Lumunos

08/05/2026

So grateful for everyone who showed up last Sunday for our Becoming Neighbors community conversation, focused on what it means to be there for the LGBTQ+ community.

A special thanks goes out to our remarkable panelists who shared very helpful and inspiring stories and ideas.

Important connections were made, minds were opened, and a fire was lit to proudly stand alongside our q***r and trans neighbors.

05/05/2026

Dear Lumunos Friends,

Many of you may have been aware of Doug Wysockey-Johnson's carefully planned exit from Lumunos, which was designed to pave the way for a new executive director and a new chapter for Lumunos. Doug has eased out of his role over the last two years as David Fraccaro has taken over as executive director.

As of this year, Doug is no longer involved on a regular basis, although we hope to still have access to his wisdom on occasion, including for an upcoming Is Peace Possible Luzmoom later this year. In true Doug fashion, he offers us one more lesson as he moves on from Lumunos, which you can read below. We, the Lumunos board, have offered our deep gratitude throughout and encourage you to reach out to Doug and do the same:

“At Lumunos, we believe that transitions are important….”

I said those words countless times during my 25 years while serving Lumunos. Usually, it was at the start of some gathering—a retreat, or Zoom event, or even at a Board meeting. What followed would be some kind of guided exercise to reflect back on the day. The idea was to pay attention to where people had just been—work, eating dinner, tending to home—as they transitioned into the Lumunos meeting about to start. It was a way to think about what of significance might have happened during a busy day, while also helping people be present to the people, and the Spirit, in the current moment.

I find myself thinking about those words as I live into my current transition: From my many years at Lumunos, to whatever is next. While I stepped down as Executive Director early in 2024, I continued doing contract work with Lumunos until earlier this year. This drawn out transition has been by design, in what I hope has been a win-win for both the organization and myself. But now it is time to truly leave Lumunos in any sort of staff or consultant role. I will continue to cheer on, pray for, and financially support this organization that I love. But it is time to say goodbye.

So, thank you Lumunos. Thank you for allowing me to work in this quirky, unique, unusual, beautiful organization. I have so much gratitude, first and foremost for the people of Lumunos: Board members, staff, event participants, contributors, and the Faith at Work saints that have supported me from the other side. There are far too many of you to name, but every one of you has been important to my growth and development.

From the Board: Thank you, Doug, for your years of dedication and inspiration. Your emphasis on relationships has upheld the character of the organization, and it would not be what it is without you.

Which brings me to another of my Lumunos mantras, repeated frequently when recruiting people for the board, staff or an event. I’d usually say some version of “You will like the people you meet at Lumunos—we seem to attract good people.” Whether that is true, or whether our process and values bring out the best in people, I’m not sure. Either way, you meet good people when you hang out with Lumunos. Trust me on this one—between my time on the board, as Executive Director, or as a consultant, I hung out with Lumunos people for a long time. What we do, and how we do it brings out the best in us.

From the Board: Doug, you made us all better people with your leadership and wisdom. We are all grateful for the opportunity to have worked with you.

I’m also grateful for the opportunity to have worked with an organization that so closely aligned with my own values. Helping people listen for their calling in the complexity of their daily life; valuing, navigating and deepening relationships; modeling an inclusive spirituality; leading with vulnerability; and becoming more self aware, to name a few. And all of this as a way to make the world more the way God wants it to be. Every one of these values and principles was, and continues to be, important and relevant in my own life and for our world. But these are not just my values. Every time I read the latest article or research about what makes for a good or meaningful life, or a healthy organizational culture, or helps you live longer, it feels like what Lumunos has been talking about for decades. How amazing to show up every Monday morning and have that be my work!

From the Board: Lumunos values, which you have always embodied, made being part of the Board a very different experience from typical organizations, an experience that we all cherish.

Because I am writing to a Lumunos audience, some honesty and vulnerability is in order. It hasn’t always been easy. I don’t miss the budget and fundraising conversations. My work required lots of traveling, which took me away from my family and put a lot of pressure on Kathryn when the kids were young. At times I let fear get in the way of faithful risks I should have taken. And when our son Soren died, it took a lot out of me. I didn’t step down for several years after that loss, but I sometimes wonder how much that had to do with the timing of my stepping down. Even the best jobs have their difficulties, and this one had its share. Still, the challenges pale in comparison to the gifts.

In terms of what is next, I’ve stepped into my next season of calling. I’ve formed an LLC with the wildly creative name of WyJo Coaching. The tagline pretty much explains what I do: Coaching, Consulting and Calling. The goal is to spend the next several years working half time, supporting people as they seek to do the sometimes-difficult work of living out their calling. Much of my work is with people working in health care: nurses, PAs, physicians, and administrators. They are good people, with a lot on their plate. I am enjoying listening to and supporting them, using much of what I learned at Lumunos.

And I will continue to cheer on David and Lumunos. I love the direction he is taking the organization. It feels like a faithful blending of honoring our core values while stretching and reimagining our mission. It is what this organization has always done, which may be why we are still here while so many other nonprofits have closed their doors. I hope you will continue to support Lumunos too.

From the Board: We wish you the best in your new endeavors, knowing that you will continue to be an ambassador for Lumunos and its values.

Finally, whether you are reading this as a long time Faith at Work/Lumunos person, or as a new friend to the organization: Bless you! And to quote my fellow Swede Dag Hammerskold: "For all that has been, Thanks. To all that shall be, Yes."

To which the Board (and we all say): Amen!

08/04/2026

It’s been a hard year for our q***r and trans neighbors. When one part of our community hurts, we all do. Join us at Sturdy Shelter Brewing in Batavia, IL as we revisit an urgent community conversation about what it means and looks like to be there for our neighbors in challenging times.

Over the past few years we’ve held numerous Becoming Neighbors Community Conversations in partnership with Sturdy Shelter Brewing with the goal of bringing our diverse community together to build bridges of understanding, trust, and cooperation across lines of difference.

Past conversations have focused on building bridges of hope with our immigrant neighbors, overcoming the fear of getting to know our neighbors with disabilities, creating safer schools together, and much more.

Please join us if in the Fox Valley area on Sunday, May 3rd!

31/03/2026

Nearly 40 people showed up for the launch of our Is Peace Possible Lumzoom series, focused on What We Can All Learn from the Buddhist Walk for Peace last month. It was a very meaningful conversation on the importance of building peace from within ourselves in order to help build lasting peace in our communities and world. Thank you to Buddhist Monk, Rahula Ingiriye, former president of the UCC, Rev. John Dorhauer, CEO of Club Fitness Maria Gonzalez, and Mayor of Greensboro, NC Marikay Abuzuiater for speaking!

We are happy to share that the theme of our next Is Peace Possible Lumzoom series will be focused on the Gifts of Vulnerability and the Legacy of Faith at Work. Many of you know that Lumunos has a 100 year history, and was previously known as Faith at Work. Our founder Sam Shoemaker was instrumental in helping to start Alcoholics Anonymous. Throughout our remarkable history, we have always used the gifts of vulnerability to help build understanding, trust, and cooperation between people of difference in order to bring about healing and peace to our lives and communities.

On Weds, April 8th (7pm CST/8pm EST), we are thrilled to have former Faith at Work staff and authors, Marjory Bankson and Jean Milliken join us to discuss how peace is possible when we risk giving and receiving vulnerability in our lives and communities. Both will share not only from their own experience and education in life, but from witnessing the transformative exchange of vulnerability amongst small groups for so many years at Faith at Work.

We hope you can join us! All are welcome, and we’d love to see some Faith at Work alumni join this special zoom call - RSVP here today.

https://lumunos.org/event/is-peace-possible-a-lumunos-series-on-building-peace-from-within/

We are happy to offer our monthly Lumzooms for free. Please consider donating to Lumunos to keep us growing - https://lumunos.org/make-a-donation/

We live at one of the most deeply divided and conflicted times in our nation’s history, increasingly at odds and frustrated with those who think or live

12/03/2026

Any lasting change in the world must first be grounded in meaningful relationships in our own backyards.....especially with people who don't look or think or express themselves the same way you do.

Grateful to our friends at Sturdy Shelter Brewing and the Rising Lights Project for our latest Becoming Neighbors gathering - helping diverse people overcome fears and find hope and joy together.

09/03/2026

Yesterday's Becoming Neighbors, focused on building bridges with adults with disabilities, was truly joyful.

We ate, laughed, cried, and danced.....and most importantly
learned how to overcome fears in building friendships with people who look, think, or express themselves differently than others.

A huge thank you to our friends at Rising Lights Project and Sturdy Shelter Brewing for being such wonderful partners!

25/02/2026

We are so happy for the beautiful progress New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and First Congregational United Church of Christ in DeKalb Illinois are making as a part of our Becoming Neighbors Congregations partnership.

As a reminder, our Becoming Neighbors Congregations program seeks to build understanding, trust, and cooperation between two different congregations (different in race, culture, faith, nationality). The two congregations agree to a year-long transformative partnership, meeting quarterly and following the Becoming Neighbors process of meaningful conversations, fun exchange, faith at work, and telling the story.

Throughout the process, it is our hope congregants widen their understanding of who their neighbors are, and how best to serve, love, and protect one another - offering a positive example of the world really needs right now.

A few weeks ago, over 70 folks from both congregations gathered on a bitter cold, snowy day to share a meal and meaningful conversation with one another.

From Rev. John Dorhauer of First Congregational:

"Young and old alike sat at table and shared a veritable feast, all while getting to know each other at a deeper level. For the two hours we were at table, the noise level was raucous as laughter and intense conversation was constant. After about an hour of unstructured conversation, we were led in a facilitated dialogue where all 15 tables discussed these questions:

1. How many of your New Year's resolutions are you still keeping?
2. Who had a profound impact on you while growing up - and how have they influenced who you are today?
3. How do you find and maintain hope when life gets challenging?

When we had discussed each of those, we had each table select a person to speak about what happened at their table. This was deeply moving as what we heard indicated how vulnerable, honest, and meaningful the table talk became. Strangers trusted each other as they opened up and told stories of deep meaning to them. We closed our time with prayer for one another, with words of gratitude for the bonds that were forming, and with a group photo where we all laughed and embraced before saying goodbye."

Soon, as a part of our Becoming Neighbors process, these congregations will begin to put their shared values into action together to help make the community of Dekalb a more just, connected, and caring place to live.

If you or your congregation would like to learn more about the Becoming Neighbors Congregations program, please email Lumunos Director, David Fraccaro, at [email protected].

23/02/2026

For the past two years, Lumunos and our friends Sturdy Shelter Brewing have been hosting Becoming Neighbors Community Conversations.

At a time of deep division, our goal is to build bridges across lines of difference in our own backyard....to have strangers we don't know become neighbors we embrace through meaningful conversations and fun.

We hope you can join us for our next Becoming Neighbors on Sunday, March 8th at 3:30pm to learn from and connect with our neighbors with disabilities.....including a special dance party to the songs of Elvis at the end 🙂

We are deeply grateful for our partnership with the Rising Lights Project for this special gathering.

If you are in the Chicago suburbs, we'd love to see you!

No advanced tickets necessary, just come as you are :)

https://lumunos.org/event/becoming-neighbors-building-bridges-with-the-rising-lights-project-and-adults-with-disabilities/

20/02/2026

Grateful to meet with some members of the St. Charles City Council and Equity/Inclusion committee to discuss the potential of doing some Becoming Neighbors programs in the city this year!

13/02/2026

We are so thankful to everyone who showed up for our wonderful zoom gathering earlier this week, entitled - Is Peace Possible: What We Can All Learn from the Buddhist Monk's Walk for Peace.

We had a very meaningful conversation featuring former president of the UCC Rev. John Dorhauer , Blue Lotus Temple Monk Bhante Rahula, along with special guests, the Mayor of Greensboro, Marikay Abuzuaiter and the CEO of Club Fitness Maria Gonzalez.

In short....peace in the world starts with cultivating peace from within ourselves. There will always be division and injustice, which we should do our best to address, but recognize that lasting peace comes when we each take responsibility for creating peace within ourselves. We are grateful to the monks for helping to show us the way.

From Venerable Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara:

We are not walking from Ft. Worth to Washington DC to bring you any peace, but to raise awarensss of peace within yourself so that you can unlock that box and free it, let peace bloom and flourish….so that this world can become a better place for all beings to live. To free peace, to unlock that box we must have a key to unlock it, and that key is mindfulness….not about buddhism, mindfulness is for all beings…and it is your duty to find it, unlock it…you are the only one who can do this….not the venerable monks, the reverends, not anyone else….but you.