A Traditional Church for Modern Times
Welcome to the website of St. Luke's Church! We are glad that you are taking the time to get to know us.
St. Luke's Church is a mission church worshiping in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. We are Anglican because our tradition of prayer and worship is rooted in the Church of England and the Book of Common Prayer. We are Catholic because we believe and practice the universal or catholic faith of the church. Today the word "Catholic" is often understood in opposition to the word "Protestant." However, in the early church, the word catholic stood in opposition to the word, "heretic." Those who held to the catholic or universal faith stood in opposition to those who rejected some essential aspect of that faith. In the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, the Church of England opposed or protested against certain false beliefs and practices that had crept into the church precisely because those beliefs and practices were a departure from the ancient or catholic faith. However, the English reformers chose to not radically alter or "re-invent" the church in a manner similar to Continental reformers such as Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli. While Anglicans agree that "Holy Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation", the Anglican view of authority is derived from a balance of three sources: Scripture, Tradition and Reason. Thus, Anglican faith is best understood as a reformed catholic faith. We believe that the church is in need of continual renewal and reformation. It must oppose the errors of every age in order to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). WHY TRADITION? OUR HISTORY |
Essentials of the Catholic FaithThe Catholic Faith is that which has been believed in all places, by all people, and at all times-. the faith of the undivided Church that existed until the Great Schism of 1054 when the Church divided into Eastern and Western branches. The elements of the faith are:
Holy Scripture The Ancient Creeds: Apostles Creed Nicene Creed Creed of St. Athanasius The Seven Sacraments Holy Baptism Holy Communion Confirmation Reconciliation (Confession) Holy Matrimony Holy Orders Holy Unction Decisions of the First Seven Eccumenical Councils |
