Madeline Gold to Serve as Guest Preacher

Sunday, June 23

This week we welcome Madeline Gold as our guest preacher. Maddie is a member of St. Luke's and a Lay Eucharistic Minister. She holds a Master's of Divinity from Princeton Seminary and will begin a PhD in theology at Loyola University this fall. St. Luke's is Maddie's sponsoring parish for ordination to the priesthood in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. She will have her first session with the Commission on Ministry later this year. Please keep her in your prayers during this time of discernment. Many thanks to her St. Luke's discernment committee for their work listening to and praying with her last year: Bill McGaghie, Martha Meyer, Lynn Buhl, and Brigette Petersen.

Five Churches Beach Service

Sunday, July 7 at 10:00 AM - Elliott Park

No 8:00 AM or 10:00 AM Eucharist at St. Luke’s

We’re going to the beach! St. Luke’s will hold a joint outdoor service with our friends from St. Augustine’s, St. Andrew’s Pentecost, St. Matthew’s, and St. Mark’s. Bring your beach chair or blanket! The rain site is St. Luke’s.

Elliott Park is located at Hamilton Street at Lake Michigan in Evanston.

Embracing and Expanding in Worship

Exploring the Women’s Lectionary and Inclusive Language this Summer

Our liturgy this summer will use readings compiled and translated in A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church (Year B) by the Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney, a biblical scholar, womanist, and professor at Brite Divinity School. These readings and Dr. Gafney’s translation allow us to hear stories of God and God’s people that often go untold. Link here to her introductory chapter if you'd like to learn more about her methodology in text selection, translation, and use. 

Our music will incorporate selections from Resounding Voices, Voices Found, and Community of Christ Sings in addition to the hymns from the 1982 Hymnal.

Worship services this summer will also incorporate expansive-language versions of prayers from the Book of Common Prayer. We will be using Trial Use Eucharistic Prayers A & B. This practice is in accordance with a resolution passed at the 2018 General Convention of The Episcopal Church, which allows the trial use of more inclusive language during our liturgies. According to Article X of the Constitution of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, the trial use of liturgical material is authorized "for trial use throughout this Church, as an alternative at any time or times to the established Book of Common Prayer or to any section or Office thereof, a proposed revision of the whole Book or of any portion thereof, duly undertaken by the General Convention."

Later this summer, the Rev. Greg Milikin of St. Mark’s Evanston will host two discussion and feedback sessions about the use of inclusive language in Episcopal liturgy. The Rev. Milikin currently serves on the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music for The Episcopal Church. These discussions are co-hosted by St. Mark’s and will take place at St. Luke's after the 10:00 service on either July 21 or 28. 

If you missed church on June 9th and would like to learn more about the what, why, and how of this project, check out that Sunday's sermon, which begins at the 23:00 minute mark. 

General Convention Begins June 23

Election of 28th Presiding Bishop on June 26

This weekend will mark the beginning of the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky. The General Convention is not only a gathering but the Episcopal Church's governing body, comprised of the House of Deputies and House of Bishops. This legislative body will meet for six days to discuss issues and vote on policies. The Convention is held triennially, and the Diocese of Chicago will be represented by delegates from the clergy and laity elected at our diocesan convention.

This year is particularly relevant as Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is wrapping up his term as the 27th Presiding Bishop. The election of the 28th Presiding Bishop will take place on June 26. The House of Bishops will elect the candidate from the nominees you can see here. The election will then go to the House of Deputies, which either accepts or declines the election.

Throughout the week, other important votes and discussions will take place. The President of the House of Deputies will also be elected, Title IV revisions will be debated, as will the issue of full communion with the United Methodist Church. A conversation will continue about the Book of Common Prayer revision, including resolutions to include inclusive marriage services. 

Want to learn more about General Convention? Check out this primer for a good overview.

Want to find out about the resolutions up for discussion and voting at General Convention? These blog posts by Scott Gunn provide a helpful overview and context.

Visit the GC81 media hub for links and more information, and download a General Convention calendar.

Love Always Revival

June 22 in Louisville and online

On June 22, the day before General Convention begins, Bishop Michael Curry will lead Love Always, the final revival of his term in office. The service of prayer and music will be an opportunity to thank Bishop Curry for his nine years of leadership.

A livestream will be available on The Episcopal Church’s Facebook and YouTube pages, and on the General Convention media hub. 

St. Luke's Cornhole Tournament Continues

St. Luke's summer cornhole tournament is underway! This week the Cornholy Rollers will face off against the Land Acknowledgement Working Group. 40-Somethings will take on One Parish One Prisoner. Choir will take on Record Wranglers. The Lit Ladies will play the Sages. Other brackets will resume on July 7. Cornhole Commissioner Autumn Jackson will be on hand to oversee the tournament. Please contact the rector with any questions!

The Great Summer Giveaway

St. Luke's is cleaning house this summer and providing an opportunity for parishioners to give new life to items no longer in use. Check the tables this week for duplicates and triplicates from the St. Luke's archives; rest assured, the archives team has retained the originals.

Throughout the summer, please continue to browse and take home anything that catches your eye – first come, first served. Any remaining items will be donated to charitable organizations or properly disposed of. If you see something you once donated to St. Luke's in the past, thank you for your donation. We were so grateful to use it. 

Banns of Marriage: Hannah Reynolds & Clyff Young

We publish the Banns of Marriage between Hannah Reynolds and Clyff Young. If any of you know just cause why they may not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are bidden to declare it. This is the second time of asking.

Rest Eternal Grant to Him: Doug Paige

Longtime St. Luke's parishioner Doug Paige has died. Many thanks for all of the meals, visits, songs, cards, and prayers that have accompanied Doug in these last months of his earthly life.

We will let you know when a date has been set for his memorial.

Cards can be sent to Sally Paige Tejan, 7142 S. Fillmore Circle, Centennial, CO, 80122. 

Join the Meal Train

Caring for Casey Christensen

Parishioner Casey Christensen will be undergoing ankle replacement surgery soon, and we would like to rally our church community to support her during her recovery. We are organizing a meal train to ensure she has nutritious meals while she heals.

To participate, please sign up at the link below and select a date to provide a meal for Casey. Thank you for your compassion and willingness to lend a hand to a fellow parishioner.

Meal Train for Casey

Zachary Guo to be Featured on WFMT's Introductions

Saturday, June 29 at 11:00 AM

Tune in to WFMT on Saturday, June 29 at 11:00 AM to hear Zachary Guo featured on Introductions, a weekly program featuring some of the most talented pre-college classical musicians in the Chicago area. Zach recently served as an Opus 327 Organ Scholar and was a member of the St. Luke's Choir.

Zach was recorded at St. Luke's on the Opus 327 organ and will perform his own works and works by Alain, Bach, and others. Learn more about the program.

Friday Noon Discussion Group

Discussing Christ the Center by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

June 21 & 28

The Friday noon book group will discuss Christ the Center by Dietrich Bonhoeffer on June 21 & 28. The group will then take the rest of the summer off before reconvening in the fall. The book is available through local bookstores and on Amazon in Kindle or print version. This book group is facilitated by Pastor Michael Wonderlich. People can participate in person or by Zoom.

Women’s Book Group & Breakfast

Sunday, July 14, 8:30 AM

Discussing Followed by the Lark by Helen Humphreys

Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 14th, for the next Women's Book Group & Breakfast. We will be discussing Followed by the Lark by Helen Humphreys. Please note an important update: the fall meeting has been rescheduled from September to October (date TBD). We will explore The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich at this gathering. All are welcome for great books and conversations!

Centering Prayer Circle:

Experience God's Presence Within Us

Thursdays, 6:30 - 7:30 PM

Finding moments of silence and stillness is a valuable discipline in our fast-paced world. Experience the transformative power of Centering Prayer, an ancient Christian practice, by joining Tim O'Brien and others on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM. This one-hour group invites beginners and experienced practitioners alike to explore the benefits of inner stillness.

Through guided sessions, Tim O'Brien will introduce the method of Centering Prayer and offer resources for deepening your understanding. Learn to let go of intrusive thoughts and worries, fostering a deeper connection with God. Experience the divine presence within – closer than breathing, thinking, or even consciousness itself.

To learn more about Centering Prayer and embark on a path toward inner peace, join the weekly class. For questions or more information, contact Tim O'Brien at tim0707@aol.com.

Help Shape the Future of Adult Formation & Education at St. Luke’s

We invite you to pause and reflect as we approach the end of a dynamic year in adult formation and education at St. Luke's. This year offered a rich variety of programs, including, among many, a year-long series on Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery, the recent Health and Healing series, and an Advent program focused on the wonder of birds. Each program was designed to broaden our perspectives and deepen our spiritual lives.

As we prepare for the upcoming program years, your input is invaluable. Which programs have inspired you? What topics have enriched your spiritual and intellectual growth? What would you like to see more or less of in the future? Your feedback is crucial in guiding our decisions and ensuring our offerings continue to meet our congregation's evolving needs and interests.

The Formation Committee has crafted a survey to gather your thoughts and suggestions. Reflecting on what has resonated with you will assist us in offering meaningful and engaging programs that support the lifelong growth and enlightenment of our community.

Please take a moment to complete the survey and share your thoughts with us. Your involvement is vital to the continued success and relevance of our adult formation and education programs.

Summer Offerings Brochure Now Available!

Our latest mailer detailing all our summer offerings has been sent out! You can view the exciting opportunities online or by picking up a copy at the welcome table in the back of the nave.

Didn't receive the brochure or wish to be added to our mailing list? Please contact the office to ensure you stay informed about all our upcoming activities and events.

Warning About E-mail Scammers

When you receive an e-mail from a St. Luke's staff member, please note if the sender has 'stlukesevanston.org' at the end of their e-mail address. If not, it is likely not us writing to you. Sadly, there are people out there trying to scam congregation members in multiple churches by posing as clergy and asking them to send them gift cards. We will never ask you for money that way. If someone writes to you posing as Kat or another member of staff, please let us know, report the problem to Google (if it is a Gmail address), block the sender and delete the message.

Now Hiring! Organist



St. Luke's seeks its next organist. Learn more about the position here.

Photography at St. Luke's

Those attending a St. Luke's worship service or event in person are entering an area where photography, video, and audio recording may occur on behalf of St. Luke’s. Please be aware that these images may be used for promotional purposes, including on our website, without obtaining express written permission. If you do not wish for your image to be used, please reach out to our communications team at communications@stlukesevanston.org.

Share your photos!

We also encourage you to share your photographs of life around St. Luke's! If you have photographs to share, please send them via e-mail to communications@stlukesevanston.org in .JPG or .PNG formats. 

If you see something, say something!

Our facilities team has put together a ticketing system for issues with the building. If you notice something in need of repair, email: operations@stlukesepiscopalchurch.zohodesk.com

Your request will be entered into the repair queue.