Seeking the faithful to aid ‘our church’

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By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

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Since the early 1900s thousands of people worshipped at Hope Lutheran Church on 64th and Washtenaw. The congregation was formed in 1917, using a storefront on 63^rd Street as their first home while their church was being built.

Once the foundation was in on Washtenaw, and a basement area was completed, services were held down there until the main church was completed. Then in the 1960s the K-8 elementary school was opened with the first graduating class receiving their diplomas in 1972.

My personal involvement with Hope took place in the 1980s. Then-Pastor Paul invited neighborhood kids to practice basketball in the gym on weekdays after school. Being only two blocks south of St. Rita, my daughter and her friends began stopping in at the Hope gym to practice for their upcoming games.

Kathy Headley

When I began writing this column, I started covering the events at Hope. It was such a warm and inviting atmosphere, and everyone was so welcoming. I was glad to help out.

As you might already know, the church is now House of Prayer Baptist Church; but as happens in all religions, those that attended services and school at Hope still think of it as “our church.”

Former Hope member James B. feels just that way and encourages anyone that can to help out, as the church now requires some rather expensive repairs. After all, he says it is still God’s house of worship.

James makes a good point in saying he wants to “support the upkeep of the church so it does not crumble and face a wrecking ball that will turn our church into a pile of bricks and broken glass.”

If you can help, visit gofundme.com and search for “Old Hope Lutheran Church Building Remodeling, organized by Ana Velazquez.”

Over at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie, the Southwest Book Club is starting up again on Monday, Nov. 6. In preparation, the pre-book club meeting is taking place this Thursday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m.—for those who read this paper online or receive a hard copy before its Friday publication date.

This Saturday, Oct. 28, the Chicago Lawn Branch Library hosts its annual Halloween Bash from 2 to 3 p.m. There will be crafts, games, stories and music. Everyone is invited to wear costumes.

This month, rosaries have been said at Nativity BVM in honor of the Blessed Mother and the month of the rosary. This weekend is the last one for the month, with a rosary in English at 9 a.m. Sunday (before the 9:30 a.m. English Mass) and at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Lithuanian (before the 4 p.m. Lithuanian Mass).

“Falloween” with dancing and a contest takes place at the Senior Center on Tuesday, Oct. 31, beginning at 10 a.m.

Looking ahead to Halloween afternoon, once again Greater Southwest Development Corporation will be sponsoring a Trick or Treat down 63rd Street,;and this year, also down 59^th Street. Routes run from Western to Kedzie. Trick or Treat on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 3 to 6 p.m. For a map of which businesses will be welcoming the kids for trick or treating, contact GSDC at (773) 436-1000.

Tarkington Park, 3344 W. 71^st St., hosts a Halloween party on Oct. 31 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to stop in for some candy and fun. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.

Also on Halloween, TGI Movement, 2500 W. 63^rd St., will host a fun evening for the kids with candy baskets, cookie decorating, a hay maze and much more beginning at 4 p.m.

The monthly perpetual novena to St. Rita of Cascia will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in the St. Rita Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western. As always, everyone is welcome to stay after and enjoy a slice of the famous Racine Danish Kringle.

A celebration of the Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos will take place at Marquette Park in the fieldhouse, 6734 S. Kedzie, on Friday, Nov. 3, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The event will feature performances from Mexican Folkloric Dance and the Marquette Park Composers Workshops, along with food and games for the whole family.

Now let’s return to 1981. When we left last week, we were talking about the local drugstore that was celebrating its 400,000^th prescription. I hinted that it was just down the street from the Southwest News-Herald office, which at the time was at 6225 S. Kedzie. Brad O. was the first to identify Penner Rexall on the northwest corner of 63^rd and Kedzie.

Forty-two years ago this month, one of the founders of the Lawn Manor Hebrew Congregation (66^th and Kedzie) had passed away. Active in community affairs, he was also a local merchant–opening his first store on 63^rd at 2805, just west of California. I remember stopping in to purchase an outfit for my husband back in the 1980s. I am pretty sure I would have stopped at La Petite Bakery right after. Can you place the store?