On Wednesday, February 22, the Northern Illinois area experienced a freezing rain storm that left a quarter to a half inch of ice on roads, homes, trees, and power lines, causing widespread power outages. It also caused a lot of damaged and downed trees and limbs on roofs, yards, and roads.
 
Kathy O’Day, Director of Disaster Response, and LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers have continued to respond to multiple requests for chainsaw assistance in several towns, including Palatine, Inverness, Crystal Lake, Huntley, Campton Hills, Elburn, La Fox, Marengo, Belvidere, McHenry, South Elgin, and West Dundee. Currently, we have completed work at thirty-three homeowner sites, with a few more requests for L.E.R.T. volunteers to complete when the ground can dry so equipment will not sink in the yards.
 
Last week, L.E.R.T. volunteers completed work at several different congregation members’ homes using the lift and/or bobcat. Each homeowner was very appreciative of the assistance and care shown to them. This local ice storm was an opportunity to demonstrate how L.E.R.T. volunteers can serve in our own communities.

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

On Saturday, February 25, LCC held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T training for new and recertifying team members at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois, led by Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response.
 
There were a total of sixteen in attendance from the following teams or churches in Illinois:

• Hope, Shorewood
• Immanuel, Palatine
• Lord of Glory, Grayslake
• Prince of Peace, Palatine
• St. John, Wheaton
• St. Peter, Schaumburg

 
It is good to see how the disaster response ministry is continuing to grow with volunteers willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ in service to those suffering and in need.

Eight Wheaton and Warrenville area churches and 20 public schools in District 200 invited 729 families to participate in the annual Christmas Sharing program this year. St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton was one of three host sites that partnered with Gary Methodist and Trinity Episcopal of Wheaton.
 
Together, these three churches served 233 families. St. John received donations of money, linens, non-food items, boxes, cleaning products, diapers, and gift cards from local businesses and organizations in the community, along with donations from church members. Families received fresh food and produce, gift cards, a box of non-food items, diapers, and more at the festive event.
 
It is joyous and organized chaos with many L.E.R.T. and congregation volunteers’ hands and hearts caring for our neighbors. All volunteers are humbled to serve. One participant

LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) chainsaw team volunteers helped St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chicago Heights, Illinois, remove two damaged trees on their property. One tree was leaning towards the church, and another large pine tree on the property was dead and at risk of falling. They carved a cross in the stump of the pine tree so that members and visitors see that God is always present in their lives.
 
We thank the following L.E.R.T. team members for their faithful service:
 
Good Shepherd, Frankfort: Joe Powless and Curt Murff
St. Paul, Matteson: Dennis Pieper

On Wednesday, September 28, thirty LCC L.E.R.T. chainsaw team members participated in the 8th Annual Saluting Branches Day of Service at three different National Cemeteries.
 
Saluting Branches is a national event for arborists and other tree care professionals throughout the country to unite and provide exceptional tree care to keep our veterans cemeteries safe and beautiful places for all those who visit.

LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers served at the following cemeteries:
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery - Elwood, Illinois
Dayton National Cemetery - Dayton, Ohio
Southern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery - Union Grove, Wisconsin
 
Many of our L.E.R.T. team members are veterans themselves, but all who serve at this event feel it is an honor and privilege to give back to those who served our country.

We thank the following L.E.R.T. team members for their willingness to serve:

Illinois
Cross, Yorkville – Derek and Amy Kowalczyk
Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath
Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless
Heartland, Normal – Tony Buchberger
Immanuel, Palatine – Steve MacKay
Lord of Life, Elburn – John Griffin, Kevin Krage, Max Metz, Bill Pietsch, Larry Zagorski
Shepherd of the Hills, McHenry – Alan Holm, Ron Jones, Gary Rucker
St. John, Wheaton – Dave Mummah
St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison
St. Paul, Rockford – Dean and Carol Ulrich
St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckman, Bob and Barbara Royce, Laurie Trudell, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta
Trinity, Villa Park – Jim and Debbie Long
 
Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin
Trinity, Davenport, Iowa – Ken Stotmeister
St. John, Dillsboro, Indiana – Steve Black
Brookfield, Brookfield, Wisconsin – Laura Ciletti, CJ Kraft, Curt and Kristen Kolell, Cheryl Delair

Pastor Warren Schilf of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois, referred an elderly congregation member to the Palatine L.E.R.T. team for assistance with trimming overgrown shrubs, cutting hanging and dead tree limbs and weeding flower beds.
 
The following Palatine L.E.R.T. team members willingly served this past week:
 
Immanuel, Palatine - Steve and Marilyn Kosmella, Steve MacKay
Prince of Peace, Palatine - Jim and Karen Beckley, Richard and Bonnie Habegger, Tod and Kay Kruse
St. Peter, Arlington Heights - Lois Lehman
 
She was very grateful for their Christian care and help, as it is something she can no longer do for herself.
 
It truly was a blessing and privilege to serve!

On Saturday, September 10, LCC held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T. training for new and recertifying team members at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois. The training was led by Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response.
 
There were a total of 14 in attendance from the following teams or churches in Illinois:
 
Concordia University Chicago - Church Worker Students
St. John, Wheaton

It is good to see how the disaster response ministry is continuing to grow with volunteers willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ in service to those suffering and in need.