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Our Visitor Guidebook One of the worst things about attending a church for the first time is not knowing what to EXPECT. Face it: we've all walked into churches for the first time only to decide within minutes that we won't be back. At St. Luke Lutheran Church, we believe church should be a place where the entire family can come worship God, learn the Bible, and have a joyful experience. Here at St. Luke, we'll try to make sure the first thing you see when you walk through the doors is a smiling face ready to assist you and your family in whatever needs you may have. If it's been a long time since you've been to church, St. Luke wants you to relax! There's already enough for you have to think about when you're visiting a church for the first time. We hope that getting some of your questions answered not only encourages you to join us for church, but also helps you to connect with the hope and encouragement that God has for you. We have tried to anticipate most of the questions you may have regarding St. Luke Lutheran Church - We hope these answers will help! Will I be welcome at St. Luke? How do I get to St. Luke Lutheran Church? What Time Does Your Service Begin? When should I arrive? What should I wear? Will I have to stand up in front of people? Where will my children go during the service? Do you have childcare? How do I get more information about Amazing Creations Preschool? What is the preaching like? What kind of music do you have? What kind of church are you? Why do newcomers make St. Luke their church home? What is Sunday School? How often do you partake of Communion? What events are going on? How do I contact the church? What if I have a Prayer Request or Praise Report? Who should I contact to find out about being baptized? How can I get involved? Do I have to be a Member to participate? What do you believe about God, the Bible, & stuff like that? Still have questions? Will I be welcome at St. Luke? [TOP] We welcome ANYONE, from ANY walk of life and in ANY stage of life to join our fellowship. Yes, that means you!! How do I get to St. Luke Lutheran Church? [TOP] St. Luke Lutheran Church is conveniently located near Interstate I-85 in Sunnyvale. Click here to see a map. What Time Does Your Service Begin? [TOP] Worship Services Sunday Worship Services - One Service Every Sunday @ 9:30 AM Fellowship & Coffee 10:45 AM Adult and Children's Sunday School every Sunday 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM When should I arrive? [TOP] We suggest arriving 10-15 minutes before the 9:30 AM service as we sing pre-worship songs before the service begins. Be sure to look for our visitor parking spots close to the building when you arrive. Following the 9:30 AM service we have a time of fellowship in the building next to the church called Kurtz Hall. You are invited to join us for coffee, juice and donuts and have an opportunity to meet, mingle and share a time of fellowship with the great people at St. Luke. What should I wear? [TOP] Simply, whatever you like. Don't give a second thought to what you're wearing. We're more concerned with meeting your real life needs than what you wear. So dress in whatever you feel comfortable in and just relax and enjoy being around friends. So, blue jeans and business suits are all welcome! Everyone has their own style, so you will notice everything from slacks and ties to jeans and t-shirts. It's a mixture that shows our uniqueness and freedom to be who God created us to be! Will I have to stand up in front of people? [TOP] Guest are never called upon or pointed out, so don't worry about being embarrassed. We understand what it is like to be in a new church! So while the people at St. Luke are genuinely interested in getting to know you and want to make you feel welcome, we will never call on you or embarrass you in any way. You can relax and enjoy meeting people at your own pace. Those parts of the service that you may not be familiar with are explained each Sunday morning, so you don't need to be concerned about not knowing when to sit, pray, stand, or what to do next. Where will my children go during the service? [TOP] Your children will love St. Luke Lutheran Church! Sunday school ends at 12:00 PM. We also provide a safe, cozy nursery for infants in the back of the sanctuary. During the school year, Sunday School Hour begins at 11:00 AM and ends at 12:00 PM. We concentrate on a hands-on, Bible-based, rotation curriculum which instills the love of learning about God in an interactive way for children in preschool through 5th grade. Each Sunday, we begin our hour together at our Sunday Opening where we share God's blessings for us, prayer requests, collect our offering and canned foods in support of our outreach programs, as well as praise God in song and music. Our children's ministry leaders are parents just like you who value every child and treat them with the utmost care and attention. For more information about our Children's ministry, click here. One of the greatest concerns of young parents in looking for a church is quality of child care. We understand this concern & have done everything possible to calm your parental fears. We can promise a fun, loving environment that helps your children feel church is a happy place where they are loved. Do you have Childcare? [TOP] Our ministry is designed for the whole family. Children in the Nursery range from those who have just learned to walk to five years of age. Click here for more information. What is the preaching like? [TOP] At St. Luke, it is our sincere desire to share God's Word in all its truth without watering anything down, but to do it in love, and in ways that are interesting, engaging and relevant to your daily life. While the Bible certainly does convict us of our sin in order to point out our lost condition, the overarching theme of the entire Bible is God's unconditional love for all humankind, as is shown by God sending His precious Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sin. If you attend one of our services, you will hear the truths of God's Word presented passionately, clearly, and lovingly in ways that will make sense to you. Come expecting to learn something from Pastor Bob's biblical messages that can be applied to your everyday living. What you learn on Sunday, you'll be able to use throughout the week and know that it came from the Bible. What kind of music do you have? [TOP] At our church we have a wide variety of worship music both traditional hymns and contemporary praise songs. What kind of church are you? [TOP] St. Luke is Bible based, and Jesus is the central focus. We are affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America resulted from a union of three North American Lutheran church bodies: The American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church in America. The three churches agreed to unite in 1982. They formed a 70-member Commission for a New Lutheran Church, which planned the merger. The plan was approved by church conventions in 1986, and the ELCA constituting convention was held April 30-May 3, 1987, with the church actually beginning operations on January 1, 1988. NATIONAL ELCA MEMBERS: Baptized Members: 4,850,776 Communing and Contributing Members: 2,256,700 Congregations: 10,549 Synods: 65 in nine geographic regions Members of Color: African-American/Black: 54,354 American Indian/Alaska Native: 7,095 Arab/Middle Eastern: 1,779 Asian/Pacific Islander: 21,950 Latino/Hispanic: 39,157 Multiethnic: 12,261 Other: 11,096 Why do newcomers make St. Luke their church home? [TOP] Based on their feedback, it is clear that newcomers experience St. Luke as a safe place to be. Preaching and teaching are Biblical and balanced, leaders are not overbearing but committed to serve, children are well cared for, and everyone feels the openness, comfort and encouragement of a caring Christian fellowship. Most newcomers find that friends are easily made. Many people may live alone or far from relatives, or come from difficult family backgrounds, so St. Luke serves for many as a healthy Christian family. What is Sunday School? [TOP] Bible study for all ages is at 11:00 AM each Sunday morning during the school year. Through Bible study classes, in addition to learning from the Bible, this is where you can connect with others at similar stages of life; people will encourage you with you becoming an encouragement to others. We have classes for both children and adults. For more information, please click on the "Ministries" link in the menu above.. How often do you partake of Communion? [TOP] We celebrate the Lord's Supper every Sunday during the 9:30 AM service. What events are going on? [TOP] Check out the Calendar for the latest activities and opportunities to get involved in activities at St. Luke. How do I contact the church? [TOP] By phone - (408)736-9216 or Our mailing address is 1025 The Dalles Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 What if I have a Prayer Request or Praise Report? [TOP] There are several convenient ways to get your Prayer Request to our Prayer Partners: • Fill out the yellow St. Luke Prayer Request form found in the pews on Sundays • Contact the church office at (408) 736-9216 Please keep us informed on your request and praise report! Who should I contact to find out about being baptized? [TOP] One of our most favorite things to do at St. Luke is to dedicate children and adults to the Lord through baptism! To get more information about baptism, contact Pastor Bob McKee at (408)736-9216, and he will work out an appropriate details. How can I get involved? [TOP] We conduct an informal meeting called 101 Class for Lutheran Study on a regular basis. You will hear from Pastor Bob and other church leaders regarding the vision, beliefs, and structure of St. Luke Lutheran Church. We have designed this meeting to acquaint you with the mission and practices of St. Luke so that you can make an informed decision regarding church membership. Do I have to be a Member to participate? [TOP] At St. Luke, you do not have to be a member to participate in any area of worship! We offer many events and opportunities to the community and encourage participation by all members and non-members. Membership is important though and we offer sessions that allow people interested in connecting with St. Luke in more significant ways to get plugged in. For more information contact the church office at (408)736-9216. What do you believe about God, the Bible, & stuff like that? [TOP] Great question! If you know much about Christianity, our belief system would be similar to most evangelical churches. Click here to get more information about our beliefs in God and the bible. Still have questions? [TOP] Feel free to contact us, and we'll be happy to answer your questions. |
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