Organizations
Vestry
The Vestry is the governing body of the parish. Our vestry comprises fifteen members, five of whom are elected each year by the congregation for a three–year term at the annual congregational meeting held in January. Vestry meetings are held monthly and as otherwise required to attend to the church's business. The vestry elects its leaders, the Senior Warden and the Junior Warden, from among its members as well as the Register to the Vestry and the Treasurer.
Our vestry is organized into seven standing committees, each having both vestry and nonvestry members. Nonvestry committee members serve a two–year term. The wardens serve ex–officio on all committees.
Administration
The Administration Committee is responsible for maintenance of and improvements to church property, general administration of the church office, and the in–house publications of the church. The Committee organizes and conducts an indoor and an outdoor work day each year spring and eadh fall to conduct major maintenance and repair projects. The Committee also organizes and oversees major repairs and maintenance by outside contractors. Committee members often perform small maintenance projects throughout the year.
Communication
The Communication Committee is a special committee charged with enhancing and improving communications between the Rector, Vestry and Parish. The Committee is responsible for maintaining content on the Church's web site, as well as seeking opportunties to develop other forms of communication to inform parishioners of church events, activities and items that may need immediate attention.
Community Outreach
The Community Outreach Committee seeks opportunities for volunteer service in the community, publicizes this information to parishioners, and encourages parishioners to participate in such service. Some of the programs we support are United Community Ministries, the Eleanor Kennedy Shelter, CROP Walk for World Hunger, Meals–on–Wheels, Mondloch House, and the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry. St. Luke's also provides outreach through the groups which use our building including the Center for Pastoral Counseling of Virginia, Boy Scout Troop 654, Alcoholics Anonymous, Al–Anon, Ala–teen, and miscellaneous community classes.
Education
The Education Committee is responsible for the development and implementation of a church–wide program of Christian education including Sunday Church School, Education for Ministry, Wednesday Lenten Program, Women's Bible Study, Men's Bible Study, and Inquirer's classes for those who want to be confirmed or want a refresher.
Fellowship
The Fellowship Committee develops and hosts social events in all areas of parish activity.
Finance
The Finance Committee makes financial recommendations, oversees the annual audit, establishes fiscal recordndash;keeping practices, and makes recommendations concerning the budget.
Stewardship
The Stewardship Committee oversees the welcoming of newcomers into the parish, organizes pledging activities, provides recommendations to the vestry on requests for fund–raising activities, and studies and recommends to the vestry the disposition of special offerings.
Worship
The Worship Committee assists the Rector in encouraging and developing the worship life of the congregation, supports groups involved in worship, and plans observances of church seasons and special festivals.
Other Organizations
There are many groups at St. Luke's whose purpose is service both to our church and to the larger community.
There are also a number of organizations at St. Luke's whose primary, though perhaps not sole, purpose is of a social nature. They may meet in homes, at the church or at a special venue. The program may consist of a meal, a trip to the theater, a speaker or a service project.
Acolytes
The Acolytes are a group of young people who assist the clergy in the conduct of worship, serving as crucifers, flag bearers, and acolytes. They have provided a ministry to the people of St. Luke's Church since its founding and play an extremely important in the spiritual life of St. Luke's. They support of the clergy and the liturgy and contribute to the religious experience for everyone in church. Acolytes at St. Luke's have a commitment to each other; the Guild is a team, perhaps even a family, whose members are focused on their ministry to the congregation and on helping each other.
Altar Guild
Altar Guild members prepare for worship by caring for the altar, vestments, vessels, and linens and for the flowers on the altar and in the church. The Altar Guild is open to any member of the parish.
Book Study Group
Literature and story evoke meaningful discussion on issues of morality, spirituality, family, community, and Christian discipleship. For the members of the Book Group at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Virginia, reading is a spiritual discipline. They enjoy a good book, lively conversation, and coffee and dessert on Sunday evenings in the church library.
Fish Groups
Fish Groups of ten to fifteen adults meet monthly in homes for potluck suppers and fellowship.
GoldFish Groups
GoldFish Groups are similar to Fish Groups but are primarily for families with young children. The groups meet monthly to enjoy a meal and fellowship.
Greeters
Greeters welcome newcomers to St. Luke's on Sunday mornings.
Lay Eucharistic Ministers
Lay Eucharistic Ministers are trained by the rector and licensed by the bishop to bear the chalice at corporate worship services and to take home communion to the sick or disabled.
Lectors
Lectors are parishioners who are trained to read the daily lessons at our corporate worship services.
Men's Breakfast Bible Study
The Men's Breakfast Bible Study meets at 8 am on Saturday to discuss the Bible and extra-biblical writings of the early church over coffee and donuts.
Ministry Commission
The Ministry Commission develops ideas for activities that will help church members recognize and respond to the opportunities for Christian ministry that arise in their daily lives, especially in the world outside of St. Luke's.
Newcomers Committee
The Committee assists the parish in assuring that all visitors and newcomers are given a warm welcome. Committee members serve as Greeters, speak with those who have indicated an interest in our parish, assist with Newcomer Orientations, provide friendship bread to newcomers, and generally help newcomers to be made comfortable and assisted toward full participation in the life of St. Luke's Church.
Older Young Churchmen
The OYC is a very active group of parishioners over fifty–five years of age who meet monthly for program and fellowship.
Parish Choir
The Parish Choir is a group of approximately twenty-five singers, all volunteers. It is a well-balanced SATB group which has a special fondness for a capella seventeenth-century motets, but sings music of all eras with enthusiasm and dedication.
Pastoral Lay Associates
Pastoral Lay Associates assist the rector in pastoral ministry and provide an intentional structure for implementing the pastoral activity of St. Luke's lay people to all church members and their families. This ministry is complementary to and not a substitute for the many caring interactions among people in the parish.
St. Catherine's Guild
St. Catherine's Guild, the St. Luke's Chapter of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is an organization of fun, fellowship, education, service, and mutual support open to all women of the church.
St. Luke's Day School
St. Luke's Day School is a pre-school for children ages 2 1/2 to 4 years old. It has been serving the Mount Vernon community since 1958 and offers an environment that encourages curiosity, an awareness of the excitement of learning and the fun of being part of a group, while singing, playing, and adventuring.
Seminarian Lay Committees
Seminarian Lay Committees are appointed for each seminarian who does field work at St. Luke's. Each committee works as a support group and sounding board for the seminarian during the final two years of seminary.
Ushers
Ushers help with the worship services by posting the hymn numbers, passing out bulletins, seating worshipers, carrying the communion elements to the altar, passing the alms basins, and directing the flow of communicants.
Women's Bible Study
The Women's Bible Study group meets in the church library at 10 am on Monday morning. The session begins with a half hour of fellowship and then continues with a discussion of the lessons and sermon for the previous Sunday.
Youth Choir
The Youth Choir is composed of children in second grade and above. Its purpose is to familiarize our young people with the great hymns and other fine music of the church and to help them grow into worship leadership. The Choir rehearses once a week, sings once a month at the 10:00 a.m. service and at special services, support the annual Christmas pageant, and present a biblical musical on Youth Sunday in June.
Youth Group
A Youth Group for junior and senior high school ages meets regularly during the school year for fun, educational programs, discussions, and service opportunities. The group holds retreats in the spring and fall at Shrine Mont for in–depth exploration of a topic and bonding of the participants.Their activities combine fun, fellowship and faithful service. In Youth Group, members have a chance to socialize, explore their faith, and deepen their commitment to the community. It is a place where the young can be themselves, connect with their peers and talk about issues important to them.