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Last week, LERT chainsaw volunteers removed a dying tree from the front yard of a St. John's Lutheran Church congregation member from Lombard, Illinois. This tree had dropped several large limbs onto their roof during recent high winds, and they did not want the entire tree to fall through the home. The LERT volunteers also removed a leaning evergreen in the backyard. Mrs. V. expressed her sincere appreciation to the following Northern Illinois District LERT volunteers for making her home and family safe: Immanuel, Dundee: Doug Hoyt, Matt Flynn, Terry Fuelling St. John, Wheaton: Marty Johnson, Rich Wren
 Last week, twenty-one LCC L.E.R.T. chainsaw volunteers participated in "Saluting Branches" at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. Another four L.E.R.T. volunteers served at Southern Wisconsin Veteran Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, Wisconsin. The mission is to honor American service men and women by organizing volunteer tree and landscape care for the national cemeteries dedicated to our veterans. This was the seventh year LCC L.E.R.T. has proudly served our veterans who have been laid to rest. The following L.E.R.T. volunteers felt that it was truly an honor to participate in this special event: Illinois Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless Heartland, Bloomington – Tony Buchberger Lord of Life, LaFox – Kevin Krage, Max Metz, Jeff Straughn, Larry Zagorski Shepherd of the Hills, McHenry – Alan Holm, Bruce Preston St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison St. Paul, Rockford – Dean Ulrich St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckmann, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta, Bob Royce Trinity, Lisle – Ed Boerman Trinity, Villa Park – Jim Long Zion, Ottawa – Dave and Cindy Reif Iowa Trinity, Davenport – Ken Stotmeister Wisconsin Brookfield, Brookfield – Laura Ciletti, Cheryl DeLair Zion, Menomonee Falls – Curt and Kristen Kolell
 Last week, the Palatine L.E.R.T. team helped clear a Prince of Peace member’s 90-year-old mother's home front and back yard of overgrown brush, trees, and limbs. The family could not do this work themselves nor afford to hire a professional tree company. Mrs. B. was in tears and was very grateful for all the help. She expressed her thanks for everything the team had done! It was a blessing! Another family member sent a note of thanks to the following LCC staff and Palatine L.E.R.T. volunteers for their willing service: Jim Beckley, Richard and Bonnie Habegger, Steve MacKay, Kathy O’Day, Marta Rees and Todd Sloan. "I just wanted to let you know how thankful we are for all the hard work you have done. The yard looks amazing! Cannot remember when it looked so good. Thanks for everything!" All consider it a blessing and privilege to serve.
Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T)
Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T)  Last week, a two-section wheelchair ramp was built for a Prince of Peace, Palatine, Illinois, congregation member so that he can access his home when he comes home from a rehab facility this month after a serious injury and health setbacks. The L.E.R.T. volunteers also brought one of the church's wheelchairs to the congregation member's home, so the wife could practice safely pushing one of the volunteers on the ramps before helping her injured husband for the first time. The project's building material was funded by a Thrivent Action Grant, designed and completed by the following L.E.R.T. volunteers: Immanuel, Palatine – Steve MacKay Living Waters, Peoria – Bob Price Prince of Peace, Palatine – Jim Beckley, Richard & Bonnie Habegger This couple is grateful for the prompt response and willingness to build what they saw as another physical and financial obstacle they would need to overcome. They also greatly appreciated the support, mercy, and compassion of Christ shown to them.
LCC Disaster Response Holds Annual L.E.R.T. Chainsaw Training and Service Workday at Walcamp5/10/2023
Lutheran Early Response Team  Lutheran Church Charities held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T. chainsaw operation and safety classroom instruction at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Illinois, on May 5. This class was co-led by LCMS Chainsaw Certified Instructors and LCC advanced team leaders, Marty Johnson and Pete Springmire. The hands-on chainsaw training and workday was held at Walcamp in Kingston, Illinois on May 6. On Saturday, forty-seven basic and advanced chainsaw-certified LCC staff and L.E.R.T. team members worked as chainsaw and heavy equipment operators and draggers to clear downed and dead trees, limbs, and brush from the camp. Bill Indelli, Walcamp Executive Director expressed his sincere thanks for all of the work completed to prepare for campers. The seventeen first-time chainsaw operators received individual instruction and guidance from advanced team leaders as they began to safely practice felling and bucking trees and limbs, as well as serving with chainsaw team members. A new chainsaw operator stated, “I never thought I would learn so much about chainsaws and safe operation - and enjoy fellowship with a group of people I had never known before. I’m looking forward to serving in this way.”  Illinois Fellowship of Faith, McHenry – Alan Holm Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete and Christel Springmire Immanuel, Dundee – Jon Bartelt, Bill Conforti, Carl Fischer, Matt Flynn, Al Navarro Immanuel, Palatine – Troy Horbach, Kurt Spaletto Lord of Life, Elburn – Mark Holstein, James Okkema, Eric Poss, Tom Raisanen, Larry Zagorski Prince of Peace, Palatine – Kurt Spaletto St. Paul, Rockford – Dean Ulrich St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckman, Bob and Barb Royce, Laurie Trudell St. John, Wheaton – Susan Brown, Steve Chester, Palmer and Judy Goodwin, Max Hernandez, Marty Johnson, Jeff Johnston, Julianna Madden, Kathryn Madden, Dave Mummah, Anna Piro, Jonathan Schaeffer, Dave and Martha Schlesselmann, Rich Wren Trinity, Lisle – Ed Boerman, Mike Kokstecki Trinity Roselle – Kristin Bilar Zion, Ottawa – Dave Reif Wisconsin St. Paul, Grafton – Mark and Beverly Brueggemann, Kaye Voss St. Paul, Janesville - Lark and Terry Sanders   On Saturday, April 22, LCC held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T. training for new and recertifying team members at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in LaFox, Illinois, led by Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response.
There were a total of eighteen in attendance from the following teams or churches in Illinois:
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. On Saturday, April 15, the LCMS NID Shine/Immanuel Lutheran School Serve Event was held in East Dundee, Illinois. Immanuel's school asked the local L.E.R.T. team to clear the overgrown bushes, burrs, and trees along the sides of the walking path and playground where kids' balls roll into.
Immanuel Lutheran School extends thanks to the following L.E.R.T. and congregation volunteers:
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