Who Are We?
Our congregation is looking for an experience of the Holy that is strong enough to lean on, deep enough to question, and challenging enough to change us.
Our life together is founded on three pillars:
- Sharing the Meal: Our worship takes place at the table around a big, delicious meal that we cook together. Communion is made as we share food and ourselves by exploring scripture, singing, and praying together.
- Telling Our Story: Jesus told a lot of stories, and so do we. We tell the story of Christ's dying and rising, and through it, uncover the daily dyings and risings that comprise our lives.
- Working Together: When you arrive at St. Lydia's, you'll be put straight to work preparing dinner or setting the table. Working together unites us as a community and brings us closer
to God.
Staff
Emily Scott, Pastoral Minister
Emily Scott wants to create a place where God and God's people sit down and have dinner. Emily graduated from Yale Divinity School and the Institute of Sacred Music. Trained as a liturgist and musician, Emily has a particular interest in the intersection of worship and the arts.
Emily served as the Director of Worship at the Riverside Church in New York City from 2007 to 2009. In addition to her role at St. Lydia's, she serves as Director of Family Music Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, and is a candidate for ordination with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
From 2005 to 2010, Emily was the Coordinator for the New Music Project, a network of clergy and musicians interested in composing and leading congregational music from the oral tradition. As part of her work, she oversaw the publication of Music By Heart, a hymnal of paperless music.
Read Emily's writing: "Dinner Church: Sit Down At the Table", "Refraining from Invitation"
Read Emily's blog: Sit and Eat
Write Emily: emily@stlydias.org
Rachel Pollak, Community Coordinator
Primarily a visual artist, Rachel Pollak holds both a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Master of Religion and the Arts degree from Yale Divinity School. She is interested in the social aspects of both art and religion--how communities grow around symbols, images and rituals. Her art work has been exhibited in Chicago and New York City, and reviewed in such publications as Chicago Weekly and Art Review.
Rachel has served as Community Coordinator for St. Lydia's since September 2009. Her adaptable and highly social personality make her a natural connector across diverse populations. In her position at St. Lydia's, Rachel draws on her experience working in many different environments and roles. She has been the editor-in-chief of an arts and literary magazine, provider of direct care to adults with developmental disabilities, printmaking teacher and, most recently, a coordinator for the Music That Makes Community conferences organized by the All Saints Company.
In addition to being a staff member, Rachel is also a congregant. In September 2011, she became the first person in our community to be baptized. RP (as she is known to us from her Weekly Update emails to the community) loves St. Lydia's and is here to help, so feel free to email her (rachel@stlydias.org) if you have any questions about attending worship or being part of the St. Lydia's community.
Read Rachel’s Writing: “Letting Meaning Unfold”
Read and Interview with Rachel about her work in Overflow Magazine.
See Rachel's artwork on her website.
Write Rachel: rachel@stlydias.org