Hey there, welcome back to the Gilead podcast. And WELCOME to the final sermon of Gilead! With a last will & testament, pomp & circumstance, on May 4, 2025, we closed the church. The Reverend Rebecca Anderson preached this final service. And members of the service read our Last Will & Testament to the congregation, which we then signed. It was a memorable night. And you can listen to it! Right here! ******We’ve been Gilead Chicago, a queer storytelling bar church located on Chicago’s north side. As of May 4th, 2025, we’re closed, but these episodes will stay online. So come join us whenever you need a little storytelling, a little perspective, a little prayer. 

Rebecca this week, as a part of our Everything Must Go theme, reminds us that the world is always ending somewhere. She also references the play Mr. Burns: a post electric play, which, if you haven’t seen it or read it, you don’t have to in order to understand the sermon, but it’s really good and I highly recommend it. *****We’ve been Gilead Chicago, a queer storytelling bar church located on Chicago’s north side. As of May 4th, 2025, we’re closing, but these episodes will stay online. So come join us whenever you need a little storytelling, a little perspective, a little prayer. 

Continuing our final theme of Everything Must Go, Vince takes a moment to speak to the opposite of the truth that everything must go: that spirituality and God is multitudinal, expansive, inclusive and that perhaps maybe everything must stay. We’ve been Gilead Chicago, a queer storytelling bar church located on Chicago’s north side. As of May 4th, 2025, we’re closing, but these episodes will stay online. So come join us whenever you need a little storytelling, a little perspective, a little prayer. 

Continuing our theme of Everything Must Go, Rebecca preaches about ridding ourselves of physical objects. And why we might hold onto them in the first place. SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠this GiveButter site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CaringBridge page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at [email protected]. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***This episode was originally recorded on March 23, 2025

As a part of our Lent “Everything Must Go” series, Vince speaks in his sermon about language. About how keeping our language simple can cut to the core of the real message. -----SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠⁠⁠⁠this GiveButter site⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠⁠⁠⁠CaringBridge page⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at [email protected]. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***This episode was originally recorded on March 16, 2025

From March 9th, at the beginning of Lent, we began stories in our very final Gilead service theme: Everything Must Go. Rebecca speaks of what we let go of as we grow up and grow old. From March 9th, at the beginning of Lent, we began stories in our very final Gilead service theme: Everything Must Go. Rebecca speaks of what we let go of as we grow up and grow old. -----SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠⁠⁠this GiveButter site⁠⁠⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠⁠⁠CaringBridge page⁠⁠⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at [email protected]. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***

On the theme of Forgive us Our Debts, Rebecca's sermon is not only about forgiveness but about mercy, what Jesus says about the two and how necessary they are in some of the darkest places in our society today.  This sermon was originally recorded on February 16th. -----SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠⁠this GiveButter site⁠⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠⁠CaringBridge page⁠⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at [email protected]. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***

This week’s sermon comes from Vince, preaching on the theme of Forgive Us Our Debts: stories of making good, settling scores and loan forgiveness. Vince says that he has two sermons on forgiveness, and he shares them both with us today. SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠this GiveButter site⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠CaringBridge page⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at [email protected]. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***This episode was recorded during our service on February 2, 2025.

This week’s sermon comes from Rebecca. She preaches for the final week of January’s “Blood, Sweat and Tears” theme and specifically, on the sweat part of it. It’s about sweating our asses off to interpret, to spread the word of the gospel, to adapt and change and bring these old stories into the present moment. And into the future. Sweating our asses off to tell true stories that change lives. SUPPORT As we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at this GiveButter site to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINE To stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our CaringBridge page. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at [email protected]. JOIN US IRL! Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.) ABOUT US Just to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here.  *** This episode was recorded during our service on January 26, 2025.

This week’s sermon is a little different, because in it, Rebecca addresses the heartbreaking decision to end Gilead. I attended service in person for this sermon, and I gotta say, I’m glad I was there. But for those of you who weren’t, or for those of you who would just like to listen again, here it is.  After a vote by the congregation to close the church during the service this past Sunday, Gilead will officially be ending. And as hard and as sad as it was to come to this decision, we’re trying not to get too sad yet because we will continue with services and celebrations and storytelling until at least Easter of this year. So, we have that to look forward to. It’s not the end quite yet.  SUPPORT As we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠here on our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN US IRL! Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.) ABOUT US Just to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here.  *** This episode was recorded during our service on January 12, 2025.