Reaching Out

 Haitian Mission Trip

On May 20th a nine member team from Living Christ Lutheran Church went to Haiti. Traveling through the earthquake ravaged city of Port-Au-Prince, they arrived at the town of Jeremie at the western tip of the country, to the orphanage run by Pastor Isaac . Once there, the team conducted VBS gatherings with 30 Lutheran Schools under the direction of Pastor Isaac and offered eye glasses and medical clinics to those in the remote villages in the area. The team stayed for 1 week, returning on may 28th. You can read their final thoughts by going to this blog site http://lclchaitimission.tumblr.com/
You can also watch a short video of their trip by following the link below. 
Haiti Mission Trip 2011 Video
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Christmas in November 
This is an annual event which started in 1994 where the entire church body of Living Christ comes together to work on gifts for needy children and adults. We need as many people as possible to help us accomplish the following tasks in one evening. MANY coats are purchased with funds provide by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

The coats are matched up with hats, scarves, mittens and gloves donated by members, many being knitted or crocheted by the Prayer Shawl Ministry women.

Personal hygiene items are donated throughout the year and will be sorted and packaged into gift bags for needy families in Wheeling Township. Last year we packed about 80 bags. The gift bags will be decorated by our children.

Cookie baking is a big part of the evening. About 300 cookies are cut out, baked and decorated. They will be given to our shut-in members and residents of The Lutheran Home in Arlington Hts. The cookies look so beautiful when they are laying out to cool, all decorated and ready to be packaged.

The event is held on the second Saturday in November.  The evening starts at 5:00 P.M. with a Pot-Luck dinner and then the fun begins. Mark your calendar now so you do not miss this evening. You will have a great time and you will feel good about brightening someone’s Christmas.

Matthew 25:40

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

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Prayer Shawl Ministry
Every Thursday afternoon, women from Living Christ and a neighboring church get together to knit and crochet prayer shawls to be given to shut-ins in our community. This ministry provides comfort to those who receive the blankets and is a great fellowship time for the women participating.

In response to a request from Lutheran Church Charities, the ladies of the Prayer Shawl Ministry have been busy creating care packages for disaster relief. Their donation of 50 care bags contained a crocheted washcloth, hand towel, soap, shampoo and lotion.  The donation will be used as needed for local or international disaster relief.

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Meals on Wheel
June is our month to deliver “Meals on Wheels.” Volunteers distribute hot and cold meals to home bound people throughout Wheeling, Prospect Heights, and the surrounding communities. Meals are picked up at the Lutheran Home and Services for the Aged in Arlington Heights where they are prepared and packaged for delivery. This is a great opportunity to bring a good meal, a smile, and perhaps a light conversation to people who might not have family in the area.
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Pastor Isaac and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti
Living Christ Lutheran Church is both a monetary and physical supporter of Pastor Isaac and his ministry in Jeremie, Haiti. Teams from Chicago area Lutheran Churches including Living Christ traveled to Haiti in the summer of 2008 to help construct an orphanage / school building for the children in Pastor Isaac’s care.Plans are being made for a return trip 
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The Lexington visit, which typically occurs on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 10:00 am, is a 'mini-service', similar to an informal church-camp retreat. Pastor Paul has a five minute message [or skit], prayer, and sing-a-long with other LCLC members for the residents at the Lexington facility in Wheeling. It usually lasts about 30 minutes. If you are interested in joining us, contact John Ratajczak through the church office at 847-577-7133
 
Lutheran Church Charities
We provide financial support and volunteer opportunities for our members and friends of the congregation to projects sponsored by Lutheran Church Charities.
Lutheran Home and Services for the Aged
We provide financial support through the Auxiliary of the Lutheran Home.
 
Journeys from PADS to HOPE We provide financial support
 
Feed my Starving Children
We provide volunteer opportunities for our members and friends of the congregation at the Feed My Starving Children facility in Schaumburg. We have spots reserved for May 13th and July 23rd in 2011.
 
Interfaith Council
Living Christ Lutheran Church is actively involved in the Interfaith Council of Northern Cook County
 
We also provide financial support to the following agencies;
Northern Illinois District and Synod
Living Christ Loving and Caring Fund

PADS                                                                                                                                                                     
We provide financial support and volunteer opportunities for our members and friends of the congregation. If you would like to volunteer, contact Lynne at lclcoffice@aol.com
Chicago Uptown ministries

Seminary Student

Campus Mission (Rufuge at NIU at this time)

Apple of His Eye

Caris Pregnancy Center
CRM Ministries  Urban missionary and our freind and former field worker Martha Hulls