From Saratoga to North Lawndale: A Visit Years in the Making

Last November, James and Jackie traveled to Saratoga, CA to preach at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church's Table Talks series. What they shared left such an impression that members began planning a trip of their own, mostly funded out of pocket, to see Harmony's work firsthand.

This summer, that plan became real. Fifteen members of Prince of Peace, led by Pastor Sara, spent a week in North Lawndale learning, working, and building on a relationship years in the making.

Their time together included worship, a walking tour of the neighborhood, and a meeting with Bishop Curry, the first Black bishop elected to the ELCA. But the heart of the visit was rolling up their sleeves at the Food Pantry, where they helped sort and package over 12,000 lbs of food, and joining HCCares' Peace Garden mural project alongside 15 Harmony kids for an afternoon that turned out to be as meditative as it was joyful.

Between it all, they explored Chicago and North Lawndale especially, taking in the neighborhood's history and heart on foot.

Prince of Peace has supported HCCare's mission for years, and this visit was a powerful reminder of what's possible when communities choose to show up for each other, even from two thousand miles away.