Weekly Update from St. Luke's

Thanksgiving Blessings from Your St. Luke’s Staff

Happy Thanksgiving St. Lukers!

“We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.  We’ve done this since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all God’s people. … This message has been bearing fruit and growing among you since the day you heard and truly understood God’s grace, in the same way that it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world.” - Colossians 1:3-6

As we pause to give thanks on this day, the staff of St. Luke’s wants you to know what an incredible privilege it is to serve and minister alongside you, the beloved community of St. Luke’s. Every day, we are reminded how blessed we are to be part of a church that embodies hope, radiates light, and reveals God’s love in tangible ways across our community and beyond.

We are deeply grateful for you.

Grateful for your faithfulness.

Grateful for your generosity.

Grateful for your willingness to show up—again and again—as Awakened Disciples committed to learning, living, loving, and leading in the Way of Jesus.

Because of you, the vision God has entrusted to St. Luke’s is not just a set of words on paper—it becomes a lived reality. Together, you are revealing God’s Kingdom marked by love, justice, mercy, grace, compassion, and radical hospitality. And because of the way you welcome, serve, speak hope, and shine light, new people are walking through our doors every single week. They are finding belonging, finding purpose, and finding a home because you make it possible.

As your staff, we see the beauty of this ministry up close. We see your quiet acts of kindness. We see you praying with one another, teaching children and youth, caring for neighbors, providing meals, seeking justice, offering forgiveness, and finding courage. We see your faith lived out in ways big and small—each one a testimony to who God is forming us to be.

Thank you. Thank you for who you are. Thank you for all the ways you are faithful to God, to St. Luke’s, and to this community we love. It is an honor to serve Christ with you.

See you Sunday as we begin the holy and beautiful season of Advent, keeping it REEL with stories that connect us to the most beautiful story the world has ever known.

With full hearts and deep gratitude,

Your St. Luke’s Staff

Reminder: The church campus is closed through November 28 in observance of Thanksgiving. We will re-open for worship on Sunday, November 30, and the front office will re-open on Monday, December 1 at 9:00 a.m.

St. Luke's Week in Review

A Joyful Close for POLKADOTS

Theatre at St. Luke's run of POLKADOTS: The Cool Kids Musical JV came to a close last weekend, and we are so proud of what these young artists created. This show filled our stage with color, courage, friendship, and meaningful conversations about belonging, acceptance, and empathy.

It also allowed our cast to grow in St. Luke's core values, including Acceptance, Hospitality, and Community. These values came to life through scene and song, and every act of kindness on and off the stage.

To our faithful and amazing audiences, thank you for showing up and cheering on our students. To our production team, staff, and volunteers, thank you for the creativity and care you poured into every detail. And to our incredible cast, thank you for your joy, bravery, and open hearts. You brought this story to life with pride and purpose.

We hope you feel the warmth, hope, and learning that filled our theatre each day. Polkadots reminded us that every shape, every color, every voice, and every person belongs.

Click here to see more photos taken by Valerie Sims

A Magical Night at the Movies

Over 80 St. Luke’s ladies gathered this week to see Wicked: For Good on the big screen, and it was an evening filled with laughter, friendship, and pure joy—and yes… even a little singing along! The night reminded us how community can truly leave us changed for good.

Thank you to everyone who came and made it such a memorable time. We can’t wait for the next one!

Singing for Joy, Serving with Heart

Meet Sherri Staudt, a lifelong singer who has spent much of her marriage in small church choirs with her husband, Rick. Having also sung with CFCArts, she says joining St. Luke’s Sanctuary Choir has been a true joy, and she feels right at home. “It’s nice to have beautiful and uplifting lyrics playing in my head all week,” she shares.

Her journey here began while listening to NPR, when she heard about a church feeding out-of-work artists during COVID. “I thought, I’d love to be part of a church so involved in the community—and now I’m here!”

She now volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Stephen Ministry, and the Neighborhood Center in Groveland. “I’m moved by the compassion of our church leaders, and feel blessed to be part of this church and its wonderful music program,” she says.

Want to get involved in St. Luke’s Traditional Music Ministries? Contact Bradley Roberts at broberts@st.lukes.org.

Upcoming Events

Ways to Learn, Live, Love, and Lead

Current sermon series: A REEL Christmas

View Worship Details

"Your Week with St. Luke's" Podcast - This week, Pastors Jenn, Jad, and Melissa kick off our Advent series: A REEL Christmas! They explore Isaiah 9, the theme of hope, and how God’s light breaks into the world in unexpected ways—through a child, not power. As we begin a new Christian year, this conversation invites you to make space for wonder, push past cynicism, and prepare your heart for Christ to be born anew.

Give the gift of your presence and your presents at the Circles Holiday Party on December 16 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.! There are many opportunities to volunteer at the party, as well as donate toys for the Toy Shop. To learn more about how you can be involved, click here.

The holiday season can be especially hard for those facing grief, loss, illness, or other challenges. St. Luke’s invites you to a gentle, hope-filled Blue Christmas Service on December 21. Come to this space to find God’s healing presence. Click here for more details.

Help support Family Promise families this holiday season! St. Luke’s is providing meals and hotel stays during the week of December 21, and we’re looking for volunteers to provide dinners for four families. You can cook, cater, or order takeout—whatever works for you. Please click HERE for information on how to help.