On Saturday, June 11, St. John, Wheaton, Illinois, Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) team worked at a congregation member’s home, who is a recent widow. They utilized the lift, dump trailer, and ditch witch to clear her property of leaning and overgrown trees over and around her home. The homeowner was very appreciative of the willing hands and hearts that showed her the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ. The following L.E.R.T. volunteers felt blessed to serve this family in need: Prince of Peace, Palatine – Dan Swyndroski St. Paul, Brookfield – Brandon Greco St. John, Wheaton - Palmer Goodwin, Byron Heidorn, Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah, Anna Piro, Rich Wren The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that, when invited, we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
This past weekend, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, eighteen LCC L.E.R.T. draggers, chainsaw, and heavy equipment operators along with four congregation volunteers served at St. John in Country Club Hills, Illinois for the day. They were able to fell many dead trees, remove dangerous hanging branches and provide cleanup to the 35-acre church, school, and cemetery property. They also cut all of the wood into fireplace length and stacked it so it could be used easily. Ron Stewart, the church trustee, and the congregation members that worked with the team for the day were very appreciative and thankful to the following volunteers for their willing hands and professional assistance in making their property safe and looking trimmed. Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless Immanuel DeKalb – Pete and Christel Springmire Immanuel, East Dundee – Matt Flynn Lord of Life, Elburn – Larry Zagorski Our Savior, Chicago – Jim Hampe St. John, Country Club Hills – Brian Schilling, Mike Smith, Ron and Lois Stewart St. John, Sycamore – Steve Brown St. John, Wheaton – Palmer and Judy Goodwin, Dave Mummah, Rich Wren St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison St. Paul, Rockford – Dean and Carol Ulrich St. Peter, Schaumburg – Bob Royce Trinity, Lisle – Ed Boerman Zion, Beecher – Jan Schulz All present enjoyed serving, great weather, and a time of fellowship! Lord of Life L.E.R.T. Team in Elburn, Illinois, Hosts Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser for a New Trailer6/7/2022
Eighteen Chainsaw Certified L.E.R.T. Team Members Return to Walcamp to Clear Downed and Dead Trees Last week, eighteen chainsaw certified L.E.R.T. team members returned to Walcamp with sawyers, draggers, and heavy equipment to clear downed and dead trees from walking paths and dangerously leaning trees from a home on the property. Bill Indelli, Walcamp Executive Director, expressed his sincere thanks to each of the following for all of the work completed to prepare for day and overnight campers. Immanuel, Dundee – Matt Flynn Lord of Life, LaFox – Max Metz, Larry Zagorski Prince of Peace, Palatine – Dan and Bobbie Swymdroski St. John, Elgin – Bernie and Janet Zimdahl St. John, Wheaton – Palmer Goodwin, Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison St. Paul, Rockford – Dean Ulrich St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckmann, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta, Bob Royce Trinity, Villa Park – Jim Long It was an extremely hot and humid day, but very welcome after months of dreary weather and rain. All came with willing hands and hearts to serve and enjoy a time of fellowship.
L.E.R.T. Chainsaw Volunteers Help an Elder Homeowner Remove a Tree after Recent Storms Last week, Lord of Life, LaFox, Illinois, L.E.R.T. chainsaw volunteers Larry Zagorski, and Kevin and Harry Krage, cut and removed a large tree that fell in recent storms from a church elder’s home. He was very grateful for their caring and professional assistance.
Lutheran Church Charities held a Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) Chainsaw Training and Service Event Workday at Walcamp in Kingston, Illinois, on April 29-30. On Friday evening, the Basic LCMS Chainsaw class was co-led by LCC/LCMS Chainsaw Certified Instructors Marty Johnson and Pete Springmire. On Saturday, twenty-six 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 along the camp roads. Bill Indelli, Walcamp Executive Director expressed his sincere thanks for all of the work completed to prepare for campers. The ten first-time chainsaw operators received individual instruction and guidance from advanced team leaders as they began to safely practice felling and cutting 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 have so much fun with a group of people I had never known before. I definitely want to serve in this way.” These L.E.R.T. team volunteers came from the following Illinois and Wisconsin churches: Illinois Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless Immanuel, Belvidere – Karyn Salgado Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete Springmire Immanuel, Dundee – Michael Brocato, Matt Flynn, Terry and Denise Fuelling, Doug and Kelley Hoyt Immanuel, Palatine – Chris Johnson Lord of Life, Elburn – Kevin Krage, Max Metz, Vince Miller, Larry Zagorski Our Savior, Chicago – James Hampe St. Paul, Rockford – Dean and Carol Ulrich St. Peter, Rockford – Ken Kiviranta St. John, Wheaton – Steve Chester, Byron Heidorn, Marty Johnson, Jeff Johnston, Anna Piro Trinity, Lisle – Ed Boerman Zion, Beecher – Jan Schulz Wisconsin St. Paul, Grafton – Mark and Beverly Brueggemann One of the participants sent the following note of thanks after the training: “Thank you all for a great time spent with the group at Walcamp. As always, the presentation on Friday was done so well and Saturday's work was very beneficial for the new people. We enjoy the company of such dedicated people and always come away uplifted.” The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that, when invited, we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) members Jim Beckley (Prince of Peace - Palatine, Illinois) and Bob Pautsch (Trinity - Roselle, Illinois), were asked if they could help a Carpentersville (Illinois) Habitat for Humanity family by clearing a dead oak tree that had fallen onto the roof. Prior to L.E.R.T.'s arrival, Habitat staff was able to remove the branches from the roof but were unable to remove the tree trunk. Jim, Bob, and Habitat volunteer staff removed what remained of the tree trunk and hauled the pieces up a long steep hill to Jim's trailer and Bob's van to be removed from the site. The homeowner was very appreciative of the assistance. On Saturday, April 23, Steve Black gave a L.E.R.T. presentation at the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) Aurora Zone Spring Rally at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Dillsboro, Indiana. Steve is a member of St. John’s and an active L.E.R.T. chainsaw operator that deploys with Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response. He spoke to eighteen women about what L.E.R.T. is and how volunteers serve those affected by a disaster and share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in need. LCC Welcomes Ten New L.E.R.T. Certified Members On Saturday, March 26, LCC held a Basic LCMS Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) training for new and recertifying team members at Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee, Illinois, led by Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response. Lutheran Church Charities welcomes ten new L.E.R.T. certified members! There were a total of 15 in attendance from the following teams or churches in Illinois: Immanuel, Belvidere Immanuel, East Dundee Trinity, Lisle Zion, Beecher 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. |
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