The mission of Saint Luke’s is to be a community of disciples who

worship joyfully,

pray faithfully,

learn continually,

serve wholeheartedly,

and share generously.

We invite you into this Christian fellowship.

Our Core Values

Only people are eternal. All buildings, whether cathedrals are tents, are temporary solutions to temporal needs. The word "church" means "belonging to the Lord." The people of Saint Luke’s believe that our beautiful and historical building, a gift from previous generations, is valuable only insofar as it is used to build up the real Church, which is the community of faith that gathers in it. We glorify God when we use and care for this building, made by human hands, for eternal purposes and in a manner that reflects God’s excellent care for his people.

Worship. The people of St. Luke’s are committed to worship in Word and Sacrament through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Eucharist has been that act that constituted the church since the resurrection. We experience Christ as truly present with us in the sacrament of the Holy Communion. All baptized persons are welcome at the Lord’s Table.

Worship is the heart’s desire to seek something – or someone – greater than one’s self. We worship joyfully because of the hope and promise that our relationship with Jesus Christ brings us.

Prayer. The people of St. Luke’s believe that prayer is a priority, inviting God’s lead to restore, heal, and transform our lives, our churches, our communities, and our world. We pray faithfully because we believe that prayer works. Therefore, prayer begins, supports, and ends everything we do.

Teaching and Learning. We are a community of disciples. To be a disciple is to be a learner and follower of Jesus Christ. It is only when we stop seeing ourselves as consumers or spectators and begin to see ourselves as owners of and participants in Christ’s mission that true ministry true ministry takes place.

The people of St. Luke’s believe that inspired teaching is the catalyst for life change, and therefore, lifelong learning is the posture for every disciple. Jesus taught his disciples in order to form them into teachers and leaders, and so it is with us. Those identified, trained, and called to lead in this community are required to exhibit a lively, informed, and authentic faith, Godly character, and a servant’s heart

The core of our inspiration, teaching and learning is found in God’s word, the Bible. The Scriptures provide the standard by which we are to order our lives, express our faith, and function as a community. We believe it is the supreme authority in discerning the mind of Christ and God’s will for his people.

Serving. The people of St. Luke’s believe that every Christian is created, gifted, and needed for ministry. We are, therefore, committed to equip, empower and release the faithful to use their spiritual gifts wholeheartedly to glorify God and to build up the Body of Christ. Part of being a follower of Jesus Christ is to identify your ministry within the Body and life mission in the world. A follower of Jesus Christ identifies his or her ministry within the Body and is held accountable to it.

The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. On the other hand, the Church is a hospital for sinners, not a nursing home. It is our intention that hurting people will be healed and in due course, will actively contribute to the life and ministry of the church.

Sharing. The people of St. Luke’s believe that we are to be generous with our time, talents, and money as we share with those in need, support the work of God among us, and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If a church does not have enough money, it may be because it is not being generous in its sharing. Loving our neighbors as we do ourselves means that one goal of discipleship should be to care for others as we do for ourselves. In our testimony and in our giving, we become that living Word that draws others into the life of Christ.

Inviting. The people of Saint Luke’s believe that we are to live our lives, to make disciples, and grow our church in a manner that expresses the loving and longing heart of God for those who are separated from Jesus Christ and his Church.

St. Luke’s is a church in the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, a member of the Anglican Communion Network.

St. Luke’s Church

50 William Street . PO Box 643

Catskill, New York 12414

(518) 943-3927

E-mail: stlukescatskill@mhcable.com