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Harmony Community Cares Service Learning Trip

North Lawndale, Chicago | July 25–29, 202

If you were moved by Pastor Brooks and Jackie during their recent visit to Prince of Peace, this service learning trip offers a meaningful opportunity to turn that inspiration into action.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is organizing a service trip with Harmony Community Cares in North Lawndale, Chicago from July 25–29, 2026. During their visit to Prince of Peace, Pastor Brooks shared a powerful personal testimony during worship and joined members for a special Table Talk conversation about the ​challenges facing the North Lawndale community and the transformative work being led through Harmony Community Cares’ volunteers.

Pastor Brooks and wife Jackie visited Prince of Peace in November 2025 for a Table Talk presentation

Prince of Peace LEAD volunteers visited Harmony Community Church in 2023

Pastor Brooks and Jackie are passionate leaders and founders of Harmony Community Cares whose faith-driven work is helping restore hope, opportunity, and community vitality in North Lawndale. Prince of Peace already shares a meaningful relationship with Harmony Community Cares through previous visits and by hosting their Gala fundraising event remotely, where many members participated.

This trip offers a chance to demonstrate God’s love through tangible service, share the Gospel, and deepen relationships within a community working toward renewal. Participants will serve alongside Harmony Community Cares volunteers and neighborhood leaders while learning more about the community’s history, challenges, and hopeful future.

Trip Highlights Include:

Worship at Harmony Community Church in North Lawndale

• A welcoming BBQ hosted by Pastor Brooks and Jackie
• A walking tour of North Lawndale led by Pastor Brooks, including the residence where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived during his Chicago campaign
• Engaging with local families by volunteering at the Harmony Food Pantry
• Peace Garden clean-up 
• and more impactful experiences that are still in planning!
  • The ELCA is headquartered in Chicago. We hope to arrange a visit with Presiding Bishop Curry
  • The Obama Presidential Library is set to open in June

​Logistics

Chicago (Harmony Community Cares) Service Learning Trip
North Lawndale (Chicago), Illinois
July 25 – July 29, 2026
For more information or to express interest, please use this Interest List form.

• Trip cost is approximately $700 per person (excluding flights/$1000 with flights) for room and meals, but don’t let cost be an obstacle. 
  
• ​You can arrange your own flights or let us do it.

Interest List Sign UP

North Lawndale neighborhood

You can view the recording of Pastor Brook's November presentation at Prince of Peace here.

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Women's Retreat - Stay Tuned for our Next Event

​Annually

2025 retreat will be November 7-9 at Mt Cross in the Santa Cruz mountains. 

Join the women and women-identified of Prince of Peace as we take a break from our everyday responsibilities and reconnect with God, each other, and ourselves. 

Mt Cross is nestled in the redwood trees of the Santa Cruz mountains. In addition to the program, we will have time in the evenings for games and snacks. There will be a sign-up list to bring something to share.

Rooms will be in the Lower Jensen and Oak cabins with bedding provided and shared restrooms. We suggest you bring a favorite pillow or blanket.

Cost* is
$240 for 2 nights and 4 meals (Sat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sunday breakfast). Friday dinner on your own.

OR $125 for Day trip with includes lunch and dinner Saturday

​
*Scholarships are available. Cost should never prevent participation!

Sign-up to participate here:  propeace.breezechms.com/form/2025WomensRetreat

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