Leslie has been the office manager at St. Luke since 2006. She is a native Oregonian and grew up attending school in Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Leslie is a graduate of the University of Oregon.
 
She enjoys assisting the parishioners, pastors, and other staff in helping make St. Luke a welcoming home for everyone.  
 
Leslie enjoys being in the outdoors; particularly morning walks, long hikes, and the Oregon Coast.
 
She and her husband Michael have two grown sons who were raised in the youth programs at St. Luke.  

Email: [email protected]
Join us as we explore the Bible in the order that it was written!  We venture through the entire Bible, building community and growing in insight along the way.

Time: Tuesdays, 8:00 am
Location: Currently via Zoom
Friday
We gather and study the appointed Bible readings for the coming Sunday.

Time: 7:00 am
Location: Miller’s Homestead Restaurant
Tuesday
Our book group ventures through various theologians’ and scholars’ works, tying in faith and current events.

Time:  7:00 am
Location: Currently via Zoom
Judy is a lifelong Oregonian and also someone who grew up with church being a central part of her life from birth. She attended Lewis and Clark college where she received a degree in secondary education. After teaching and substituting for several years, Judy felt called to make a career change to the field of social work. In 1997 she received her Master of Social Work degree from Portland State University.  

In the spring of 2001, Judy and her husband Scott joined St. Luke. Music minister Dan Hibbett immediately put her to work directing the Timbrel Choir for grades 4-6. In 2006, Judy was hired to oversee the social service volunteer ministry at St. Luke—and in August of that year, added in the High School Coordinator position. She retired from the High School Coordinator position in June of 2021, but continues on in her role as Service Coordinator. Judy believes all her past education and experience have prepared her well for her work at St. Luke. She is thankful to be a part of this church family and to use her gifts to further the mission here.

In her leisure time, Judy enjoys crafting, and traveling, walking, and hiking with her husband Scott. They have four adult children, and also treasure the time spent with their five young grandchildren!

Email: [email protected]


Judy Willis
Service Coordinator
St. Luke now worships as a community in-person and online via Facebook Live and YouTube!   
  • For our Sunday Schedule, Bulletin, and Weekly Update, click on Evolving Ministries button (below).
  • To sign up to participate in in-person worship, or to access our live-streamed or recorded services visit our Worship Page.
  • For more information about our policies in light of recent health updates, please keep reading below.

Changes to Our Covid-19 Policies

​St. Luke continues to follow OHA guidelines, and due to the rapid rise in COVID numbers, we are reinstating the following safety practices as a community. 
  • Our pews will be marked off to promote physical distancing (3’ this time). 
  • We are reinstating the Sign-Up Genius, with a maximum cap of 65. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044DA9A72CA3FE3-sunday5 or call Cindy Gibbon at (503) 880-5502. 
  • We strongly encourage all worship participants to be fully vaccinated AND to wear high-quality masks -- N95, KN95 or KF94 – over mouth and nose. 
  • Within the last 5 days, if you have tested positive, or if you have been exposed (even if you tested negative after being exposed) please worship from home that Sunday – regardless of whether-or-not you test negative.  If you feel ill – even if it’s just a cold – please worship from home that Sunday. 
St. Luke’s Congregational Council will continue to reassess these policies monthly based on the circumstances present at that time, including spread of COVID-19 variants and any change from the Oregon Health Authority, CDC, or other authorities. 

Special Worship in the Advent & Christmas Season

Holden Evening Prayer Advent Vespers
Join us for the hauntingly-beautiful Holden Evening Prayer service in St. Luke’s sanctuary (worship space).
  • Sunday, Dec. 5 at 5:15 pm
  • Tuesdays, Dec. 7, 14, & 21 at 6:30 pm 

Blue Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 12 at 5:00 pm 
The holidays can be difficult for many of us.  Join us as we honor the challenges of the season – and as we proclaim the Good News of Emmanuel, God with us.
Candlelight Christmas Eve Services
Friday, Dec. 24
  • 3:00 pm – Family Service, featuring children in the St. Luke community
  • 5:00 pm – Traditional Service with Carols
  • 10:30 pm – Traditional Service, led by choir, handbell choir, organ

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Join us in St. Luke’s upper lot for a European-style holiday market, with hot beverages, baked goods, and crafts for sale – as well as some of the classic activities from our Advent Festival!  (Part of the proceeds will go to help refugee resettlement!) 

Holiday Neighborhood Bazaar

4595 SW California Street
Sunday, December 5
3:00 - 5:00 pm

Join us in St. Luke’s upper lot for a European-style holiday market, with hot beverages, baked goods, and crafts for sale – as well as some of the classic activities from our Advent Festival!  (Part of the proceeds will go to help refugee resettlement!) 

The Bazaar is followed by Holden Evening Prayer in St. Luke’s sanctuary at 5:15 pm! 

Christmas Day Zoom Celebration

Saturday, December 25, 10:00 AM

Until we can meet with our physical presence, our St. Luke Family Christmas Day celebration is a way to share Jesus' birth with each other.

Join your St. Luke church family and celebrate Christmas Day together via our St. Luke “Church Family” Christmas Zoom Gathering, where we will open our Secret Santa gifts all together, learning the Secret Santa’s identity, and make joyful noises to our newborn Savior.
Please see the church newsletter for Zoom gathering information.

Secret Santa &
Christmas Day Zoom
Celebration

Until we can meet with our physical presence, the Secret Santa is a way to share Jesus' birth with each other. The Secret Santa sharing will start November 29, 2020, the beginning of Advent, and will culminate with our Zoom 10am Christmas Day Gathering, where we open our Secret Santa gifts and meet our Secret Santas. Let us use the principles of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love to connect with another St. Luke household.

Secret Santa or not, the Zoom Christmas Day Gathering is open to all.  

Wondering how to be a Secret Santa?
  • Pray daily for your household.
  • Regularly, write notes (via text, email, instant messenger US mail or any other way you wish to make contact—maybe secret front porch drops).
  • Secretly deliver a holiday blessing (limit $20 per household) with an enclosed card identifying the Secret Santa. (Scholarships are available for any household that desires a financial scholarship
    for the Secret Santa gift purchase.)
  • This project is a great chance to show creativity with your special talents, be it baking, sewing, painting, gardening, or some other like talent.

Sign-up to be a household Secret Santa:

Join us for Rally Day 2021!

When: Sunday, September 12, beginning with worship at 9:30 am!
Where: St. Luke’s upper parking lot and patio area
What: A welcome back together festival!
  • Worship on the patio, including celebrating First Communion for 7 children. (Please mask and bring your own chairs, although some chairs will be available.)
  • Ministry Fair & Drum Circle following worship. See the different ways God is at work through the St. Luke community – and find out how you can get involved.
  • Faith Formation Opportunities! Beginning at 10:45am, Children’s Ministry, Middle School Ministry, and SLY (Saint Luke Youth) will feature games, activities, and a sneak peak at the exciting opportunities to come this year.

Midsummer Nights at St. Luke

St. Luke Socials • Outdoors • All Ages!
Join us on the Shalom Lawn & Upper Parking lot for in person “long time no see” fun!  Optional lawn games & entertainment like corn-hole, can-jam, giant bubbles, hula hoops, etc. Or just simply enjoy talking with old friends! Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. If dinner calls, get takeout by supporting Tito’s Taquitos food cart down by Driftwood and picnic on the lawn. Movies are: Totoro and Princess Bride.  Mask while mingling.  (Of course, masks off while enjoying your treats.) We can’t wait to see you! Please park on the lower parking lot. 
Kona Kick Off & Scavenger Hunt
Wednesday, July 14, 6pm
Bring money for Kona Hawaiian Shave Ice
Movie & Popcorn
Wednesday, July 28, 8pm
Feature begins at dusk
FREE
Movie & Popcorn
Wednesday, August 11, 8pm
Feature begins at dusk
FREE
Popsicles & Penny’s Puppets
Wednesday, August 25, 6pm
FREE

Worship with Us from Home

We are not currently holding worship on site, but we continue to gather online.

Sunday mornings | 9:30 am
A live-stream service via our Facebook page.
Follow along with the weekly worship bulletin.

You can also enjoy the service at other times on our YouTube channel.

For complete information about the services and other opportunities to Worship + Connect + and Serve, please  select the button below.

Lent at St. Luke: A Time of Cleansing

We will continue our Sunday services on Facebook through the season, but we are also introducing in-person midweek Communion services.

Sign up in advance using Sign-up Genius if you would like to be a part of the in-person services, limited to 22 guests. (Those who do not have the technology to do so can contact the office.)

All who attend are required to physically distance themselves from people in other households, to wear masks, and to follow the guidance of the Safety Committee. We also strongly encourage you to watch our new safety video.)

To ensure that all are included and welcome, we will livestream the 7pm service on Facebook, and our COVID-safe Communion distribution ministry will bring Communion to those who request it.
LENTEN WORSHIP
Thursdays
1:00 pm - in person
7:00 pm - in person & livestreamed

Get Ready, Get Set, Apply!
Benson Family Foundation 2021-2022 College Scholarship

Students of St. Luke, including lineal descendants of members, who are considering Lutheran Colleges, Universities, or Seminaries, applications are now being accepted for the 2021 Benson Family Foundation Scholarship review process.

Scholarship applications and references are due Monday, March 15, 2021.
For complete information and application forms, visit
Benson Scholarship.
The Trust Fund Committee has invited Lutheran University graduates to tell their stories via Table Talks at the beginning of worship in January and February. Please watch for more information in the Weekly Update.
Scholarship recipients and their families joined Dale and Jolita Benson at an August 2019 coffee to celebrate the Benson’s and all of the St. Luke students who have been awarded funds from their foundation.

Here I Stand

Wednesdays at 7pm, October 7, 14, 21, & 28

Why and when do we take a stand? Join us as we explore those forces that compel and those forces that impede us, drawing from the stories and examples of leaders whose faithful convictions caused them to take unpopular and challenging stands: Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
Fr. Greg Boyle, Bp. Oscar Romera, and Maggy Barankitse. 
See the Newsletter for Zoom information and details.

Christmas with St. Luke

Though we’re physically distanced, there are many ways to celebrate the birth of our Savior with our St. Luke church family.

Please see the Christmas with St. Luke page for upcoming opportunities and activities for sharing the joy of the season together.
The Grauer Back-to-School Project is a volunteer, non-profit collaborative partnership with local faith organizations, social services agencies and businesses, created to respond to the back-to-school needs of low-income children who attend school in the Wilson cluster of schools in Southwest Portland.

Each year, on the 2nd Saturday of August, we provide a new winter coat, socks, shoes, underwear, T-shirt, and a backpack full of school supplies for each child who comes to Grauer. The project began in 2002 and serves several hundred children each year.

The need for quilts is greater than ever, both overseas and locally. In response, the Priceless Company Quilters assemble and tie quilts for distribution to Lutheran World Relief, local agencies, and others yearning for warmth and comfort. If you enjoy quilting, join us and make a difference. You are welcome to come as your time allows.

St. Luke Lutheran Church
​Upper Shalom Center
Time: Tuesdays, 9am-Noon
Community Recycle
As part of our stewardship of the God's creation, St. Luke hosts several Community Recycling opportunities during the year for the collection of non-curbside recycling items.

Northeast Emergency Food Program
This program strives to offer more than just free groceries and clothing to the families. They provide community, job resources, access to gardening materials, community dinners, and more. Learn More.

West Women’s & Children’s Shelter
We serve the victims of domestic violence by collecting clothing for the shelter in large bins in the lower level of the church year round.

Memory Cafe
Social time for persons with memory loss and their family care partners to enjoy conversation, refreshments, and music.

St. Luke Fellowship Hall
Time: Monthly, 2nd Thursday
​2:30-4:00pm
Children share God's gift of music through choirs, instruments, and special events, including our annual Christmas musical.

We have two choirs specifically for kids: the Hosanna Choir for grades K-3, and the Timbrel Choir for grades 4-8.  Learn more about these and other Music Ministries.
Growing and learning in faith is part of the call of all disciples of Jesus. Our Sunday School reflects that belief through the love and care of our teachers, our lessons, and the fun and song and laughter that our kids share with each other.

Ages: 3 years old through grade 5.
​Time: 9:30–10:45am during the school year.​ 
All children are welcome!
All are invited to come be a part of the transformational group who are learning how to love, care for each other, pray for life’s realities, and get dirty in service—doing God’s work in our world.

SLY meets Sundays for breakfast, food, fellowship, prayer and learning.  We also have a monthly fun or service event, and a yearly service or mission trip. Come and check us out!

Ages: Grades 9-12
​Time: 9:30–10:45am during the school year

Community Conversation Around Race

Saturdays at 12 Noon on Zoom
September 12 & 26
Covid-19 has further highlighted the systemic and internalized forces of racism in our society. St. Luke member, Bing Swigart, facilitates a virtual meetup where people can check in and discuss current events, articles, videos, and other content related to race. The group works together as a collective to process how they are being impacted by these topics and learn from each other. This group provides an opportunity to be in community even though we cannot be together physically.

Please see the church newsletter for the Zoom invite information.

Easter Worship at Home

Join us online for worship on Sunday morning at 9:30 am on Facebook Live. Go to St. Luke Lutheran Facebook page at 9:30 am and look for the worship there. You can also go to the Facebook page to watch the recording at a later time.

SW Hope -
Feed the Hungry

SW Hope is an annual campaign to collect food and donations to benefit the food pantry at Neighborhood House, located in Multnomah Village. St. Luke will join with 40 other local churches and businesses to reach this year’s goal of collecting 200,000 pounds of food.

Please bring nonperishable food items of all kinds and leave them near the display in the St. Luke narthex.

The food drive continues through Palm Sunday, April 5.
To learn more visit SW Hope - Feed the Hungry.

Lent at St. Luke: A Time of Cleansing

We will continue our Sunday services on Facebook through the season, but we are also introducing in-person midweek Communion services.

Sign up in advance using Sign-up Genius if you would like to be a part of the in-person services, limited to 22 guests. (A sign-up link will be made available soon. Those who do not have the technology to do so can contact the office.)

All who attend are required to physically distance themselves from people in other households, to wear masks, and to follow the guidance of the Safety Committee. We also strongly encourage you to watch our new safety video.)

To ensure that all are included and welcome, we will livestream the 7pm service on Facebook, and our COVID-safe Communion distribution ministry will bring Communion to those who request it.
LENTEN WORSHIP
In-person & livestreamed on Facebook

Ash Wednesday
Feb. 17
  • Imposition of ashes
  • Holy Communion
Thursdays
Feb. 25; March 4, 11, 18 & 25
  • Holy Communion

You oughta be in pictures!

We'd like to include your photo in our directory as a way to get to know each other better.
Photography sessions available for February 18

O Come, O Come...

Join us for Advent and Christmas Eve services as we wait for and welcome the Christ child

Wednesdays
December 11 & 18
6:00pm - Advent Vespers

Tuesday
December 24, Christmas Eve
3:00pm
Candlelight Communion with Children’s Choirs
5:00pm
Candlelight Communion with Church Chicks, soloists
7:00 pm
Candlelight Communion with St. Luke Ringers, soloists
10:30pm
Candlelight Communion with Rejoice Choir, soloists

Lift Your Spirits

The St. Luke Rejoice Choir in Concert

Sunday, Dec. 8 – 4:00pm
in the sanctuary

The Rejoice Choir will present Giovanni Pergolesi’s “Magnificat” with string quartet, harpsichord, and  organ. Familiar advent hymns, Advent and Christmas anthems, readings, prayers, will lift our spirits and inspire our worship of the Christ Child as we prepare for the celebration of His birth.

Advent Festival

Sunday, December 1

Vespers - 4:30-5:00pm
Saint Luke Sanctuary
Festival - 5:00-7:00pm
Fellowship Hall, downstairs
Dinner, Crafts, Cookie Decorating, Photo Booth
Free Event, All Are Welcome!

Fall Family Festival

October 27
5:00 - 7:30 pm
Fellowship Hall
Join us for an evening of fall festivities, including dinner, games, and activities for all. And, yes, wear a costume.

Halloween Costume Exchange & Cuban Dinner

Wednesday Church Night, Oct. 2, 2019
5:45 Fellowship Hall

Families are invited to bring clean used costumes for an exchange. Come get ideas, props, pieces of costumes and even entire costumes for Halloween 2019! 

We will also have games, inter-generational activities, and delicious Cuban food! Recommended donation for meal and activities is $5, with a max of $15/family.

Share resources -- good for the budget, good for the environment!  Why toss away last year’s costume, when we can swap it out for a new one?

More Upcoming Family Events

Fall Family Fest
Sunday, October 27, 5:00pm

Advent Festival
Sunday, December 1, 5:00pm

Blessing of the Animals

Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, at Noon
St. Luke Lutheran Church

We paws to celebrate your pet—and the gift of diversity!

Homemade dog treats! A memory station to honor pets that have left us! Individual blessing for each pet!

While we draw from a Christian tradition, people from all faiths—and no faith—are welcome with their animals!

Smile—you have another chance to include your photo in the directory!

Photography sessions available August 23 or 24

The Power of Grauer!

The Grauer Back-to-School Project
August 10, St. Luke

Grauer is a volunteer, non-profit collaborative partnership with local faith organizations, social services agencies and businesses, created to respond to the back-to-school needs of low-income children who attend school in the Wilson cluster of schools in Southwest Portland. The project began in 2002 and serves several hundred children each year. We will provide new winter coats, socks, shoes, underwear, T-shirts, and a backpacks full of school supplies for the children who come to the project.

Please use the contact link below if you'd like more information or wish to volunteer.

Make Some Marimba Music

Workshop with Performance
Saturday, July 13, 9:30am-noon, sanctuary
Students entering grades 4 and above, youth, and adults have the opportunity to take part in a 2½ hour Inter-generational Marimba Workshop. Our instructor will be Jeff Powers (music teacher in Tualatin and youth leader/marimba director at Tigard 1st United Methodist Church). Workshop participants will share their marimba music in worship on Sunday, July 14.

To reserve your spot, use the contact link below, or sign the clipboard in the Ministry center.
Hands-on Demonstration
Sunday, July 14, 10-10:45am, sanctuary
Jeff will offer a hands-on demonstration of basic marimba techniques in the process of learning a simple song during an inter-generational CE class. Parents, children entering grades 3 and above, youth, adults, and seniors will be given an opportunity to play the marimbas in shifts as they learn some simple rhythms and melodic patterns in the process of learning a song.

No reservations or registration required.
Photo credit: Keneth Cruz, VisualHunt.com
Join us for a fun-filled week, exploring the theme "On Earth as in Heaven" at St. Luke Lutheran Church (4595 SW California Street, Portland 97219). The fun begins on Monday, June 15, and goes through Friday, June 19.

Cost
Half day (9am-Noon): $25/child
(family maximum $75.00)
Full day (9am-3pm): $65/child
Note: full day is for students who just finished 1st through 5th grades.

Registration
Registration runs Sunday, January 26, 2020 to Sunday, May 31, 2020 (or until VBS is filled). There are 100 openings for the half-day program and 60 openings for the full-day program (30 for 1st–3rd grades, and 30 for 4th & 5th grades). So don’t wait! Download the registration and permission/medical forms below and send them in with your check made out to “St. Luke Lutheran Church”.

Registration & Medical Release Forms:
Download Word Doc
Download PDF

For more information, contact:
Susan Tremper (half-day program) - (503) 709-2035
Jodi Swigart (full-day program) - (503) 358-0153

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...for VBS

Registration is open for our 2019 Vacation Bible School, exploring the theme “Who Is My Neighbor?”. This 5-day program, developed by the ELCA World Hunger ministry, is based on the Good Samaritan story and contains games, crafts, music, snacks and intentional activities for children to learn how our faith calls us to love and serve our neighbors.

Dates
June 17-21, 2019

Cost
Half day (9am-Noon): $20/child
(family maximum $50.00)
Full day (9am-3pm): $60/child
Note: full day is for students who just finished 4th or 5th grades.

Sing in the Spring!

The Rejoice Choir will present a 45-minute concert entitled “Musical Reflections: the Year in Review” on Sunday, June 9, at 10am in the sanctuary. The program will include several of our favorite anthems from the various seasons of the past church year.

Also included will be some audience singing and a free-will offering for St. Luke’s Special Music Fund. Plan now to bring the family and invite a friend or neighbor as we celebrate some of the musical highlights shared in worship over the past 12 months.
Rejoice Choir Concert
Musical Reflections: the Year in Review
June 9, 2019  |  10am

Nursery care will be available.
Join us to Celebrate the Easter Season
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Thursday, April 18th
11:30 am & 7:00 pm
GOOD FRIDAY
Friday, April 19th
11:30 am & 7:00 pm
EASTER
Sunday, April 21st
8:00 am, 9:30 am & 11:00 am

College-bound? Time to Apply for a Benson Family Scholarship

Benson Family Foundation scholarships are available for members and lineal descendants of members of the St. Luke Lutheran Church congregation who attend a Lutheran college or university.

Learn more and download an application.

Welcome the Christ Child with Us on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Worship
Monday, December 24

3pm
Candlelight Communion with Children’s Choirs

5pm
Candlelight Communion with Church Chicks, soloists

7pm
Candlelight Communion with St. Luke Ringers, soloists

10:30pm
Candlelight Communion with Rejoice Choir, soloists