Your Donations Are Requested! Help Us Serve Those Grieving Death of Loved Ones

                                              Increasing Demand Due to COVID-19 & Other Deaths

Mercy Hearts are needed more than ever as LCC’s Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses is touching lives of individuals, families, co-workers, and students who grieve the loss of someone due to COVID-19 or other tragic deaths.

DONATE — HEARTS OF MERCY & COMPASSION, CROSSES FOR LOSSES

Trinity Lutheran Church in Hicksville, New York, Serves Hardest Hit County
 
COVID-19 in Nassau County, New York (as of April 26, 2020):
34,522 Positives, 352 Ventilator Patients, and 1,587 Related Deaths
 
In numbers not seen in most states, Nassau County, New York is one of the hardest-hit counties in the United States. With approximately 1,400,000 people, the demand on hospitals and first responders from COVID-19 has been devastating. Stay at home orders have been strictly enforced and movement has been restricted to essential workers.
 
Trinity Lutheran Church in Hicksville, New York is at the epicenter of COVID-19. Although all gatherings have been cancelled, online worship services continue at Trinity. Working with Pastor John Hopkins and Donna Haines, Top Dog for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Abraham, LCC is preparing to respond as restrictions ease with Hearts of Mercy & Compassion for members, law enforcement, and others who have died from the virus.

The first heart, painted purple, will be provided to the family of Air Force Veteran Moses Saxon. Others are planned for members, law enforcement officers, and 911 dispatchers.
 
“The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” Exodus 33:14

Chicago Firefighter Mario Araujo began with the Chicago Fire Department in 2003. He was assigned to Engine Company 102 truck 25 in Rogers Park, Illinois at the time of his death from COVID-19. LCC volunteer Robert Morris, Executive Director with the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, presented a Mercy Heart in honor of Firefighter Araujo. Team members from his shift were on hand to accept the heart and it will become part of a greater memorial when restrictions are lifted.

Chicago Police Department
 
Three officers of the Chicago Police Department have died so far from the pandemic virus COVID-19. The latest was Officer Ronald Newman, a 20-year veteran with over 130 departmental awards assigned to the 4th District.
 
A Mercy Heart was presented to the Chicago Police Department Officer Harriet Taylor in honor of Officer Newman by retired Palatine Police Chief Alan Stoeckel and LCC Staff member Tim Laabs. The heart will be signed by his teammates and given to Officer Newman’s family.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9
 
LCC is saddened by the loss of lives of so many in this pandemic and we continue to pray for the many first responders and essential workers that put their own safety on the line every day for all of us.

Remembering Our Veterans

WWII Army Veteran Edward Brockman passed away at the age of 92 after a lengthy hospital stay and nursing home residence. Edward and his wife Adrienne are members at St. John Lutheran Church in Darien, Illinois. They were married for 66 years. Recently, Adrienne was hospitalized with COVID-19 and recovered.
 
Lauri Luessow of the Christ Cares Ministry will be signing the heart with others and providing to Adrienne as they continue to walk alongside and be with her in this time of great sadness. The Christ Cares Ministry of St. John and others like it are needed now more than ever. The older population who have struggled with loneliness before have an even bigger challenge with it now.
 
“Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”
Psalm 71:9

Supporting Funeral Homes

Grieving the loss of a loved one is challenging enough. In our current pandemic with social distancing and stay at home orders, it raises greater challenges for families and funeral homes. In many cases, the families have not been allowed to be at the side of their loved one in their final hours whether in hospitals or senior living. Limiting the number of people at funeral services to immediate family has also been hard on family and the people who provide services. Hearts of Mercy & Compassion are now being offered to grieving families through funeral homes. The signature blue Mercy Heart is the color of hope eternal in Jesus Christ.

LCC’s Rich Martin met with Jack Davenport from Davenport Funeral Home. Davenport operates three funeral homes in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. They are located in Barrington, Crystal Lake, and Lake Zurich. Jack and his staff have found it difficult to see the impact that social distancing restrictions has placed on families and welcomed the idea of offering Hearts of Mercy & Compassion to the families they serve in all of their locations.
 
LCC looks to continue to build relationships with more funeral homes to serve those who are grieving. We lift everyone in this challenging profession up in our prayers.
 
“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:50

Your Donations Make a Difference in Sharing the Hope of Jesus Christ
 
Our hearts are made of the highest quality wood and produced with caring Christian hands. Material production and shipping costs for hearts are approximately $30 each. We need your help in sharing the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.

DONATE — HEARTS OF MERCY & COMPASSION, CROSSES FOR LOSSES

Help Us Reach Out with Hearts of Mercy & Compassion
 
Are you interested in having LCC provide a Heart of Mercy & Compassion for a loved one? There is no charge for the hearts. The hearts are made by caring Christian hands and provided with presence and prayer.

REQUEST A MERCY HEART OR CROSS

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Click HERE to learn more about the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses Ministry.

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