Community Worship: Rev. Katherine Willis Pershey

Lakeside welcomes Rev. Katherine Willis Pershey, Associate Minister of First Congregational Church in Western Springs, Illinois, as Preacher of the Week June 25-29. This week’s preacher is supported by the Gretchen A. Curtis Endowment. 

She will lead the 10:30 a.m. Chautauqua Community Worship Service on Sunday, June 25 in Hoover Auditorium.

Michael Shirtz and guest artists will provide musical leadership during the service. This service will feature jazz artists Evelyn Wright (vocals), Sam Blakeslee (trombone), Chris Coles (saxophone), Dwight Bailey (bass), Jerry Powell (drums), Michael Shirtz (piano/vocal). Worship music for the 2023 summer season is supported by James E. Beardsley and Doris F. Beardsley.

Liturgy will be led by Rev. Dr. Charles Yoost, Senior Director of Religious Life & Pastoral Care.

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. 

A native Northeast Ohioan who first discerned a call to ministry at the Lakeside Institute, Pershey attended seminary at Claremont School of Theology in Southern California. She was the solo pastor of South Bay Christian Church in Torrance, California for five years, and has been serving the First Congregational Church of Western Springs as an associate minister since 2010. 

Pershey is a member of the Board of The Christian Century and a regular contributor to the magazine. She is the author of Any Day a Beautiful Change: A Story of Faith and Family and Very Married: Field Notes on Love and Fidelity. She is presently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, participating in a cohort called “Holy Presence: Eugene Peterson and the Pastoral Imagination.” Pershey and her husband, Ben, have two children. 

Join Pershey for Faith for Living Hour at 9 a.m. Monday-Thursday in Orchestra Hall. Pershey will give the sermon at Vespers by the Lake at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Steele Memorial Bandstand. 

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.