Worship has always been at the center of our life at St. Luke's, with its strong traditions of Catholic liturgy, thoughtful and forceful preaching, and strong lay participation. Our service leaflets are both complete and user-friendly, and we make every effort to make the newcomer and visitor feel welcome and involved in our life of prayer.

On Sundays, we worship using all the resources of the 1979 Prayer Book and the 1982 Hymnal.

Our 8:00 am service is a said Eucharist, sometimes with a short homily, and uses the traditional language of Rite I.

During the summer months we celebrate the Eucharist at 10:30 am, integrating regular 9:15 and 11:15 services.

At 9:15 am, there is a sung Eucharist, with congregational mass setting, hymns, homily, and during the school term, musical leadership provided by the St. Luke's Choristers, a mixed children's choir under the direction of David Shuler. This service is followed immediately by church school for children of all ages. Both this service and the one at 11:15 use the more contemporary language of Rite II.

Our Solemn Eucharist is celebrated at 11:15 am, and is famous for the strength and enthusiasm of our congregational singing, as well as the excellence of the St. Luke's Choir, a group of professional singers under the direction of David Shuler. The preaching at this service makes every effort to connect the Gospel to our daily lives, and like the music, is always closely related to the scriptural themes of the season and the day. The choir's repertoire at this service ranges through the entire history of Western church music -- from Gregorian chant and the masses of Josquin to the anthems and motets of contemporary composers like Arvo Pärt and John Tavener. Congregational singing at St. Luke's is unusually vibrant -- one often finds oneself standing in the midst of people singing hymns in four part harmony.

At the heart of our liturgical life is the celebration of Holy Week, with major services on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, Easter Eve and the Easter Day. The Solemn Triduum (the last three days of Holy Week) is also the occasion for the Bishop's visitation, when the ancient rites of Baptism and Confirmation are celebrated in the solemnity of the Easter Vigil.

At St. Luke's, baptisms are always celebrated in the context of the Sunday Eucharist. Scheduled for four to six Sundays in the year, the service of Holy Baptism has become a defining element of our community's life together in Christ. A yearly program of Christian formation for adults prepares parishioners for baptism, confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church at the Easter Vigil.
To inquire about baptism for either infants or adults please contact Mo. Mary Foulke 212-633-2099;

For over 100 years, there has been a daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist at an altar of St. Luke's, open to all in the neighborhood who would like to join us for regular worship.

The parish was one of the first in the United States to embrace the Anglo-Catholic revival in the mid-nineteenth century. This commitment to Catholic liturgy, rooted in strong congregational participation, has been continuous for over 150 years.

Several parishioners helped shape both the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the 1982 Hymnal, and women clergy have had a central role in the leadership of the parish since ordination in the Episcopal Church was first opened to women in 1976. The parish continues to deepen and enhance the best traditions of Anglo-Catholic worship and witness in a time of uncertainty and change.