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This Week at LaSalle • October 2, 2025

Preaching This Sabbath Sunday:

Rev. Liz Mosbo VerHage

"Foundations: The Living,

Liberating Word"

John 1:1-5, 5:35-40 (NIV)

Events Upcoming

Click on the Date to Sign up!

+ Kids + Families: Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo 10/04

+ Six Stories from Jesus 10/05

+ "The Art of Reconstructing Faith" 10/05

+ Movie Club: The Tree of Life 10/05

+ Frank Campbell Memorial Service 10/11

+ Marathon Sunday (worship begins at 11:30 AM) 10/12

+ "From Erasure to Remembrance" 10/19

FIND MORE ON THE CHURCH CALENDAR

This Week for Kids

During service:

Nursery and Pre-K/K will be in the Lower Level of the Sanctuary.
1st-5th Graders will be invited to Cornerstone Room 300 during service for Sunday school.
6th-8th Graders will be invited to CornerStone Room 308 during service for Sunday school.

After Service:

9th-12th Graders will meet after worship in Cornerstone Room 308 for Youth Group.

We are updating our kids & youth schedules heading into this Fall! Scroll down to find more details.

Beloved friends of LaSalle -

There is a lot going on in our world this week. Below we'll explore more around a new class we're starting on reconstructing faith - but first, I want to address all those in Chicagoland experiencing anxiety, worry, or lack of safety with the increased federal agents activity. Reach out if you need immediate assistance at all - and know that we are continuing to pray for and plan for how to help everyone stay healthy and safe, and learn how to partner and advocate wherever possible. We'll keep posting updates as we receive them on our Actions link under "Resources" and to the group which you can join as well. We'll keep lamenting, speaking truth, and gathering together to encourage one another in worship. And we will share safety and security plans we're putting into place for Sunday mornings for all ages; watch for that link as well. We need one another more than ever as the world around us shifts - thank you for being community and the ways you're stepping up to support the whole Body in this season!

Read the rest of today's blog post on our web site

Join our Actions group to receive resources and information on upcoming immigrant justice actions in Chicago.

GET CONNECTED TO CITY ACTIONS & RESOURCES

Sunday Morning Security Procedures

Like many of you, we have closely watched recent reports about ICE activity in Chicago. We want to share that we are implementing some changes to our Sunday morning welcoming & door security.

Beginning this Sunday, we will be closing and locking the front door to our church building, and asking all congregants to enter LaSalle from our back entrance at the end of Elm Street, or our side entrance in the park. This will allow us to more closely monitor who is entering and exiting our building. The front doors of the church can still be opened from the inside of the building for exiting after service and for emergency purposes.

At Cornerstone Center, we will also be closing and locking the front doors of the building, and asking everyone joining us for youth programs & after-service classes to enter the side doors of Cornerstone off Elm Street. During our worship service, we will have an optional seating area in Cornerstone Room 307 running a live stream of the service for any parents who would like to attend but stay close to their kids during Sunday school.

In both the church building and Cornerstone Center, you will notice signs indicating these buildings are private property. We have added this signage in case we feel someone is trying to access our Sanctuary or Cornerstone for purposes other than worshipping with us. Our goal in these changes is not to make our church feel any less welcoming, but ensure that everyone in the congregation can worship with us in safety and comfort. We appreciate your understanding!

Kids + Families Meet-Up: Fall Fest @ Lincoln Park Zoo

THIS SATURDAY!

Kids and families are invited to join us for Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo (think pumpkin patch, s’mores, out-of-context hay bales). Zoo entrance and the Fall Fest event itself are free; there’ll be ticketed rides and attractions for a cost. We’ll meet at 10 AM at the Seal Pool then make our way around the autumn-ified zoo. Our time will end around 12 PM but families are invited to stay for shorter/longer as needed. Rev. Alexa will have snacks on hand, but feel free to bring your own! Let us know you’re coming at the link below.

RSVP HERE!

The Art of Reconstructing Faith

Begins this Sunday!

This weekend we're starting a four-session gathering called The Art of Reconstructing Faith, facilitated by Shannon Krabill and Ruth Lin Nakai. This series is designed to support individuals navigating deconstruction and reconstruction in their faith journeys, offering a grounded and creative space for healing and exploration.

The class will meet after service on Belong Sundays this Fall and Winter, with free child care provided during the sessions. The first session is THIS SUNDAY, October 5, and open to the whole congregation; following sessions on Nov. 2, 16, & Dec. 7 will form a confidential cohort (sign-up required) engaging in therapeutic processing, creative practices, mindfulness exercises, and group storytelling.

Our Facilitators:

Ruth Lin Nakai (she/her) is a Certified Spiritual Director and Creative passionate about healing through art, contemplation, and sacred conversation.

Shannon Krabill, LCSW (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a background in grief, trauma, and spiritual integration, committed to helping others access joy.

We hope you’ll join us for this thoughtful and restorative journey! Register at the link below.

Six Stories from Jesus

After service this Sunday

Join us for the next session of this adult education class in Leslie Hall after service this Sunday!

The Gospels tell us that Jesus taught in parables, short stories with unusual plots, multiple meanings, and memorable characters. Let’s strengthen our faith journeys together as we study six of these parables this fall.

Each session is interactive, using short presentations, videos, small group discussion, and individual reflection. Led by LaSalle member Dr. Annette Huizenga, retired New Testament professor at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. No need to have attended the last session to join this Sunday!

From Erasure to Remembrance

A Conversation about the Black American Experience | October 19

Join us for a thoughtful and timely conversation on the Black American experience. From Erasure to Remembrance invites us to reflect together on how law, violence, and culture have been used in the careful construction of a segregated society—and how these legacies continue to shape our communities today. This is a space to learn, wrestle, and remember as a church committed to justice and reconciliation.

This conversation will be led by Dana Brewer Harris, a native Chicagoan, writer, voiceover artist, and museum docent specializing in African-American history. Dana’s creative work has been widely published and recognized, including nominations for The Best Small Fictions and The Pushcart Prize. She holds a B.A. in History from Princeton and an M.A. in European Studies from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, and she brings decades of experience studying and telling stories of history, culture, and identity. Her museum tours on African-American history have been praised for their depth and accessibility, and we are grateful to welcome her into our space for this offering.

Whether you are seeking to deepen your understanding of America’s racial history, longing for a safe space to ask hard questions, or looking for ways to connect faith with justice in our current environment, this class is for you. This conversation is an invitation to listen, learn, and grow together.

Movie Club: The Tree of Life

THIS SUNDAY after service

Join the LSC Movie Club this Sunday after worship for a 12:00 PM screening of Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. This deeply contemplative and visually stunning film explores life, family, grief, and the presence of God in both the cosmic and the ordinary, making it the perfect movie to experience and discuss together. Tickets can be purchased through the Siskel’s website or at the door, and we’ll gather afterward for conversation in the lobby. RSVP to Lucas at the link below — and join the Movie Club on Church Center!

RSVP TO THE MOVIE CLUB OUTING

Preparing for Marathon Sunday

NEXT SUNDAY, October 12

Join us to cheer on runners at 7:00 AM, Sunday worship at 11:30 AM

Next Sunday, October 12, is the day of the Chicago Marathon! In order to accommodate the marathon, we will begin our worship service at 11:30 AM rather than our usual time of 10 AM. Because the marathon route runs directly in front and behind our church building, many of the roads you may regularly use to get to LaSalle will be closed -- please refer to this page noting all the road closures to be aware of.

If you'd like to join our staff and other LaSallers cheering on the marathon runners and hand out Kleenex, please plan to come to our sanctuary as early as 7:00 AM!

High School Overnight Retreat

October 18-19

9th-12th graders are invited to join Chelsea Hosler and Rev. Alexa for a youth-focused time of connection to ourselves, each other and the Divine at Ronora Lodge in Watervliet, MI. Activities include touching grass, crafting, reflecting, and cooking together. Some students are already compiling a road trip playlist! Register your child here:

Take a Ride Through History in Chicago's South Side

Climb aboard to explore Bronzeville landmarks like the birthplace of Black History Month, Ida B. Wells-Barnett’s home, Pilgrim Baptist Church, and more—celebrating stories of justice, innovation, and cultural impact.

Seats are open, but limited; sign up today! Reserve a seat at the link below ($45 a ticket, no need to pay today) and join us for an inspiring ride through Chicago’s living history. Sign up today -- only a few spots left!

New Youth & Kids Sunday Programming!

As we head into the Fall, we're sharing our new rhythm of Kids and Youth Sunday programming:

NURSERY AND PREK/K (BIRTH - KINDERGARTEN) will be held in the Lower Level of the Sanctuary every Sunday, now including Sabbath Sundays.
SUNDAY SCHOOL (1ST-5TH GRADE) will continue to meet in Cornerstone Room 300 on Banquet and Belong Sundays. On Sabbath Sundays, they will meet in the Lower Level of the Sanctuary.
*NEW!* SUNDAY SCHOOL: MIDDLE SCHOOL (6TH-8TH) will now be available in Cornerstone Room 308 on Banquet and Belong Sundays. On Sabbath Sundays, they will meet in the Lower Level of the Sanctuary.
YOUTH GROUP (9TH-12TH) will meet after worship on Belong Sundays in Cornerstone Room 308.

New Sunday Morning Parking Lot

Available EVERY SUNDAY FOR FREE, 9 AM - 1 PM

We're so excited to have secured a new parking option just steps from the Sanctuary! Starting this Sunday, our primary parking lot will be at Walter Payton High School. The entrance to the lot is at 281 W Oak Street, between Wells and Orleans beyond the school's baseball field - here's what it looks like:

Look for our parking attendant, who will provide an LSC placard for your dashboard. The lot is open Sundays from 9 AM–1 PM and is FREE!

We also continue to offer validated parking at the Elm Street Plaza Garage (69 W Elm Street)—follow garage instructions, download the Metropolis app, and scan our validation QR code at the Welcome Wall in the Lower Level.

Additionally, free unmetered street parking is available nearby on Elm, Oak, and Hill Streets around Seward Park.

Join Us at Breaking Bread

Looking for a midweek opportunity to serve our neighbors in the Near North Side? Come to Breaking Bread! We have multiple ways to serve on Wednesdays -- from meal prep, to helping distribute meals to our guests, to delivering meals to some of our senior buildings around the church.

Sign up to help at an upcoming Breaking Bread (there are multiple times to sign up for on any Wednesday) or contact Pastor Julie for more information. Or click the link below to send needed items to directly to Breaking Bread via Amazon!

AMAZON WISHLIST

LaSalle Studio Sessions

Want to sing in a choir, play your instrument, or just make music with others? Join LaSalle Studio Sessions—a low-pressure, joy-filled space to explore gospel, classical, small group pieces, or even write songs together. Led by Rob on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month in Room 306 of Cornerstone Center.

Community Connections

The Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) are hosting two Chicago stops of the national book tour for The Cross and the Olive Tree: Cultivating Palestinian Theology Amid Gaza, with Palestinian theologians John and Samuel Munayer. Join to hear about their new work on faith, reconciliation, and hope amid the realities of Gaza. These events are FREE!

Monday, Oct. 6, 6:30 PM – Healthy Hood (2242 S Damen Ave, Chicago)

Tuesday, Oct. 7, time TBD – Vietfive Coffee (1116 W Madison St, Chicago)

Learn more and support at fosna.org/tour