When I say St. Luke’s is a part of my DNA, I am not exaggerating. My parents met and were married here, my siblings and I were baptized and confirmed here, and now I am a member and employee here! St. Luke’s has always been an unfailing, unwavering constant in my life, creating lasting friendships that still flourish today. Like so many generations before me, I spent every, single Sunday morning at St. Luke’s, from childhood all the way through high school. Upon graduation from college, I returned to Houston and prayed I would find [...]

For St. Luke's member Ron Fisher, an usher at both the 9:45 and 11 AM traditional services, our greatly admired main sanctuary was truly a "family affair".  Ron's father Louis and uncle Fred co-owned Fisher Construction Company which built our beautiful sanctuary. In addition, much of the lovely stone and brickwork for the sanctuary was thanks to the master craftsmanship of Louis and Fred's brothers, Paul and Ed.  Before heading to SMU for college, even Ron's younger brother Bob worked on this important "family" project, laying brick inside the steeple.  Bob, who later earned a PhD in Biomedical Electrical Engineering, was always [...]

The year was 2008. It was late summer, and I had just finished taking the Bar Exam when I got a call. “How would you feel about being my ‘consigliere’?” It was Rev. Justin Coleman. Rev. Coleman had been a mentor/friend since he was an associate director at the SMU Wesley Foundation while I was in undergrad. It was an ‘offer I couldn’t refuse’ (can you tell that Rev. Coleman and I share an affinity for the Godfather films?).Let’s back up. After graduating SMU and returning to Houston in 2005, my future wife, Ashley, and I were busy at work [...]

I will never forget a sermon illustration Dr. James W. Moore preached from the St. Luke’s pulpit. He reported a true event that occurred in his sister’s church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The pastor arrived at the church early on a weekday for a meeting. As he entered the office area from the parking lot, he was confronted with a young child sitting in the hall near the entry door. Lost and alone, the crying child was befriended by the pastor. The pastor took the child to the Day School Director certain that a child had wandered from the preschool [...]

I have over 32 years of fond St. Luke’s memories.  The beginning of my St. Luke’s experience was marrying my wife, Anne in the chapel in 1989, which seems like just a few years ago. Hard to believe I have lived more of my life since that day than prior, boy how time flies when you are having fun with marriage, kids, career, life.  Once we had our son and daughter, Kevin and Ellen who are now respectively 28 and 26 our St. Luke’s life really took off.  Because the church provides so many avenues for families to participate in [...]

It was the summer of 1957. My Mom and Dad had heard about an organist/teacher by the name of Bob Bennett. He was the organist at St. Luke’s Methodist Church. They contacted him and Mom drove me to the church on a Saturday morning for my first organ lesson. The Sanctuary was what is now the Fellowship Hall. The organ was a small Hammond electronic organ. I was so excited to sit down at that organ for my first lesson. I had taken piano lessons for several years, but this was an all-new experience for this 13-year old kid! Two [...]

In 1988 I moved from Austin to Houston to join Vinson & Elkins ("V&E") as an associate. You could say I found my church home at St. Luke's through V&E.  While I was a summer associate there, Randy and Ann Smith brought me to their St. Luke's Sunday School class.  Judy Bolling, a long time St. Luke's member, conducted orientation for V&E's new associates. When I first met with her I expressed an interest in St. Luke’s and she also invited me to come to Sunday school. Because Christian community was, and is, central to all the members of the Gene [...]

I remember the Sunday forty-five years ago that I became a member of St. Luke's.  We sat on the second row, and Dr. Shamblin asked for those who wanted to join to come forward.  Although I had grown up in the Presbyterian church in Waco, I was sure St. Luke's United Methodist was where I belonged.  I vowed to uphold the church with my prayers, presence, gifts and service.  After church I went into the chapel parlor and felt welcomed by Dr. and Mrs. Shamblin.  It was a special occasion. You see, there was a young man named Tom Wier [...]