St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, A Welcome Without Bonds To A God Without Limits
By Sara Teller
ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH “SEEKS TO FOSTER A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS who embrace the inclusiveness of Jesus’ love for all, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, social class or age.”
No matter what changes within the congregation throughout the years or in Ferndale-at large, the church remains steadfast in this mission.
Originally founded by three families – the Martins, Shaders and McIntyres – St. Luke’s was formed as a mission church and approved as such by the the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. At first, the congregation met in the basement of the former Board of Education building on 9 Mile. Then, as interest grew, construction of the current building commenced and, after its completion, serving those in need became a primary focus.
“UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REVEREND JIM MAXWELL, we helped found South Oakland Shelter, a year-round rotating emergency shelter for individuals and families struggling with homelessness,” said current Reverend Clare Hickman. Over the past 14 years, under her direction, St. Luke’s became a beacon of full affirmation of LGBTQ+ people, welcoming those who have been rejected by other churches, and attracting others seeking a loving theology in which to live and raise their children.
Hickman explained, “We can be seen every year at Pride Fest, trying to undo some of the damage the church has done to LGBTQ+ people over the centuries by embodying the good news of God’s love for everyone. We believe in a God who is far larger than we could possibly imagine and seek to create a community that reflects this expansiveness.”
St. Luke’s offers a space for all Ferndalians to gather, worship, ask questions and grow spiritually. Hickman said, “Our life and worship are rooted in ancient liturgy, while also providing space to question and struggle with all the big questions (and lots of small ones too). The Anglican tradition has always had a kind of generous humility, admitting that we cannot know the whole of God, so we should refrain from offering too many absolutes. Because of these things, we are a community of true welcome and healing for those who come through our doors. Through us, God binds up the broken-hearted and gives shelter to those who are lost – and aren’t we all lost, in some way or another?”
IN 2016, ST. LUKE’S PARTNERED WITH OAKRIDGE MANOR SENIOR LIVING CENTER to begin offering a weekly service of music and healing prayers as well as a letter writing ministry. Each year, the church has a big collection of school supplies to help ease the burden on parents and teachers at local schools. It also hosts multiple recovery groups each week and serves as a meeting space for families and groups.
“Just before pandemic, a number of activities were on the calendar, including a board meeting, a graduation party, a concert, and a neighborhood talent show,” Hickman said. “Sadly, they all had to be cancelled. But we are hoping that the barbecue we’ll be throwing on the lawn in August will remind the community that we are here.”
The neighborhood BBQ will be open to the public and held on Saturday, August 20. Other upcoming events include a CROP Walk for World Hunger on Sunday, September 18, and an animal blessing on the lawn, Sunday, September 25 (all are invited!).
Of St. Luke’s overall culture, Hickman said, “We are relaxed and irreverent. We are unruffled by chaos. And we are a bit peculiar.”
To learn more about how the church is serving Ferndale and surrounding communities, attend a weekly service held each Sunday at 10:30 A.M. in-person or via Zoom, visit stlukesferndale.org or call 248.677.1804.
