The Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches

NEW ORLEANS GATHERING

We are still hopeful that the next Gathering of the Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches will be hosted  in downtown New Orleans the first weekend in October!  We hope to have firm dates and location to announce soon!

EXPANDING OUR REACH

The 400+  downtown churches on our mail list (many of which are also on our email list) have been largely self-identified by member churches themselves who have come to hear about the Association.  Others have been identified for us by the Bishops / District Presidents of the ELCA, LCMS, and Wisconsin Synods.  Still others have been found by occasional internet searches.

As extensive as may be our listing of downtown Lutheran churches in North America and even in other countries around the world, we KNOW there are still many that we are missing, so we turn to you for help.

Even if you think we may already may have identified certain downtown churches, would you please take a moment (right now) and send an email to DowntownChurches@aol.com and mention the names and cities of downtown churches about which you may be aware?  We’d appreciate your help!  Thanks!

MAKING LEMONADE IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO

On Sunday 17 November 2013 emergency calls were made by many neighbors of Concordia Lutheran Church in downtown Chicago (a member of the LCMS) as its 150-foot steeple that could be seen from miles away was swaying in the same strong winds that destroyed entire communities further south.  The 120-year-old stabilizing bolts had been sheared.  City engineers and inspectors closed off streets around the church and assigned receivership to a developer to remove the steeple on the congregation’s behalf.  By early dawn on Wednesday the steeple lay in the street, being broken up into scrap metal and wood and hauled away in dump trucks.  The cross on the top of the steeple alone was saved, a reminder that the imposing historic structure had been designed by noted architect Fred Ahlschlager.  The demolition bill for $130,000. has now been presented to the congregation, which today worships 25 souls weekly.

A financial challenge like that could easily close a church.  But not Concordia!  Instead, armed with a new mission statement and the memories of a recent Concordia block party hosted just weeks earlier, the Concordia family met on Sunday 24 November for a special solidarity worship service, including student singers from Concordia University Chicago.  New church members were received by profession of faith.  The metal cross, which for generations had been visible only to eyes 150-feet below, was actually touched by worshipers, expressing hope for a future rather than an end.

A fund-raising letter relates, “This event has begun relationships that we didn’t have before.”  Local civic officials, community action groups, neighbors and shop owners have been engaged in conversation.  Talk about making lemonade!

Information about various fund-raisers can be obtained from Pastor Martin Doering or Congregational Chairman Ralph Krueger at 2645 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago IL 60618.   708.547.5453 .

(Thanks are due for this content to Jackie Bussert, Communications Director of the Northern Illinois District of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.)

SPOTLIGHT ON SACRAMENTO, CA

Trinity Lutheran in downtown Sacramento hosted “Blanketing the Community” during the fall of 2013.  The event included collecting and passing out blankets to folks in need as it got cold during the winter months.  Chili and cornbread were also served to those receiving blankets.  Church members were invited not only to clean out their own closets of clean usable blankets but also to approach their friends, family members and neighbors.

What does your congregation do to help the homeless in your community?    Please send your story to DowntownChurches@aol.com .

A member of the LCMS, more information about Trinity Lutheran’s outreach to downtown Sacramento can be found at their website, tlc-ms.com .

SPOTLIGHT ON CHICAGO IL