The broken pipe went undetected overnight. 

It wasn’t until morning that Faith Lutheran Church in Germantown, WI, discovered inches of water flooding portions of the building, including extensive damage to the sanctuary walls, ceiling, and gathering spaces. 

Weeks of cleanup and repairs ensued, until last Sunday, when the Faith congregation was ready to worship in the restored sanctuary and rededicate it to the Lord. 
 
To help them remember the ordeal and God’s continued faithfulness through it, they received a physical reminder — a Heart of Mercy & Compassion (HMC), gifted by neighboring church St. Paul Grafton, WI.

Marked with Psalm 46:1, “God is our Refuge and Strength, an ever-present Help in trouble,” the HMC touched Pastor Peter Heckert, who held up the wooden heart at the beginning of the service to show church members and thank God for His ongoing presence.
​
“This [HMC] is a gift given to Faith, signed by many people who have been praying for us, supporting us. … Even in the midst of trials and tribulations, our Lord is faithful and this will be a sign for that,” Pastor Heckert said. 

Later in the morning, Faith congregation members gathered outside the building to sing hymns, read Scripture, and cheer as a pair of giant scissors sliced through the blue ribbon spanning the entrance. 

HMC team members from St. Paul Grafton had Cricut-ed Psalm 46:1 and the date of the rededication on the HMC, then signed it with hearty congratulations and encouragement for the occasion. 

The group had learned about the mishap at Faith through St. Paul LERT volunteers and the Grafton church’s Women’s Guild, which had contributed funds for repair costs. 

An HMC was just the final touch of a caring neighbor.  

It’s been 10 months since the Guadalupe River floods in Kerr and Hunt counties in Texas Hill Country took 139 lives on July 4. The media has come and gone. And been back again and again. 

There have been remembrances. Tributes. Benefit concerts. Community events. Tears have been shed week upon week upon week. 

In the midst of it all have been the caregivers — mental health professionals, law enforcement, city and county public servants, doctors, nurses, technicians — all shouldering several communities’ worth of grief, stress, and trauma from the tragedy’s aftermath, weighing heavy on the whole region. 

Those who’ve brought care and assistance are nearing a breaking point. 
The comforters now need comfort themselves.

“Our Crisis Counseling Team, as well as additional staff, have been working incredibly hard since the July 4th flood; many members of our team have experienced increased stress, as well as trauma, related to the things they have witnessed and heard,” said Corrie Perryman of the Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers. 

This week, with Legislative hearings dredging up unhealed wounds, seven Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog teams from six Texas churches arrived on the scene to offer them a few moments of peace and rest — and then join them in outreach to a community that’s still reeling mentally and emotionally.  
More than a dozen LCC volunteers and their K-9 Comfort Dogs traveled from hundreds of miles across Texas to serve on a two-day, whirlwind mission trip in Kerrville and Hunt: Comfort Dog Elijah (Our Redeemer – Wichita Falls, TX), Comfort Dog Joy (Gloria Dei – Houston, TX), Comfort Dog Martha (Bethany – Austin, TX), Comfort Dog Olive (St. Paul – Fort Worth, TX), Comfort Dog Pax (St. Paul – Fort Worth, TX), Comfort Dog Shamgar (Our Savior – McKinney, TX), and Comfort Dog Triton (Messiah – Plano, TX).

The congregation at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Carol Stream, Illinois is currently walking alongside Margie, a member of our local community who is facing a difficult and unexpected hardship.

Living on Social Security Disability, Margie recently encountered an unforeseen medical expense that has made it impossible for her to keep up with her basic monthly bills.

As a congregation, we are committed to helping ensure that Margie can remain safely in her home during this challenging season. She has expressed deep gratitude for the compassion, encouragement, and support she has received, and we are thankful for the opportunity to share Christ’s love in a tangible way.

Through gifts designated to Lutheran Church Charities, congregations like ours are able to respond quickly and faithfully to urgent needs within our communities.

Your generosity makes it possible to provide hope, stability, and mercy to neighbors who are struggling. We invite you to prayerfully consider making a gift to support this effort.

Every contribution, no matter the size, becomes a blessing to those in need and a reflection of Christ’s compassion at work through His people.

​Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry of mercy and hope. Your prayers, kindness, and support are deeply appreciated.
 
In Christ,
Pastor Ken Estes (pictured)
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Carol Stream, IL

​Valerie Winston (pictured at right) loved teaching — a holy calling God had on her life. She happily followed, positioning her career and talents around bringing joy to the classroom, singing, dancing, praising Jesus, and sharing the faith He gave her.

For the past two years, she served as the sixth-grade homeroom and middle school science teacher at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran School in Eastpointe, MI, and before that at Immanuel Christian Academy, where she made a lasting impact on countless students through her dedication, creativity, and unwavering belief in their potential. 

Last week, Ms. Winston passed unexpectedly, leaving her St. Peter’s students, colleagues, and school community shocked and saddened. 

But Principal Beth Jablonowski knew who to call. 

Lutheran Church Charities’ K-9 Comfort Dogs had visited months earlier when a parent had died. Their care and comfort would be needed again. 

Ready to be there again with love, encouragement, and calm were Damascus (St. Paul – Napoleon, OH), Lazarus (LCC Staff), and Michael (LCC Staff), whose wagging tails and peaceful demeanor gave St. Peter’s the lift they needed as they said goodbye.

​The dogs and their handlers visited on Tuesday and Thursday that week, on either side of the on-campus memorial service on Wednesday, when there was no school. 
 
“In this time of sorrow, we look to God for strength and comfort, and we hold onto the hope we have in Christ—that Valerie is now at peace, rejoicing in the presence of her Savior,” the school shared on its Facebook page. “Her legacy will live on in the hearts of her students and all who knew her.”

Students echoed those words of appreciation and love. 

“When we saw the sixth graders, we asked them what they liked about Ms. Winston,” a handler reflected. “They talked about how she could rap and mentioned many of the things that made them all laugh!”

She was firm but fair, students agreed. 

“Clearly they had a lot of respect and love for her,” handlers said.

The K-9 Comfort Dogs visited teachers and the younger grades too, allowing students to pet and read to them. That week, the school had reflected on Psalm 30 of David extoling the LORD and asking for deliverance with Verse 5 being especially meaningful.  

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

From the principal to the teachers to the students, the sorrow the school has endured this year has left them vulnerable, yet grateful for the encouragement the Comfort Dogs brought. 

“We are so thankful for the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs for their care and support of our school community this year,” St. Peter’s shared on its Facebook page after the two days of visits. “They came alongside us not once, but twice, during seasons of loss, responding quickly and faithfully whenever we needed them. Their presence brought comfort, peace, and calm to our students, staff, and families during some very difficult moments. We are deeply grateful for their ministry and the gentle way they serve others through compassion and love.”

Grace and peace to you in Christ.
 
On behalf of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas, I write with deep gratitude for your ongoing work and faithful service to those in need. Your generosity continues to reflect Christ’s love in tangible and life-changing ways.

Today, I humbly ask you to consider extending that compassion to one of our own members and her family, who are enduring extraordinary hardship. She and her husband have been navigating overwhelming financial strain while caring for their young grandson, whose medical journey has been both severe and ongoing.

In March 2024, at just 13 months old, the child was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. He has endured unimaginable medical challenges, including 24 surgeries, requiring daily care. His condition remains critical and complex.

The child’s mother is his full-time caregiver and is unable to work due to the intensity of his needs. The grandparents have opened their home to them, doing everything possible to provide stability and care. The grandmother works full-time while also helping care for her grandson. Her husband works both a full-time job and a part-time job driving for Uber and Lyft.

Recently, however, his vehicle suffered catastrophic engine and starter failure, eliminating their secondary source of income. The family is now facing mounting bills with no margin left. Most urgently, they are behind on rent for April and May and are at risk of losing their housing.

We ask you, as brothers and sisters in Christ, to prayerfully consider a generous financial gift to support this family during this critical time. Your contribution will directly help them maintain stable housing and continue providing care for their grandson as he courageously battles each day.
 
Thank you again for your faithful service and for being the hands and feet of Christ to those in desperate need. Please keep this family in your prayers.
 
In Christ’s service,
Rev. Andy Wright
Pastor, St. John’s Lutheran Church
Topeka, Kansas

​Camp Manitoqua opens its first session of day camp in a month, but the grounds of the retreat center and encampment are ready for guests. 

Last weekend, 46 beginner and advance Lutheran Early Response Team volunteers and LCC staff worked together as chainsaw and heavy equipment operators and draggers to clear leaning, downed, and dead trees from the Frankfort, IL, campground and its trails. 

Nathan Phillips, Manitoqua Program Director, expressed sincere thanks for the team cleaning up fallen limbs and dead brush after recent storms and getting the place ready for campers. 

The workday event, which drew LERT members from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, was preceded a Basic LERT Chainsaw Operation and Safety training, co-led by LCC/LCMS Chainsaw Certified Instructors and LCC advanced team leaders Marty Johnson and Pete Springmire.

Twenty-one first-time chainsaw operators and draggers received individual instruction and guidance from advanced team leaders in safely felling and bucking trees and limbs. The group later served with experienced chainsaw team members on making camp trails passable again. 

“It was a great servant event, learning opportunity, beautiful weather, and time of fellowship,” said Deaconess Kathy O’Day, Director of LCC Disaster Response. 

LCC thanks LERT volunteer Lori Powless for cooking and serving a hot breakfast and Good Shepherd – Frankfort for providing lunch on Saturday.

LERT chainsaw volunteers from the following Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin churches attended:

Illinois
Bethany - Naperville
Christ the Rock – Rockford
Cross – Yorkville
Good Shepherd – Frankfort
Immanuel – DeKalb
Immanuel – Dundee
Immanuel – Shobonier
Immanuel – Steger
Lord of Life – Elburn
Prince of Peace – Palatine
St. John’s – East Moline
St. John – Union
St. John – Wheaton
St. John – Wilmette
St. Paul – Matteson
St. Peter – Schaumburg
St. Peter – Gilberts
Trinity – Genoa
Trinity – Lisle

Iowa
Trinity – Davenport

Missouri
LCMS-DR

Ohio
Hope – Akron

Wisconsin
Brookfield – Brookfield

LCC Disaster Response thanks all of these volunteers for their willingness to learn and serve those in need. ​

​Rivas was a father of four who leaves behind a family and extended family acknowledging his loss as a “big blow.” He had taken the job to support his family and allow his wife Erin to stay home with children. 

The school has hurt too. In a letter to parents, Principal Jeff Wardle said that “Several staff and students witnessed this serious accident. Traumatic events like this can be upsetting to hear about.”

He reached out to LCC for some canine care, and teams from Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin agreed to come multiple days and greet students and staff in the library and common spaces in the school. Among them were Abednego(Immanuel – Crystal Lake, IL), Bethesda (St. Matthew – Hawthorn Woods, IL), Gethsemane (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, IL), Mary (St. Paul – Janesville, WI), Samson (Zion – Marengo, IL), and Shadrach (Prince of Peace – Palatine, IL).

Handlers from the teams picked a word that encapsulated the week of care, comfort, and conversations:

Team Samson – “My word is guardian. Orlando Rivas was a guardian for many, and I do believe he is now a guardian angel for them. Our dogs arrived this morning and assured the staff and students that they could trun to the dogs to guard and support their hearts while they learn to travel their paths with Orlando.”

Team Gethsemane – “Orlando showed sacrificial love for students in choosing this position in retirement and selflessness in his heroic final minutes. We met one student who said he was present for the accident and was struggling. We talked for a while and prayed with him. It’s a good reminder that we need to pray for those who witnessed the tragedy but are not yet able to process it or receive comfort.”
  
Team Gethsemane – “Community. This was such a beautiful visit. These students and teachers demonstrated so much love and care for each other. They were encouraging each other to come and pet the dogs and to come and sit with me.  Teachers were checking in with students and supporting each other as well. The staff made blank Bison cards, so we and the students could share their sympathies with the family. I can’t tell you the number of staff members who stated that Mr. Rivas knew every one of these students!”

Team Shadrach – “My word is protector. I learned today that Mr. Rivas wore the title of Safety Officer, and his last day was a final demonstration of his dedication to protecting the students of Buffalo Grove High School.” 

When a shocking, unsettling tragedy takes the life of a student, it’s not just a school community that hurts. A whole community aches, wrestling with what happened, why, and what comes next. 

Valley Forge High School in Parma Heights, OH, knows that kind of anguish. In late April, the campus lost an 18-year-old girl suddenly, leaving students, staff, administrators, parents, and town residents fearful, frustrated, and stricken with grief. Local media called it “raw, unresolved pain.”

Into that overwhelming sorrow and restlessness, LCC’s three Ohio-based K-9 Comfort Dog teams simply showed up, offering a sense of peace, hope, and love to a campus still numb and questioning. 

With daily visits Monday through Thursday at the school’s media center and a few classrooms, Damascus (St. Paul – Napoleon, OH), Honey (St. Paul – Westlake, OH), Saul (Bethany – Parma, OH) and their handlers met students and teachers with hugs, prayers, and quiet moments — just what was needed to work through the emotional toll. 

On the first day, Valley Forge counselors took the K-9 teams into classrooms to encourage classmates of the girl who had passed away. One of her tablemates, a young man just sat still, wary and slow to engage. One of the counselors sat down beside him as the K-9s offered a cold-nose hello to two girls who were sitting nearby. 

One knew her, but they weren’t really friends. The other had a casual connection with the girl at school only, not anywhere else. They said little as they pet Saul. After a while, the tears came and they reached out to one another in an embrace.

Two days later in the school’s media center, all three students sat down with the dogs to unpack their feelings even more. They were a bridge, counselors acknowledged — from personal pain to public peace. A long road still lay ahead, but these furry comforters had opened them up. Processing the trauma and distress seemed possible now.

For Team Honey, the sense of time was powerful. “It struck me how long some of the students just sat, not necessarily seeming to want to talk. But to just be,” one handler shared.

“This made my day,” one student told them. Peace and stillness were a welcome distraction.  

When other students asked about how Honey got her name, the team was eager to share her Bible verse from Psalm 119:103 — “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” 

God’s Word stands as truth and hope — and it never withers or fades.

Saul’s team also had a chance to turn to Scripture with two young women, relating the Acts account of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. “One student knew nothing about the Bible,” a handler recalled. “I love it when God opens doors to talk about His love, especially in a public school! We were able to explain Saul's Bible verse and share the Good News. God is so good!” 

The week’s interactions seemed to open doors to future visits. Saul, who lives in Parma, will make weekly visits through the end of the schoolyear, and Valley Forge officials are discussing having a staff-only visit after the semester ends.

In the fall, Saul also may get to make even more visits. 

A snapshot of the impact on the community can be seen in social media. On comments to Saul’s Facebook account, community members shared about how needed the outreach was. ​