The Route: Day 3
(St. John's, La Grange to Gary, Indiana)

Picnic at St. John's
And Visits With Two Ministries

HOME: St John's Lutheran Church and School

Pastor Geis looks forward to a Friendship Sunday of worship and celebration including a church picnic in the afternoon to kick off day 3. He writes in his journal:

One of the GTD goals is “Factor 100.” This is our prayer that we would add 100 new members to St. John’s family in the next year. One vital way to encourage that growth in our family is to invite friends to church. Next Sunday’s 10:45 a.m. service couldn’t be a better time! Let’s call it a “Friendship Sunday.” Invite a friend to church and following our services we’ll have a picnic/cookout at Denning Park (just ½ mile east of here on Willow Springs RD across from the High School). When you invite a friend… it really matters.

I’ll be at the picnic till 1:30p when I’ll head out on day 3 of the tour. That evening I’ll be in Gary IN to connect with new friends at a Lutheran Community called “Umbrella of Hope.” So I hope to see you next week at the picnic with your friends! And don’t forget to follow all the Go-the-Distance bicycle tour events and updates this week.

Timothy Lutheran, Chicago

Watching a church close can be difficult, but by the time Timothy Lutheran Church in Chicago conducted its last worship service in January 2009, plans for an exciting rebirth of ministry at that site were already underway. A new coalition of partners is working together to develop a variety of ministry services for the Auburn Gresham neighborhood to address specific community needs. Utilizing the former Timothy Lutheran Church campus, which is currently held by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, these community-focused ministries will create a vibrant Lutheran presence in an economically challenged area of the city. The ministries will serve as entry points for Gospel proclamation; and God-willing, there will someday be a new Lutheran congregation on the site

Umbrella of Hope in Gary/Merrillville, IN

The Umbrella of Hope seeks to expand relationships among local schools, churches, and social service agencies to provide an umbrella of resources to the community for life skills training, youth and senior programs, emergency assistance, and community development.