LOVE IS THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN HERE | |
STANDING FOR JUSTICE, LIVING IN GRACE
We believe worship and justice go hand in hand.
Find your voice and your place at St. Luke’s.
| | |
Beloved,
The Spiritual Gift of Giving
Ingathering Sunday: November 23, 2025
As we move toward Thanksgiving and Advent, we pause to remember how much we’ve been given and to ask how we might give back to God in gratitude. Making a financial pledge to St. Luke’s isn’t just about balancing a budget; it’s a spiritual practice, a way of expressing trust and thanksgiving to the One who has blessed us so abundantly.
This year, many of us are feeling the strain of rising costs, and the uncertainty caused by the government shutdown has only added to the anxiety. It’s important to acknowledge that reality. Giving faithfully doesn’t mean giving beyond your means; it means giving from your heart, in gratitude and hope. Every pledge, no matter the size, helps keep St. Luke’s strong and vibrant, and every gift is a visible sign of love and commitment to this community of faith.
Through your generosity, St. Luke’s continues to be a place of welcome and worship, a center for compassion and justice in the heart of our city. Together, we’re building a spiritual home where all are invited to find belonging, healing, and purpose.
As you pray about your 2026 pledge, I invite you to ask: What does generosity look like for me this year? How can my giving reflect both my gratitude and faith in God’s future?
On Ingathering Sunday, November 23, we will bring our pledges forward and bless them together, offering our gifts in thanksgiving for God’s steadfast love and for the ministry we share.
“All things come from you, O Lord,
and of your own have we given you.”
I am particularly excited about all the upcoming events and formation offerings listed below. Scroll down to check them out, mark your calendar, and JOIN US!
Faithfully,
John +
| | | |
COFFEE HOUR Signups - Posted in the Parish Hall: Coffee Hour is an important component of our Sunday worship/community experience and for becoming the Beloved Community God intends us to be. It’s often referred to as the 8th Sacrament of the Church.”
We are grateful for those who prepare and serve the coffee hours. Thank you!
-
November 23 ~ Debbie Jackson
-
November 30 ~ Susan Hardy
-
December 7 ~ Gloria Brown
-
December 14 ~ Karyn Berry
-
December 21 ~ The Vestry
- December 28 ~ John Yahner
| |
|
| | |
Help decorate St. Luke's for Christmas.
Order your Memorial Christmas Poinsettias by the deadline December 1st.
Forms are located in the Narthex. Return your completed form to the Parish Office, or to Flower Guild members Gloria Brown, or Karyn Berry.
Payment is also due by December 1. You may pay by mail, or dropping a check in the collection plate, or by using the QR Code, or by clicking the link below:
Click Here to Pay NOW
(Scroll down on fund options and click on: "Flower Guild")
THANK YOU!
| | | |
A CHRISTIAN'S CALL
TO CONTEMPLATION & ACTION
| |
Sermon Reflection – Theme: "Holding Fast to Hope"
In a world that often feels unsteady, Jesus’ words remind us not to be terrified but to endure in faith. Hope, as Isaiah and Paul remind us, isn’t denial of reality; it’s the courage to believe that God is still creating, redeeming, and speaking life into our world, even in seasons of uncertainty.
Key Points
- Scripture is Meant to Be Inwardly Digested: God’s Word becomes strength when we take it deeply into our hearts—so it steadies us when the world outside feels shaky.
- God Is Still Creating: Isaiah envisions a new heaven and earth born out of devastation—a reminder that resurrection hope grows from ashes. “Be joyful though you have considered all the facts,” wrote Wendell Berry.
- Do Not Grow Weary: Paul’s counsel to the Thessalonians calls us to the quiet, steady work of love—acts of faithfulness that resist despair. As Mary Oliver said, “My work is loving the world.”'
- Endurance as Faith: Jesus promises that through endurance we gain our souls. Hope is not optimism but meaning—trusting, as Vaclav Havel wrote, that “something makes sense, no matter how it turns out.”
- Hope at St. Luke’s: God’s new creation is already unfolding in every small act of compassion—every coat collected, every prayer offered, every song sung.
Questions for Reflection
- Where in my life do I feel things “falling apart,” and how might I sense God creating something new there?
- What does “endurance” look like for me right now—in relationships, faith, or community life?
- How can I practice the quiet, daily work of love this week?
- What helps me hold fast to hope when fear or weariness sets in?
Invitations to Action
- Live Hopefully: Pray the Collect during the week—ask God to help you “hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” Scripture in your daily life.
- Do Not Grow Weary: Offer one quiet act of love each day—write a note, make a phone call, lend a hand.
- Endure Together: Join with others at St. Luke’s in acts of compassion—support our coat drive, visit a neighbor, or volunteer with our community ministries.
- Hold Fast to Hope: When the world trembles, remember whose you are—and that God is still making all things new.
| |
Before the lights and music of Christmas fill our homes, the Church invites us into a quieter, more reflective time, Advent, a season of holy waiting. This special workshop, Advent: A Season of Holy Waiting, will help us slow down and rediscover the deep meaning of this sacred time.
Drawing on Scripture, tradition, and symbols like candles, wreaths, and evergreens, we’ll explore the rich history and spiritual themes of Advent, Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Each participant will receive An Advent Book of Reflections created for St. Luke’s, filled with weekly meditations and simple daily practices to bring more depth and peace to the season.
Grab a snack from the Coffee Hour and join us back in the worship space for this gentle and inspiring gathering led by Father John. We will prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming and learn new ways to keep the light of Advent burning in our homes and lives.
Everyone is welcome!
Bring a friend or neighbor and begin your Advent journey together.
| |
JOIN US FOR ST. LUKE'S ADULT DINNER FORUM SERIES
What: Bi-Weekly Adult Dinner Forums (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)
NOTE: Given that Christmas falls in the same week as our normally scheduled end of the month adult forum, we will only have one this month (December 9).
TUESDAY, December 9 IN-Person: 6:00 pm
Zoom: 6:45 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8498487811?pwd=LGq3JwKv396Cba4pfGug7XZLv8B2Ve.1
Meeting ID: 849 848 7811
Passcode: 240226
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,8498487811#,,,,*240226# US
+13017158592,,8498487811#,,,,*240226# US (Washington DC)
December Topic: Born to Love Greatly:
A 90-Minute Workshop on Rediscovering Divine Love within You!
FACILITATED BY: SAMIER MANSUR
(See the Detailed Program Description Below)
Where: The Parish Hall (6:00 - 8:00 PM) Online by Zoom: (6:45 - 8:00 PM)
| |
BORN TO LOVE GREATLY:
A 90-MINUTE WORKSHOP ON
REDISCOVERING DIVINE LOVE WITHIN YOU
Love is perhaps the most discussed, debated, and desired of all topics—yet it remains the most misunderstood. Most of us grew up believing that love arrives with fireworks: bright sparks, butterflies, and cinematic chemistry. From songs to movies, culture has trained us to chase those feelings as proof of “the one.”
But while those moments can be thrilling, they say nothing about the depth, endurance, or divine purpose of real love.
In this 90-minute workshop, you’ll explore a radically different understanding—one revealed by sages, poets, and Scripture across the ages: Love is not a fleeting emotion or a passing chemical reaction. Love is the revelation of the Divine within you. It is the most intelligent, creative, and beautiful force in existence—and it has always been within you, waiting to be remembered and awakened.
Together, we’ll answer five transformative questions that can reshape how you experience love:
- What is Love, really?
- What does it mean to give your heart fully, to loved ones, to purpose, to the world?
- How can I heal insecurities that make me feel unworthy of love?
- Why do I keep repeating the same painful patterns, and how do I break free?
- How do I open my heart to love greatly, freely, and without fear?
By the end, you’ll walk away with:
- A true understanding of what Love really is
- Practical tools to rise above insecurities and beliefs that once dimmed your light
- A framework to open your heart and feel the overflow of Divine Love within you
As Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” That light begins to shine the moment you remember: you were born to love greatly.
SAMIER MANSUR:
Samier Mansur is a Leadership and Life Success Coach, published author, and social impact entrprenuer with a proven track record of global impact and transformation. Recognized as a "world changer" and one of the “top innovators and disruptors” of Washington DC, He has designed and implemented effective solutions that have saved lives, promoted mental health and personal development that has benefited millions around the world.
Samier is the co-founder of LiveSafe mobile safety app. He is also the founder of the global mental health and child well-being platform, No Limit Generation; where he has directed and produced over 170 mental health training videos in partnership with government agencies and the world’s leading humanitarian organizations. His work in mental health has supported children and their caregivers in theaters of war and conflict; natural disasters; orphanages; and child-survivors of sexual abuse. He also founded the Safe Haven, a healing and larning space for 500 child genocide survivors in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Samier has over 40 international publications on topics ranging from mental health, personal-development, and public policy. His work has been featured on some of the most prominent global media and mental health platforms and publications— from Forbes and the LA Times and the US Department of State to The American Psychiatric Association — including on the TEDx stage.
He is a fellow at the PeaceTech at the US institute of Peace, the Halcyon House, among other institutions of public service and innovation. He has received certifications in neuroscience-backed, evidence-based mind-body practices for increased confidence, well-being, and stress reduction; among other well-being certifications.
Samier sits on the board of educational institutions around the world and is a leadership and life coach to entrepreneurs, social impact, well-being, business, and government leaders. He currently resides in Washington DC where he is writing a book on how we are all Born to Love Greatly.
| | | | |
|
DISCOVERING HIDDEN GEMS: A Free Community Concert at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C.
Saturday, November 22, 2025 @ 4:00 p.m.
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of music, spirit, and community. The first concert in our Music of the Spirit series, "Discovering Hidden Gems," celebrates the extraordinary artistry within our own neighborhood.
Experience the power and beauty of gospel, jazz, classical, Broadway, and rap as local musicians share their gifts in a program filled with heart and inspiration. Featured performers include acclaimed vocalist Anthony Anderson, who has graced stages from St. Luke’s to the Kennedy Center and the White House, along with the soulful Tami Hayes and several talented local musicians and choirs.
This free concert is open to all. Free-will thank offerings will be graciously accepted to support St. Luke’s charitable ministries and help fund future Music of the Spirit concerts.
Come be part of this joyful musical journey celebrating the hidden treasures and vibrant spirit of our community, our city, and our world.
| | |
Icon Writing Workshop
& Retreat
February 5 – 7, 2026
Thursday, February 5, 2026
(9:00 am – 4:00 pm)
Friday, February 6, 2026
(9:00 am – 4:00 pm)
Saturday, February 7, 2026
(9:00 am – 4:00 pm)
Sunday, February 8, (Afternoon if needed)
The Image: Our Lady of Tenderness
Blessing of the Icons:
Satuday following the workshop or Sunday at the 9:30 Eucharist
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C. will host an Icon Workshop with iconographer and Episcopal Priest, The Reverend Peter Pearson, OFM. Peter has studied and painted icons for over fifty years, authored three books on the subject, and painted hundreds of icons for churches, monasteries, seminaries, convents and individuals all over the world. He has taught thousands of students, and at the end of each workshop, everyone leaves with an icon of their very own.
No previous experience or natural talent is required. We paint, pray, and follow the simple step-by-step instructions.
This event is open to everyone.
The Place:
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (Parish Hall)
1514 15th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Class Minimum: 15 Students
Class Maximum: 25 Students
Cost: $300:
(The registration fee includes all materials which will be provided by the instructor at NO additional charge.)
For More Information Contact:
Father John Ball: 202-667-4394 office
240-434-2998 cell / email: Johnball0450@gmail.com
| | | | | |
