ASH WEDNESDAY
The LCC office will be closed on Wednesday, March 6 , beginning at noon for staff prayer and personal reflection on Ash Wednesday.

As always, LCC’s staff is available to take your calls 24/7 at 866-455-6466 or respond to email.

LCC ANNOUNCES ITS NEW AND IMPROVED NEWSLETTER
Lutheran Church Charities is pleased to announce an updated newsletter in a new, mobile-friendly, easier-to-navigate format! We have made it simpler to learn more about and engage with all of the same LCC Ministries through articles and donation opportunities.

Making A Difference will continue to share how, with your support, we bring the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need!
We encourage you to take time to familiarize yourself with the new layout.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR
LCC’S CONTINUED DISASTER RESPONSE EFFORTS IN PANAMA CITY, FLORDIA
Eleven LCC LERT Chainsaw team members arrived safely in Panama City, Florida , on Sunday, March 3, after driving through the storms that produced multiple tornado breakouts in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. They will be working out of Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Paul McComack and Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Coordinator .

The team members are from Illinois, Indiana and Florida:
Illinois
  • Immanuel – Belvidere: Mike Buhl, Steve McElroy
  • St. John – Wheaton: Steve Chester, Marty Johnson, Anna Piro, Tom Prickette
  • St. Peter – Hampshire: Pete Springmire, Danny & Bobbie Swyndroski
Indiana
  • St. John's - Dillsboro: Steve Black

Florida
  • Port Orange: Ken Cupples
This team was able to return to a homeowner’s property that they had started on our team’s last trip a few weeks ago. They were very happy to be able to return and finish.

Almost every home and business has been affected in some way in Panama City and surrounding towns. The destruction is widespread, especially the tree damage. According to Pastor Ed Brashier, this has been the worst tree damage he has seen in 13 years of disaster response. He is very appreciative that we are willing to travel to assist in this area again for the third time since the hurricane hit. Our LERT teams are very willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in need wherever we are invited to serve.
Please pray for the safety of the LERT volunteers deploying and keep the residents affected by Hurricane Michael in your prayers as they will continue to face a long recovery.
DIRECT THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS ® TO LCC BY MARCH 31
Grant funding from Thrivent Financial through its Thrivent Choice® program can help support organizations you care about - like Lutheran Church Charities. Don't let Choice Dollars expire. Eligible Thrivent Financial members who have available Choice Dollars® have until March 31, 2019 to direct them. Don't miss this opportunity to recommend that Thrivent Financial provide outreach funding to Lutheran Church Charities.
Or call 800-847-4836 and say " Thrivent Choice" after the prompt.   
PASSING OF THE VEST FOR LCC K-9 COMFORT DOG JOANNA AT CHRIST LUTHERAN - LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
The Passing of the Vest for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Joanna was held on Sunday, March 3, at Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska , as the newest Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog. The temperature outside may have been cold and unpleasant, but when Comfort Dogs are around it is always warm and friendly. 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Katie (Trinity – Fremont, Nebraska), Priscilla (Trinity – Lincoln, Nebraska), Nicodemus (The Rock – Seward, Nebraska), and Eddie (Peace Lutheran – Grand Island, Nebraska) and their team members attended the service to support this new ministry. Also attending the service were team members from Peace Lutheran Church – Columbus, Nebraska, who are in the process of acquiring a Comfort Dog. Joanna Comfort Dog is the North Central region's seventh Comfort Dog which now makes 28 paws placed in Colorado and Nebraska.

We welcome Joanna Comfort Dog and her team to the LCC K-9 Ministry as they share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.
LCC PRESIDENT/CEO TIM HETZNER SPEAKS AT LIVING WORD - ORLAND PARK, ILLINOIS, FOR MISSION OF THE MONTH

On Sunday, March 3, LCC President / CEO Tim Hetzner was invited as the featured Mission of the Month speaker to Living Word in Orland Park, Illinois , to share with the congregation members the ministries of Lutheran Church Charities.
LCC Disaster Response and LCC K-9 Ministry teams greeted members before and after the worship service. LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Flex, Brutus, Brandy (LCC Squad), and Susie (St. Peter – Arlington Heights, Illinois) and their veteran handlers were there generating a lot of smiles for those in attendance.
LCC PARTICIPATES IN MISSIONS WEEK AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
On February 25 – 26, Lutheran Church Charities participated in Concordia University Chicago’s annual Missions week . Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response , met with students each day to explain about Disaster Response and LERT training opportunities. She was also invited to speak to the deaconess students about servant leadership and briefly spoke at the chapel services both days to provide an overview of the Lutheran Church Charities Ministries.
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were there greeting students, staff, and vendors to bring the mercy, compassion, and presence of Jesus Christ to everyone they came in contact with. Throughout the two days, hundreds of people interacted with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Eve (St. John’s – Lombard, Illinois), Hannah (LCC Staff), Levi (Immanuel – East Dundee, Illinois), Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois), Zillah (Comfort Dog in Training), and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brutus (LCC Squad) . Many hugs and much love was shared by all.
TIM HETZNER, LCC PRESIDENT / CEO, MEETS WITH CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY WISCONSIN STUDENTS
On Thursday, February 28, LCC President / CEO Tim Hetzner met with students at Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) to talk about the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. CUW is home to LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Zoey and Sage . The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry team at CUW is looking engage more students in this ministry by adding a Ministry Assistant role.
Father Three-Part Devotion
Series Begins March 13th
Start your day with a free devotion from Tim Hetzner, President/CEO of Lutheran Church Charities . A new three-part devotional series "Father” begins Wednesday, March 13 .
LERT TRAINING SCHEDULE
Register Now for LERT Basic Trainings in 2019!

Lutheran Church Charities has set the following LERT Basic Training dates. If you know someone who would be a good addition to your LERT team encourage them to register and attend.

Time: Registration: 8:00 - 8:30 am | Training: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm 
Cost: $35.00 per person for new LERT volunteers; $10 for LERT team members attending to update your ID

Payments can be made online or during registration. Walk in registrations will also be accepted the day of the training. Please wear your ID and bring your manual with you if you have previously attended. Continental breakfast and snacks will be provided.
Saturday, March 23, 2019 
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
404 N. Green Street
McHenry, Illinois 60050
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
177 Luther Lane
Frankfort, Illinois 60423
MINISTRY RESOURCES
Register for 2019 NAMI DuPage 
Speaker Series Presentations Today!

NAMI DuPage knows how important it is to provide information on the best educational and supportive services available for people affected by mental illness and for community organizations and service providers. Through the NAMI DuPage Speaker Series , we invite professionals and peers to the table to speak on their experiences and knowledge as it relates to some of the topics that we receive the most questions about. These presentations are open to anyone: family members, individuals, professionals, or general community members.
FAMILIES
IN NEED
MINISTRIES
IN NEED
VEHICLE
NEEDS
YOUR DONATIONS
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
LCMS Foundation

On Tuesday, February 26, Ray Pagels from the LCMS Foundation presented Tim Hetzner, LCC President / CEO , with donations bequeathed to LCC.

The LCMS Foundation is the primary provider of charitable expertise for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The Foundation has decades of charitable expertise, helping to ensure that families are provided for and beloved ministries are supported.
The LCMS Foundation serves our Lord and our Church by providing trained professionals to assist individuals and ministry congregations in practicing Biblical, Christ-centered stewardship. Their trusted, professional gift planning counselors throughout the United States are skilled leaders who have helped thousands discover God’s plan for them and their families.

For more information on the services of the LCMS Foundation, visit www.lcmsfoundation.org or contact Ray Pagels, CDE, LCMS Foundation, Christian Gift Planning Counselor, 402 W. Ladd Street, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 or (224) 387-3857 .
IN THE NEWS
How Comfort Dogs Helped Aurora Begin to Heal After Shooting
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs

(Tuesday, February 26, 2019 – Daily Herald / Eileen Daday)
KARE 9 MILITARY MINISTRY
Click the pictures below to read more! 
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Christkindl Markets   
 
Austria ... Slovenia ... Croatia

11 Days | November 30 - December 10, 2019
 
Hosted by: Tim Hetzner, President / CEO, Lutheran Church Charities
 
Since the Middle Ages, December in Central Europe means Advent Markets, where for centuries local craftsmen have expressed the message of Christmas in traditional handcrafts and decorations. From major cities to small villages, the markets attract locals and visitors alike, coming together to share in the anticipation of Advent. Join me in a trip, which explores the customs and traditions of this most important Christian celebration, where the magic of Christmas comes alive once more against the backdrop of the Alps.
Hope-Full Living Cruise  
 
Port Canaveral, Florida - CocoCay & Nassau, Bahamas

4 Nights | February 24 - 28, 2020
 
Join us for a fun and relaxing time of Christian fellowship on this retreat at sea for adults of any age. You will enjoy Humorist Dr. Rich Bimler who will use wit and wisdom to share helpful insights on hope-full living and spiritual growth as we celebrate our vision for 2020 !
NEW | Oberammergau Passion Play 2020
 
Berlin ... Potsdam ... Wittenberg ... Eisleben ... Erfurt 
Wartburg Castle ... Nuremberg ... Oberammergau

11 Days - Germany and Lutheran Heritage | May 10 - 20, 2020 
SOLD OUT | Oberammergau Passion Play 2020
 
Hungary ... the Czech Republic ... Germany and Slovakia
 
11 Days - Classical Europe | June 30 - July 10, 2020
COMING UP
March 14th, 16th, & 19th, 2019 - The Moses Controversy
Sunday, March 16, 2019 - Champions for Religious Liberty Event
Sunday, March 31, 2019 - Lenten Tiding of Comfort and Joy
Friday, April 5, 2019 - Celebration of Hope 
Sunday, October 13, 2019 - Move your Feet for Hope! 
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MANY
MINISTRIES OF LUTHERAN CHURCH CHARITIES
GOT STUFF? NEED STUFF?
WAYS TO GIVE TO LCC
All gifts designated for ministries outside of LCC are made
dollar for dollar without administrative fees deducted.
TEXT
@LCCgive to 52014 - text gift amount
Follow prompts on phone to
complete one-time registration
PHONE
Toll free number:
(866) 455-6466
AMAZONSMILE
Do you shop on Amazon.com ? You can benefit Lutheran Church Charities automatically, without any extra steps to your purchases. Just create an account on AmazonSmile  and select Lutheran Church Charities as the beneficiary. Every time you shop, Amazon will make a donation to LCC! What a difference we can make together!
CONTACT US!
Phone: 866-455-6466
Address: 3020 Milwaukee Ave
Northbrook, IL 60062