St. Luke’s Mission & Outreach Activities

Tuesday Morning Hospitality

Every Tuesday morning, from September to June, the church doors open at 8:00 AM, and as many as thirty people from the neighbourhood troop in.  There are muffins and other goodies to eat, and the coffee is hot.  Several volunteer parishioners make every effort to ensure that everyone feels at home.  Some of the guests are “regulars,” some are just passing through; there are grizzled old men, and young mothers with their toddlers; there are people who spent the previous week living on the riverbank, and people who have small, well-kept apartments; but for the next hour they all enjoy a relaxed visit in a warm and friendly place.  And, before leaving, each receives a small gift voucher which they can redeem at the local grocery store.  On the streets, St. Luke’s is known to be a good neighbour.

In late 2006 the senior Sunday school class began preparing soup, or “lunch in the hand,” so that the guests can take some nourishment away with them each week.  Typical fare might be a piece of pizza or a “bunwich.”  The kids prepare this in their session on Sunday.

Top of page

The Scanterbury Outreach

St. Philip’s, Scanterbury

St. Philip‘s Scanterbury^* is a small church building and congregation on the Brokenhead reserve, Northeast of Winnipeg.  Although, for various reasons, the church was at risk of closing, early in 2007 life began to return on Sunday afternoons.  With the help of St. Luke’s and St. James Beausejour, there is now a weekly gathering for worship and Christian Education.  Clergy are involved, presiding at the Eucharist once or twice a month, but the project is anchored by lay people.  The parishioners themselves, with support from their Band Council, are keeping the building in good repair; and two Lay Readers from St. Luke’s (Susan Roe Finlay and Doreen Blackman) lead prayers, present educational sessions, take Holy Communion to the sick and shut-in on request, and do what they can to build up the church community.

Officially, St. Philip‘s Scanterbury is a branch of St. James, the Anglican parish in the town of Beausejour.  However, St. Luke’s has offered to be the congregation’s urban “twin,” providing a spiritual home for residents of the Brokenhead reserve whenever they happen to be in Winnipeg.

^* It is said that the unusual place name, “Scanterbury,” is a contraction of “South Canterbury.”  A community further North, now known as “Balsam Bay,” was once called “North Canterbury.”  These names reflect the strong Anglican past of the native communities in that part of Manitoba.

Top of page

HIV/AIDS Orphans Fund

It is said that there are over 1.8 million orphans in Uganda.

Parents have been killed by AIDS/HIV, or the civil war, or (to a lesser extent) malaria.  Relatives try to look after the children, with some households having 15, or even 20 little ones to care for.

Basic needs can perhaps be met, but it is impossible for the community to provide this great tide of children with even the most rudimentary education.  It costs over $100 per year to send one child to primary school; $300 per year for secondary school.

St. Luke’s supports a school programme which raises money in this diocese for distribution to the Ugandan children by the Diocese of Central Buganda (through participating parish clergy and headmasters).  If you can help, please send a cheque to St. Luke’s, 130 Nassau St. N., Winnipeg, MB, R3L 2H1. Indicate on the MEMO line of your cheque that the gift is for the “Aids Orphan Fund.”

Top of page

Other projects, big and small

Every Sunday St. Luke’s makes a gift of food to Winnipeg Harvest, our city food bank.  Groceries, brought by members of the congregation, are put into a basket, which is then offered at the altar during worship (along with the bread and wine, and the weekly financial offerings).

In Advent each year, St. Luke’s collects White Gifts to be given at the Christmas party of the St Matthews-Maryland inner-city ministry.  As well, these White Gifts have been augmented in recent years by toiletry treats for the parents.

Individual St. Luke’s parishioners support PWRDF^*, and devote many person-hours to city and Diocesan mission and justice initiatives.

In recent years St. Luke’s has prepared and served a meal during Habitat for Humanity’s “blitz build” week.  However, in 2006 this activity was actually over-supported by the rest of Winnipeg, and St. Luke’s assistance was no longer required.  We chose instead to make a lunch for children and parents through Turtle Island Community Centre, which proved to be an inspired idea.  Many parishioners joined in the fellowship of building the lunch, and the project will be repeated in the summer of 2007.

The parish has a Mission & Outreach Committee which promotes, supports, and monitors all the projects described on this page.

^* “Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund.

Top of page

Haiti Orphans

(not yet online)

Top of page