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The following are highlights of news and community projects being spearheaded by congregations like yours, which are collected from readers and synod e-newsletters. To share news of your congregation in “Churchscan,” email Living Lutheran.
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Cary, N.C., hosted its fourth “Free Over the Counter Pharmacy” event on March 21. Individuals were able to choose from various over-the-counter medicines, including for pain, colds and allergies. The retail cost was estimated at $80 to $100 worth of free medication per family. The event also included free health screenings from the University of North Carolina School of Nursing and Wake County Public Health. A variety of nonprofit organizations provided information about prescription medication assistance, primary healthcare clinics and other community assistance. The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina also provided fresh fruits and vegetables to participants. NC MedAssist sponsors the pharmacy event annually at over 50 sites across the state in collaboration with community partners.
In 2025, King of Glory Lutheran Church in Dallas launched Isaac’s Comedy Club. The family friendly comedy experience celebrates God’s gift of laughter and joy, inspired by Jesus’ words “Be of good cheer” (John 16:33) and “a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). In partnership with Dallas Comedy Club regulars, Isaac’s Comedy Club offers clean, engaging storytelling and improv to bring the community together for a night of laughter and sharing the good news.
On March 15, St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Wash., sponsored a “Covid Day of Reflection,” a time for people to reflect on what they lost during the pandemic, what they gained and how it changed them. That Sunday morning, Martha Maier, a retired pastor who previously served St. Andrew, conducted two services of healing, with a litany, candle lighting, prayer, and the chance to walk around an indoor or outdoor labyrinth. People could return in the afternoon for a more focused labyrinth walk with guides, questions to think about as they walked (“What do you remember?”; “What are you grieving?”; “What was hard?”; and “What are you grateful for?”), and activities such as journaling or writing the names of loved ones on paper hearts that were later strung across the sanctuary. There was also time to share personal stories about the pandemic’s impact. “If you don’t grieve something, if you don’t reflect on it, you stuff it inside instead,” Maier told the Columbian. “It’s leading to the polarization of our country right now, or at least it’s one of the things.”
King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe, Ariz., held a “Big Truck Day” on March 28. The free event offered children—and the young at heart—the chance to explore a variety of big trucks from the community. From construction vehicles to service trucks, participants could get up close, ask questions and experience the everyday tools that help communities thrive. Food trucks and games were also offered. Big Truck Day was more than just a fun outing—it was an opportunity for the congregation to serve as a gathering place for neighbors, building relationships and strengthening community ties.
