History

St. Luke's Lutheran Church , a member church of the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was originally organized in 1956. Its history betrays consistent priorities in areas of outreach and service to the community, mission to the world, meaningful and varied worship and music experiences, pastoral care and children and youth programs. While St. Luke's roots are found among those Lutherans who primarily relocated from the Midwest , significant program emphasis is now to reach out to the high percentage of unchurched in our neighborhood.

Mission Statement

We, the members of St. Luke's Lutheran Church , Bellevue , Washington , are a people created and chosen by God, living in the Grace of God - redeemed, reconciled, and forgiven by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Strengthened by the Holy Spirit and given promises of hope for each day and for everlasting life, we strive to reach out in a ministry of faith to our members, our community, our nation, and our world.

Vision Statement

St. Luke's Lutheran Church shall, in the name of Jesus Christ, be a place of light in a world made dark by its separation from God. As people of God who have been redeemed and empowered, we receive the light of God's love and reflect it into our community through active worship, fellowship, education, lay training and service, that people in darkness may be drawn to the light and find St. Luke's a place of refuge, renewal, and sanctuary.

Our Symbol

The story of the road to Emmaus is a story about coming home. It is a story of healing and renewal. It is a story of excitement for sharing good news. It is, in fact, our story at St. Luke's Lutheran Church .

Two parallel spirals, in the centerpiece of the cross and the corners of the altar, symbolically reflect the journey.  Like the two disciples, anxious about the events of Easter, we are called on this journey into sanctuary and renewal.  Then, as we break bread with our Lord we are sent out refreshed for the journey and to tell the story again and again.  The bright red part of the spirals remind us of the words “did not our hearts burn within us” (Luke 24:32) as we are encouraged by the healing and blessing of Jesus.  The triangles in the design are a partial reminder of the octagon shape of the new worship space, which is also the shape of renewal.

Pictures and descriptions of our sanctuary furnishings and Witness Windows [photos]

St. Luke's Spiritual Journey -- Our Walk with Christ

St. Luke’s Spiritual Journey is a voluntary program for those who seek guidance in spiritual development and renewal.  While spiritual development is a very personal thing which follows no simple pattern, we believe it can be nurtured with other Christians through involvement in the church.

We seek to provide a caring environment where individuals can pursue their spiritual journeys, to walk with Christ and to learn to love God and one another.  Jesus would have us learn what our spiritual gifts are, to employ them in personal ministry to each other, and to share the good news with all.  St. Luke’s Spiritual Journey is about helping us become disciples of Christ.

We envision four major steps of development:  Visitor, Member, Steward and Disciple.  For each step, we provide suggestions and recommendations in five key areas of development: prayer, bible study, instruction, reading and participation.

Through this program, we hope to share our Christian life at St. Luke’s with visitors, to invite visitors into membership, to better serve our community and membership, to encourage participation, and to develop leaders for the future.

Memorial Garden and Columbarium

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Memorial Garden and Columbarium is an intentional ministry to connect the Word of hope spoken in Christian Baptism to the Word fulfilled in death.  God’s Word in Jesus Christ is sufficient for the entirety of life’s journey – from birth through baptism, education, confirmation, marriage to death.  Through the Memorial Garden ministry, St. Luke’s is blessed with the opportunity to provide a dedicated place within the precincts of the church in a columbarium for the internment of ashes within purchased niches, in addition to the inscribing of names of those interned elsewhere.  Such a ministry is a visible symbol of the enduring hope we have in the Savior Jesus Christ.  St. Luke’s memorial garden is a beautiful and contemplative site for the eternal care of loved ones.  (Photos)

St. Luke's Statement of Support for Tent City IV

St. Luke's Lutheran Church hosted Tent City IV beginning February 13, 2006 for 90 days. St. Luke's Statement of Support.

St. Luke's Commitment to End Homelessness

St. Luke's as a congregation and with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, with other congregations and with nonprofit partners such as the Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness, commit to doing our part to end homelessness in King County over the next 10 years. [more]