View the Ministry Guide page for a list of upcoming online and in-person ministry meetings, events, and opportunities. Scroll down and explore the various tabs by day of the week, or ministry area, and view opportunities to Connect, Worship, and Grow at St. Luke’s!
This page is available through the St. Luke’s Weekly Update email, St. Luke’s social media sites, and the St. Luke’s Orlando app. To sign up for the Weekly Update email and receive the Ministry Guide directly to your inbox, click here.
Log into your Realm account HERE:
I’m New to St. Luke’s
Our Purpose: Awaken disciples to reveal the Kingdom, reveal the Kingdom to awaken disciples.
Our Core Values: At our center is the love of Jesus Christ. We value Christ-centered acceptance, hospitality, community, discipleship, and service.
Our Vision: That the believers of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church will reach as many people as possible in Central Florida introducing them to eternal life in Jesus Christ. Together, we commit to worship, connect, care, and grow as Disciples, to serve in revealing the Kingdom of God.
New to the St. Luke’s community? Looking to meet new people? Want to strengthen your faith? We have the group for U! Click HERE to join the “New to St. Luke’s Orlando” Facebook group today, you’re always welcome!
Want to learn more about St. Luke’s? Contact Liz Vasquez for a campus tour at evasquez@st.lukes.org or call 407.876.4991 ext. 216.
Join the Church
Do you consider St. Luke’s your home church? Are you thinking about joining St. Luke’s?
Discover St. Luke’s is an introduction to who we are and what we do!
This class is an introduction to who St. Luke’s is and what St. Luke’s does. We’ll discuss our mission, vision, and values, and you’ll have an opportunity to ask any questions you might have! Whether you are new to Christianity, Methodism, St. Luke’s, or even a long-time attendee who is thinking of making this your home church, this is the right class for U!
Contact Liz Vasquez with questions or for more information about joining the church at evasquez@st.lukes.org.
Click the tabs below to view a schedule of online and in-person events, classes, and opportunities by day and hour:
Sundays
Current Worship Series – Resolute in Purpose
9:30 a.m.: Contemporary worship on campus in Founder’s Hall and live on Facebook (click here)
Click here to view full worship videos
Click here to view past sermon videos
10:00 a.m.: Traditional worship on campus in the Sanctuary and live on Facebook (click here)
Click here to view full worship videos
Click here to view past sermon videos
11:10 a.m.: New Directions – Join this group of 50 to 80-somethings for Bible study, discussion, and fellowship. The New Directions class meets Sunday mornings at 11:10 AM in B-201 (upstairs). Participants can also join by Zoom. The class is currently studying the letters of Paul.
8:00 p.m.: Breathing Space – Join this group for community, discussion, and Lectio Divina on Sundays online.
Tuesdays
11:45 a.m.: Wesleyan Way Lunch & Learn with Pastor Melissa online – a thorough overview of the core beliefs about God, humanity, and the church from a Wesleyan perspective.
1:30 p.m.: Life Together – Tuesday friends – Join this Life Together group on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays on Zoom for a lively discussion on the church-wide Bible Study.
Wednesdays
11:00 a.m.: 50 North Book Club – Adults north of age 50 are invited to join this group on Wednesday mornings this summer as we read together Grateful: The Subversive Art of Giving Thanks by Diana Butler Bass.
6:30 p.m.: Wesleyan Way with Pastor Melissa – a thorough overview of the core beliefs about God, humanity, and the church from a Wesleyan perspective. Wednesdays (in person in B-201).
6:30 p.m.: Active Faith: Resisting 4 Dangerous Ideologies with the Wesleyan Way with pastor Jad – Go deeper into how we apply our Wesleyan theology in practice, and what our theology has to say about certain “Christian” doctrines and movements that have become prevalent in culture. Wednesdays (in-person in B-202).
6:30 p.m.: Parenting Together – Join this group for fellowship and discussion with other parents after dropping off the kids for Wednesday night programming. Meet on Wednesdays in the Smart Classroom of the Barnes Learning Center (above Founder’s Hall) starting at 6:30 p.m.
Thursdays
9:00 a.m.: Senior (50+) Exercise – We are excited about this class and have received some great reviews already! Feel free to join in anytime! This class is geared for our seniors (50+) but any age and fitness level is welcome. This fun and social group meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the Coleman Memorial Gymnasium. Classes are $5 each – Registration ahead of time is strongly encouraged. A discount is available if you pre-pay for an entire month. If you have any questions, please contact the Care office at 407-955-4756 or email the Care Office.
6:30 p.m.: Life Together: Thursday evenings with friends – Join this intergenerational group for fellowship, connection, and spiritual growth weekly on Zoom starting at 6:30 p.m. We meet once a month in person. New friends can join us anytime!
6:30 p.m.: Life Together: Couples (Thursday nights on Zoom) – Join other couples for weekly Bible Study and lots of laughs! We meet Thursdays on Zoom starting at 6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.: Life Together – Young Adults (25-35): Join other young adults who are leading their lives on purpose as they share life, explore Scripture, and grow together. The group meets at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Joseph and Harris D’Ambrosi, but may also meet at local restaurants, breweries, or online at times.
Saturdays
If you need help connecting to one of the classes, groups, or worship services listed above, email Liz Vasquez at evasquez@st.lukes.org or call 407.876.4991 ext. 216.
Click the tabs below to view events, groups, and opportunities for each ministry area:
Connect Ministries
407.876.4991 ext. 216
50 North Senior Ministries: Subscribe to St. Luke’s 50 North Senior Newsletters and more by visiting st.lukes.org/subscribe, emailing connect@st.lukes.org, or calling Liz Vasquez at 407.876.4991 ext. 216. Learn more about upcoming events and activities by clicking the button below!
Pints & Parables (Theology on Tap) – This community meets monthly on the second Thursday from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at World of Beer, located at 7750 Palm Pkwy #130, Orlando, FL 32836. Participants share in open discussion on matters of life in our world today, faith, philosophy, theology, and more. All are welcome! For more information and to RSVP to our next event visit www.st.lukes.org/pintsandparables or contact Jad Denmark with questions.
Monthly Men’s Breakfast – Join St. Luke’s Men’s Ministry at their monthly breakfast event, where you will enjoy community, connection, and prayer over breakfast on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 a.m. in Founder’s Hall. Save the date for our fall events: September 19, October 17, and November 14. Visit https://www.st.lukes.org/breakfast to RSVP.
Care Ministries
407.876.4991 ext. 262
Baptisms for Infants and Children: St. Luke’s baptizes infants and children on the third Sunday of each month unless otherwise noted. Baptisms occur at the 9:30 a.m. contemporary worship service and the 10:00 a.m. traditional worship service. Parents wishing to baptize their child must register to attend a baptism class beforehand. Click here to learn more about baptisms at St. Luke’s and to register for an upcoming baptism class. Contact the Care office at 407.876.4991 ext. 262 for more information.
Support Group for Parents of Children/Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder: This support group meets online on Zoom. Contact the Care Office regarding the Zoom login link and password to join this group. Their next meeting is Thursday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Care Visitation Team – Volunteers needed: Are you looking for a tangible way to provide care and support for others? Our Care Visitation Team may be the place for you. Care Visitation Team (CVT) volunteers provide a supportive, loving, and healing presence in the lives of others. This volunteer role partners with our Pastors and our Parish Nurse to provide compassion, encouragement, and support for church families during illness, hospitalizations, and/or long-term care. Team members are committed to St. Luke’s as partners (members) for at least one year and are active in worship and discipleship. The time commitment averages 3 – 6 hours per month. In-depth training is provided, and an application/discernment process is required including a background check. Applications are accepted until October 1. Once your application is received, you will be contacted to schedule a discernment meeting with Lisa Crump, Parish Nurse & Care Visitation Coordinator, and Kim Paredes, Director of Care Ministries. If you have questions or need additional information, please email us HERE or call 407.876.4991 ext. 300. Click HERE to fill out an application form.
Caring Kitchen: Join this ministry in prepping delicious frozen crockpot meals for those recovering from a hospitalization/surgery, going through cancer/other treatments, having a baby, etc. Due to the summer musical, our next meeting will be on Thursday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Building C kitchen. No experience is required – just a compassionate heart and a passion for caring. Closed-toe shoes are required. Bring an apron, a sharp knife, and a vegetable peeler if you have one. Children aged 12+ are welcome. Click here to register for the October 3 meeting. Do you know a St. Luker who would like a crockpot meal? Contact the Care Office.
Coping with Caregiving: Are you a caregiver for a spouse, parent, or child with a long-term illness, special needs, or age-related issues? Are you in need of resources, support, encouragement, and prayers? Take a break from your daily routine and join St. Luke’s on Zoom for a “Coping with Caregiving” support group meeting. Our next meeting is on Sunday, October 13 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Come share your concerns, challenges, and blessings with others who are in similar situations. Registration is required. Email the Care Office for more information. We hope you can join us!
Free BP Screening and Blood Drive: Free Blood Pressure Screening will be available on campus on Sunday, September 29, outside each worship venue for anyone interested or not donating blood. Share the gift of life by donating blood with The Big Red Bus on Sunday, September 29, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A Photo ID is required. Eligible donors will receive a One Blood T-shirt and a $20 E-gift card! Each donor will also receive a wellness checkup (including blood pressure check, pulse, temperature, iron level, and cholesterol screening). Contact the Care office with any questions. For an appointment to donate blood, click on the button below.
Stephen Ministry: Are you going through a difficult time? Would you like need to speak to someone outside of your circle of family and friends? Stephen Ministry is there when you need help. This ministry allows you to be matched confidentially with a trained caring Christian who will listen, pray, and support you through the different storms in life such as job loss, marital issues, illness, parenting difficulty, grief, and other tough situations. Stephen Ministers are not pastors or counselors but have 50 hours of training skill sets that include active listening, confidentiality, and trust building. They meet weekly for one hour free of charge on your schedule. Men are matched with male Stephen Ministers and women with female Stephen Ministers. Mark your online Connection card saying that you’re going through a difficult time and would like support or call the Care Office to request a Stephen Minister. To learn more about Stephen Ministry, please click here.
Hearts to Hands: This ministry meets on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. in the Barnes Learning Center (second floor of Founder’s Hall) in Room 210. Knit/crochet items for Arnold Palmer Hospital while sharing fellowship with others. Want to learn how to knit or crochet? They will teach you. Come to enjoy community and free classes. To learn more about Hearts to Hands, click here.
Community Counseling Center: St. Luke’s Community Counseling Center provides counseling services to people of all ages through Licensed Mental Health Counselors. We offer teletherapy sessions as well as in-person sessions. Our counselors are both approved providers for many insurance companies and offer a sliding fee scale in addition to the standard fee. Contact 407.876.8237 to schedule a counseling session.
Greeting Card Writers Needed: Do you have time to help write 12 – 14 holiday greeting cards at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas? The church provides cards, addresses, inspirational messages, and postage. All you have to do is write the message inside the cards, seal the envelopes, and drop them in the mail! Email care@st.lukes.org or call 407.876.4991 ext. 262 for details.
Grow Ministries
407.876.4991 ext. 238
Life Together Groups: Life Together groups are discussion-based groups where you can experience community, friendship, and spiritual growth. These groups meet either online or in person. Join an existing group, a new group, or help start a new group today! Click the button below to sign up.
Serve Ministries
407.876.4991 ext. 285
West Orange Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity builds strength, security, and self-reliance through homeownership. Join a team on the next St. Luke’s workday to help build and revitalize homes in East Winter Garden. Our next team workday is Saturday, September 21. Click on the link below for more information and to sign up.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace: Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 28, 2024, for our next bed build day. We partner with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, to build, assemble and deliver top-notch bunk beds to children and families in need. This is a great opportunity for families and friends to serve together.
Free BP Screening and Blood Drive: Free Blood Pressure Screening will be available on campus on Sunday, September 29, outside each worship venue for anyone interested or not donating blood. Share the gift of life by donating blood with The Big Red Bus on Sunday, September 29, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A Photo ID is required. Eligible donors will receive a One Blood T-shirt and a $20 E-gift card! Each donor will also receive a wellness checkup (including blood pressure check, pulse, temperature, iron level, and cholesterol screening). Contact the Care office with any questions. For an appointment to donate blood, click on the button below
Engage: Are you 50 or older? Retired or semi-retired? Interested in volunteering with other St Luker’s to ENGAGE in the community to make a difference? As an outgrowth of Pastor Melissa’s recent Lead Your Life class, active seniors are organizing to see where we can best serve in Central Florida. Our initial meetings by the planning committee have put volunteer opportunities into classifications (working with the homeless, combatting hunger, caring for animals and/or God’s creation, building projects, and educational impact- just to name a few). Our next steps will be to reach out to the organizations we select and see what days, times, and helping opportunities are a good fit for our volunteers. Come be a part of the groundwork that aligns those in their “Chapter 2” of life with meaningful volunteer experiences and fosters relationships between St Lukers in the process! Contact serve@st.lukes.org, for more information.
Circles West Orange: Circles West Orange is celebrating 10 years!
Six years with St. Luke’s as the Lead Organization and four years as a Host Organization partnering with Poverty Solutions Group. Circles West Orange continues to build a community to end poverty and needs volunteers serving on Resource Teams and as Allies. You can also help by providing the weekly meeting meal for Circles. This is a great opportunity for you and your group. To learn more, click on the link below.
Grow It Forward farm workdays: As we head into the spring season, we will have opportunities to help at our Grow It Forward Network farms. Join us at the St. Luke’s farm or Winter Garden Community Garden. For more information about workdays and locations, please click on the button below.
Family Promise: St. Lukers can share their hospitality by providing meals for up to 4 families who are experiencing homelessness, at the Family Promise Day Center in Winter Park. During the summer months, they need additional volunteers to help. To learn more about Family Promise and to get the link to Family Promise’s schedule and registration portal, click the link below.
Society of St. Andrew Gleaning Opportunity: Our partnership with the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) has become a critical source of much-needed fresh produce for people who are facing food insecurity. The Society of St. Andrew, the farmers that collaborate with us, and our amazing volunteers, have rescued and redistributed over 2.5 million lbs. of fresh fruit and vegetables. That’s over 10 million servings of fruits and vegetables! Log in to the Society of St. Andrew Volunteer Calendar, to see upcoming volunteer opportunities. Volunteer Calendar here
Blessed Treasures Gift Shop: The United Women in Faith’s (formerly the UMW) Blessed Treasures Gift Shop features handmade seasonal decorations and home décor, giftable items, as well as gently loved clothing, a variety of beautiful new jewelry, artwork, and more. All proceeds support local, state, and international missions and charities.
We believe that all of creation is God’s and that we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Explore the ways we, as United Methodists, care for and love all of creation and are committed to keeping our planet green, clean, and sustainable for all.
Your Call to Missions: If God is nudging you to get involved in support of the community but you do not know where to start, contact serve@st.lukes.org to get connected.
Financial Update
- Using the outside drop box attached to Building C.
- Setting up a recurring bank draft (for assistance email awhisnant@st.lukes.org).
- Give online at st.lukes.org/give or through the St. Luke’s app.
- Texting SLUMC to +1 (833) 245-5230 to receive a link to “QuickGive”
August 2024 Financial Update:
Total Receipts through August 2024: $2,117,824.91
Total Expenses through August 2024: $2,210,707.20
Unfavorable 2024 YTD position: $92,882.29
Visit st.lukes.org/stewardship to make your stewardship pledge and view detailed financial reports. Contact Andrea Whisnant-Burgis, Church Accountant, at 407.876.4991 ext. 227 or awhisnant@st.lukes.org with questions.