Our congregation is named after Luke, a physician who wrote the Gospel according to Luke and the book of Acts. God has blessed us with the desire and ability to excel in reaching out with care for one another. He empowers us to reach out to disciple others with what we ourselves have received: the restoration of spirit, soul, and body he gives through Jesus Christ.

Our congregation is made up of people from many communities surrounding the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area. In these communities is an abundance of medical and behavioral health care facilities, numerous businesses which support them, and a significant population who are cared for, employed by, and studying to become part of these places of care. As a congregation, we are perfectly positioned to:

· Be disciples who receive care of spirit, soul, and body by our Great Physician, Jesus;

· Make disciples among the people in our communities, intentionally – but not exclusively – with ministry to and with the people associated with these care systems, so they might thrive with us in spirit, soul, and body, as disciples of Jesus.

A way to summarize our Vision: “The Vision of St. Luke is a community thriving in spirit, soul and body because we reach, and Christ restores.”

The “mission” of the church is what we do, and “vision” is what it looks like when we do it.

The terms “mission” and “vision” are defined elsewhere in various ways; this is how we define them.

The Mission Statement of St. Luke is our unique expression of the Great Commission of Jesus to “make disciples” (Mt. 28:19-20). It is “Seeking Everyone’s Story…Sharing in His Story.” This is what we do.

This is what it looks like when we do it:

• We see our congregation seeking everyone’s story of brokenness, so that Christ may restore them. Everyone has a story which includes pain, struggle, uncertainty, sin and guilt in every aspect of their being: Spirit, soul, and body. We seek. Christ restores.
• We see the people of St. Luke care for one another as we bear our crosses; to disciple each other, grow in grace together, and build Christ-centered relationships so that we effectively serve each other in love.
• We see our people reach out to share our vision, because our congregation is made up of people who care deeply, like our namesake St. Luke, and are equipped with the God-given gifts, talents, experiences, and resources we need to share the good news of Christ, who restores.
• We see this focus for outreach: The medical and behavioral health care facilities, businesses which support them, and population who are cared for, employed by, and studying to become part of these places of care which is an exceptionally large presence in our communities.

Disciples of Jesus thrive in spirit, soul, and body when they are restored through Word and Sacrament. The power of those means of grace then enable disciples to reach out to make disciples of others. The main focus of our discipleship efforts consists of providing people with opportunities to grow through Word and Sacrament – individually, in small groups, in worship – and once equipped, to provide them with ideas and opportunities to share their faith in everyone’s story. The primary focus of the leadership of the congregation is to create opportunities for people to reach out, and to identify opportunities which already exist in our communities with whom we can partner or volunteer, and enable people to join in those efforts.

Everyone who is a part of St. Luke – regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, ability, and experience – is welcome, included, and invited to be a part of our vision. If one of our people sees an opportunity to help their community in a way that aligns with our vision, we will support their efforts. When our congregation becomes aware of ministry opportunities, and when we are planning goals and allocating resources, we will support endeavors which carry out our vision, and decline those which do not.

We reach. Christ restores, in . . .

Spirit: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” -Psalm 51:12

Soul: “He restores my soul.” -Psalm 23:3

Body: “(Jesus) looked around at them all, and then said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was completely restored.”-Lk. 6:10