I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
–John 13:34

Children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And this is his commandment: that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
– 1 John 3:18,23

We believe that Christians are called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life of service. Through acts of love, justice, worship, and witness we share God's boundless love with the world. Through our Ministries, members live out the commandment to love one another. The following Ministries are significant to the members Our Saviour's Lutheran Church:

Chicago's Bethel New Life Church Gift Ministry

Our Saviour's supports Bethel with the Christmas food and gift program which generously provides for families who may be struggling to purchase Christmas gifts or food for their loved ones at Christmastime.

Global Missions

The Global Missions Committee hosts an annual Fair Trade Holiday Market; sponsors "Movie Nights" that educate, entertain, and inform; and plans an annual Global Missions Sunday, designed to educate and enlighten. To view the most recent newsletter from our ELCA Missionary in Suriname, Pastor Kevin Jacobson, click here. Stay connected and become informed about the global work of the ELCA by clicking here for the "Global Links" monthly newsletter from the ELCA. Look on the right-hand column for the words "Share Links!" and choose the current newsletter, or previous issues.

Green Team

The Green Team's mission is to help the congregation to be an intentional community celebrating and restoring creation and to actively promote ecological justice. God is present and active in the ongoing creation of the world, and the Bible tells us that our responsibility is to care for and protect the planet. Events include our recycling collection (with our own marching band) in the Arlington Heights 4th of July Parade, Green Sunday, and Green Festivals which feature a new theme every year. This year's theme: "Healthy Food for Healthy Living".

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Our Saviour's supports and participates in our local Habitat affiliate.

Click here for photos and more information.

Healing Worship Services

The 5:00 pm Worship Service on the first Saturday of each month is a service of prayer for healing. In addition to sharing the Word and Communion, this Service offers the option of individual prayers for healing and help. A Blessing of the Senses is offered in the Prayer Room following the worship service. Healing Touch sessions may also be scheduled for that day.

Healing & Prayer Center for Wholeness

Healing Touch is a sacred healing art that flows from the laying-on-of hands found within our Christian tradition. Through prayer, centering, and healing intention, specially trained ministers use their hands as instruments of God's grace to enhance the body's capacity for healing and well-being.

Click here for a  Healing & Prayer Center for Wholeness brochure.

Love-In-Action Bags

Love-in-Action Bags are distributed to the congregation several times throughout the year. This is the way we collect items for a wide-range of social ministries, whether they are toiletries needed for local homeless persons, non-perishable foods to stock local food pantries, or necessary items for school kits or midwife kits which are sent to locations all around the world.

Lutheran World Relief

Our Saviour's supports Lutheran World Relief, an organization that supports and assists communities that are struggling worldwide. One weekend a month, fairly traded coffee, tea, and cocoa is sold by members of Our Saviour's Women of the ELCA. Additionally, health kits, midwife kits, and school kits are prepared by our own Christian Service Circle for shipping and distribution through LWR. Our Quilting Circle creates quilts using donated new or used fabric, blankets, and remnants. The quilts and the kits are distributed by LWR to refugees and other people in need.

LSSI Prison and Family Ministries

Our Saviour's supports the ministries of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois through a program that asks volunteers to drive children to downstate Illinois to spend a day at the prison where their mother may be incarcerated. Children's books are also collected for this program.

Military Support Ministry

The mission of the Military Support Ministry Team is to support our church members and friends who are serving in the military. The Military Support Ministry Team also sponsors occasional special guest preachers to raise awareness of the need for ministry in the military.

PADS - Public Action to Deliver Shelter

From October through April, our Saturday night site provides food, shelter, and dignity to homeless guests. Volunteers are always welcome for any of the three shifts (6:30 - 11:00 pm, 11:00 pm - 3:30 am, 3:30 - 8:00 am). We serve dinner on Saturday night from 7:00 - 8:30 pm, and breakfast on Sunday morning from 6:00 - 7:00 am. The congregation supports PADS by providing dinners, breakfasts, bag lunches, and clothing for our homeless guests.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Prayer Shawl Ministry brings together members who pledge to either knit or crochet a shawl, and while they are creating it, they pray their strength into that shawl in the hopes that the recipient will physically feel the prayer of the person who created it. Shawls are presented by the pastoral staff to anyone needing the comfort of constant prayer and expression of love and concern by others.

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is a program that trains and equips lay persons to provide personal one-on-one Christian care and compassion to those, both inside and outside our congregation, who are experiencing temporary or long-term physical or emotional difficulties. Our Stephen Ministers commit to 50 hours of initial training and receive continuing education throughout their involvement in this ministry of care and compassion.

Click here for photos and more information.

United Power for Action and Justice (UPAJ)

A community organization composed of a coalition of religious, civic, and labor organizations that seeks to build power systematically and wield power effectively. This power is the ability to act and enables the member institutions to operate with more impact and success. United Power leaders negotiate from a position of strength with others on the core issues that affect the quality of people's everyday lives in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Worship Ministries

Within the framework of Worship Ministries, members may choose to participate in the worship services as their gifts and interests allow: Altar Care members, Banner or Parament designers, Communion Assistants, Drama Team members, Greeters, Lay Readers, or Ushers.