Queering as Radical Reimagining | Worship in June

Pride 2025 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square

“Enter that space. Let us meet there.” – bell hooks

Greetings Beloveds,

Pride is upon us! This year’s theme for Pride Month is Queering as Radical Reimagining. This theme builds on work I have witnessed happening in this community since I arrived with series like, There Were Also Women, Hispanic History Month, and Dismantle. It also speaks to the current moment we find ourselves in as we reimagine what church can look like, together. This theme is an invitation to embrace and learn from marginalized wisdom as we do this work. 

In her essay, Choosing the Margin as a Space of Radical Openness, bell hooks describes the margins as “a site of creativity and power, that inclusive space where we recover ourselves, where we move in solidarity.”. This month is an invitation into this space. It is an invitation to meet at the margins and not dwell in the suffering, but learn from the creativity and experience the joy. 

This year’s theme, much like those before it, invites us to acknowledge the world as it is and to dream of the world as it could be. During lent, I often noted that white supremacy is a lens that limits our imagination. This Pride, my hope for us is that we embrace the wisdom of our queer siblings (and all their intersections) in imagining self, community, church etc. beyond the boundaries white supremacy has taught us. 

Each week, we will also explore the elements – Water, Fire, Spirit, Earth, Air – as subthemes to help awaken our imaginations and enliven our liturgy. There will be changes to the liturgy and things said that may spark discomfort. At times, things may seem chaotic, wrong or out of place. Know that these things are done with intention. We invite you into discomfort and will make space and time to process with you. We invite you into chaos with the understanding that the lack of order is done with intention and care.

We have crafted community guidelines for how we want to be together this month. We ask that you consider them as we engage this month together.

Community Guidelines

Be kind and respectful. 
With the understanding that we are all created in the image of the Creator, let us strive to treat everyone with dignity. We want to create an open and affirming space that honors the personhood of all people and the intersections of marginalization at which they may exist.

Be brave.
As a gathered community, it is important that we have in-depth, sometimes hard conversations. Let us strive to be open to sharing our thoughts and receiving ideas, opinions and experiences that may be different from our own. 

Be patient. 
Differing opinions and ways of being can cause frustration and tension. Tension can be good as we learn and grow, but we don’t want it to turn disrespectful or mean-spirited. Let us strive to be patient and listen well. If at any point you feel overwhelmed, please let a trusted community member know or do what you need to best care for yourself.

Be yourself. 
This is our space. It will be what we make it. Knowing that the imago Dei expands to depths we can not fathom, let us honor all identities and ways of being and strive to bring our full selves.

Be well. 
Take care of yourself. Above all else, we want you to honor your body first and foremost. Snacks, water, etc. are welcomed. Whatever positioning (sitting/ standing/ laying, etc.) or clothing you choose to wear are welcome.