Ministries

Church Front

Committees: Parish Activities:
Outreach Gingerbread Players
Worship Saint Luke's Choir
Evangelism Rummage Sale
Stewardship Youth Activities
Education Social Activities
Inreach Altar Guild
Hospitality Acolytes
Finance Bell Ringers Guild
Buildings and Grounds

 

Outreach

Paint Day at Community House
Paindtay
The Outreach Committee brings before the parish the needs of people outside the congregation in the local community, on deanery and diocesan levels, as well as throughout the Church and World. In addition, the committee recommends opportunities for meeting needs through parishioner giving of time, talent and treasure. Saint Luke's Outreach Goal is to become more visible in the larger surrounding community as a faith community actively engaged in our mission of service with people in need.
Despite tight parish budgetary constraints, we remain deeply committed to the servant ministry of the church: to respond to people in need. Among our many outreach initiatives is our Annual Outreach Grant, comprised of approximately 10% of all our special events income.


This year's recipient of our largest grant ever, $4400, is God's Love We Deliver.
GLWD prepares and delivers nutritious meals to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses, who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. To learn more, visit www.glwd.org.

 


Saint Luke's Lenten Project
EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT

Each year, the outreach committee sponsors a Lenten project to focus the parish on self-denial offering. This Lenten Bake Saleyear’s subject is Episcopal Relief and Development, the Episcopal Church outreach network working with Anglican and ecumenical partners to save lives and build hope around the world. By providing emergency assistance in times of natural disaster, helping communities combat poverty and disease, helping people increase food production, and supporting local economic development through job training and small business development, ERD is compassion in action. Their integrated development approach addresses the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in every place we work. With your partnership, Episcopal Relief and Development provides solutions today for tomorrow’s challenges. For more details, visit their website at www.er-d.org. We will be collecting daily self-denial offerings in hope chests, which will be gathered on the Sunday of the Passion, March 16. To supplement these offerings, the hospitality hour on Refreshment Sunday, March 2, will take the form of a bake sale to benefit the project.

Lenten Bake Sale


Paint DaySt. Luke’s has an ongoing relationship with the Forest Hills Community House to support their programs for struggling families and senior citizens in our community. Located on 63rd Drive, the Community House is a settlement house that runs after-school programs, a nursery school, a senior center, and other essential services. Our partnership includes stocking their food pantry and providing holiday gifts for children through our Jesse Tree project. Last January, we completed our first hands-on volunteer project with the Community House, painting two classrooms in their nursery school, depicted above.
As a local Citymeals-on-Wheels provider, the Forest Hills Community House is looking for volunteer Friendly Visitors to provide homebound older adults in our community with companionship. Friendly Visitors become a trusted friend with whom the older adult can share life stories and memories. We are looking for warm and caring people who are able to commit once a week for 1-2 hours. Anyone interested should contact Dennis Redmond at dredmond@fhch.org or 718-592-5757 x223
.

Paint Day at Community House


 

Worship
The Worship Committee gives the Rector counsel and assistance in matters of the liturgical life of the parish.

Evangelism
The Evangelism Committee seeks to invite members of the community-at-large to experience aspects of our parish life. Welcoming newcomers to our various special programs and worship, as well as incorporating new members into the congregation are concerns of this committee.

Stewardship
The Stewardship Committee carries out a year-round program of education to encourage the members of the parish to give of their time, talent and treasure for the support of our parish life and program. The committee conducts the Annual Pledge Campaign and oversees parish fund-raising.

Education
The Education Committee carries out a program of Christian Instruction and Faith Formation for all age levels (Nursery, Church School, Youth Group, Adult).

St. Luke's Inreach Committee

Inreac h

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

That's what St. Luke's Inreach Committee is all about and we're asking you, our fellow parishioners, to help us help each other. Please consider the list of options on the form and check off those you'd be interested in doing occasionally; if you think of services that aren't listed, please write them in. Also, we're always looking for more information to add to St. Luke's resource file. If you can recommend caregivers, baby-sitters, house cleaners, therapists, nursing facilities, etc., please write their names and contact numbers where indicated.

Front row: Vera Moron, Hedi Hoffman, Noelle Lenti, Joyce Egginton
Back row: Gary Carldon, Florence Amato, Jane Thornton, Anne Su, Barbara Trippel
(Not pictured: Ann Chamberlain , Madeleine Hogan, Gert Hounsell, Tess Conte)

Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee coordinates the various ongoing fellowship programs (such as Sunday Hospitality Hour, parish meals) and special events.

Finance
The Finance Committee keeps the Vestry apprised of the financial needs of the parish, manages investments at the direction of the Vestry, takes responsibility in annually convening the Audit Committee, and prepares and presents the proposed operating budget of the parish.

Buildings and Grounds
The Buildings and Grounds Committee manages the care and maintenance of all parish buildings, grounds and equipment (Church, Parish Hall and Rectory).


Parish Activities

The Gingerbread Players of Saint Luke's
Saint Luke's has long been blessed by a group of theatrically talented parishioners known as the Gingerbread Players whose musical productions draw from throughout Queens. Now in its 31st year, the Players stage several productions each year. Auditions are held for new actors and people are always needed to work behind the scenes. Delicious gingerbread is sold during intermission. Material has ranged from operas, musicals, to original works by members of the church.

Each production is a true labor of love for the "behind-the-scenes" crew as well as those on stage. Rehearsals take place on weekends for about three months, with performances on weekends. The shows offer children a unique opportunity to learn about the theater and work as a team with adults; players range in age from eight to eighty. Saint Luke's occasionally presents other theatrical experiences. In addition to concerts by soloists in the choir, readings, instrumental recitals, and one-man shows have been staged as fund-raisers. Upcoming Stage Events

Saint Luke's Choir
Saint Luke's Choir is well known for its inspiring liturgical music. The Choir sings at 10:30 a.m. Sunday mass.

Rummage Sale
Our annual Rummage Sale is not only a lot of fun it is also one of the main fundraisers for our annual community outreach grant. Workers report that it's a great opportunity to get acquainted with fellow parishioners. This festive two-day event attracts a large and loyal following from near and far.

Youth Activities
Youth activities have varied with the number and interests of the young people. In recent years, they have enjoyed annual outings to parks like Splish Splash and joint trips with youth groups from other local churches. These activities were supported by the youth group's own fund-raising from sales of baked goods, plants and Christmas cards. For several years they have also attractively decorated the parish hall for the special Easter followship hour.

Social Activities
Saint Luke's offers a wide range of social events from coffee hours to caroling, from picnics to parties (including Halloween), from musical sing-alongs to classical concerts and theater.

Altar Guild
Members serve as a team by caring for the eucharistic vessels, the altar furnishings and by decorating the altar for special occasions. Altar Society

Acolytes
Young people and adults are invited to share in the experience of assisting at the altar.

Bell Ringers Guild
The church's 800-pound bronze bell, initially installed in 1925, had been silent for several decades because of a broken harness assembly. The bell has now been restored to its previous glory. Now there seems to be no end to the number of parishioners of all ages who want to express their love and joy for the church by ringing the bell to call fellow parishioners to worship each Sunday.

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Updated: 3/9/08