St. Matthew Lutheran Church - Hawthorn Woods, IL

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Plan a Visit
    • What We Believe
    • Facilities
    • History
    • Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Worship
    • Schedule
    • Online
    • Baptism
    • Funeral
    • Cemetery
    • Wedding
  • Early Childhood Center
    • About ECC
    • Our Classes
    • Tuition and Fees
    • Our Staff
    • ECC Calendar
    • Forms & Handbook
  • Ministries
    • Adult Instruction
    • Bible Study
    • Comfort Dog
    • Music Ministry
    • Sunday School
    • Youth Confirmation
    • Youth Ministry >
      • 2025 Youth Gathering
    • GriefShare
    • VBS 2025
  • Serve
    • Organizations >
      • Altar Guild
      • Coffee Hour
      • COOL Food Pantry
      • Ladies Aid
      • L.E.R.T.
      • LWML
      • Meals On Wheels
      • Sharing The Joy
      • Womens Guild
      • Community & Social Services
    • Spiritual Gifts & Talents
  • Events
    • 2025 Pig Roast
  • Donate
  • Contact
    • Gallery

Comfort Dog Ministry

​History and Background:
Launched in August 2008, the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is a national human-care ministry embracing the unique, calming nature and skills of purebred Golden Retrievers.
​A more detailed understanding and history
​can be found at the LCC Comfort Dog Site.
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Malachi, who was over 6 1/2 years old, was placed at St. Matthew in August 2018. He has served as the bridge for compassionate ministry to a countless number of people that he has comforted, bringing the hope that can only be found through Jesus. In addition to serving his community, Malachi and his ministry team have deployed to crisis and disaster situations such as the Highland Park Shooting, Oxford, Michigan shooting, Waukesha parade disaster, just to name a few. He was well loved at all the schools and nursing homes that he attended regularly.  He was permanently deployed with the saints in May of 2023.  

​Malachi's Facebook Page

Ladel, who was over 11-1/2 years old, and was instrumental in the launch of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, being the first Comfort Dog to be placed in a church on September 1, 2008 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods. She served as the bridge for compassionate ministry to a countless number of people that she has comforted, bringing the hope that can only be found through Jesus. In addition to serving her community, Ladel and her ministry team have deployed to crisis and disaster situations such as the Sandy Hook shootings, Super Storm Sandy, Joplin Tornadoes, Boston Marathon Bombing, just to name a few. She was permanently deployed to the saints in October of 2019.

Ladel's Facebook Page
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​The new Comfort Dog ministry team is currently awaiting a new Comfort Dog to replace Malachi.
To become part of the ministry, please visit the Comfort Dog Ministry table in Luther Hall for more information or contact :

Top Dog: 
  Dennis Rusch @ 847-714-7999

Handlers:
  Mary Kaye Rusch  Lea Kelly  Sheilla Trossman
  Kate Imhoff  Mark Imhof  Korrie Sprenzel 
  Rob Fosness  Ken Grooms  (Open position)

Ministry Partners:
  Sandy Wunluck    Dolly Latz      Jennifer Fosness
  Carla Ward

Additional Comfort Dog Resources:

  • LCC Video presentation
  • LCC Ministry Purpose
  • ​LCC K-9 Frequently Asked Questions

St. Matthew Lutheran Church
24500 North Old McHenry Road
Hawthorn Woods, Illinois 60047 
Phone: 847-438-7709
Fax: 847-438-0376
Email: [email protected]

Church Summer Office Hours, June - August
Monday–Thursday 8:30 am–3:00 pm
Friday 8:30 am - Noon

St. Matthew Early Childhood Center
24480 North Old McHenry Road
Hawthorn Woods, Illinois 60047
Phone: 847-438-6103
Email: [email protected]
​
Service Times
Thursday: 7:00pm - Starts June 5, 2025
Saturday: 4:00 pm - Ends May 31, 2025
Sunday: 8:00 am & 10:45 am
Full Schedule

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