I am the Reverend Watson Lamb and most people just call me Fr. Lamb. My family and I cannot wait to meet everyone. I am currently serving as Vicar of St. Francis of Assisi in Philadelphia, MS, and St. Matthew's in Forest. I am a cradle Episcopalian and a native of Mississippi. I received my Bachelors degree in Economics from Mississippi State University. Then I spent a year living in an intentional Christian community called the Bishop's Mission Corps (BMC) where we prayed, studied, and served God in many capacities. Directly after the BMC, Katie and I married just before going off to seminary at the School of Theology in Sewanee. While in Seminary both of our children, Maril (3) and Mark Abial (2), were born. Katie's passion is birth and ministry at the beginning of life, and she is a certified birth doula. We are very excited to be moving to Baton Rouge and joining in the life and ministry of St. Luke's Church and Day School!

My name is Barbara Lee Hudson. I feel so blessed to be joining the staff at St Luke’s! While most of my career has been spent in nursing (I served as an Army Nurse for 9 years after graduating from University of Maryland), the church has always been an important part of my life. I am an Episcopalian, currently a member of St Matthew’s in Houma. I have worked in the church office of an Episcopal church in Knoxville, TN in the past. Contemplative prayer and holistic health are two areas of interest near and dear to my heart. I also love classical music, reading, cooking and the New Orleans Saints! Moving to Louisiana 3 years ago from Knoxville, TN, I have been working as an instructor in a safety school in Houma, teaching health and safety classes. I enjoy the milder winters here, but I have to confess that being so close to the coast during Hurricane Isaac last summer was not fun but very instructive! I look forward to getting settled in Baton Rouge and to working with Fr. Bryan and the St Luke’s community.

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER

     On Sunday, April 21st, six young people publicly committed their lives to Christ through confirmation at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The 2013 confirmation class included Kendall Coffman, Will Forrester, Hayden Rigby, Charity Rogers, Elizabeth Root, and Jonathan Thomas. After spending the spring in confirmation classes with instructors Margie Gaudet, Director of Christian Education; Deacon Reese Wiggins; and parishioner volunteer Mignon Rogers, our six candidates were ready to meet with Bishop Thompson for their confirmation at the 11:15 service on Sunday, April 21st.

     In fact, their entire weekend was dedicated to preparing for their confirmation. The 2013 class was treated to a special get-away weekend at the Gaudet’s vacation home in Fairhope, Alabama. Our young people had a fabulous time canoeing, eating s’mores around a fire, and spending time with each other. One highlight of their “mini retreat” was noonday prayer near the bay at the Episcopal Conference Center near the Gaudet’s house.

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SOLOMON CENTER CELEBRATION TOPS EXPECTATIONS

     On Sunday, April 7th, 2013, St. Luke’s parishioners joined Episcopalians from across the Diocese of Louisiana to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Solomon Episcopal Conference Center in Robert, Louisiana. At the invitation of Bishop Morris K. Thompson, Jr., hundreds made their way to the center for a “Blue Grass” Eucharist, a picnic lunch, and fellowship on the grounds of this beautiful retreat space, with an overwhelming final head count of 630.

     “We were expecting about 250 people, and we have more than 600, which is just wonderful,” Bishop Thompson beamed.

     St. Luke’s wholeheartedly joined in the festivities, chartering a bus and transporting 39 people including many of our own parishioners, as well as members of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Denham Springs, St. James and Trinity Episcopal Churches in Baton Rouge. The Eucharist, held under a large tent with lovely views of the lake, began at 11:00 a.m. with music provided by the Last Chance Blue Grass Band. Adding another historic element to the day’s events, all three living Bishops of Louisiana were in attendance. Our current bishop, the Right Reverend Morris K. Thompson, Jr. was joined by Bishop Charles Jenkins and Bishop James Brown, both retired from the Diocese of Louisiana.

     The bishops shared their memories of early days at the SECC, their views on its importance as an asset to our diocese, and their hopes for its continued growth. They each helped celebrate the Holy Eucharist, and afterwards greeted old friends and fellow Episcopalians from most of the nearly 50 parishes in our diocese.

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HELP HOST YOUTH CHOIR MEMBERS FROM CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE AT ST. LUKE’S
 

     Please join St. Luke’s Music Director Dr. Ruby Dart, Choir Director Leslie McLaughlin and our church choir members in welcoming the Choir School at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte, North Carolina for a special performance at St. Luke’s on Sunday evening, June 16th. The Choir School is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and we are excited to share this opportunity to worship through music with our St. Luke’s Church members, day school families and the larger community.

     St. Luke’s has the privilege of hosting these young choir members overnight on June 16th, before they depart for their next concert destination on Monday morning, June 17th. If you are able to host two or more choir members in your home that Sunday night, please contact Lynde Ulmer at (225) 202-0480 or Amanda Burgess at (225) 270-9793.

     The Choir School at St. Peter’s is made up of five auditioned choirs of children, ranging in age from six to eighteen. Choristers come from across the Charlotte, North Carolina area, and represent a number of different denominations, cultures and economic backgrounds. Each year, the choir’s managing director Kay Johnson takes the three older choirs on tour. In the past, they have traveled to the east coast of the United States, Canada, and have even been invited to perform in England! This summer their tour includes stops in Louisiana and Mississippi for the first time. We look forward to welcoming this fine group of young people, and to enjoying their musical talents!
 

MAKE YOUR PLANS FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!

   Vacation Bible School 2013 offers something for all of St. Luke’s young people starting in early June. Our Junior High VBS, “Here Comes the Sun!” will be held June 3rd- 6th from 9 a.m. until noon. It’s open to all young people who complete the 5th – 8th grades in May. Our Youth Directors Shannon Hannaman and Michael Giles will lead the program, which includes two off-campus field trips. For a registration form, please call Shannon at (225) 603-5120 or e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

   For our younger children, Vacation Bible School will focus on “Marketplace 31AD”, June 24- 27, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. This year’s VBS promises an amazing opportunity to learn more about the life and times of Jesus, to share in the culture, eat the food, and sing and dance to the music which Our Lord knew so well! To register a child or to volunteer as an adult, call Mary Ann Ayres at (225) 928-9434 or Margie Gaudet at (225) 733-3334.  A planning meeting for all VBS volunteers will be held on Sunday, May 5th at 1:00 in the Church Library. We look forward to a great turn-out for both of our VBS events this summer!