LCMS Northern Illinois District

09/07/2026

WEEKLY DEVOTION: Trust Fall Forward by Rev. Joel Hess, St. James Lutheran Church, Chicago

Many of us have participated in the trust fall team-building exercise in youth group, corporate retreats, or just having fun with friends. It certainly does take a lot of courage to fall back and depend on a friend to catch you. Even if that friend is trustworthy, maybe she isn’t strong enough or has been secretly harboring some anger toward you!

The writer of Proverbs tells us to trust in the Lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). It sounds like God wants us to do the trust fall with Him. Fall back, and He will catch you.

How’s that going? On paper, this all sounds pretty sound. It’s foolish to lean on our own understanding: 1. We are limited in our understanding of anything compared with God. 2. We have an understanding that is always curved inward toward ourselves as sinners. Yet it is hard to trust in God over our understanding because it’s hard to give up control! It’s ultimately what bothers me about flying. I want to pilot the plane! Even though I wouldn’t know what I was doing.

We tend to think of trusting God as those trust falls. God wants us to fall back blindly and lean on Him in how we understand the universe, right and wrong, and our destiny. But we aren’t called to fall back into the unknown, hoping He catches us. Trusting in God is falling forward into the arms of the God who is known!

I remember one day when my sons were little. One of them was up on a ledge, and out of nowhere he jumped while yelling for me to catch him. He had every confidence that I would catch him because he knew me. We know the God we lean on. We know He is all-powerful, but more importantly, we know that He loves us. Jesus laid down His life for us and took it back in His resurrection. We can trust His Words because He has demonstrated His commitment to us with action.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding! Lean on Him in good times and bad. You are not alone on your journey, so why put it all on yourself? God is with you and will catch you when you fall, with forgiveness and mercy. And one day He will completely catch you when you fall into the resurrection!

You know God. Let yourself fall forward into His arms!

Weekly prayers and devotions are available at https://nidlcms.org/devotions-and-prayers.

“So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuild. If you are an ordained minister or a commissioned worker in the LCMS Northern Illinois District and would like to submit a devotion, you may contact Sue Green.

09/04/2026

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK OF September 3, 2026

09/01/2026

Today’s the day—Let’s Get Moving, NID!

The Let’s Get Moving Challenge starts TODAY!

Throughout September, we’re celebrating God’s gift of movement by making one simple commitment:
10 minutes a day.
5 days a week.
For 4 weeks.

Walk around the neighborhood. Stretch. Ride your bike. Garden. Dance. Take the stairs. Choose movement that works for you—and get started!

This isn’t about how fast, how far or how hard you go. It’s about intentionally making movement part of your day and caring for the body God has given you.

So, NID—how will you get your 10 minutes in today?
Let’s get moving!

Coming Soon! A 4-week challenge for those who serve in the LCMS Northern Illinois District

09/01/2026

Today’s the day—Let’s Get Moving, NID!

The Let’s Get Moving Challenge starts TODAY!

Throughout September, we’re celebrating God’s gift of movement by making one simple commitment:

10 minutes a day.
5 days a week.
For 4 weeks.

Walk around the neighborhood. Stretch. Ride your bike. Garden. Dance. Take the stairs. Choose movement that works for you—and get started!

This isn’t about how fast, how far or how hard you go. It’s about intentionally making movement part of your day and caring for the body God has given you.

So, NID—how will you get your 10 minutes in today?

Let’s get moving!

09/01/2026

The September 1, 2026 Email Newsletter is here!

A new month brings new opportunities to connect, serve, and stay informed about what’s happening across the LCMS Northern Illinois District.

Check your inbox for today’s newsletter featuring the latest District news, upcoming events, ministry resources, and opportunities to get involved.

And as September begins, don’t forget—our Let’s Get Moving Challenge starts today!

Open the newsletter, catch up on what’s happening, and see what’s ahead across the NID. Read more at https://conta.cc/3SfIAUr

09/01/2026

September Communications Theme: A life of prayer

Prayer is woven throughout the life of God’s people and remains at the heart of our shared ministry. Whether in moments of joy, uncertainty, celebration, or grief, our heavenly Father invites us to come before Him with confidence through Christ. We reflect on how prayer unites congregations, strengthens faith, and encourages God’s people across the LCMS Northern Illinois District. The Lord is at work in the lives of His people. We encourage your own prayer life, deepen your trust in God’s promises, and remind you that He faithfully hears every prayer.

08/31/2026

WEEKLY DEVOTION: Dwelling Richly by Rev. Steve Maske, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Elgin

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."—Colossians 3:16–17

What fills your home? Walk into any house and you'll notice something almost immediately. Some homes are filled with the smell of fresh bread or coffee. Others are filled with music. Some are filled with laughter, while others are filled with the noise of televisions or busy schedules.

Paul asks us to consider something even deeper: What fills our hearts? Paul writes: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." The word "dwell" means to make its home. Paul isn't talking about simply reading a Bible verse now and then. He's talking about God's Word taking up permanent residence in our hearts—shaping how we think, how we speak, and how we live.

It's interesting that Paul doesn't first tell Christians to "try harder" or "be better people." Instead, he points us to Christ's Word. That's the Christian life! We are not changed by our own determination. We are changed by God's gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ

Through His Word, Jesus forgives sinners. Through His Word, He strengthens weak faith. Through His Word, He comforts troubled hearts. Through His Word, the Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith.

As Christ's Word lives in us, something beautiful begins to happen. Our conversations change. We encourage one another. We sing God's praises. Gratitude replaces complaining. Forgiveness replaces bitterness. Christ Himself begins to shape our lives.

Paul finishes by saying, "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus." That doesn't mean we earn God's approval by doing religious things. Rather, because Christ has already made us His own through His death and resurrection, everything we do becomes an opportunity to serve Him.

Whether we're working, studying, cooking dinner, helping a neighbor, or caring for our family, we live as people who belong to Jesus. Our everyday lives become acts of thanksgiving because Christ has first given Himself for us.

Weekly prayers and devotions are available at https://nidlcms.org/devotions-and-prayers.

“So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuild. If you are an ordained minister or a commissioned worker in the LCMS Northern Illinois District and would like to submit a devotion, you may contact Sue Green.

08/28/2026

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK OF August 31, 2026:

08/26/2026

Yesterday, our LCMS Northern Illinois District staff gathered at Lutheran Church Charities for our quarterly strategic staff meeting.

This time together give us an opportunity to step away from our day-to-day responsibilities, look ahead, share ideas, and strengthen the ways we work together in service to the District.

We are also grateful to share time in devotion and enjoy fellowship with the staff of Lutheran Church Charities. Thank you to Lutheran Church Charities for welcoming us and providing a wonderful space to gather.

We are thankful for the many different roles represented on our staff and for the shared mission that brings us together as we seek to Advance His Kingdom.

08/25/2026

“God puts us together, and we are stronger together.”

Those words reflect the heart of Rev. Dr. Allan R. Buss as he serves as President of the LCMS Northern Illinois District.

Since being first elected District President in 2018, President Buss has had the privilege of walking alongside congregations, schools, ministries, church workers, and lay leaders throughout Northern Illinois. One of his greatest joys is visiting the places where ministry happens and encouraging those who faithfully proclaim Christ, care for His people, and share the hope of the Crucified and Risen Savior in the communities where God has placed them.

Before serving as District President, he spent 28 years in parish ministry at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Gilberts and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere. Those years helped shape his deep appreciation for the pastors, commissioned workers, and laypeople who faithfully serve Christ and His Church in many different vocations.

Over the past several weeks, our Different Roles. One Mission. series has introduced you to the people who serve through the LCMS Northern Illinois District. It seems fitting to conclude the series with President Buss, whose leadership continually reminds us that while our roles and gifts may be different, Christ is the One who brings us together for His purposes.

We invite you to get to know President Buss and read his full story at https://nidnews.org/august-ministry-theme-meet-the-staff-rev-dr-allan-buss/

Different Roles. One Mission.

Thank you for joining us as we introduced the people who serve alongside you. Together, we are Advancing His Kingdom.

Meet Rev. Dr. Allan Buss, President of the LCMS Northern Illinois District!