St. Luke's Episcopal Church

What are services like?
St. Luke’s worship is vibrant, celebratory and in every sense liturgical: the work of the People. Distinctively Episcopal liturgy celebrated with dignity and joy is important to us. We see ourselves as an Alleluia church and seek to balance reverence and exuberance, expression and reflection. Eucharist is the heart-pumping life to everything else done, commented a member in a recent survey. We celebrate Rite II almost every Sunday, assisted by Eucharistic Ministers, acolytes, altar guild and usher/greeters. Our Pray ers of the People includes petitions and thanksgivings read from a list available to all before the service. Eucharistic Visitors are commissioned each Sunday to take communion to those unable to be present. Healing ministry with anointing with oil is offered frequently . One of our licensed preachers provides the sermon once a month or more; on occasion licensed worship leaders and preachers lead Morning Prayer. We value excellence in preaching – well prepared, biblically based sermons – though we’re not at all wedded to a particular preaching style; our past rectors, associate priest and three licensed preachers represent considerable diversity in style. As a congregation identifying with progressive Christianity we like to be challenged both as to social justice issues and personal Christian living concerns. In addition to Church Year feasts and fasts, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day and Black History Month. St. Luke’s Day is celebrated the third Sunday of October. Our gifted and experienced minister of music coordinates music, serves as organist/pianist and leads our small choir. We like to sing a variety of music: Anglican hymns, Psalm chants, African American spirituals, gospel and contemporary music.

What is the community like?
St. Luke's is a diverse community of believers. We actively welcome everyone to our table. We are the only historically African-American parish in the diocese, and even though many of us are not African-American, this identity is important to us. As a Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation, we welcome LGBTQ people and affirm them as beloved children of God. Our members participate in a number of organizations working for economic, environmental and social justice: Compassion Coalition for Homelessness, Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), Community Action Commission graduates, Tennessee Health Care Campaign, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA), NAACP, Friends of Williams Creek, Knoxville City Neighborhood Advisory Council, Knox Housing Partnership, Highlander Center, Knoxville United Against Racism (immigration), Knoxville Area Transit Community Advisory Committee, Jobs with Justice, Communication Workers of America, Southeast Regional Organizer of Communication Workers of America, Community Action for Affordable Neighborhoods (CAAN), Several historically African American sororities and fraternities, Community Shares of Tennessee, Integrity, Union of Black Episcopalians and UBE East Tennessee.

What if I'm not a Christian?
Come anyway, especially if you have questions or need to experience a loving community. We welcome EVERYONE to the table.