It's Pride Weekend at EPC! This special edition of our e-notes will share all you need to know about the events happening this weekend here at EPC to celebrate PRIDE! Be sure to invite your friends and family to join us for these fun events we have going on. Hope to see you there!

Join us on Friday, June 23 at 7PM for a special conversation with guests Jennifer Knapp and Daneen Akers moderated by our own Traci Smith. Tickets are pay what you want and can be available HERE. Learn more about Daneen and Jennifer below! 

Daneen Akers

Daneen Akers loves the gloaming, the time of day when it’s starting to grow dark and there’s magic in the air. She’s also very fond of books, walks in the woods, songs around a campfire, snuggles with her daughters, and large pots of hot beverages enjoyed with friends.

She is the author of the picture book "Dear Mama God", a warm, wonder-filled prayer of gratitude from a child. Combining stunning illustrations with simple yet profound prayers, "Dear Mama God" is the perfect children's book to introduce children (and their adults) to the liberating and heart-expanding world of referring to the divine in feminine form.

Daneen is also the author of "Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints", a middle-grades anthology of original portraits and profiles of people of diverse faiths who have worked for more love, justice, and kindness in their corner of the world.

Daneen was a part-time resident in the San Francisco Film Society's inaugural FilmHouse program and received the Pacific Pioneer Emerging Filmmaker Grant. She co-produced and directed several documentary films that focused on identity, faith, and belonging, especially as related to LGBTQ members of the conservative denomination she grew up in, including "Seventh-Gay Adventists: A film about faith, identity, and belonging". She's a former English teacher with a graduate degree from San Francisco State University.

Daneen lives near Asheville, North Carolina, with her family. Most mornings, she’s woken up by an enthusiastic Carolina Wren outside her window.

Jennifer Knapp

Jennifer Knapp is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, author, speaker and advocate. Her impressive history includes selling over one million albums with her first three releases Kansas (debut 1998, Gold-certified), Lay It Down (2000), and The Way I Am (2001). She has earned four Dove Awards and two Grammy nominations. The Kansas-born musician has toured the globe with artists such as Jars of Clay and was featured on the Lilith Fair Tour in 1999 and 2010. Knapp received critical acclaim for her human approach to the divine, with The Los Angeles Times calling her “a rising star” and People Magazine describing her as “an uncommonly literate songwriter.”

With a considerable fan base and critical and commercial success, Knapp walked away from music in 2002 at the height of her career. After a seven-year hiatus she returned in 2010 with a renewed passion for music showcased in her album Letting Go, which debuted at No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart. Set Me Free followed in 2014 on Righteous Babe Records in conjunction with a memoir, Facing the Music: My Story, published by Simon & Schuster. Her 2017 album Love Comes Back Around, produced by Viktor Krauss, pairs her fearless songwriting and strong, expressive voice with Americana style rootsy arrangements.

As the first major artist in the Christian music world to speak openly about LGBTQ identity, her unique position created opportunities for national dialogue, including appearances on Larry King Live and the TEDx stage. In 2012 Knapp founded the non-profit organization Inside Out Faith, through which she continues to speak and perform nationally as an advocate for LGBTQ & faith issues.

A true Renaissance woman, Knapp recently completed a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Elmhurst Family PrideFest is this Saturday from 12-3pm in the church parking lot. Check out all the wonderful folks who will be there! Be sure you come hear Jennifer Knapp and the great music and visit the EPC booth to say hello. 

Sunday's worship service will be a celebration of Pride! All are welcome to join us as we welcome Daneen Akers and Jennifer Knapp as our guests for worship. Jennifer will share some music and Daneen will be preaching a message on The Divine Feminine. Be sure you join us for this inspiring and uplifting worship service at our usual 10:30 AM time. 

10:30 Sunday Worship Livestream - Click Here!

Give to Elmhurst Presbyterian Church

Elmhurst Presbyterian Church
367 S Spring Road 
Elmhurst, IL 60126-3805
elmhurstpresbyterianoffice@gmail.com
630-834-7750