At St. Luke’s, we believe that everyone has a story to tell. Our community is made up of people from all walks of life—each with unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs. In this section, we invite you to hear firsthand accounts from our church members, volunteers, and those who have been touched by our services. These stories are a testament to the power of faith, connection, and service. They reflect the heart of who we are as a church: a welcoming space where lives are transformed, and new possibilities are embraced.
Select a Story
Leah’s Story
I became curate (priest-in-training) at St. Luke’s in July 2022 and when I started, my employers instructed me to “see what’s possible” here in this unique demographic area. The Holy Spirit soon made it very clear: everything is possible here! Any skepticism I initially felt about what a mission parish could do to help heal the world disappeared almost immediately. My heart and mind have been transformed by watching the congregation, volunteers, and neighbors come together in goodwill to love this corner of Cleveland, creating something out of nothing through the abundance of hope, love, and relationships—not the abundance of resources. St. Luke’s has ruined me for “normal” church work. I’m not sure I could ever work anywhere else, again.
Albert’s Story
Albert (not his real name) came to St. Luke’s carrying a lot of anger. Life was hard. Although everyone in the area knew him by sight, he was very solitary. He’d never had much except when he was in the military. But he also didn’t want to carry this heavy load anymore. He came to our Community Meal for a few months before engaging more deeply, but he always sought out a volunteer or clergy and asked them to pray for him to be able to let go of his anger. A few weeks later, a tall man walked down the street singing and we almost didn’t recognize Albert. He proclaimed that he was finally done with his anger, that he’d felt a huge sense of release and was able to let it go. He carried a huge wave of sensitivity around with him, now.
Albert also became a parishioner. One Sunday morning, a person who’d been hurt by Christians in the past stood on our sidewalk, debating whether to come in. Albert came walking up with his ever-present cup of coffee.
“You going in?” he asked.
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, it’s cold out here and I’m not going in until you do.”
The man shrugged. “I’m still not sure.”
“God’s in there and it seems like you need that.”
So Albert brought his new friend into church and they both stayed. They are both at the heart of our community, now.
Another time, a baby was crying during church and the parents were feeling awkward, because despite St. Luke’s welcoming all people as they are, the baby was pretty loud. Albert sat with them. “It’s okay,” he said. “We all need to cry, sometimes.” It has become a refrain for that family.
Albert had to move outside when he was evicted from his apartment in August 2023. He declined help from the church beyond food and did not want to stay in a shelter. Instead, he camped outside. The volunteers at our free store made sure he had everything he wanted to be as warm as possible. Social workers made enormous efforts to help Albert move back inside and housing opened up in November. He was delighted and came by to tell us the good news. On the night before he was set to move in, Albert died in his sleep.
Albert’s family was contacted and they were devastated. We came together in grief over the loss and partnered to celebrate his life. Albert’s spirit remains at the heart of this congregation. He was our friend and family.
Marlein’s Story
During the pandemic, I was sick for a long time and I couldn’t work anymore. A neighbor invited me to come to the Community Meal on Wednesdays. I kept coming, and the priest saw that I was deep cleaning the kitchen and had ideas. I started helping at Mobile Pantry. Then the priest asked if I could come on Sundays. I started to feel better, even though I was still dealing with side effects and needed to manage my energy. I didn’t always want to be around people, but little by little I was able to be around more. The priest kept telling me, “I’m going to see you on Sunday!” So I came one Sunday, and I enjoyed it. And as I felt better, I kept doing more. I had surgeries and the support that I got from here, the love I got from here, Addie’s hugs, Deacon Dan praying for me, was very comforting and very helpful. I built a relationship with Mother Leah and her family. I even got confirmed! The relationships I have here are important to me—with people, with the free store. I want people to understand that we’re not just a store, we’re a church. The store is the church. We’re a team. I’m not 100% who I used to be, yet, but I’m at 50% and I feel better when I’m here. I’m happy and I’m content.
Mike’s Story
I’ve been a pretty consistent volunteer at St. Luke’s Mobile Pantry for about a decade and sometime during this period if asked about St. Luke’s I would say “St. Luke’s has been a gift to me.” While I don’t consider myself a conventionally religious person – and am certainly not Episcopalian – as I age I find myself seeking glimpses of the divine and, on reflection I think I’m grateful to St. Luke’s because it opens me up to not only see the divinity “out there” but also a divinity that I believe is within each of us. If one believes, as I do, that “God is love” then one only needs to show up at Mobile Pantry and squint a little to see God made manifest in the interactions between and among service recipients and service providers. And when you show up for services on Sunday morning you may, like me, feel a palpable sense of the divine in Leah’s thoughtful and thought provoking sermons, Dan and Helen’s welcoming spirit, Addie’s kindness, Lex’s hugs, Marlein’s commitment, Vi’s food, Haylee’s friendly smile, Lori’s generous soul, Judy’s impromptu choir, and, of course, Bob’s wonderful music. For me – a not very religious person – St. Luke’s slogan “God is in Cleveland” is not just a slogan, it’s a reality – a reality that is revealed in and through the life of this church.
So when I say that St. Luke’s is a gift to me it’s not just a platitude. For me St. Luke’s puts me in touch with something that is fundamental and special and sacred and for that I am extremely grateful.
Lottie’s Story
Lottie (not her real name) was a neighbor who initially kept to herself at Community Meal. However, when we announced that we needed volunteers, she showed up to help, even though she struggled with her health. From there, Lottie began attending church and quickly became a member. Pretty soon, she was a constant and welcoming presence for all people at all events. She often reminded Mother Leah during announcements that she needed to remind everyone about Spirituality Group, of which Lottie was a cornerstone member.
Lottie was genius-level intelligent, a physicist, and she brought her special brand of dry humor, wisdom, and insight to our faith discussions. She could tell you what size meteors are safe to ignore in one breath and the trees indigenous to the pacific northwest the next. Lottie also loved poetry, which we often study in Spirituality Group, and she used her analytical brain to tease out details no one else noticed.
Lottie’s heart gave out during the weeklong power outage in Cleveland in August 2024. Her family were devastated, and we came together to grieve and celebrate Lottie’s life. Lottie is very much still in the heart of our congregation, and whenever something scientific comes up, we all turn to look for her to see what nuance she will bring to the conversation. She was our friend and our family.
Margaret’s Story
Although I’ve moved out of state, I continue to remain connected to St. Luke’s because it is what I believe the church is called to be: embedded in its neighborhood, drawing a cross-section of the beautiful people of God in all their complexity. It’s a place where worship is the cornerstone – worship which is attentive to beautiful language and music on Sunday mornings or a prayer before the community meal. It is a community steeped in joy and loss, laughter and hard work.
I served for a time as a greeter at the door on Wednesday nights, and it’s where I got to know people as they waited for the doors to officially opened, and where some of my intrinsic assumptions were brought into the light–not always a comfortable thing. The people I got to know were smart and knowledgeable, vulnerable about their struggles and worries. To be asked to say a prayer with someone, to learn to greet someone in Spanish, to be able to greet people by name – it was an honor to be invited into people’s lives.
Greg’s Story
St. Luke’s has always felt like an open, welcoming, and fun place to me. In high school I helped with the tutoring program and did a Boy Scout project building a bookshelf for the program. Much later (as in a few years ago), St. Luke’s caught me when I left my last church. Since then I’ve had to split my time between St. Luke’s and Heights Christian Church in Shaker Heights because my wife is the pastor at HCC and I sing in the (very small) choir. Recently I was fortunate to be able to participate in St. Luke’s pickup choir, which was a lovely and rewarding experience.
I feel that my involvement in St. Luke’s helps me keep grounded in my faith and reminds me of my mission as a Christian to be involved in helping the community in any way I can. Thanks for being there for me, St. Luke’s!
Haylee’s Story
Walking into St. Lukes only a few weeks after the church I had attended for 30 years had closed, I was surprised to feel immediately comfortable and in a place I belonged–with a deep sense that everyone was welcome here. St. Luke’s is a beautiful community of people who take seriously Jesus’ command to love our neighbors, and I hope to be part of this community for a long time.
Jo’s Story
The bones of it are this: I started volunteering for the community meal at St. Luke’s during the pandemic to feel connected to something that was good during a dark time. I’ve lived down the street for over 20 years; that gorgeous stained glass window on the 78th Street side often caught my eye. My daughter, a high school student at the time, volunteered with her friends for mobile pantry and she came home each time, well, elevated.
The meat of it is this: St. Luke’s community meal is what the sacrament of Communion is, plain and simple. It’s a place where a bunch of folx come together in love and serve food and eat food and chat and look each other in the eye and say, “So good to see you!” And then there’s the delicious food. There’s no expectation of our guests, just welcome. And to me, that radical hospitality is the crux of Christianity. No questions asked, no requirements to attend, just c’mon in.
That is what St. Luke’s is to me. It’s what keeps me coming back almost every Wednesday. It’s my church.
Adam’s Story
I first learned about St. Luke’s while bicycling home soon after moving to Cleveland, as the cars lined up for mobile pantry blocked the bike lane on Lake Avenue. I wondered what was going on there. One day, I decided to join in, and have now been volunteering for over two years. I recently started attending Sunday services. St. Luke’s is a place of neighborhood belonging and friendship. So many things in society push us towards isolation or affiliation with those with similar interests. The nice thing about St. Luke’s is that it’s a place where we can just be neighbors and feel welcomed. Thanks to everyone involved here.
Helen’s Story
St. Luke is my church, my spiritual home, when I am there I feel the closeness of God. I am aware of the love and safety that abounds. So proud of the real diversity we share. St Luke’s is truly unique, there is no other place like it, we strive to care for and love everyone.
I invite all to join us, you will be comfortable, safe and welcome, you will find love, smiles and kindness.
Our door is open, come as you are.