Meet comfort dogs at Lenten organ recital benefit March 31

On Sunday, March 31, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St. in East Dundee, will host a Lenten organ recital benefiting Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dogs Ministry at 3 p.m.

All are welcome to "Lenten Tidings of Comfort and Joy," an organ recital based on hymns of comfort combined with hymn singing and readings from God's Word by the Rev. William Yonker.

Emily Woock, the director of parish music at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, will be playing Immanuel's Cassavant organ for this special concert benefiting the Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dog Ministry.

At Redeemer, Woock plays organ, directs the choirs and handbells, and is the general music teacher for kindergarten to fourth grade at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elmhurst.

There is no charge for admission but a free-will offering will be taken to benefit the LCC Comfort Dog ministry.

Plan to stay after the recital for a fellowship and reception time with comfort dogs and their handlers, tasty comfort foods and more!

In 2017, the East Dundee church welcomed Levi the Comfort Dog, a 2-year-old golden retriever. He welcomes parishioners at services, goes to nursing homes and the school every week.

In 2018, Levi and church members flew to Houston for a week to help residents rebuild their lives from when Hurricane Harvey hit the city in August. Follow Levi at www.facebook.com/LeviComfortDog/

For information, contact Immanuel's church office at (847) 428-4477 or visit immanuel-ed.org.

Launched in August 2008, the Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dog Ministry is a national human-care ministry embracing the unique, calming nature and skills of purebred golden retrievers. The Comfort Dogs are a bridge for compassionate ministry, opening doors for conversation about faith and creating opportunities to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ.

Comfort Dogs are working animals, trained to interact with people of all ages and circumstances who are suffering and in need.

The dogs participate in scheduled and special events. Dogs are permanently placed with churches, schools and other ministries involved in Christian human care by Lutheran Church Charities.

Permanent placement includes full training for handlers and caregivers along with ongoing support, coaching and training. Comfort Dogs live in the homes of assigned caregivers. They serve every day in the community in which they are placed and are dispatched in times of disaster and crisis to bring comfort to all those affected, including first responders and the volunteers who serve them.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were in New York and New Jersey visiting victims of Superstorm Sandy, and in Connecticut after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Lutheran Church Charities currently has more than 130 LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs serving in more than 20 states.

Lutheran Church Charities operates two training facilities in Illinois and Nebraska.

To learn more about the ministry, to request a visit or to participate in the ministry, visit www.lutheranchurchcharities.org or facebook.com/k9comfort.