Welcome to
St. Luke's
Episcopal
Church
Tradition for Today
"He was known to them in the breaking of the bread." Luke 24:35
WELCOME
Founded in 1885, St. Luke's is the oldest parish in the Episcopal diocese of Southwest Florida.
Our vision is to be an abiding witness in our community to the love and saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our mission is to worship God in the Anglican tradition of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, availing ourselves of the means of grace and awaiting our hope in glory.
Join Us For...
NOTICE:
HERE WE GROW!
A LETTER FROM FATHER JEFF! Click to read a special message from Father Jeff, our Priest-in-Charge.
FALL ORGAN CONCERT: On Sunday, November 8, we will welcome guest organist, Sam Nelson. He will serve as organist for our 10 AM Mass and will present an inspirational concert at 4 PM. Sam is the Organist-Choirmaster at Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota. Originally from the North Shore of Boston, he held his first church organist position at age 12. Sam earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from Gordon College in 2011 under the tutelage of Roy Brunner and Douglas Marshall. In 2012, he won second prize at the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival in Old Wethersfield, Connecticut. After continuing intensive private study with Marshall, Sam completed a Master of Music degree at Boston University under the guidance of Peter Sykes in 2018. Plan now to be part of this significant musical worship experience. The concert is free and open to the public; an offering will be received.
WHY DO WE DO THAT? Have you ever wondered why we stand, sit, kneel, bow, use incense, ring bells, wear certain colors, or say specific words every Sunday? Now is your chance to ask! Join your church family and friends of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for GROUNDS FOR THEOLOGY, a lively Q&A session exploring the meaning behind our worship, traditions, and rituals. You ask the questions, and Fr. Jeff Hanson will provide the answers. To participate, pick up a 3x5 card from the welcome table near the church office, write down your question, and place it in the basket. Questions will be answered on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. when we meet for GROUNDS FOR THEOLOGY on November 1, 15, and 29, at Chocolattes, 16120 San Carlos Boulevard. Come ready to learn, discover, and have some fun along the way!
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: “Let the little children come to me…” Matthew 19:14
As we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, we have a beautiful opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus by participating in Operation Christmas Child. Each shoebox we pack is more than a gift—it is a tangible expression of God’s love and an opportunity for a child to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Please stop by the Daughters of the King (DOK) table in the Parish Hall during coffee hour on Sunday, November 8. We will have shoeboxes, information, and DOK members available to answer your questions and help you get started. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also contact the church office at (239) 334-2479. The final collection date is Sunday, November 22.
OUR LEASE OPTION IS STILL AVAILABLE: In an effort to expand our ministry, with the help of Mayhugh Commercial Realty, we are making classroom and office space available for lease (NOT FOR SALE!). The leasing option is being promoted on the realtors’ website. This would be an ideal facility for a private school, day care, expanding church ministries or adult education. Please pray that we’ll have success as we consider leasing opportunities.
Listen to Our Latest Sermon: All Saints' Day; November 1, 2026
For the feast of All Saints the lectionary offers us the opportunity to reflect on Matthew's Sermon on the Mount or Luke's Sermon on the Plain. Given the recent commemoration of St. Luke, our patron saint, Fr. Jeff opts for the Sermon on the Plain. Continuing his reflections from two weeks ago, he connects the Sermon to the announced mission of Jesus to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah as read by Jesus in the Nazareth synagogue. The focus of Jesus is on those who are suffering real-life hardship in the here and now: the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful. In one of his few departures from Matthew, Luke includes not just the famous Beatitudes or sayings of blessing but a parallel set of "woes." Fr. Jeff explains what is meant by this odd word in ancient languages and how it differs from being "cursed" as opposed to blessed. What this shows is that whether we are poor or rich we are either in need of mercy or best positioned to offer mercy to others. Hence our Lord's final admonition in the Sermon to be merciful as the Heavenly Father is merciful.