A Black Episcopal Church’s sets Homecoming Sunday for Sept. 18, 2022

New Haven, CT: At 10:00am on Sunday, September 18, 2022, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of New Haven, the fourth oldest Black Episcopal Church in the country, will celebrate its annual Homecoming Sunday service in this its 178th year. Parishioners so inclined will be invited to wear their best Sunday service hat to commemorate the occasion in style. A sit-down meal in the church’s parish hall will follow the festive service.

Of this year’s homecoming celebrations Mary Freeman, a long-time parishioner and a member of this year’s homecoming committee said, “Because of what happened with COVID, a lot of our members [haven’t physically] come back, so we’re trying to make this homecoming really celebratory and welcome members and friends back to St. Luke’s.” When asked what it means to the committee to include the iconic Sunday hat as a fashion suggestion to parishioners this year, Freeman shared that the committee just wanted to add something special to the day. She stated, “We said ‘wear your special hats’ as part of the celebration. Seeing everyone’s faces and seeing everyone back again [would help us in] reflecting on what was and what’s to come in the future.”

The festivities this Homecoming Sunday serve many purposes according to Mrs. Freeman. “We’re also reminding people of the wonderful things St. Luke’s has to offer, that’s why we’re asking guild members and special groups to get up and just say a brief something about their guild and what they’re doing. We want to have a nice sit-down meal in the parish hall after—something that we haven’t done in a long time.”

Among the commemorative details to honor the church’s legacy and heritage and the strong community built through its many years, there will also be the following items:

• A commemorative Chronicle highlighting our parishioners and their membership timelines as part of the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, New Haven community.
• A display curated by the homecoming committee of parishioners’ cherished photographed memories within the church. Renew, Rejoice, Reclaim and Restore: A Black Episcopal Church’s Homecoming Celebration
  Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, New Haven Celebrates Homecoming Sunday 2022 In Person, Online, & In Style New Haven, CT: At 10:00am on Sunday, September 18, 2022, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of New Haven, the fourth oldest Black Episcopal Church in the country, will celebrate its annual Homecoming Sunday service in this its 178th year. Parishioners so inclined will be invited to wear their best Sunday service hat to commemorate the occasion in style. A sit-down meal in the church’s parish hall will follow the festive service. Of this year’s homecoming celebrations Mary Freeman, a long-time parishioner and a member of this year’s homecoming committee said, “Because of what happened with COVID, a lot of our members [haven’t physically] come back, so we’re trying to make this homecoming really celebratory and welcome members and friends back to St. Luke’s.” When asked what it means to the committee to include the iconic Sunday hat as a fashion suggestion to parishioners this year, Freeman shared that the committee just wanted to add something special to the day. She stated, “We said ‘wear your special hats’ as part of the celebration. Seeing everyone’s faces and seeing everyone back again [would help us in] reflecting on what was and what’s to come in the future.” The festivities this Homecoming Sunday serve many purposes according to Mrs. Freeman. “We’re also reminding people of the wonderful things St. Luke’s has to offer, that’s why we’re asking guild members and special groups to get up and just say a brief something about their guild and what they’re doing. We want to have a nice sit-down meal in the parish hall after—something that we haven’t done in a long time.” Among the commemorative details to honor the church’s legacy and heritage and the strong community built through its many years, there will also be the following items:
  • A commemorative Chronicle highlighting our parishioners and their membership timelines as part of the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, New Haven community.
  • A display curated by the homecoming committee of parishioners’ cherished photographed memories within the church.
  St. Luke’s looks forward to welcoming its parishioners and the surrounding community back to in-person worship with this Homecoming celebration and warmly invites and welcomes all who are able to join in this worship service to don their best Sunday hat and continue this church’s Homecoming tradition. The worship service will also be live cast from St. Luke’s historic sanctuary on the church’s Facebook page. About St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, New Haven: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church was founded on June 7, 1844. The Church is located in the heart of New Haven close to the prestigious Yale University. It is situated at the southern end of Whalley Avenue, a main commercial artery in New Haven. St. Luke’s is a predominantly African American/Caribbean congregation, and the fourth oldest black Episcopal Church in the United States. It is worth noting that Alexander DuBois, grandfather of W.E.B DuBois, the great African American civil rights leader and historian, was one of the Church’s founding members. Also, among its early rectors was The Rev. James Theodore Holly (1829-1911), the first African-American Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States.

St. Luke’s looks forward to welcoming its parishioners and the surrounding community back to in-person worship with this Homecoming celebration and warmly invites and welcomes all who are able to join in this worship service to don their best Sunday hat and continue this church’s Homecoming tradition.

The worship service will also be live cast from St. Luke’s historic sanctuary on the church’s Facebook page.

About St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, New Haven: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church was founded on June 7, 1844. The Church is located in the heart of New Haven close to the prestigious Yale University. It is situated at the southern end of Whalley Avenue, a main commercial artery in New Haven. St. Luke’s is a predominantly African American/Caribbean congregation, and the fourth oldest black Episcopal Church in the United States. It is worth noting that Alexander DuBois, grandfather of W.E.B DuBois, the great African American civil rights leader and historian, was one of the Church’s founding members. Also, among its early rectors was The Rev. James Theodore Holly (1829-1911), the first African-American Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States.