St. Luke’s Lutheran Church is a congregation that enjoys taking care of one another and reaching out to the community. We regularly prepare meals for a county homeless shelter, collect food for Gaithersburg HELP, sew quilts that are donated to Lutheran World Relief, and deliver reading materials to a men’s prison. Each year we hold an auction that benefits a group outside of our church, such as victims of natural disasters, a Latino ministry, and other groups that can use our financial help.
Of course worship is the heart of our church, so be sure to check the separate page on our worship services. We don’t use worship books or pamphlets for our service—everything is projected on a screen so it’s easy to join in. Education is also fundamental, and the education page will give you a sense of the different classes and events we offer for all ages.
We are fortunate to have a large property and have opened our playground and walking path to the community. Members of the congregation get together 5 times a year for work days to take care of the building and grounds.
The congregation is diverse in many ways—our oldest member is 97 years old and our youngest is under one year of age. We represent many different cultures and nations, and our places of employment—our vocations— are also quite diverse.
Our pastor, Rev. Sarah Withers Lewis, was called by a vote of the entire congregation eight years ago. A church council of 7 elected members plus the pastor makes administrative decisions and handles the budget. Every June the congregation meets to evaluate the past year and approve plans for the future.
What do we believe:
St. Luke’s is an active member in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) the largest Lutheran group in the US. As Lutherans we affirm our faith by the words of the Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
And born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
We offer Holy Communion weekly to all believers who hunger and thirst for the gifts offered by Jesus Christ. Our youngest worshipers receive a special blessing. We welcome new members into our congregation either through the Sacrament of Baptism or through the affirmation of faith.
Click here to read our anti-racism statement
Please contact Pastor Sarah if you have further questions about the theology of St. Luke’s.