Lake Street Church Evanston, Illinois Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD (he/him) Senior Minister Jillian Westerfield (she/they) Associate Minister Ancient Wisdom Readings 1 Kings 3:5-12 The Prayer of Thanksgiving, translated by Hal Taussig Moment for Wonder You are invited to share a "wondering" about our text(s) this morning in 20 seconds or less. Sample questions for you to respond to include: What do you wonder about in our ancient witness reading(s)? What would you change, and how would that affect the story? Who do you relate to in the story and why? Why do these readings matter? This weeks reflection question: What does wisdom mean to you? Sermon Sweet and Simple Rev. Jillian Westerfield Call to Commitment Start Close by David Whyte Lake Street Church of Evanston is a progressive faith community that values justice, curiosity, and the freedom to explore faith without rigid dogma. Guided by the Baptist principle of soul liberty, it creates space for big questions, open dialogue, and diverse spiritual paths. We are committed to justice through reparations, immigrant rights, and the empowerment of queer voices in our faith community. Native Lands and Reparations Acknowledgement This is the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, Ojibwe and Odawa. This land also served as important meeting place for Miami, Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, Inoka, Sac, Fox, Peoria, Arapaho and Cheyenne and other Tribal nations. Outside the front door of the church, the original shoreline of Lake Michigan once stood. The land Lake Street Church of Evanston currently inhabits was used by many indigenous people as a gathering, trading, and ritual space. Nearby, on Ridge Avenue, there existed a trail that led all the way up to Green Bay, WI. This land was seized by white settlers as part of the wave of settler colonialism and genocide that constituted the eventual United States. We, as Lake Street Church of Evanston, acknowledge our ongoing participation in those legacies and commit ourselves to deeper understanding and action. This land was also the site of further white supremacy and racism, a legacy which we also name today. Over time, Evanston’s Black citizens have been systematically excluded from equal access to housing, education, healthcare, police protection, and participation in public recreational opportunities. One result of these compounded inequities is today’s tremendous wealth gap between Black and white residents. Most regrettably, with a few notable exceptions, white faith communities allowed the inequitable policies and practices to persist without resistance, while even participating and benefiting from them. Disparities continue to this day, and we join other faith communities that are stepping forward to respond. In accordance with our covenant “to act against injustice and for peace,” Lake Street Church supports the City of Evanston’s current efforts to address this injustice through its Reparations Programs. #lakestreetchurch #evanston #evanstonchurch #lakestreetorg #LSC #LSCEvanston #RevMichaelWoolf #JillianWesterfield #DrBonnieCampbell #DrDianaSchmuck #dynamic #open #inclusive #rooted #connected #transformed #progressive #faithcommunity #spiritualjourney #soulliberty #opendialogue #diversepaths #justice #curiosity #freedom #sanctuarychurch #sanctuarycongregation #reparations #immigrantrights #queervoices

Lake Street Church Evanston, Illinois Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD (he/him) Senior Minister Jillian Westerfield (she/they) Associate Minister Moment for Wonder You are invited to share a "wondering" about our text(s) this morning in 20 seconds or less. Sample questions for you to respond to include: What do you wonder about in our ancient witness reading(s)? What would you change, and how would that affect the story? Who do you relate to in the story and why? Why do these readings matter? This weeks reflection question: Lake Street Church of Evanston is a progressive faith community that values justice, curiosity, and the freedom to explore faith without rigid dogma. Guided by the Baptist principle of soul liberty, it creates space for big questions, open dialogue, and diverse spiritual paths. We are committed to justice through reparations, immigrant rights, and the empowerment of queer voices in our faith community. Native Lands and Reparations Acknowledgement This is the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, Ojibwe and Odawa. This land also served as important meeting place for Miami, Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, Inoka, Sac, Fox, Peoria, Arapaho and Cheyenne and other Tribal nations. Outside the front door of the church, the original shoreline of Lake Michigan once stood. The land Lake Street Church of Evanston currently inhabits was used by many indigenous people as a gathering, trading, and ritual space. Nearby, on Ridge Avenue, there existed a trail that led all the way up to Green Bay, WI. This land was seized by white settlers as part of the wave of settler colonialism and genocide that constituted the eventual United States. We, as Lake Street Church of Evanston, acknowledge our ongoing participation in those legacies and commit ourselves to deeper understanding and action. This land was also the site of further white supremacy and racism, a legacy which we also name today. Over time, Evanston’s Black citizens have been systematically excluded from equal access to housing, education, healthcare, police protection, and participation in public recreational opportunities. One result of these compounded inequities is today’s tremendous wealth gap between Black and white residents. Most regrettably, with a few notable exceptions, white faith communities allowed the inequitable policies and practices to persist without resistance, while even participating and benefiting from them. Disparities continue to this day, and we join other faith communities that are stepping forward to respond. In accordance with our covenant “to act against injustice and for peace,” Lake Street Church supports the City of Evanston’s current efforts to address this injustice through its Reparations Programs. #lakestreetchurch #evanston #evanstonchurch #lakestreetorg #LSC #LSCEvanston #RevMichaelWoolf #JillianWesterfield #DrBonnieCampbell #DrDianaSchmuck #dynamic #open #inclusive #rooted #connected #transformed #progressive #faithcommunity #spiritualjourney #soulliberty #opendialogue #diversepaths #justice #curiosity #freedom #sanctuarychurch #sanctuarycongregation #reparations #immigrantrights #queervoices

Lake Street Church Evanston, Illinois Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD (he/him) Senior Minister Jillian Westerfield (she/they) Associate Minister Moment for Wonder You are invited to share a "wondering" about our text(s) this morning in 20 seconds or less. Sample questions for you to respond to include: What do you wonder about in our ancient witness reading(s)? What would you change, and how would that affect the story? Who do you relate to in the story and why? Why do these readings matter? Lake Street Church of Evanston is a progressive faith community that values justice, curiosity, and the freedom to explore faith without rigid dogma. Guided by the Baptist principle of soul liberty, it creates space for big questions, open dialogue, and diverse spiritual paths. We are committed to justice through reparations, immigrant rights, and the empowerment of queer voices in our faith community. Native Lands and Reparations Acknowledgement This is the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, Ojibwe and Odawa. This land also served as important meeting place for Miami, Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, Inoka, Sac, Fox, Peoria, Arapaho and Cheyenne and other Tribal nations. Outside the front door of the church, the original shoreline of Lake Michigan once stood. The land Lake Street Church of Evanston currently inhabits was used by many indigenous people as a gathering, trading, and ritual space. Nearby, on Ridge Avenue, there existed a trail that led all the way up to Green Bay, WI. This land was seized by white settlers as part of the wave of settler colonialism and genocide that constituted the eventual United States. We, as Lake Street Church of Evanston, acknowledge our ongoing participation in those legacies and commit ourselves to deeper understanding and action. This land was also the site of further white supremacy and racism, a legacy which we also name today. Over time, Evanston’s Black citizens have been systematically excluded from equal access to housing, education, healthcare, police protection, and participation in public recreational opportunities. One result of these compounded inequities is today’s tremendous wealth gap between Black and white residents. Most regrettably, with a few notable exceptions, white faith communities allowed the inequitable policies and practices to persist without resistance, while even participating and benefiting from them. Disparities continue to this day, and we join other faith communities that are stepping forward to respond. In accordance with our covenant “to act against injustice and for peace,” Lake Street Church supports the City of Evanston’s current efforts to address this injustice through its Reparations Programs. #lakestreetchurch #evanston #evanstonchurch #lakestreetorg #LSC #LSCEvanston #RevMichaelWoolf #JillianWesterfield #DrBonnieCampbell #DrDianaSchmuck #dynamic #open #inclusive #rooted #connected #transformed #progressive #faithcommunity #spiritualjourney #soulliberty #opendialogue #diversepaths #justice #curiosity #freedom #sanctuarychurch #sanctuarycongregation #reparations #immigrantrights #queervoices

Lake Street Church Evanston, Illinois Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD (he/him) Senior Minister Jillian Westerfield (she/they) Associate Minister Moment for Wonder You are invited to share a "wondering" about our text(s) this morning in 20 seconds or less. Sample questions for you to respond to include: What do you wonder about in our ancient witness reading(s)? What would you change, and how would that affect the story? Who do you relate to in the story and why? Why do these readings matter? Lake Street Church of Evanston is a progressive faith community that values justice, curiosity, and the freedom to explore faith without rigid dogma. Guided by the Baptist principle of soul liberty, it creates space for big questions, open dialogue, and diverse spiritual paths. We are committed to justice through reparations, immigrant rights, and the empowerment of queer voices in our faith community. Native Lands and Reparations Acknowledgement This is the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, Ojibwe and Odawa. This land also served as important meeting place for Miami, Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, Inoka, Sac, Fox, Peoria, Arapaho and Cheyenne and other Tribal nations. Outside the front door of the church, the original shoreline of Lake Michigan once stood. The land Lake Street Church of Evanston currently inhabits was used by many indigenous people as a gathering, trading, and ritual space. Nearby, on Ridge Avenue, there existed a trail that led all the way up to Green Bay, WI. This land was seized by white settlers as part of the wave of settler colonialism and genocide that constituted the eventual United States. We, as Lake Street Church of Evanston, acknowledge our ongoing participation in those legacies and commit ourselves to deeper understanding and action. This land was also the site of further white supremacy and racism, a legacy which we also name today. Over time, Evanston’s Black citizens have been systematically excluded from equal access to housing, education, healthcare, police protection, and participation in public recreational opportunities. One result of these compounded inequities is today’s tremendous wealth gap between Black and white residents. Most regrettably, with a few notable exceptions, white faith communities allowed the inequitable policies and practices to persist without resistance, while even participating and benefiting from them. Disparities continue to this day, and we join other faith communities that are stepping forward to respond. In accordance with our covenant “to act against injustice and for peace,” Lake Street Church supports the City of Evanston’s current efforts to address this injustice through its Reparations Programs. #lakestreetchurch #evanston #evanstonchurch #lakestreetorg #LSC #LSCEvanston #RevMichaelWoolf #JillianWesterfield #DrBonnieCampbell #DrDianaSchmuck #dynamic #open #inclusive #rooted #connected #transformed #progressive #faithcommunity #spiritualjourney #soulliberty #opendialogue #diversepaths #justice #curiosity #freedom #sanctuarychurch #sanctuarycongregation #reparations #immigrantrights #queervoices

Lake Street Church Evanston, Illinois Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD (he/him) Senior Minister Jillian Westerfield (she/they) Associate Minister Ancient Witness Reading Zechariah 9: 9-12 Moment for Wonder You are invited to share a "wondering" about our text(s) this morning in 20 seconds or less. Sample questions for you to respond to include: What do you wonder about in our ancient witness reading(s)? What would you change, and how would that affect the story? Who do you relate to in the story and why? Why do these readings matter? This Week’s Reflection Question: How are you building hope in your daily life? Sermon A Prisoner of Hope Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD #prisonerofhope Call to Commitment a reading from Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson Lake Street Church of Evanston is a progressive faith community that values justice, curiosity, and the freedom to explore faith without rigid dogma. Guided by the Baptist principle of soul liberty, it creates space for big questions, open dialogue, and diverse spiritual paths. We are committed to justice through reparations, immigrant rights, and the empowerment of queer voices in our faith community. Native Lands and Reparations Acknowledgement This is the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, Ojibwe and Odawa. This land also served as important meeting place for Miami, Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, Inoka, Sac, Fox, Peoria, Arapaho and Cheyenne and other Tribal nations. Outside the front door of the church, the original shoreline of Lake Michigan once stood. The land Lake Street Church of Evanston currently inhabits was used by many indigenous people as a gathering, trading, and ritual space. Nearby, on Ridge Avenue, there existed a trail that led all the way up to Green Bay, WI. This land was seized by white settlers as part of the wave of settler colonialism and genocide that constituted the eventual United States. We, as Lake Street Church of Evanston, acknowledge our ongoing participation in those legacies and commit ourselves to deeper understanding and action. This land was also the site of further white supremacy and racism, a legacy which we also name today. Over time, Evanston’s Black citizens have been systematically excluded from equal access to housing, education, healthcare, police protection, and participation in public recreational opportunities. One result of these compounded inequities is today’s tremendous wealth gap between Black and white residents. Most regrettably, with a few notable exceptions, white faith communities allowed the inequitable policies and practices to persist without resistance, while even participating and benefiting from them. Disparities continue to this day, and we join other faith communities that are stepping forward to respond. In accordance with our covenant “to act against injustice and for peace,” Lake Street Church supports the City of Evanston’s current efforts to address this injustice through its Reparations Programs. #lakestreetchurch #evanston #evanstonchurch #lakestreetorg #LSC #LSCEvanston #RevMichaelWoolf #JillianWesterfield #DrBonnieCampbell #DrDianaSchmuck #dynamic #open #inclusive #rooted #connected #transformed #progressive #faithcommunity #spiritualjourney #soulliberty #opendialogue #diversepaths #justice #curiosity #freedom #sanctuarychurch #sanctuarycongregation #reparations #immigrantrights #queervoices

Lake Street Church Evanston, Illinois Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD (he/him) Senior Minister Sermon:A Failure of Discipleship Jillian Westerfield (she/they) Associate Minister Ancient Witness Reading Matthew 10: 40-42 Moment for Wonder You are invited to share a "wondering" about our text(s) this morning in 20 seconds or less. Sample questions for you to respond to include: What do you wonder about in our ancient witness reading(s)? What would you change, and how would that affect the story? Who do you relate to in the story and why? Why do these readings matter? This Week's Reflection Questions: When have you experienced extravagant welcome? When have you welcomed someone when you didn't have to? Sermon A Failure of Discipleship Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD Call to Commitment A reading from The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Lake Street Church of Evanston is a progressive faith community that values justice, curiosity, and the freedom to explore faith without rigid dogma. Guided by the Baptist principle of soul liberty, it creates space for big questions, open dialogue, and diverse spiritual paths. We are committed to justice through reparations, immigrant rights, and the empowerment of queer voices in our faith community. Native Lands and Reparations Acknowledgement This is the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, Ojibwe and Odawa. This land also served as important meeting place for Miami, Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, Inoka, Sac, Fox, Peoria, Arapaho and Cheyenne and other Tribal nations. Outside the front door of the church, the original shoreline of Lake Michigan once stood. The land Lake Street Church of Evanston currently inhabits was used by many indigenous people as a gathering, trading, and ritual space. Nearby, on Ridge Avenue, there existed a trail that led all the way up to Green Bay, WI. This land was seized by white settlers as part of the wave of settler colonialism and genocide that constituted the eventual United States. We, as Lake Street Church of Evanston, acknowledge our ongoing participation in those legacies and commit ourselves to deeper understanding and action. This land was also the site of further white supremacy and racism, a legacy which we also name today. Over time, Evanston’s Black citizens have been systematically excluded from equal access to housing, education, healthcare, police protection, and participation in public recreational opportunities. One result of these compounded inequities is today’s tremendous wealth gap between Black and white residents. Most regrettably, with a few notable exceptions, white faith communities allowed the inequitable policies and practices to persist without resistance, while even participating and benefiting from them. Disparities continue to this day, and we join other faith communities that are stepping forward to respond. In accordance with our covenant “to act against injustice and for peace,” Lake Street Church supports the City of Evanston’s current efforts to address this injustice through its Reparations Programs. #lakestreetchurch #evanston #evanstonchurch #lakestreetorg #LSC #LSCEvanston #RevMichaelWoolf #JillianWesterfield #DrBonnieCampbell #DrDianaSchmuck #dynamic #open #inclusive #rooted #connected #transformed #progressive #faithcommunity #spiritualjourney #soulliberty #opendialogue #diversepaths #justice #curiosity #freedom #sanctuarychurch #sanctuarycongregation #reparations #immigrantrights #queervoices

Lake Street Church Evanston, Illinois Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD (he/him) Senior Minister Jillian Westerfield (she/they) Associate Minister Ancient Witness Reading Genesis 21: 8-21 This Week’s Reflection Question: When did you feel like God saw you? Moment for Wonder You are invited to share a "wondering" about our text(s) this morning in 20 seconds or less. Sample questions for you to respond to include: What do you wonder about in our ancient witness reading(s)? What would you change, and how would that affect the story? Who do you relate to in the story and why? Why do these readings matter? Call to Commitment a selection from Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson Lake Street Church of Evanston is a progressive faith community that values justice, curiosity, and the freedom to explore faith without rigid dogma. Guided by the Baptist principle of soul liberty, it creates space for big questions, open dialogue, and diverse spiritual paths. We are committed to justice through reparations, immigrant rights, and the empowerment of queer voices in our faith community. Native Lands and Reparations Acknowledgement This is the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, Ojibwe and Odawa. This land also served as important meeting place for Miami, Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, Inoka, Sac, Fox, Peoria, Arapaho and Cheyenne and other Tribal nations. Outside the front door of the church, the original shoreline of Lake Michigan once stood. The land Lake Street Church of Evanston currently inhabits was used by many indigenous people as a gathering, trading, and ritual space. Nearby, on Ridge Avenue, there existed a trail that led all the way up to Green Bay, WI. This land was seized by white settlers as part of the wave of settler colonialism and genocide that constituted the eventual United States. We, as Lake Street Church of Evanston, acknowledge our ongoing participation in those legacies and commit ourselves to deeper understanding and action. This land was also the site of further white supremacy and racism, a legacy which we also name today. Over time, Evanston’s Black citizens have been systematically excluded from equal access to housing, education, healthcare, police protection, and participation in public recreational opportunities. One result of these compounded inequities is today’s tremendous wealth gap between Black and white residents. Most regrettably, with a few notable exceptions, white faith communities allowed the inequitable policies and practices to persist without resistance, while even participating and benefiting from them. Disparities continue to this day, and we join other faith communities that are stepping forward to respond. In accordance with our covenant “to act against injustice and for peace,” Lake Street Church supports the City of Evanston’s current efforts to address this injustice through its Reparations Programs. #GodseesHagar #lakestreetchurch #evanston #evanstonchurch #lakestreetorg #LSC #LSCEvanston #RevMichaelWoolf #JillianWesterfield #DrBonnieCampbell #DrDianaSchmuck #dynamic #open #inclusive #rooted #connected #transformed #progressive #faithcommunity #spiritualjourney #soulliberty #opendialogue #diversepaths #justice #curiosity #freedom #sanctuarychurch #sanctuarycongregation #reparations #immigrantrights #queervoices

Lake Street Church Evanston, Illinois Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD (he/him) Senior Minister Jillian Westerfield (she/they) Associate Minister Moment for Wonder You are invited to share a "wondering" about our text(s) this morning in 20 seconds or less. Sample questions for you to respond to include: What do you wonder about in our ancient witness reading(s)? What would you change, and how would that affect the story? Who do you relate to in the story and why? Why do these readings matter? Lake Street Church of Evanston is a progressive faith community that values justice, curiosity, and the freedom to explore faith without rigid dogma. Guided by the Baptist principle of soul liberty, it creates space for big questions, open dialogue, and diverse spiritual paths. We are committed to justice through reparations, immigrant rights, and the empowerment of queer voices in our faith community. Native Lands and Reparations Acknowledgement This is the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, Ojibwe and Odawa. This land also served as important meeting place for Miami, Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, Inoka, Sac, Fox, Peoria, Arapaho and Cheyenne and other Tribal nations. Outside the front door of the church, the original shoreline of Lake Michigan once stood. The land Lake Street Church of Evanston currently inhabits was used by many indigenous people as a gathering, trading, and ritual space. Nearby, on Ridge Avenue, there existed a trail that led all the way up to Green Bay, WI. This land was seized by white settlers as part of the wave of settler colonialism and genocide that constituted the eventual United States. We, as Lake Street Church of Evanston, acknowledge our ongoing participation in those legacies and commit ourselves to deeper understanding and action. This land was also the site of further white supremacy and racism, a legacy which we also name today. Over time, Evanston’s Black citizens have been systematically excluded from equal access to housing, education, healthcare, police protection, and participation in public recreational opportunities. One result of these compounded inequities is today’s tremendous wealth gap between Black and white residents. Most regrettably, with a few notable exceptions, white faith communities allowed the inequitable policies and practices to persist without resistance, while even participating and benefiting from them. Disparities continue to this day, and we join other faith communities that are stepping forward to respond. In accordance with our covenant “to act against injustice and for peace,” Lake Street Church supports the City of Evanston’s current efforts to address this injustice through its Reparations Programs. #lakestreetchurch #evanston #evanstonchurch #lakestreetorg #LSC #LSCEvanston #RevMichaelWoolf #JillianWesterfield #DrBonnieCampbell #DrDianaSchmuck #dynamic #open #inclusive #rooted #connected #transformed #progressive #faithcommunity #spiritualjourney #soulliberty #opendialogue #diversepaths #justice #curiosity #freedom #sanctuarychurch #sanctuarycongregation #reparations #immigrantrights #queervoices

Lake Street Church Evanston, Illinois Sunday, May 31, 2026 Rev. Michael Woolf, ThD (he/him) Senior Minister Jillian Westerfield (she/they) Associate Minister Moment for Wonder You are invited to share a "wondering" about our text(s) this morning in 20 seconds or less. Sample questions for you to respond to include: What do you wonder about in our ancient witness reading(s)? What would you change, and how would that affect the story? Who do you relate to in the story and why? Why do these readings matter? Lake Street Church of Evanston is a progressive faith community that values justice, curiosity, and the freedom to explore faith without rigid dogma. Guided by the Baptist principle of soul liberty, it creates space for big questions, open dialogue, and diverse spiritual paths. We are committed to justice through reparations, immigrant rights, and the empowerment of queer voices in our faith community. Native Lands and Reparations Acknowledgement This is the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi, Ojibwe and Odawa. This land also served as important meeting place for Miami, Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, Inoka, Sac, Fox, Peoria, Arapaho and Cheyenne and other Tribal nations. Outside the front door of the church, the original shoreline of Lake Michigan once stood. The land Lake Street Church of Evanston currently inhabits was used by many indigenous people as a gathering, trading, and ritual space. Nearby, on Ridge Avenue, there existed a trail that led all the way up to Green Bay, WI. This land was seized by white settlers as part of the wave of settler colonialism and genocide that constituted the eventual United States. We, as Lake Street Church of Evanston, acknowledge our ongoing participation in those legacies and commit ourselves to deeper understanding and action. This land was also the site of further white supremacy and racism, a legacy which we also name today. Over time, Evanston’s Black citizens have been systematically excluded from equal access to housing, education, healthcare, police protection, and participation in public recreational opportunities. One result of these compounded inequities is today’s tremendous wealth gap between Black and white residents. Most regrettably, with a few notable exceptions, white faith communities allowed the inequitable policies and practices to persist without resistance, while even participating and benefiting from them. Disparities continue to this day, and we join other faith communities that are stepping forward to respond. In accordance with our covenant “to act against injustice and for peace,” Lake Street Church supports the City of Evanston’s current efforts to address this injustice through its Reparations Programs. #lakestreetchurch #evanston #evanstonchurch #lakestreetorg #LSC #LSCEvanston #RevMichaelWoolf #JillianWesterfield #DrBonnieCampbell #DrDianaSchmuck #dynamic #open #inclusive #rooted #connected #transformed #progressive #faithcommunity #spiritualjourney #soulliberty #opendialogue #diversepaths #justice #curiosity #freedom #sanctuarychurch #sanctuarycongregation #reparations #immigrantrights #queervoices