When are services?
Sunday services from September through June are at 8:00 am, 9:15 am, and 11:15 am; during the summer services are at 8:00 am and 10:30 am on Sundays. There is a Service of Healing following the later service every Sunday. Weekday services are at 6:15 pm Monday through Thursday, and 12:15 pm on Fridays. All are welcome to any or all of these services.
Whom should I contact with a prayer request?
Please call 212-924-0562 or email prayerlist@stlukeinthefields.org to make a prayer request.
How do I send my child to St. Luke's school?
Parents wishing to apply to St. Luke’s School should contact the school for application materials (www.stlukeschool.org or 212-924-5960). All applicants are evaluated according to the same criteria: individual qualifications and effort to achieve class balance and diversity. Admission preference is given at the Junior Kindergarten level, and in Kindergarten through Grade 7, where possible, to children of parishioners who have been actively involved at The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields for at least one year (Early Notification Applicants).
Who was St. Luke?
St. Luke was a physician (Col 4:14). He was a companion of Saint Paul on some of his missionary journeys (Acts 16:10ff; 20:5ff; 27-28) and the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts in the New Testament of the Bible. The name was chosen at the founding of St. Luke’s because it was located in the country, where many sought healthful refuge from the fevers of the city (what is now the area around Wall Street).
What is an Episcopal Church?
The Episcopal Church (TEC) is the American branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, considered a "child" of the Church of England. TEC came into existence as an independent denomination after the American Revolution. Today, it has between two and three million members in the United States, Mexico, and Central America, all of which whom are under the jurisdiction of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefforts Schori.
What is the Anglican Communion?
The Anglican Communion is an inheritor of 2,000 years of catholic and apostolic tradition dating from Christ himself and rooted in the Church of England. When the Church of England spread throughout the British Empire, sister churches sprang up. These churches, while autonomous in their governance, are bound together as “family” - all are inheritors of traditions received from the Church of England. Together they make up the Anglican Communion, which is headed spiritually by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is the second largest Christian body in the Western world.
How is the church governed?
Policy and financial matters are decided by a representative group of elected lay people called a Vestry. The head priest, or Rector, handles day-to-day oversight of staff, and all spiritual and worship-related matters. All individual congregations are part of a larger geographical area called a Diocese, which is led by a bishop. Representatives from ECUSA (bishops, priests and lay people from all the dioceses) then meet every three years to consider and vote on policies, and to elect a Presiding Bishop, who represents the Episcopal Church to the Anglican Communion for a nine-year term.
What is the Book of Common Prayer?
Contrary to what some believe, the Book of Common Prayer (the "Prayer Book") is not an "Anglican Bible." We love it, use it and depend on it, but it is not Scripture (though it does contain quite a lot of Scripture), and we do not view it or use it as such. The first Book of Common Prayer was produced by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1549. The book was intended to facilitate worship in English rather than Latin, to bring the people of the church together in – literally – common prayer, ordained and lay, “Catholic” and “Protestant.” In the Prayer Book, you will find outlines of worship, prayers for use in home devotions, the lectionary (the scriptural readings used in corporate worship, organized so as to carry the congregation through the entire Bible in a three-year period), the Psalter (Psalms), the calendar of the church year, an outline of the faith (Catechism) and various historical documents.
Who can attend services at St. Luke’s:
Saint Luke’s welcomes all people, of all faiths. Everyone, from all walks of life, is welcome. People are often drawn in by a service already in progress, or are motivated to walk through the doors seeking retreat from the city noise. Everyone who wants a quiet space to gather their thoughts, or who needs a prayerful moment, or who is simply curious, or who even has no conscious reason for coming at all, are welcome to participate in the services at Saint Luke’s. Saint Luke’s is an inclusive church, which is to say, in an all-embracing way, that we mean everyone! No one is turned away from the hospitality and table of Christ found on this city block, the Church of Saint Luke in the Fields.
How do I become an active member of St. Luke's?
Membership is not required to attend services at St. Luke’s or to enjoy its communion and parish life. We embrace anyone attending services, including those who wish to participate in any of the parish life programs, as a member of our faith family on the block. Fundamental to being a member of the congregation at St. Luke’s is the desire to be there, and/or to want a church home.
If you are a newcomer, you can either be anonymous or make yourself known by filling in a pew card and giving it either to an usher, or by depositing it in the plate that is passed around during the offertory part of the service. You can also drop it in the mail slot at the Parish Office (487 Hudson Street) or mail it in.
Members and Friends of St. Luke’s deepen their participation in parish life by volunteering in one or more of the many programs on the block, and/or supporting the church with a financial pledge, which support the programs and church operations on the block. Pledging is an act of planned generosity by those that are able and want to do so, and there is no limit on what value constitutes a pledge. It can be as much or as little as a person desired and can afford. See "How do I make a pledge payment?". Please visit our Giving page for additional information.
If you have been a member of another church, especially another Episcopal Church, you can contact them (or ask us to do it) and ask that a Letter of Membership Transfer be sent to St. Luke’s.
If you have not been baptized, and would like to be, or if you were raised in or previously belonged to another church tradition and would like to join the Episcopal Church, or if you are completely new to the church, we have a series of classes (the Discovery Series in our Formation Program) that culminates in adult baptism, confirmation, reception and reaffirmation of one's faith. (Please visit our Learn and Grow to find out more.)
How many members are there?
St. Luke’s has 517 members, with an average Sunday morning attendance of approximately 275 people across three services.
How do I make a pledge or a pledge payment?
A pledge is your commitment, to the best of your ability, to contribute financially to St. Luke’s Church. Pledges allow the Budget Committee to plan a balanced budget based on promised income. Pledge forms are available through the mail or you may download a PDF version. The information you provide is confidential and will only be seen by you and the parish bookkeeper. You may now also now record your pledge online by using our online pledge form. Once you have done so, our Business Office will receive notification of your pledge automatically, and you will receive acknowledgement via email.
You may make a pledge payment in person, by mail or online, you may pay a lump sum or make payments over time. Your offering can be spread out through the year on a schedule you designate. See your pledge form for details. You may make a pledge payment online by credit card through St. Luke’s secure online pledge payment page using your Visa, American Express or MasterCard. If your circumstances change, you may alter your pledge by calling the Business Office at 212-633-7817. You may always call our Business Manager, Maureen Doyle, at 212-633-7817 with any questions.
