St. Luke’s is a congregation committed to using our resources to aid our community, our nation, and our world. The work of the Outreach Team is to guide the uses of these resources and to lead outreach efforts at St. Luke’s. We invite you to join us on our journey to serve God by serving others. 2023 Outreach Report

The mission of the Pastoral Care Committee is to reach out to members of the parish who are homebound or isolated from the community due to health issues. We strive to help keep them connected to St. Luke’s and show them how important and cared about they are.

Since 1999, St. Luke’s has awarded an annual, renewable scholarship to aid and assist people who desire to continue their education but cannot because of their economic situation. The $2,000 scholarship is for those who want to pursue an undergraduate degree or certification in a designated curriculum of no less than two semesters. The award is available to any resident of Buncombe County who has been accepted by a post-secondary institution accredited by the United States Department of Education. The scholarship is intended for both high school seniors and adults wishing to seek a degree. Read more here.

St. Luke’s is blessed with a beautiful, historic worship space. The current church was built in 1894 and has been lovingly preserved by generations of parishioners. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Buildings, the church is a fine example of the classical Gothic style of architecture. We can seat about 60 people comfortably. One parishioner described the church interior as being “soaked in prayer.” Stained glass and period woodwork evoke warmth, spirituality, and craftsmanship. Truly the church is a unique space, retaining an atmosphere of tradition in a modern world.

Outside the church, the grounds encompass a small graveyard, with markers dating to the very early 20th century. More recently, a Garden of Resurrection for cremated remains was established in the shady south lawn. In the 1950s, a parish house and expanded parking were erected alongside the church.

Since 2008, the parish has been working with local environmental groups to remove exotic, invasive plant species from the area near Ross Creek, which runs along the eastern property line. In 2009, St. Luke’s became the first church congregation in Asheville to be certified by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation as part of the F.A.I.T.H. program (Fellowship Actions Impacting the Habitat). This program recognizes and certifies places of worship of all denominations that meet the NCWF’s requirements for creating and maintaining a wildlife-friendly habitat. Projects supporting this habitat include a butterfly-hummingbird garden, wild bird nesting boxes, and the removal of exotic invasive plant species from various parts of the property to allow wildlife-friendly native plants to thrive.

In 2012 and 2013, Asheville’s RiverLink organization assisted in removing additional invasive plants and installed a naturalistic rain garden and bioswale to improve drainage and reduce hazardous runoff into the creek. This remains a work in progress as each year, additional clearing is done by hard-working crews of parishioners and other volunteers.

The buildings and grounds of St. Luke’s are tended by dedicated parishioners. “Lawn Stewards,” “Weed Warriors,” and “Weed Scouts” take pride in caring for and beautifying the grounds. We hope our buildings and grounds invite people to encounter God both inside and outdoors. St. Luke’s embodies a culture of stewardship and care for its buildings and grounds. We hope you find a welcoming, beautiful space to worship and feel God’s presence.

Celebrations at St. Luke’s are always festive and well-attended, thanks to a dedicated group of Fellowship team members who work hard at making each event special. Our devoted congregation sees St. Luke’s as “home” and doesn’t want to miss being with its church family for feast days and gatherings. Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and St. Luke’s Day are celebrations with potluck meals and outdoor games. Other fellowship events include celebrations of baptisms, and the welcoming of our Bishop every other year. All are welcome to join us for coffee hour every Sunday after the 10:30 service.

In keeping with our mission to serve the community, St. Luke’s hosts small-group meetings in Hamilton Hall.

OLLI Men’s Group First and third Wednesdays 9–11 am

Codependents Anonymous Wednesdays 6–8:30 pm

Recovery by the River (AA) Saturdays 7:30 – 8:30 am

Noontime Big Book Study (AA) Thursdays Noon–1 pm