Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 557 elementary and middle-school students, faculty, and adult volunteers lifted their voices in worship, eagerly took part in five service projects, and listened intently to speakers from the distant past as well as their potential future.
In celebration of National Lutheran Schools Week and in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Immanuel Lutheran School, Crystal Lake; Immanuel Lutheran School, East Dundee; and St. John’s Lutheran School, Elgin gathered at Concordia University Chicago for the Fox Valley Reformation Rally. The memorable day was made possible with the help of a New Starts…New Believer’s grant and a team of volunteers.
Sue Domeier, principal of Immanuel, East Dundee, expanded on the goal of the event saying it was to “come together in faith and then send it out.”
In coming together, students sang hymns and praise songs, leaned in with intrigue as they learned of two local ministries, Kairos Prison Ministries and Phil’s Friends, and marveled at the histories of their faith as told by faculty in character as Martin Luther, John Tetzel, and Ursula Cotta.
Students were encouraged to be on mission in their local communities, and practiced this with service activities. They were taught about witnessing and given take-home booklets, which they could use to keep track of each time they prayed with someone or cared for them with a heart like Jesus
In remembrance of the past, these students have been encouraged to go forward sharing the Good News with all people. Soli Deo Gloria