Above: From left, Pastors William Orr, Matthew Gunia and Mark Birkholz lead the Three Friars mission outreach in residence facilities for seniors. Below: Pastor Birkholz takes a friend around to meet and visit with residents.

“Betty Baker, a member at Faith Lutheran Church, Oak Lawn, sent me an e-mail and asked if I would be willing to lead a regular worship service at Brighton Gardens in Burr Ridge,” recalls Pastor Matthew Gunia.

“I contacted Pastor Mark Birkholz (her pastor) and Pastor William Orr, another pastor friend at Grace Lutheran Church, Willow Springs, and we all agreed to take turns leading worship at the retirement home. I guess it was then that Three Friars was established.”

The first service took place Sept. 2, last fall. Pastor Orr led the inaugural service, which saw 16 residents attend. Since then, the work has grown significantly. Not only has the attendance at Brighton Gardens doubled, but Pastors Gunia, Birkholz and Orr now orchestrate worship services at four different retirement homes – and the work is still growing.

“Retirement home activity directors have been calling, asking if we can come to their place and hold worship services,” said Craig Chidester, a member of Grace, Willow Springs, and volunteer coordinator of the mission outreach.

“I even got a couple calls from local mayors and trustees,” he adds. “The response has been both surprising and overwhelming.”

“This has been truly amazing to watch unfold,” says Pastor Orr. “Our largest turnout was 82 on Christmas Eve. We saw four generations worship together. We saw residents and staff alike gathered around the Word of God.”

“Two residents have requested religious instruction and confirmation and another man recently began considering being baptized,” Orr adds.

Pastor Birkholz commented: "It's easy for residents of nursing homes to feel disconnected from the body of Christ. Individual visits from pastors are great, but it's also helpful to provide an opportunity to gather with other Christians to hear God's Word, to pray and to sing.”

“These worship services are very respectful of our Lutheran heritage,” says Gunia. “The pastors wear vestments, and the Lutheran liturgy, hymns and lectionary are used.” He explained that although the majority of those who attend are not Lutherans, they appreciate the reverence and the beauty of the services.

Other Lutheran pastors and church members also have been involved. Pastors Steve Riordan (Grace, Western Springs) Bill Geis (St. John, LaGrange), Lou Vician (Mount Greenwood, Chicago), and Ted Vratney (Immanuel, Hillside) have preached. Herb and Ginny Marone (St. John, LaGrange) provide music. Jack Hoyt and Polly Roloff (Hope, Countryside) and Cindy Theres (Grace, Willow Springs) are fixtures helping out at the services.