recovery. BE THERE with LCC to show them the love and presence of Jesus! |
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