Rector’s Report
Dear St. Luke’s,
Grace and peace to you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we gather for our Annual Meeting and reflect on the materials before us: the proposed budget, the slate of vestry members, and the ministry reports, I want first to offer my deep gratitude to God for you and for the life we share as a parish. It is a joy and a privilege to serve among a people so evidently committed to the gospel and to one another.
The past year has been marked by faithfulness in many forms. In worship, we have continued to gather around Word and Sacrament, trusting that Christ meets us there to form us as his Body. In our common life, we have seen increased attendance, the growth of ministries, and a remarkable spirit of generosity and service. This report offers a fuller account of that work, and I encourage you to read it prayerfully, giving thanks for what God has done and attending to where the Spirit may be leading us next.
As Anglicans, we stand within a tradition that is both reformed and evangelical: reformed in our conviction that the Church is always being called back to the authority of Holy Scripture, and evangelical in our confidence that the good news of Jesus Christ is truly good news for the world. The budget and leadership proposals before you are not merely administrative necessities; they are theological statements. They reflect our shared discernment about how best to steward the resources God has entrusted to us in service of Christ’s mission.
The Apostle Paul writes, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:4–5). This truth is evident in the life of our parish. Each ministry, each leader, and each financial commitment plays a part in the one work God is doing among us. Our proposed budget seeks to support that common work, not for the sake of institutional preservation, but so that we might be equipped to proclaim the gospel, make disciples, and love our neighbors with clarity and courage.
Looking ahead to this year, I am hopeful. Not because the road will necessarily be easy, but because our foundation is sure. We are justified by grace through faith, called not by our own sufficiency but by God’s mercy. From that place of assurance, we are freed for joyful obedience. We can take risks in love, deepen our common life, and speak the truth of Christ with humility and confidence.
I ask you to enter our Annual Meeting with a spirit of prayer and generosity, trusting that God is at work in our shared deliberation. Finally, I want to express my great joy and gratitude for the opportunity to serve as your priest. Thank you for welcoming me to this parish and for walking alongside me in this past year. I believe God has big things in store for St. Luke’s, and that the best is yet to come. May we be renewed in our calling to be a parish shaped by Scripture, rooted in prayer, and sent into the world for the sake of the gospel.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
The Rev. Gavin McAdam, Rector
Senior Warden’s Report
Dear Fellow Parishioners
As I conclude my 4 years of service on St. Luke’s Vestry, two of which as Senior Warden, I am struck by the resilience and faithfulness of this parish. We have faced challenges that could have overwhelmed us, but in every instance, we met them with determination and confidence that God had a plan for St. Luke’s.
For nearly three years we were in a search for a new rector. A turn of events returned Fr. Gavin McAdam to Dallas and Bishop Sumner appointed him as St. Luke’s supply priest while he awaited a call to a foreign mission. But God had another plan for Fr. Gavin and our church. In February, 2025 the Vestry unanimously issued him a call and on July 13 Bishop Sumner installed Fr. Gavin as the 11th Rector of St. Luke’s.
Under Fr. Gavin’s leadership Sunday attendance has steadily increased. New programs, like Wonderful Wednesdays, the Fall Festival and Chili Cookoff, excursions to the Arboretum and Perot Museum, and Chair Yoga (a program so popular that it was expanded to two days a week) have instilled a new life and enthusiasm into the parish. Since its completion, Cook Hall has become a sought-after venue for receptions, parties, health screenings, and other community events, providing a new source of income.
From a financial perspective we entered 2025 expecting to draw on cash reserves to hire a permanent Rector, to expand the Parish Life and Sacred Music programs, and meet growing operational costs. However, through increased rental income, a new contract with Park Cities Day School, and your generosity the reserve drawdown was less than expected. We go into 2026 with strong cash reserves and a budget that allows new initiatives.
God has blessed us in so many ways. We have strong, energetic leadership in Fr. Gavin and our new Vestry. It is important that we support them in this journey as together we build the community of St. Luke’s to God’s glory. Most of all, I give thanks for you, for your support, your generosity, and your resilient faith.
Carol Taylor
Junior Warden’s Report
We had a successful 2025 regarding St. Luke’s facilities.
In 2025 we accomplished the following regarding Cook Hall:
1. Street concreted with parking stripes added to access Cook Hall, the Plaid Door, and the Scout Hut.
2. Elevator accessing the second floor of the Education Building was completed.
3. Additional sump pumps were installed on the east side of Cook Hall to facilitate drainage from rain.
4. All kitchen equipment was installed.
5. Outside cameras were installed to access any activities retrospectively.
6. Brighter ceiling light bulbs with rheostats were installed in the main hall.
7. Hand rails for the handicap ramps and stairs were installed.
8. Gaskets on some windows were enhanced to prevent leaking of rain water.
9. Gutter downspouts were extended to direct water away from the building.
10. The occupancy permit was received by the City of Dallas.
Other accomplishments in 2025 to the St.Luke’s campus include:
• Old kitchen next to Harman Hall was refurbished for the use of the Church Music Institute (CMI).
• Facilitated the move of all CMI equipment from Harman Hall.
• Prepared Harman Hall for the use by Park Cities Day School (PCDS).
• Auxiliary AC chiller for the Church was repaired.
• Grass sod was planted in front of the Plaid Door.
• The Scout Hut banister was repaired and the deck and banister were re-stained.
• Church front spot lights were repaired to illuminate the front façade of the Church at night.
• Jamestown parking was restriped and the potholes filled.
• Energy saving consultant performed an assessment and determined that there is little potential savings because we are using the Church sparingly, and the remaining facilities are energy efficient.
• Church roof leaks repaired by Juan and Eusebio and the inside ceiling also repaired.
• Organ area heating and cooling system repaired to make sure the organ is maintained between 70 and 76 degrees.
• The Vestry approved a new electronic sign for the front of the church and was installed in January 2026.
Please express your gratitude to Juan and Eusebio for maintaining the St. Luke’s campus and to Susie Pepitone for managing St. Luke’s finances and making the necessary payments for everything to be accomplished in 2025.
Rich Snider
Left: Elevator installation
was completed in 2025
Right: New exterior lighting and an
electronic sign upgrade were made
possible through vestry approval.
Ministry & Formation
Weekday Bible Study: Deacon Rosemary’s Bible Study met in person and via Zoom Thursday afternoons, throughout the year. An average of 12 people participated in the sessions.
Studies:
Epiphany: “What Happens Next” by Max Lucado
Lent: “The Final Days” by Matt Rawle
May-June: “ Christianity’s Family Tree” by Adam Hamilton
Summer: “The Gospel of John” by Amy-Jill Levine
Fall: A study of Proverbs
Advent: “Voices of Advent” by Matthew L. Skinner
Sunday Christian Formation Classes: Seasonal presentations by Fr. Gavin McAdam
Weekday Bible Study with Deacon Rosemary met both in person and by Zoom
Meditation Moments: Twice weekly video meditations were provided by St. Luke’s clergy and emailed to the parish, and posted on Social Media.
Morning Prayer services: Monday and Wednesday, 9:00am in the chapel. Staff gathered in chapel for Morning Prayer every Tuesday at 9:30am before staff meeting.
Wednesday noon services: Eucharist led by priest.
Lenten Services: Stations of the Cross on Wednesdays with Soup Supper.
Sunday Summer Worship: Combined Morning Prayer services one Sunday a month, followed by Holy Communion and brunch in Cook Hall.
Fr. Gavin McAdam conducts Sunday School class
Sacred Music
2025 was a blessed year for the St. Luke’s Music Department. Over the course of the year we added 3 new staff singers, Clint Blanco, Addison Vinson and Usman Ali. The St. Luke’s Choir now has a total of 7 professional staff singers and because of their experience and preparation, weekly anthems and solos as well as full Anglican chant for the Psalms are now a consistent part of the Sunday liturgy.
The St. Luke’s Choir presented a full array of music for Lent and Holy Week, Pentecost, St. Luke’s Sunday, Thanksgiving, and the Christmas season, as well as providing music for Father Gavin’s installation and regaling our parish with lovely Italian arias and solos for our St. Luke’s Italian Dinner. In October, several of our singers were able to join the Royal Lane Baptist Church Choir and the Irving Choral in a fall choral concert featuring the music of Ken Medema.
Other highlights of the year include having a brass quartet at our Easter Sunday service and a string trio at our Christmas Eve service. The Sacred Music section of our website has been updated with recent pictures of our choir as well as recordings from services during the year.
Dr. Donna Clavijo
Director – Sacred Music
St. Luke’s choir
Outreach Ministries
Our St. Luke’s family is a wonderful community that is willing to share the gifts that God has given us, to share our love, and to donate our time, talent, and treasure to those in need. Highlights of our Outreach Ministries include:
The Plaid Door: This is a hugely successful resale shop, led by Jan Fox and a staff of St. Luke’s volunteers. Donated items (mostly clothing, furniture, and household items) from parishioners and friends are sorted and priced each week. The store is open to shoppers Thursday-Saturday. Many come for prayer support as well as shopping. The Plaid Door Annual Christmas Market in November, held for the first time in the Cook Hall, was again a wonderful success. Proceeds are used to support our church outreach, and other local nonprofit programs.
The Plaid Door’s Christmas Market overflowed with merchandise
Blessing Bags for the Homeless: Members of the parish donate items or funds to purchase items; volunteers met (2 times this year) to assemble the bags which are available to parishioners to distribute to those in need.
Austin Street Center:
Wendy Lambert, our Parish Life Coordinator, leads volunteers in preparing over 500 sandwiches each month, and delivers them with milk, fruit, and cookies to Austin Street Center residents.
For Thanksgiving, all parishioners join in preparing the sandwiches at home, with more than 700 being delivered.
Over 300 scarves, made by the St. Clare’s Guild, were delivered to the Center on Thanksgiving evening, and passed out on behalf of St. Luke’s by Maria Steigenberger and her family.
Blessing of the Scarves made by the St. Claire's Guild is an annual event at St. Luke's
Now/Forward (formerly North Dallas Shared Ministries): St. Luke’s supports Now/Forward financially from our Ministry Fund. We also collect paper and plastic bags for its food distribution program. Each week St. Luke’s volunteers deliver produce received from Now/Forward (fruits, vegetables) to our diocesan food distribution centers. In August, we participated in its school uniform distribution (23 volunteers), with additional distribution to the students of Gateway of Grace, with Kathy Geist’s leadership.
Gleaners’ Harvest: Last year, we began a new ministry based on the Old Testament practice of leaving a portion of the harvest on the edges of the field for the poor. Because of the generosity of our parishioners, this ministry
Gleaner’s Harvest collections
continues year-round, with items gathered and delivered every two weeks. Members each week purchase extra non-perishable items during their regular grocery shopping and bring them to St. Luke’s, where they are gathered and given to Now/Forward for its food pantry.
Kramer Elementary School: Our mission in 2025 was to support the teachers and staff at Kramer Elementary. Volunteers provided snacks during Teacher Appreciation Week in May, a “Welcome Back” breakfast for the staff before the opening of school in August, and holiday snacks the week before the Christmas break. We also gathered donations during Advent to allow the counselors at Kramer to assist families in need for Christmas. Each week two staff members receive a personal appreciation note from our clergy and staff, and we pray for them by name in our worship services. Thanks to Mayra Kitchens for being our school liaison.
St. Luke's volunteers provided snacks for teachers at Kramer Elementary in August as school opened.
Dallas Champions Academy: Daughters of the King members continue to support the students and activities of Dallas Champions Academy, as well as the ministry of Gateway of Grace. DOK members are committed to intercessory prayer for our parish and ministries.
More than 500 sandwiches are made each month for the Austin Street Center
Gateway of Grace: During Lent, funds were collected at Sunday worship services, and a very generous donation was made in support of the many ministries of Gateway of Grace. In April we provided admission to the Dallas Zoo for about 40 students and staff and their families. Wendy Lambert and Deacon Rosemary coordinated the trip.
In December, Angel Tree gifts were provided for 20 children from Gateway, and members volunteered to assist at the Christmas Party for the Gateway families.
Gateway of Grace trip to Dallas Zoo
Dallas Diocesan Convention: Parishioners this year generously donated funds for the purchase of toys for Christmas gifts for the Greater Dallas Coalition in South Dallas.
Angel Tree Gifts for Gateway of Grace
Shredding Event:
St. Luke’s arranges for a Shredding Truck to be on site the last Saturday in April. Wendy Lambert organized the event, and enlisted help from the Boy Scouts and other volunteers. Approximately 80 residents from the community brought documents to be shredded the Boy Scouts and other volunteers. Approximately 80 residents from the community brought documents to be shredded.
Shredding Day volunteers (left) greated both members
of St. Luke's and neighborhood friends.
Parish Life
Chair Yoga
Chair Yoga is a wonderful way to stay healthy and flexible. It has been a huge hit and continues to attract new attendees. The average class size is around 16 people. We’ve had as many as 26 attendees and have new visitors from the neighborhood. This has been so successful that in the fall we added an additional class on Fridays.
Wonderful Wednesdays
Through 2025 participants did the following:
• Learned to Make:
o Easter wreaths
o Collages, books, cards, and stained-glass butterflies
o Homemade bath & sugar scrubs
o Grandparent bracelets and Christmas earrings
o Bread and protein balls
o Mini turkeys and Painted kindness rocks
• Learned How To:
o Plant herbs and succulents
o Watercolor paint
o Conduct Genealogy research
o Decorate cookies, cupcakes and gingerbread houses
Classes in 2026 will be held on the second Wednesday of each month, after the noon service. Lunch and all supplies are provided and free of charge. The new year started with a Learn How to Meditate Class which was taught by specialist Charlotte Rose. On February 11th we will be making felt heart pins.
Excursions
Last year we enjoyed excursions to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science as well as the Titanic Experience and will continue to offer outings every other month starting in March with the Dallas Blooms Festival at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Chair Yoga meets every Wednesday and Friday
Wonderful Wednesday participants display their Easter wreaths
Fr. Gavin shares his breadmaking expertise with the Wonderful Wednesday group
Blessing of the Animals
Wonderful Wednesday classes decorated cookies, cupcakes, and gingerbread houses
Fr. Gavin conducts a Holy Communion service before the monthly brunch in Cook Hall
Sharing meals together has long been a tradition at St. Luke's. The chili cook-off, shrimp boil, and Italian dinner are annual events.
2025 Income & Expense Report
2026 Projected Income & Expense Report
ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH CLERGY AND STAFF Clergy
Clergy
The Rev. Gavin McAdam
Rector
Staff
Dr. Donna Clavijo
Director of Sacred Music
Susie Pepitone
Business Manager
Juan Chavez
Facilities Director
The Venerable Rosemary Trei
Archdeacon
Lowell Duncan
Communications
Wendy Lambert
Parish Life Coordinator
Eusebio Gutierrez
Facilities Assistant
Vestry 2025
Carol Taylor, Senior Warden
Rich Snider, Junior Warden Karen Hopkins
Mayra Kitchens
Ellen Winspear
Doug Zahniser
Nancy Moore, Clerk
Stan Kirsten, Treasurer
Pat Keane, Chancellor
Diocesan Convention
Delegates
Lowell Duncan
Kathy Wohlgehagen
Alternate
Nancy Duncan
Foundation Board
Steve Rossiter, President
Mary Korby