At 300 Carroll Street in Waukesha, St. Luke's Lutheran Church is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregation known for excellent preaching, varied worship and a strong musical life. Its Child Life Ministries support more than 100 working families through childcare, preschool and School District of Waukesha 4K, while discipleship groups, neighborhood partnerships and a relationship with five Tanzanian parishes carry the mission beyond the building.
Connecting, Growing, and Serving on Carroll Street
St. Luke's states its mission as “Helping people make life-changing connections with God through Jesus Christ.” Its vision is “St. Luke's is a faith community committed to connecting, growing, and serving.” The congregation understands the Holy Spirit at work when people grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, and it sees discipleship as preparation for lives of mission in the neighborhood.
Its core values begin with honoring God and serving Jesus Christ, then give practical expression to that commitment:
- Share Jesus Christ and make disciples.
- Worship God together.
- Remain curious, courageous and open to the Holy Spirit.
- Celebrate children and lift up families as they are.
- Practice kindness and uphold the dignity of each individual.
- Build an inclusive community of grace.
- Stand ready to serve and advocate for neighbors.
- Honor the past and look to God's future.
Saturday and Sunday Gatherings Shaped by Music
Saturday worship is held at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m., with both services in the sanctuary. Excellent music supports worship, and St. Luke's encourages a variety of worship expressions. The congregation is also known for excellent preaching. Weekly worship shapes its mission by preparing and equipping people for everything the church does in the name of Jesus Christ.
Worship videos and live streams are available through St. Luke's Vimeo channel. The church office at 300 Carroll Street is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
From 39 Charter Members to More Than a Century of Ministry
St. Luke's was organized on August 31, 1921, when 39 charter members met at the YMCA on South Street, a location now occupied by the downtown parking ramp. On November 28, 1922, the congregation purchased property at the corner of Grand Avenue and Carroll Street for future development. The Red Brick Church was dedicated on March 27, 1927.
Pastor Glenn Cloninger was called in 1942. Construction of the Parish House was approved on June 7, 1953, and the building was dedicated on December 5, 1954. In 1958, the first women were elected to the Council of Elders. The last service in the Red Brick Church took place in August 1965, followed by groundbreaking for the new church. The new building was dedicated on December 18, 1966, and the mortgage was burned in June 1975.
A major renovation and addition began in 1989 and included an elevator. The congregation marked its 75th anniversary in 1996, the same year that Child Life Ministries began. A second major building and equipment project started in 2000 and was completed in 2004.
A MET Team and Call Committee formed in 2005. Pastors Kathy Boadwine and Gary Liedtke began serving in July 2006, followed by Pastor Karen Pahl in March 2013 and term pastor Doug Andersen in June 2016. Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Lindsay Paul Jordan has led the congregation since November 2018, and Rev. Maren Hooper serves as associate pastor. Other ministry leaders include Michael Schaner, director of Music Ministries; Courtney Stangl, director of Child Life Ministries; Cari Buskel Thompson, youth director; Liz Anderson, preschool administrator; and Laurie Rohrwasser, coordinator of Care and Prayer Ministries. St. Luke's celebrated 100 years in August 2021.
Child Life Ministries for Waukesha's Working Families
Child Life Ministries helps children in the Waukesha area make a life-changing connection with Jesus Christ. It integrates Christian faith into the daily curriculum while providing quality childcare and preschool programs in a calm, organized, loving, inclusive and communicative setting where children can grow emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually. The program serves children from six weeks through age 13 and welcomes children regardless of race, color, sex, differing abilities, religion, national or ethnic origin.
St. Luke's Child Life Ministries is licensed by the State of Wisconsin and participates in the Department of Children and Families YoungStar program. It undergoes annual technical consultation and evaluation. The wider ministry supports more than 100 working families each week and provides employment to more than 20 CLM staff members.
Childcare operates Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Its play-based program emphasizes individual and group growth through hands-on activities, creative and imaginative play, early critical thinking and problem solving. Children build friendships, practice socially acceptable behavior, enjoy art, dramatic play, writing centers, sensory experiences and outdoor play, and receive nutritious meals cooked on site. Songs, prayers, stories and weekly chapel or sanctuary gatherings place Christian faith within the daily routine. The program also teaches manners, respect for others and the importance of diversity.
Preschool and 4K with Room to Grow
St. Luke's preschool serves children ages two through five, with classes meeting Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon during the school year. The First Steps program gives two-year-olds and their adults a weekly 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. experience from September through May. Three-year-olds attend either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, while four- and five-year-olds attend Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday.
Preschool classes are limited to ten children, allowing individual attention from college-degreed, certified and experienced teachers. Activities include theme-based units, an integrated faith curriculum, service projects, art, sensory experiences, dramatic play, field trips, circle time, pre-K readiness in reading, writing, math and science, monthly cooking projects, free-choice time and active outdoor play. A weekly music program with a professional musician and monthly Chapel Chats with the pastors add to the classroom rhythm. Parents and grandparents can volunteer, and families can combine preschool with wrap-around or extended childcare.
In partnership with the School District of Waukesha, Child Life Ministries provides two four-year-old kindergarten classrooms. The morning session meets Monday through Thursday from 8:45 to 11:55 a.m., and the afternoon session meets from 12:30 to 3:40 p.m. Children build the social and emotional skills needed for elementary school in a loving setting that can include public 4K, faith-based learning and wrap-around care at St. Luke's.
Joyful Noise, Handbells and the Community Table
Joyful Noise is St. Luke's collection of children's musical ensembles, rehearsing on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Angel Choir welcomes children ages four through first grade and meets from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. Sing for Joy serves grades two through six from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Lord's Chimes gives grades two and three a handchime introduction from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., while Joyful Ringers teaches grades four through six the basics of handbell ringing during the same time.
Seventh through 12th graders are invited to participate with the adult ensembles. Godsbells, a handbell choir for seventh graders through adults, rehearses Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. and rings monthly and for special services. Voices of Faith, a mixed vocal ensemble for seventh graders through adults, rehearses Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. The Men's Chorus rehearses on the second Sunday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Music Room and sings at least once per month.
After children's choir rehearsal each Thursday, St. Luke's serves a family-friendly community meal from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m. that requires no registration. The annual Music and Fine Arts Series also brings concerts and other performances to the congregation. Music camp gives children entering kindergarten through grade seven opportunities for choir, handbells, handchimes, Orff instruments, art, Bible study and mission projects.
Seven Practices of Discipleship
Discipleship is central to St. Luke's ministries. The congregation organizes life around seven practices: worshiping, praying, dwelling in the Word, inviting others, serving others, encouraging others and giving generously.
From September through May, the Book of Faith Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. in the Hospitality Area for adults of all ages. Theology on Tap gathers men on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at La Estacion. Theology Uncorked gathers women, while Laurie's Bible Study and Diane's Book Club provide additional opportunities for adults. Sunday School teaches children in 3K through fifth grade, and the youth ministry maintains an active youth group.
Discipleship Training is the congregation's youth ministry program for students in grades six, seven and eight. It meets Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and combines confirmation with social activities, food, fellowship, learning, games and community building.
Serving Waukesha and the Meru Diocese
St. Luke's supports The Women's Center, a shelter for women and children, and began The Hope Center, a ministry providing food and clothing for people living in poverty. The congregation partners with Healing Hearts of Wisconsin in work with grieving families and with Hadfield Elementary through financial resources, volunteer tutors and other support. Its Waukesha Downtown Clergy Association brings together an interfaith group focused on community well-being and homelessness. St. Luke's also hosts two-step programs, including two Alcoholics Anonymous groups, Alanon and Narcotics Anonymous.
The church has relationships with five parishes in the Meru Diocese of the Tanzanian Lutheran Church. A St. Luke's delegation traveled to the diocese in 2018, the congregation welcomed people from Tanzania in October 2019, and Pastor Jordan traveled to the diocese in 2022. St. Luke's supports its Tanzanian partners with food for their schools, feeding 985 students on each of their 195 school days.
Weddings, Baptisms and Funeral Ministry
Marriage is one of St. Luke's ministries, and Christian weddings are worship services filled with joy and hope, prayer, praise and thanksgiving. Preparation begins with pastoral time before the ceremony. A wedding coordinator and one of the pastors meet with each couple to plan the day, strengthen the relationship, pray and get to know them.
Two worship centers are available for weddings. The larger sanctuary can hold more than 300 people and is described as a bright and stately setting. The smaller chapel comfortably seats about 60 and offers a more intimate atmosphere. Both spaces serve as wedding venues.
St. Luke's teaches that Holy Baptism is God's action. In the waters of the sacrament, God joins a person to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and makes that person part of God's family. Baptism is received once and is not repeated as a statement of personal faithfulness. It is normally a public event in the congregation, and a pastor presides over it. Baptism is offered to children and adults who have not been baptized in a Christian church. A person baptized at St. Luke's becomes a member of the church where the baptism occurs, while baptisms performed in emergencies can be recognized in a later worship service.
Funerals for baptized members are generally held in the church, while nonmember funerals are typically held elsewhere. The funeral service provides comfort to those who mourn and reminds the faithful of the promised resurrection. A pastor works with the family to select hymns and scripture, and Holy Communion may be included when appropriate. The congregation's funeral committee can also provide a luncheon, with the family paying for the food. Pastors are available to help people make advance funeral plans.
A Community of Grace in Practice
St. Luke's belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its Greater Milwaukee Synod, and its pastors participate in the Waukesha Conference and synodical ministries. The congregation understands the synod and ELCA not as separate organizations but as church together. Its identity is expressed through worship, disciple-making, care for children and families, kindness toward each person, inclusion, service and advocacy for neighbors.
From its sanctuary and chapel to its Child Life Ministries, classrooms, music ensembles and neighborhood partnerships, St. Luke's in Waukesha is a faith community built to connect people with God, grow them as disciples and send them into service.