Bartlett’s Living Lord Church mobilizes over 30 volunteers for ‘God’s Work. Our Hands.’ Day of Service

On Saturday, Sept. 12, more than 30 members and friends of Living Lord Lutheran Church participated in a variety of mission activities for a special day of volunteerism called “God’s work. Our hands.”

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America encourages member churches to join in this day of service each year. The Bartlett church assisted the community in a variety of ways, according to Gayle and Ed Chiarugi, who served as the project leaders.

The first group gathered in the church’s fellowship hall from 9 a.m. to noon to take part in several service projects to help people all over the world as well as in the local community. Volunteers assembled 81 school kits for distribution by Lutheran World Relief in regions around the world affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters.

The Loving Hands Quilters group at Living Lord crafted the drawstring backpacks to hold these supplies.

Other volunteers in the first group rolled 376 bandages for medical kits to be distributed to countries in Africa, Asia and Central America through Global Health Ministries.

More volunteers created dozens of Cards of Hope to be distributed by the nonprofit Phil’s Friends to those affected by cancer throughout the country.

Additionally, the church collected donations of household items that will be assembled into Apartment Kits to help local families in need. This collection is part of the church’s Epiphany! Project, a program to help people facing financial difficulties.

A second team, representing the Living Lord Glory Gardeners, spent hours engaged in weeding, raking, brush cleanup, planting and more to improve the church grounds.

“We are so grateful for all our wonderful Glory Gardeners, who keep our church grounds beautiful, safe and inviting for the entire community,” said the Rev. Kristian Johnson.

The third group of volunteers worked in the church parking lot to construct 10 planter boxes for new homeowners with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley. Living Lord has often partnered with Habitat on house builds and other projects to help Habitat families.

“Our team was excited to take on this important project, helping Habitat families to create a warm and welcoming home with their own planter boxes,” Ed Chiarugi said.

Finally, a fourth team of volunteers on this day of service traveled off site to the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva to sort and pack food. Living Lord’s team joined a large group of local volunteers to pack 17,526 pounds of food, providing 14,605 meals.

After this day of making a difference, the church’s project leaders and their helpers are looking forward to next year’s “God’s work. Our hands.” service day.

“It was a fantastic, impactful day of mission and service — and fun and friendship!,” Gayle Chiarugi said. “Our teams came together to help people near and far through local, regional and global mission.”

Living Lord Lutheran Church, 1044 Congress Drive, offers two Sunday services. In addition to youth and family ministries, the church has music ministries for children, youth and adults, with varying styles and opportunities. The church engages in outreach and service activities both within the congregation and in the local community. It also sends mission teams to assist people affected by disasters in different regions of the country, leads a mission trip in El Salvador each year, and supports global missions to help people in need.

Learn more at livinglordlutheran.org. Living Lord Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and welcomes all to participate in its community of faith.