Join us for Palm Sunday!

Week of Palm Sunday, April 13th

Services this Sunday:

10 am Bulletin

Lessons

Watch the 10 am Online

Prayer List

Construction and Remodeling on the Swift Gym starting April 15th may cause parking difficulties-- please plan accordingly.

Maundy Thursday- Agape Meal

You’re Invited: Maundy Thursday Agape Meal

Date: Thursday, April 17

Time: 6 PM

Location: Dining Room

Join us this Maundy Thursday for a special evening as we gather for an Agape Meal—a shared time of fellowship that echoes the love and humility Jesus showed at the Last Supper. As we reflect on Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, we’ll come together as a community to remember, share, and prepare our hearts for Good Friday and Easter.

This meaningful meal is open to all—friends, family, neighbors, and newcomers alike. Whether you’re deeply familiar with this tradition or experiencing it for the first time, we welcome you to the table.

Please RSVP below so we can plan accordingly and ensure there’s plenty of food and space for everyone!

I'm coming!

Holy Week and the Embrace of God’s Love

What does the love of God look like? Holy Week will show you the love of God. What does the love of God feel like? Holy week will share the experience of God’s love with you.

Holy Week takes us through the events of Jesus’ last week, from the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem celebrated on Palm Sunday, the Last Supper and Garden of Gethsemane on Maundy Thursday, to the desolation of the Cross on Good Friday, and finally the consolation of the empty tomb on Easter!

My sincere invitation to the whole congregation is that you set aside the time to follow Jesus every step of the way this Holy Week. Even if you are on vacation for school break, you can set aside time and find a church. You will be blessed with a deeper knowledge of God’s loving commitment to your salvation.

Scroll to the bottom to continue reading...

Keep Watch with Jesus - Vigil at the Altar of Repose

Jesus spent an agonizing evening praying in the garden of Gethsemane between the last supper (Maundy Thursday) and his arrest. A long-standing tradition in the church is to accompany Jesus through the night between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at a special altar where we keep the reserved sacrament in a garden-like setting. Essentially, we accept Jesus' request that we "watch with him." This is a wonderful time for prayer and meditation in the quiet of the church at night.

We will offer hour-long shifts for up to four people, or just one person. We will have the Bible, prayer books and other resources available for prayer. One custom is to read the Gospel one chapter at a time through the night. More on that later.

The Altar of Repose will be in the Atrium area and accessible through the parking lot door.

Sign me up!

Easter Sunrise Service at Potowomut Beach

Join us for a beautiful and meaningful way to celebrate Easter morning!

EG United Methodist Church invites the community to the annual Easter Sunrise Service—a long-standing tradition that brings together people from various churches in a spirit of unity and hope. Whether you're a regular churchgoer or simply looking for a peaceful way to greet the day, all are welcome.

🗓 Easter Sunday

🕕 5:55 AM (Rain or Shine)

📍 Potowomut Beach – At the end of Ives Road (drive past Goddard State Park to the small parking area and cul-de-sac by the beach)

Note: Though surrounded by East Greenwich, the beach is technically in Warwick—there’s probably a story behind that!

Last year, we had a wonderful turnout of around 75 people on a perfect morning. Most years, about 40+ gather to reflect, sing, and celebrate together as the sun rises over the water.

Bring a blanket or chair, dress warmly, and come experience the peace and joy of Easter in a truly stunning setting.

We hope to see you there!

Lenten Blog - 2025

Running through April 20th (Easter)

In what has become a tradition at St. Luke's, parishioners are invited to read, reflect, and write on daily readings.

Click on the button under the QR code to subscribe for automatic email notifications when new blogs have been posted! Previous blog subscribers are automatically signed up.

Visit our Blog

An Update on our Transition Journey

The Witness Stones Project: Celebrating The Rev. Daniel Davis 1834- 1904

The Rev. Daniel Davis was a formerly enslaved man who escaped from Maryland and settled in Richmond, RI. He lived in Wood River Junction and served as an itinerant preacher at churches in Westerly, Richmond and Hopkinton, including the Wood River Chapel which is now St. Thomas Episcopal Church. All are invited to the following events at St. Thomas Church, 322 Church Street, Wood River Junction:

Sunday, April 27 at 2:30 pm: Introduction to the life of Elder Davis and the Witness Stone Project

Saturday, May 10 at 1 p.m: Gather at the Church and walk 1 mile to the burial site of Elder Davis.

Sunday, May 18 at 2:30 pm: Showing of the film "Traces of the Trade"

Upcoming Events

St. Luke’s will host Vacation Bible School (VBS) from July 21–25, 2025, for children ages 4–12. This summer’s theme, Waves of Gratitude, will feature a full-day summer camp program filled with fun, faith, and creativity.

For more info, contact Amy Weigand, Director of Youth and Family Ministries at amy@stlukeseg.org

Please fill out the form below for each child who would like to join us for the Youth Camping Trip April 25-26 at the Peg Mill Shelter on the Narragansett Trail, Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown, Connecticut.

More details

Theology on Tap

We have an exciting upcoming event for our men's group, Theology on Tap, and we’d love for you to join us!

Monday, April 21st – Post-Easter Fellowship & Meeting

Join us for a time of reflection, discussion, and fellowship the day after Easter. We'll meet in the dining room to continue building community, dive into theological conversations, and share in a meal together. This is a great chance to reconnect after the Easter celebrations.

Loaves and Fishes

Loaves and Fishes is a food ministry that collaborates with local churches to serve those in need. On the third Saturday of each month, St. Luke’s provides hamburgers and other essentials to individuals in Woonsocket. Each guest receives a hot meal, a bagged lunch, and, when available, items of clothing.

The March outreach was a great success, with a significantly higher demand for clothing. We were able to distribute many sweatshirts, coats, gloves, and underwear. The gratitude expressed by those we serve is deeply moving—it’s heartwarming to make a difference, yet sobering to see how much support is needed.

Our next run is scheduled for April 19th. As the weather warms, we are seeking donations of lighter-weight clothing such as hoodies, sweatpants (for both men and women), and long-sleeve T-shirts. For April, we plan to prepare 120 bagged lunches, with 20 designated for the hotel in East Greenwich.

Please ensure all food and clothing donations are delivered to St. Luke’s kitchen by 10:00 AM on April 19, 2025. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Sign me up

In signing up, there is no expectation that one person needs to fulfill the total amount of a particular item. When using the SignUp Genius, please indicate how many of an item you will be donating.

If you are not receiving the SignUp Genius in your e-mail and would like to do so, please send an e-mail to: saintslukesfeedingministry@gmail.com.

Your generosity is most appreciated. It allows St Luke’s to continue helping those in need.

Epistle Continued

Easter without Holy Week is a ‘resounding gong and a clanging cymbal.’ The Good News of God’s victory over sin and death in the Resurrection is drained of its full meaning without the Cross. Why is that?

Because God did not just raise Jane or Joe anybody from the dead. If raising a corpse was the point of Easter then the Gospels should end with Lazarus. God raised Jesus to vindicate the way, the truth, and the life Jesus lived in faithful relationship with God. In the Resurrection of Jesus, we are given the Good News that we too - within our human limitations and frailties - can follow the path of faithfulness that Jesus pioneers for us.

We can be courageously in solidarity with the poor and the marginalized. We can leave our privilege like Jesus did (Philippians 2:5-11) and serve our neighbors near and far, becoming servants and missionaries.

The story of Fr. Stanley Rother, martyr of Guatemala, illustrates what I am trying to say. Fr. Rother served as a missionary priest in Guatemala from 1968 to 1981. Like other amazing Catholic priests of the time he worked with his church members to promote economic development, popular political advocacy for the poor, and public safety in the community of Santiago Atitlan on the shores of beautiful Lake Atitlan.

During the 30 year civil war in Guatemala, Blessed Rother’s efforts drew the attention of the corrupt oligarchic regime of Efrain Rios Montt - an American ally and evangelical. The faithful priest received death threats. He retreated back to Oklahoma for his own safety. This wise move left his soul deeply troubled and prayerfully he decided that the path of faithfulness was solidarity with his threatened people in Santiago Atitlan.

30,000 Guatemalans, mostly Mayans in the highlands, were killed by the Guatemalan Government during the Civil War and ethnic cleansing from the 70s to the 90s. Soon after returning Fr. Stanley Rother joined them. A death squad invaded the church and shot him dead in his small Rectory bedroom. To this day you will find a shrine to Fr. Rother in that room where you can see the chip in the floor made by one of the bullets that killed him. In the church itself - where I have worshipped many times - you will also find a shrine containing his heart. While his body was sent back to Oklahoma, his heart stayed in Santiago Atitlan.

The Holy Week path of Jesus draws us out of our retreat into safety and privilege and into solidarity with the most threatened. This is a costly path but we are given the courage and hope we need to follow it by the resurrection. God will always vindicate this way.

And here is the end of my story… Santiago Atitlan is the only highland Mayan village that successfully ran the Army out of town. A terror tactic the army used was abducting activists and union organizers so they could be tortured and often killed on army bases. Fed up with this terror, the citizens of Santiago bravely, prayerfully and peacefully marched on the local Army base where the Army opened fire. 14 protesters were murdered - from 10 years old to 53 years old - and 21 wounded. That confrontation chased the Army out and their base is now a corn field. In that corn field is the Plaza de Paz marking the sites where each martyr fell.

For more on Stanley Rother see “Love in a Fearful Land” by Henri Nouwen.

Connect with St. Luke's

Ways to Donate