By Dan Holly

Congregacion Luterana San Timoteo doesn’t look like your typical Lutheran church, but it especially doesn’t sound like your typical Lutheran church.

For one thing, all members of the church are immigrants from Central and South America, and services are conducted in Spanish. But what makes this Chicago church really different is its use of healing sounds in its services. Singing bowls, rain sticks and other instruments provide sounds that are reminiscent of some of the rituals common in countries from which immigrants came.

The church uses sound therapy not only to make immigrants feel welcome but also as a form of emotional and spiritual healing – something especially needed by church members, many of whom have suffered tremendously in their treks to the United States, church leaders say.

Most of the congregation came to the United States by way of Texas, where they landed after crossing the border from Mexico. Texas authorities, in response to border crossings, have instituted the controversial practice of putting immigrants on buses and sending them to states in the North, leaving them in strange cities with little resources.

“They dropped them off in the streets and in different areas of the city where there were Latino people,” said Rev. Del Risco-Nolla, who co-pastors the church. “They arrived with whatever they had on their bodies – that’s it.”

Congregacion Luterana San Timoteo was planted in 2023 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, taking over a building on North Kildare in Chicago after another congregation moved out. (Technically, it is still officially a “mission,” not yet a church.)

The church that had been there was populated by the mostly white residents of the neighborhood. As the neighborhood’s demographics changed, the church closed, and the building remained unused until Congregacion Luterana San Timoteo took it over, adopting the Spanish version of the old church name (St. Timothy’s). Only one resident from the old church remained a member.

The new church grew as other immigrants heard about it – it now has about a dozen members but more than 30 attendees at a typical Sunday service.

“There are some people from the neighborhood and some from other areas,” said Rev. Del Risco-Nolla, whose official title is mission developer. “Some travel long distances because they have identified this church as a place where they belong.”

Church leaders used part of a $12,000 grant from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to boost their sound healing ministry. The funds came from a grant program aimed at helping the Lutheran Church reach out to nontraditional populations.

Congregacion Luterana San Timoteo was able to buy four singing bowls, two rain sticks, one ocean drum and a Jewish harp.

For many, these techniques are reminiscent of traditions in their homelands such as spiritual healing by shamans and icaros, a form of healing through songs. “It’s part of their identity,” she said.

A classical pianist and a music teacher, Rev. Del Risco-Nolla is certified in sound healing. She uses her training to blend Christian worship with sound healing techniques.

“We worship Jesus Christ,” she said. “It’s just that we use singing bowls in worship.”

With singing bowls, mallets are used to rub bowls in a way that produces a humming sound. That sound is considered calming by many people. Some health-care professionals say the sounds and vibrations can even promote emotional and spiritual healing.

On Sunday, singing bowls are occasionally used as people take communion. Other sound therapy techniques are a prime feature of Tuesday night services.

Healing sounds are one of the things Edward and Jennifer Rodriguez, who have been members of Congregacion Luterana for five months, like about the church. “The music calms me down,” Edward said. “I think it’s relaxing and effective.”

Said Jennifer: “They [members of Congregacion Luterana] were the second people we met and the only ones we have right now.”

NOTE: Edward and Jennifer’s spoke in Spanish. There comments were translated using Google Translate.