This Week at LaSalle • October 22, 2025 | | |
Preaching This Sabbath Sunday:
Pastor Brent Bailey
"Sabbath as Resistance to Pride"
Read more about our new format
for Sabbath Sundays below!
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Events Upcoming
Click on the Date to Sign up!
+ Bronzeville Bus Tour 10/25
+ All Saints Day 11/2 - submit names here
+ Membership Class #1 in-person 11/9
+ Membership Class #1 online 11/10
+ Membership Class #2 11/17
+ Turkey Blessing 11/22
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This Week for Kids
During service:
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Nursery and Pre-K/K will be in the Lower Level of the Sanctuary.
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1st-8th Graders will be invited to engage in a mindful practice activity in the Lower Level of the Sanctuary.
We are updating our kids & youth schedules heading into this Fall!
Scroll down to find more details.
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Autumn, No Kings, & Christmas Music
Friends and family of LaSalle -
I pray this week finds you enjoying the change in weather, rain and crips air, and colorful leaves all around our city! Today the chilly air for me meant pulling out a shawl for warmth at work, making hot tea to warm my hands and sip on, and turning on Christmas music for the first time as I say at my desk overlooking Wells St. I think there are two kinds of responses to early Christmas music listeners like myself - yes, it's the best time of year, let's get into it and prepare for Advent as soon as possible; and - what are you thinking, it's not even Halloween yet, Christmas music can only be enjoyed for so long. :) While my kids might protest, I proudly come from a long line of early Christmas music listeners, and know that it serves as an indicator for my own spirit each year of one way that I can prepare, wait, and watch for the sacred entering into the ache of our world each Advent.
Read the rest of today's blog post
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Join our Actions group to receive resources and information on upcoming immigrant justice actions in Chicago. | | | |
Join us for Sabbath Sunday!
Our Sabbath services invite us to pause, reflect, and rest in God’s presence—whether gathered in the Sanctuary, joining online, or connecting in real time through Zoom. We are trying some new things on Sabbath Sundays in this season to explore and deepen the experience both in the room and online. Here's what to expect:
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Worship In the Sanctuary
Join us in the Sanctuary at 10 AM for a contemplative service led by Pastors Randall and Julie. This service will also be livestreamed on YouTube, just as we do for Belong Sundays, so you can watch the service from home or wherever you are. We also have kids programming available onsite up to 8th grade! Check out the details above.
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Participate on Zoom
Also beginning Sunday at 10 AM, a separate live Zoom service will be hosted by Rev. Liz. This gathering offers space for interaction, conversation, and reflection as we experience Sabbath worship together. The Zoom link to join will be easily accessible on the home page of our web site this Sunday.
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Shared Elements
Both the Sanctuary service and the Zoom gathering will draw from the same elements; a taped reflection from Pastor Brent, a contemplative song, and a spiritual practice.
Whether you join in the Sanctuary, on YouTube, or in the interactive Zoom service, we hope you’ll take this opportunity to catch your breath and find rest in God’s presence.
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Submit Names of Loved Ones
for All Saints' Day
Next Sunday, November 2, we'll be marking All Saints' Day at LaSalle — a day to honor and remember loved ones we've lost over the last year.
Our service will include a recitation of names of loved ones within and outside our congregation who have passed away since last All Saints' Day last November. Please submit any names you would like to be read by October 30 at the form below.
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Take a Ride Through History in Chicago's South Side
THIS SATURDAY!
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, so sign up today to join us for an inspiring ride through Chicago's living history! Tickets are $45. Reserve your spot using the first button below, and then use the second button to submit your payment.
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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.
We are now 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 are also 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!
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Junior & High School Game Night
Saturday, November 7
Middle and high schoolers are invited to join us for a night of fun and friendly competition on Friday night, November 7. We'll have some games for the whole group, time for free play, and of course, snacks! Bring your favorite game to share (parents invited to stick around, too)! The Burwell Mehta's are hosting in Albany Park / North Park -- time and other details to be confirmed, but let us know you're coming/interested below!
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November Membership Classes
Starting Sunday, 11/9 and Monday, 11/10
Becoming a member a member at LaSalle is like moving from guest to host—helping to embody generous welcome.
Whether you're new at LaSalle or have been here a while, our Membership classes (consisting of two separate sessions) are a great way to explore the church, our history, and our vision. Join us for the first session to learn more, and you can decide then whether to participate in the second session and become a member. Click the link below to sign up now, and feel free to contact Pastor Brent for more information!
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Join us for the Annual Turkey Blessing
Saturday, November 22, beginning at 9:30 AM
Help us spread the love of Christ this Saturday as we distribute 500 turkeys to our neighbors in need! Meet at Cornerstone Center at 9:30 AM wearing your "Serving with a Grateful Heart" T-shirt (don’t forget to dress warmly underneath). Together, we'll load supplies and head to our first location, the Cabrini Row Houses, to distribute turkeys and share hot chocolate, music, and intentional conversations at 11:00 AM. At 12:30 PM, we'll continue the blessing at Marshall Field Garden Apartments. Let’s make this day of giving truly impactful!
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PLANNING AHEAD: LaSalle's Christmas Gift Market
Calling all artists, crafters, and other creatives! LaSalle’s All-Ages Christmas Party on Sunday, December 14 will include a gift market for folks to sell their own goods. If you’d like to participate in the market, there’s no need to sign up yet, but this is a reminder for anyone who wants an early start. If you know any others (including non-profit organizations) who might like to participate and who are aligned with our values, please let Pastor Brent know.
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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:
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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.
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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!
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New Youth & Kids Sunday Programming!
As we head into the Fall, we're sharing our new rhythm of Kids and Youth Sunday programming:
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NURSERY AND PREK/K (BIRTH - KINDERGARTEN) will be held in the Lower Level of the Sanctuary every Sunday, now including Sabbath Sundays.
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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.
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*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.
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YOUTH GROUP (9TH-12TH) will meet after worship on Belong Sundays in Cornerstone Room 308.
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Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) has a new platform called S.A.L.T: Safety and Action for Liberation Together, which includes a number of bills they're asking lawmakers to support related to restrictions on ICE and increasing protections for immigrants and refugees.
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