ABOUT US

The Saint Luke Family

The church has 250 members with an average worship attendance of 150. Because we are located in a resort area, we have frequent visitors and guests throughout the year, and we have a number of associate members who see Saint Luke as “a home away from home.” Saint Luke is one of two Lutheran churches in Brunswick County and serves the southern coastal area.  Seniors comprise most of our membership, but there is a healthy group of young parents with children several of whom are associated with our pre-school.

Core Value

Saint Luke is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, an organization of 5.5 million ELCA Lutherans nationwide (sixth largest Protestant denomination in the US). We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we believe the Bible with both Old and New Testaments as the inspired and errorless word of God, and we subscribe to the Confessions of the Lutheran Church. The flagship of our faith is that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone, not by works of the law. Saint Luke adheres to the constitution of the ELCA and the North Carolina Synod of the ELCA, but operates with its own constitution and by laws. A 12 member elected church council is responsible for the conduct and business of the church as well as financial management.

History at a Glance

Following a series of informal information gathering meetings, a dedicated group of charter members and Pr. Jack Martin organized Saint Luke with the help of mission developers from the North Carolina Synod. The church was chartered in November, 1989 and quickly grew in numbers and mission. By 1991, the church was meeting in Shallotte Middle School, but vision was in place and in March 1995 completed construction on a new sanctuary, and moved to the current location.  Faithful ministry and mission bring growth and in August 2009 we dedicated our New Administrative Building and Sanctuary to the glory of God.  Through the years, the Saint Luke mission has been steady and committed, as the congregation grew new ministries and church organizations have been added. Many of the original charter members remain active in church leadership. Pr. Henry Rehder is the third called pastor of Saint Luke.

Facility

Ample parking on a 6 acre site accommodates a multi-purpose building of Sanctuary, fellowship space and classrooms with offices, a library and large kitchen.  The open park behind the church leads to the picnic shelter where many outdoor events are held and the landscaped Saint Luke Columbarium is featured in a quiet setting beside our pond. The playground is fenced and maintained for the pre-school.

Hurricane Shelter

The church building is equipped with an automatic propane powered 20,000 watt electric generator and opens as an emergency shelter in severe storms for church members..

Worship

Saint Luke is a liturgical Lutheran Church that uses the Lutheran Book of Worship. Hymns and the liturgy are printed in a user friendly bulletin, and Saint Luke loves to sing! Holy Communion is the central part of worship each Sunday, and a typical format is followed, including readings from Holy Scripture, the Psalm, children’s time, sermon and prayers of the faithful. The Pastor is the worship leader, although Saint Luke uses a number of worship assistants as lay readers, lectors and communion assistants. Communion rotates between intinction and rail Communion. Children are welcomed in church, although a staffed nursery is always available.

Faith Formation (Sunday School)

The lodestar of Saint Luke’s Sunday school is the adult Bible Class that meets each Sunday at 9:00. The adult class is on a 7 year journey through the New Testament and NT Gospels. The goal is to gain understanding of God’s amazing grace through faithful Bible Study. The children and youth of the church attend their own Faith Formation classes prior to worship with an established, recognized curriculum taught by trained, competent teachers.