Northwest Lutheran Churches serve community at God's Work Our Hands Event September 8

ELCA congregations work to improve communities

Submitted by Christine Webb

On Sunday, Sept. 8, six Northwest Lutheran churches will join together to make a difference in the community. These six churches are part of nearly 9,100 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) participating in "God's Work. Our Hands." Across the country, thousands of ELCA members will be engaging in service work to make a positive change in their communities, build and deepen relationships, and share God's love.

Grace Lutheran Church (Mount Prospect), Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (Prospect Heights), Lutheran Church of Martha and Mary (Mount Prospect), Lutheran Church of the Cross (Arlington Heights), St. Mark Lutheran Church (Mount Prospect), and Trinity Lutheran Church (Rolling Meadows), will all serve together as part of a new initiative of the Northwest Lutheran Roundtable. They will be serving at WINGS- an organization helping those escaping domestic violence, cleaning up the streets that connect their congregations, packing health and school kits for Lutheran World Relief, tying blankets for Project Linus, knitting mats for the homeless, and writing advocacy letters to public officials. By working together the churches hope to make a positive and visible impact on the community and embody God's love for all people and the world God made.

For more than 30 years, the ELCA has been a church deeply rooted in faith and in sharing its passion for making positive changes in the world. These six churches join with other ELCA congregations across the country to boldly participate in God's work in the world - restoring and reconciling communities, and pursuing peace and justice.

"God gives us hands, feet, hearts and voices to work for good in the world. We are excited to unite together to make a difference in our community," said Jill Galyon, a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church.

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's Work. Our Hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

More information about the ELCA is available at ELCA.org.