Care

Faith communities are called to offer love, just like Jesus did. At St. Luke’s, we have ministries of care that offer support during times of physical, mental and spiritual need. We are seeking to be a place that brings wholeness to everyone we serve. We offer many support groups and one-on-one Christian care-giving.

GriefShare

It may be difficult for you to feel optimistic about the future after the loss of a loved one. You may have found there are not many people who understand the deep hurt that you feel. It can be a confusing time when you feel isolated and have many questions about things you've never faced before. Our GriefShare group meets weekly to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. Join us for the next series of GriefShare classes here at St. Luke's United Methodist Church.

Winter Session: 3:15PM Class Winter Session: 6:15PM Class

We are here to care for you. If you or someone you know is hospitalized, homebound, or in need of Care, please let us know.

Need Care? Benevolence Assistance Request Submit a Prayer Request

Receive Care

There are many ministries at St. Luke's that were created to care for your needs. 

We want to care for you through prayers and visits. If you or someone you know is hospitalized, currently living in a healthcare center, assisted living or confined to their home, we are here for you. If you are in need of a Care Team member either in response to a death or a tragic event after office hours, please call (317) 846-3404 and follow the prompts. If you're in need of any other Care, please click the button to get connected to us.

I Have A Care Need

At St. Luke's we believe in prayer and seek to pray for those in need when asked. Whether you are in need of prayer or are gifted in praying for others, we welcome your heart-felt voice so as a praying team and/or pastor, we might pray for you and join others who pray for you. If you would like to submit a prayer request, click here.

Submit a Prayer Request Prayer Wall

St. Luke's frequently hosts Blood Drives, Blood Pressure Screenings, and other health-related events. Contact us if you are interested in getting involved in this ministry.

Get Care Now

Need a ride to and from doctor's appointments or to church? We are here to help get where you need to go! Contact caringcars@stlukesumc.com to give us details of your ride request including date, time of your appointment or event at St Luke’s, address of the appointment, your address, and your contact information. Someone will contact you to confirm the details.

Be a volunteer driver to help others. You must use your own car and have a driver's license and insurance. You can accept to drive when you are available with no required time commitment. Sign up here to volunteer.

Contact Caring Cars Volunteer Signup

Our Tablet Ministry's goal is to provide tablets so people can connect to online services. While Care Ministry continues to navigate new ways to minister to people, there is one word that continues to be expressed: Disconnected. One gentleman was in tears when he said, “Church feels like a distant memory”. Some people can't get to church and have no access to technology. Many live in retirement homes that have WIFI, but they personally do not own a device. Our volunteer technology team will help set up devices, and coach people through using those devices. One device, set up and ready for easy access to our online services, costs $89.00. To donate to a scholarship fund where we can provide for our people in need or to volunteer, contact the Care Ministry. Whatever donation that you are able to make will be very helpful in providing church for those who are not able to be at St. Luke’s. 

Contact Care

Stephen Ministry offers one-on-one for anyone going through a difficult time. All conversations are confidential. You meet privately with a trained Stephen Minister according to your schedule. To get connected with a Stephen Minister, please click the button below.

I Need A Stephen Minister

If you're in need of gently used mobility aids, St. Luke's has established a Lending Closet. These items are available for anyone (you do not have to attend St. Luke's to "borrow" from this closet). If you'd like to setup a time to "shop" for a mobility aid, please contact Tina Voelker or the Care Ministry Dept.

If you are looking to donate gently used, but still in good condition, mobility aids, e.g., clean, gently used standard walkers, rolling walkers, rollators, single tip walking canes, quad canes, crutches, shower chairs/benches, you can donate them to the St. Luke’s “Lending Closet.” Drop off hours are M-F 9AM-4PM at the main office of the North Indy campus.

For more information, contact Tina Voelker at dtsnag@sbcglobal.net. 

If you're looking for benevolence assistance, please visit our Hub for Hope page to learn more about getting help with diapers, rent, utilities, and more. If you have questions, contact Shelly Clasen, Director of Outreach or call the church office at (317) 846-3404. 

Request Benevolence Assistance

Support Groups

We host support groups and classes for a variety of needs including health support and grief support.

Mondays, January 8 - April 10 from 6:30-8:30PM | North Indy  

While divorce is always hard, many are facing additional obstacles that make this season of life all the more difficult. St. Luke's wants you to know that you are not alone. The class runs a total of 13 weeks. We offer DivorceCare with no registration fee. The only fee is your purchase of the workbook which is $20 and can be purchased at the first group. We do offer scholarships for the workbook, so please reach out if there is a need. Also, you can contact our pastoral care team through our emotional health hotline at (317) 643-2293. You can call this number if you would simply like a prayer, or to receive pastoral support. 

SIGN-UP HERE

St. Luke's offers many programs to support those who are grieving a loss. These groups include Griefshare, H.U.G.S Spousal Loss, Hope Pregnancy Loss, and Brooke's Place for grieving children. If you need to arrange a meeting with a pastor, contact our Care Ministry.

Find A Grief Group

Gather with an encouraging group of caregivers and patients who give hope and support. Church and community members welcome. Contact Tom for information pertaining to the group as well as meeting times. You are not alone!

Contact Tom Maksym

The Holiday Season can be difficult after the death of a loved one. Learn practical holiday survival techniques and discover that there is hope for the future. There is a $5 fee to cover the cost of the book.

The next class will be on November 12 from 1 - 3 PM

Register Here

First Tuesday of the Month at 6 PM | Spiritual Life Center

This support group serves caregivers of those affected by memory loss, including Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Members of the church and community are welcome to gather to find loving support, share resources, and encouragement along their journey. Individuals attending the Caregivers Support Group may care for loved ones in any capacity (whether at home, in care facility, or from a distance).

Both facilitators of this support group are church members and have been trained by the Alzheimer's Association. Visit the Alzheimer's Association website for more information.

The Dementia Caregivers Support Group meets the first Tuesday of the month.

Whether you are experiencing chronic pain, addiction, or illness, St. Luke's has a place for you. Our health support groups include Chronic Pain Support, Cancer Support, and various outside groups.

Click here to find a health support group.

Find A Health Support Group

We seek to meet each individual where they are and with whatever they are going through. Some additional ministries including a Military Ministry and Health Support.

View More Groups

We welcome outside groups who need a safe place to meet. Groups we host include:

Contact the Care Team for more information about these groups and when they meet.

Contact Us

Funerals

When a death is imminent, our pastors and Care Team are honored to come and pray with you. Please call the church and ask for Care Ministries - we’ll make every effort to have someone come to you.

If your need is after office hours, the pastor on-call will return your message as soon as possible. Once a death has occurred, our pastors and staff would be honored to provide the service for your loved one here at the church, at the funeral home, or graveside, depending on the family’s decision.

Funeral Guide

The death of a loved one is a difficult experience. We grieve the loss of one who has been close, but as Christians, we do not sorrow without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). During this time, St. Luke's is here to support to your family. It is our hope that as friends and family gather to remember their loved ones, they will be reminded of the hope and assurance we have in Jesus. Below you can see those who we remember and find their funeral/celebration of life service information. 

Upcoming Celebration of Life Services:

Charlene Cox memorial services are scheduled for April 12, 2024 at Flanner and Buchanan/Oaklawn.

Tom Recktenwall memorial will be Thursday, April 18, with visitation from 10:00am to 11:00am and service at 11:00am, St. Luke's UMC/Robertson Chapel

Thelma “Siter” Trudgen memorial service will be Friday, April 26, with visitation from 12:00pm to 1:00pm and service at 1:00pm, St. Luke’s UMC/Robertson Chapel.

WATCH ONLINE

Care Staff

Serve With Care

If you're looking for a truly rewarding way to serve our church and community, we invite you to say "YES!” to any one of our Care Team serving roles. Visit our serve page for details.  

Learn More