A cornerstone in the community, St. Luke’s of the Mountains will hold a party to celebrate 100 years in the Crescenta Valley.

By Mary O’KEEFE

All are invited to the gala for St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church that has been 100 years in the making.

St. Luke’s of the Mountains, best known as the “stone church,” has been at the corner of Rosemont Avenue and Foothill Boulevard since 1924. It was the dream of local residents including famous artist Seymour Thomas.

Thomas was born in Texas and studied portraiture in New York and Paris where he won a number of medals including France’s Legion of Honor in 1905. When World War I broke out, Thomas and his wife moved to America and settled in La Crescenta. Thomas painted hundreds of portraits, including three of President Woodrow Wilson – one of which hangs in the White House, according to the Smithsonian.

Thomas loved the community he and his wife called home. They lived on Rosemont Avenue in a home they called “Cuddle Doon.” He wanted an Episcopal church in the community and had talked to Madame Louise Janvier, who donated the land, about building one.

St. Luke’s has been the heart of the community since it was built. Local organizations meet at the church’s Sadler Hall, named about Father Boone Sadler, and the church has been a historical destination for many in the area … and beyond.

The congregation of St. Luke’s is hosting a gala to recognize this iconic building in the historic location.

“The gala will be held on Sept. 21 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It will be held in the outside courtyard with live music and dancing and a catered buffet. It’s a formal dance so dress to impress and our is theme ‘Just Love,’” said Father Guy Leemhuis, vicar of St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church.

There will be a formal program with remarks from the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles who will be honoring members of the community who exemplify the theme of “just love.” There will also be a silent auction.

Also presented will be information on all outreach church members do throughout the community. Those who are interested can sign up to help in the many programs the church offers like the Fire House youth center that offers breakfast to Rosemont Middle School students on their late start Wednesdays and homework help.     

Tickets for the gala are $125; in addition there are opportunities for individuals and businesses to take out a congratulatory ad in the church’s memory book.

“We are seeking sponsors for the event at various levels. You can contact St. Luke’s if you would like to become a sponsor of the event,” Leemhuis said.

Donations are also being accepted for specific things, like for a bench engraved with the name of an individual or a loved one. The hundredth anniversary is a celebration and fundraiser as maintenance on the church is needed.

“Our goal is to raise $250,000, which is sorely needed for the church. As you can imagine after 100 years it is time for St. Luke’s to undergo some repairs,” Leemhuis said.

The roof repair is estimated to be about $109,000; this is in addition to the constant repair of the infrastructure of this old stone church. The congregation has been very generous in its support, which allowed the installation of air conditioning in Sadler Hall, making community meetings much more comfortable. However, there are more infrastructure repairs that are needed.

“The community is a great supporter of the church and dozens of activities take place on the grounds of St. Luke’s of the Mountains. Various community groups throughout the years [have held events on the grounds] including the annual Friends of Rockhaven Art Fair. We’ve also been graced with beautiful music and offerings of free concerts from the Verdugo Hills Women’s Choir and the Flute Sonic Orchestra. St. Luke’s also has its own in-house musicians who include members who have won Grammys for recorded albums. [They also] teach music to young people and [direct] projects that take music into [unique] places such as prisons where inmates can discover new ways to channel their energy into a more positive direction,” Leemhuis said. “We also have a large and vibrant community that are members of St. Luke’s of the Mountains. Our members are both from English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities. Together they make mini events happen at St. Luke’s that are targeted for our local community [including] our monthly Sadler Sessions where we have opportunities for food, dance and live music. We also have a community garden and are working with Seeds of Hope to revamp our food justice program where we will continue to feed, and provide fresh produce, to needy families in our community.”

The church is also part of the CV Drug Misuse Prevention Coalition/CV Cares that helps support families who have and are struggling with the fentanyl crisis.

“For me, St. Luke’s is more than a building. St. Luke’s is an experience. It’s a place where one can truly find belonging. We’re all are welcome! [This is a place] where you find other people who understand Jesus’ basic and profound instruction to us all: just love. Love our neighbors, love our God, love our community, love our church, love our world … and take care of it. Its steadfast stewardship ensures that this wonderful gift that God has given us can be shared with generations to come,” Leemhuis said. “We hope the church will be around for another hundred years … We hope to see everyone at the gala.”

Tickets can be ordered at www.st.lukeslacrescenta.org.