Community Worship: Rev. Dr. Julie Faith Parker

Lakeside is excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Julie Faith Parker, Visiting Scholar at Union Theological Seminary in New York, as Preacher of the Week Aug. 4-8. This week’s preacher is supported by the Hottenroth Family.

Parker will lead the 10:30 a.m. Chautauqua Community Worship Service on Sunday, Aug. 4 in Hoover Auditorium. Her sermon, “Muddled Miracles,” will reveal some startling elements in this story of the Exodus that we think we know so well. How might we follow the muddy feet of the ancient Israelites to notice and appreciate the miracles of our own lives?

Michael Shirtz and guest artists will provide musical leadership during the service, while the liturgy will be led by Rev. Dr. Charles Yoost, Senior Director of Religious Life & Pastoral Care. Worship music for the 2024 summer season is supported by James E. Beardsley and Doris F. Beardsley.

Following the opening prayer, children (ages 5-11) will proceed to Bradley Temple for Children’s Church with Chip Richter. There will be a message by Richter, songs, crafts, lemonade and cookies to share. Preschoolers are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

In the Faith for Living series Monday-Thursday at 9 a.m. in Orchestra Hall, Parker will lead sessions based on research from her most recent book, Eve Isn’t Evil. During Vespers by the Lake Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Steele Memorial Bandstand, she will preach on Luke 5:1-11, when Jesus teaches from a boat on a lake and calls Simon, James and John to join him in fishing for people. Parker will share about an unforeseen break in her own life and how it deepened her faith in her sermon, “A Break by the Lake.”

Parker is the author or editor of eight books, including the 2023 released Eve Isn’t Evil, which intertwines academic information about the Bible with personal stories.

An ordained minister in The United Methodist Church, Parker worked as a congregational pastor then as a campus minister prior to doctoral studies.

She holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible from Yale University and has been a professor of biblical studies at multiple institutions, including General Theological Seminary (New York), Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Columbus, Ohio), and New York Theological Seminary, where she taught inside Sing Sing prison (Ossining, New York).

Parker is an Old Testament scholar whose passion is combining solid academic information with creative pedagogy. Her classes incorporate film, music, drama and poetry – along with close attention to words and phrases in the original Hebrew and Greek texts. Join us to see how reading the Bible can enrich your life as you rediscover the joy of text.

Parker is married to Rev. Dr. Bill Crawford, a Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor, and they are proud parents of two grown children, Graham and Mari.

Guests are welcome to attend Community Worship free of charge by requesting a complimentary Church Pass between 7:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday; valid until 1 p.m. The pass includes admittance for guests and auto. This pass must be presented to the gate attendant upon departure. If the time allotted is exceeded, the guest(s) will be charged a fee. This pass does not include access to the Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus pool. Complimentary passes are available for all worship services and Faith for Living Hour.