An Episcopal Congregation on Austin's West Side
St. Luke's on the Lake Episcopal Church sits on Ranch Road 620 North in the Four Points area of west Austin, where the parish has served the surrounding neighborhoods for more than six decades. The parish calls itself the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement on the west side of Austin, and its mission - "God calls us to be a community in Christ, and to be Christ to the world" - shapes every program and ministry. Worship, prayer, service, and fellowship stand as equal pillars of parish life, and a steady rhythm of formation, pastoral care, and outreach flows out of them.
The church grounds include the main worship space, Riker Hall (home to the Children and Family Ministries downstairs), the Parish Hall (used for the adult Forum and Women's Guild meetings), and a library foyer that doubles as the drop-off point for disaster relief donations. A playground out toward the upper parking lot gives younger children a place to play between Sunday School and the late service.
Two Sunday Services, One Family Table
Worship at St. Luke's is liturgical in the deepest sense of the word. The parish uses the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, and both Sunday services are celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.
The 8:00 AM service is a Rite I Holy Eucharist held in the main worship space. It uses traditional language drawn from prayers that have been passed down for centuries, and it offers readings, a sermon, prayers, and Holy Communion in a quieter, more contemplative setting. There is no children's programming at this hour; the service is intended for those seeking a calm and meditative worship.
The 10:15 AM service is a Rite II Holy Eucharist held in the same worship space and offered both in person and online. It includes hymns and special music from the choir, readings from Holy Scripture, a sermon, prayers, and Holy Communion in contemporary language. Elementary through high-school parishioners help lead worship alongside adults. The service also includes "Kid's Church," which allows children to begin with their families, gather at the front for the reading of God's Word, engage in a craft and special lesson, and then rejoin their parents for Communion. Everything needed to participate is printed in the worship bulletin handed out at the door.
Each service runs about an hour and ten minutes. The parish welcomes casual dress or "Sunday best" - either is fine. Communion is offered at every service.
Sunday Livestream
The 10:15 AM service is livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page, with the video available about ten minutes before the start time. No Facebook account is required to view - a sign-in popup can be dismissed by clicking the X in the corner. The Sunday bulletin, connection card, prayer request form, and online giving are all linked alongside the livestream.
Sunday School at 9:00 AM for Every Age
Between the two Sunday services sits an entire hour of formation for every age group. Sunday School runs from 9:00 to about 9:55 AM during the school year, with a slightly different schedule in the summer. At 8:45 AM, breakfast treats are laid out in the Parish Hall for the whole family to grab on the way in.
The Children's Formation hour is organized by age group: Infants through 2-year-olds, 3- through 5-year-olds, 1st through 5th graders, and Middle School (6th through 8th graders). The younger children experience Godly Play with the Child Care staff in the preschool rooms in lower Riker Hall, and elementary-aged children meet downstairs in the Design Dock for their lessons. High school students can serve as "apprentices" in ministries such as AV Tech, Altar Guild, or Sunday School Junior Leader during the 9:00 hour, or they can join the Adult Forum at a dedicated Senior High table for small group discussion.
The 9:00 AM adult offering is the Forum, held in the Parish Hall. Recent series have included a Lenten study and an Eastertide course on theology, creation, and the land titled "Joy and Wonder in all God's Works," co-taught by the Rev. Anthony Suggs-Perea and the Rev. Sarah Faehnle Mast, Dean of Chapel at Seminary of the Southwest. A Sunday Library Group meets in two sessions (7-8 AM and 9-10 AM) for those who prefer a smaller, conversational format.
Children's Ministry from Nursery through Elementary
The Nursery at St. Luke's is open Sundays during the 9:00 AM Sunday School hour and the 10:15 AM service, and Nursery Sunday School runs 9:00 to 10:00 AM for children from infancy through pre-K. Childcare in the nursery is also available during other events at the church when reservations are made in advance.
A security tag system matches each child to a parent stub, and Safeguarding God's Children guidelines - including the rule that two adults are always present with a child - are posted in every room. The nursery staff is CPR and First Aid certified, fire escape plans are in place for each classroom, and a clear health policy keeps children with fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, colored nasal discharge, sore throats, or unexplained rashes at home. Parents are asked to label all belongings, bring alternative snacks if needed, and provide diapers, sippy cups, formula, or other essentials.
During the 10:15 AM service, "Little Liturgy" gives the youngest members (0-5 years) a Godly Play-inspired worship experience of their own in the downstairs Riker Hall space. Children participate in storytelling, activities, and crafts tied to the day's Gospel message, then are brought upstairs by their parents for the Communion portion of the larger service.
Older elementary children join "Kid's Church," which begins with their families in the sanctuary, gathers the kids up front for the Liturgy of the Word, walks them through a lesson and craft, and returns them to their parents for the Eucharistic prayers. Other annual traditions include a Children's Christmas Pageant in which elementary-aged children dress as angels, shepherds, and animals to reenact the Nativity, and monthly Pre-EYC gatherings for 3rd through 5th graders that mix games and fellowship with church family.
Youth: EYC, Acolytes, and Mission Trips
The youth ministry at St. Luke's gathers 6th through 12th graders in the Episcopal Youth Community, known as EYC. EYC typically meets on Sunday afternoons once a month as a whole group, then in separate small groups throughout the month at varying times. The goal is for youth to lead in the Episcopal tradition and know they are beloved children of God.
The Acolyte Ministry is one of the most cited programs by graduating seniors. Youth serve as cross-bearers, candle-bearers, and flag-bearers, and they assist the priests at the altar. Kym Hall leads the program as Acolyte Director.
Each summer the middle school and high school groups travel together on mission trips, spending time in another community to do works of service, build group bonds, and grow spiritually. The trips are remembered for years afterward.
Adults in Formation: Bible Studies Across the Week
St. Luke's offers a steady rhythm of adult formation, much of it accessible from home via Zoom.
- Men's Monday Noonday Bible Study meets via Zoom at 12 noon, currently working through the Book of Joshua in a no-homework format that welcomes drop-ins.
- Women's Monday Noonday Bible Study meets via Zoom at 12 noon, walking through video series such as Lisa Harper's "Why We Read the Bible."
- Wednesday Co-Ed Bible Study meets via Zoom at 7 PM, currently working through "Apologetics" by Dr. Chad Ragsdale, a study of faith, truth, and suffering.
- Women's Guild meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 10 AM in the Parish Hall.
- 9:00 AM Forum meets Sundays in the Parish Hall and rotates through topical series taught by the clergy and guest speakers.
- Sunday Library Group meets at 7-8 AM and again at 9-10 AM for those who prefer a smaller, conversational format.
Zoom links for each group are kept up to date on the parish's Adult Classes & Groups page.
St. Luke's Cares: No One Walks Alone
The pastoral care effort at St. Luke's is built around a single promise: no one walks alone. St. Luke's Cares is a clergy- and lay-led pastoral care ministry that provides spiritual, emotional, and practical support to parishioners facing a life challenge - from childbirth to surgery to the loss of a job or the loss of a loved one.
When someone in the parish is experiencing a pastoral need, a trained "Care Connector" reaches out and walks alongside them, helping connect them with the appropriate pastoral resources. A member of the clergy also reaches out. Coordinated support includes the Prayer Ministry (members pray intentionally during their personal prayer time for a list of current care receivers), the Card Ministry (members send personalized cards of comfort and encouragement), flowers, and Lay Eucharistic Visitation.
St. Luke's Cares builds on the longstanding ministries of the Daughters of the King and the Lay Eucharistic Visitors. Healing Prayer is offered as a separate ministry for those seeking prayer for physical, emotional, or spiritual needs. All team members receive training, orientation, and ongoing leadership and support.
Worship Beyond Sunday: Choir, Acolytes, and Altar Guild
The choir, directed by Dr. Donald J. Grantham, leads the music at the 10:15 AM service. Singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to join.
The Altar Guild prepares the worship space for each service, caring for the linens, vessels, candles, and vestments that make the liturgy possible. Acolyte Ministry is one of the parish's strongest youth traditions. Tech Support volunteers keep the sound, slides, and livestream running. The Great Commission Committee, Men of St. Luke's, and the Adult Education Team round out the lay leadership structure that keeps the parish running.
Sacraments: Baptism and Confirmation
Baptism at St. Luke's is celebrated four times a year, clustered around major feast days: the Baptism of Jesus (early January), the Easter Vigil (sunrise on Easter Sunday), Pentecost (May or June), and All Saints' Day (November). In the Episcopal Church, anyone baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is considered a Christian and a member of the worldwide Body of Christ, regardless of denomination. Instruction is provided before each baptism; families can call the church office to speak with a member of the clergy.
Confirmation is a mature commitment to become an active church member, including pledging time, talent, and treasure. The class is held in the days leading up to a Bishop's visit, and the laying on of hands takes place during that visit. Roman Catholics confirmed in their own church are received into the Episcopal Church by the Bishop, and confirmed Episcopalians can reaffirm their vows or transfer their membership by letter. Anyone wishing to serve on the Vestry, the parish's governing body, must be a confirmed Episcopalian.
Weddings and Funerals
Weddings at St. Luke's are open to confirmed members of the parish. The clergy guide couples through a series of marriage classes and help set a tentative date. The parish's Wedding Customary outlines the liturgy and the practical details of celebrating in the church.
Funerals at St. Luke's are Easter liturgies - characterized by joy, in the certainty that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Funerals are conducted by the parish clergy in accordance with the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and are open to members and to anyone in search of dignified Christian burial. The Funeral Customary is available in printed form and can be used in advance to record wishes for survivors.
Reaching Out to Four Points and Beyond
The parish maintains an active roster of outreach partnerships that channel member energy into the wider Austin area.
Hope Austin is a packing-party partner that mobilizes volunteers to assemble food and supply kits at their Anderson Mill Road site. Lake Travis Crisis Ministry and Hill Country Community Ministries are two of the parish's ongoing local mission partners, providing food and other assistance to those facing income loss and food insecurity. Honduras Good Works connects the parish to a long-standing mission relationship.
For seniors, the parish reaches out to assisted living centers - including Longhorn Village and Arbor Terrace Lakeway - through virtual and in-person connections and letter writing.
St. Luke's Disaster Relief Efforts kicks into gear when needed, adopting families affected by storms and gathering supplies. The list of items needed is long and specific: bottled water, pop-top canned food, energy bars, peanut butter, insect repellant, diapers, cleaning supplies, work gloves, paper goods, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and gift cards in $10, $25, or $50 denominations from Walmart, Amazon, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, or Visa. Donations are brought to the church office Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, or to the lower parking lot foyer on Sunday mornings.
Beliefs and Welcome
At St. Luke's on the Lake, the parish believes in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The parish follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world, and carries a legacy of aspiring to tell and exemplify God's love for every human being. "God loves you - no exceptions," the parish states, and it welcomes anyone, no matter where they are on their journey of life, to join in expressing God's amazing love to the world.
Leadership
The Rev. Kathy Rock Pfister serves as Rector, and The Rev. Anthony Suggs-Perea serves as Associate Rector. LoriAnn Lavallee is the Minister for Lifelong Learning and coordinates much of the formation, youth, and adult study programming. Dr. Donald J. Grantham directs the choir, and Kym Hall directs the Acolyte Ministry. Robyn Stanley teaches Godly Play in the preschool rooms, and Ayesha Cox coordinates the nursery and childcare center.
The Vestry, the parish's elected "Board of Directors," serves staggered three-year terms and meets monthly after the 10:15 AM service. Current members include Faith Dean (Senior Warden), Cameron Geertsema (Junior Warden), Leslie Benitez, Brad Powell (Treasurer), Grant Crawford, Phil Brownfield, Craig Cavins, Michael Senich, Mike Mahaffey, and Anne Morley (Clerk). Vestry meetings are open to any parishioner.
Six Decades in Four Points
For more than sixty years, St. Luke's on the Lake has been a presence in the Four Points area, a stretch that has paralleled the growth of the surrounding neighborhoods along Ranch Road 620. Across those decades the core identity has stayed consistent: a liturgical Episcopal community centered on the Eucharist, deeply invested in the formation of children and youth, attentive to the pastoral needs of members across every stage of life, and committed to serving the broader Austin area through partnerships with crisis ministries, food partners, assisted living communities, and disaster relief efforts.
Stewardship and Giving
St. Luke's accepts cash and check gifts in the offering plate or by mail to the church office at 5600 Ranch Road 620 North, Austin, Texas 78732. Online giving is handled through Realm, the parish's secure online giving portal, with debit card, credit card, or bank draft (ACH) options. Recurring pledge payments can also be set up through Realm. Text-to-Give is available by texting GIVESLOL to 73256 from a mobile device.
Beyond the offering plate, the parish accepts gifts of stock or securities, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions for those 70½ or older, grants from Donor-Advised Funds (the parish's legal name is St. Luke's on the Lake Episcopal Church and its EIN is 74-1654821), and planned or legacy gifts through bequests and charitable trusts. The annual giving campaign invites members to pledge their time, talent, and treasure to the life of the parish.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and is closed on Friday. The phone number is (512) 266-2455, and the office email is office@stlukesonthelake.org. Visitors are warmly welcomed, and a Connection Card is available for anyone who would like to share their information with the parish.