Worship

​The Rev. Matt Babcock

The Rev. Matt Babcock is a native of Louisiana and was called to ministry while working in North Carolina. He received his Master of Divinity and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and was ordained a priest in 2019. While in seminary, Matt met his husband, Dr. Joel Winer. In their downtime, Matt and Joel enjoy (sometimes complicated) cooking projects, outdoor activities, and taking long walks with their puppy, Hilda.

Prior to joining St. Luke’s, Matt served in the Diocese of Chicago as Interim Rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Glenview, Ill., and Associate Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Winnetka, Ill. Before moving to Chicago, Matt served as Curate of Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown, Conn., and was a chaplain at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn.

Prior to seminary, Matt was certified as a 6Sigma process engineer, and has prior career experience as a commodities merchandiser and finance executive. He also served in various roles as a lay and ordained parish leader in North Carolina, Connecticut, and Illinois, and received additional training through the Interim Ministry Network. Matt believes in the power of spiritual entrepreneurship and faith development and empowers all God’s people to join in the work of transformation.

The Rev. Nicole Lambelet

The Rev. Nicole Lambelet is the Associate Rector for Children, Youth, and Families (CYF). A graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Nicole previously served at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Atlanta, Ga., as the Associate Priest for Family Ministry and Community Engagement. Before discerning a call to ministry, Nicole worked for many years at the intersections of food production, justice organizing, and violence prevention. She also spent time coaching high school track and a competitive gymnastics team composed of 7 to 9-year-olds. In addition to her ministry in the church, Nicole has enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for preaching classes at Candler, and serving as a volunteer instructor and chaplain at Lee Arrendale State Prison for Women.

Currently Nicole's vocation centers on the tasks of discipleship and faith formation among the Church's youngest members. She is committed to following Jesus's example by creating spaces that nurture belonging, healing, resiliency, and hope.

Married to Kyle for over 16 years, the two delight in attempting to keep up with their two children, the great outdoors, and the best tacos in town.

The Rev. Winnie Varghese

A national leader in the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Winnie Varghese is known for her inspired writing, teaching and preaching. Before becoming the 23rd rector of St. Luke's, she served as Priest for Ministry and Program Coordination at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City.

Prior to Trinity, Winnie served as Rector and Priest-in-Charge at St. Mark’s in the Bowery in New York. Winnie was also Chaplain at both Columbia University and University of California Los Angeles. She is a native of Dallas, Texas and is married to Elizabeth Toledo, a public relations executive. They have two grown children.

Winnie serves on the Board of Trustees of Union Theological Seminary, she chaired the General Convention’s Committee on the State of the Church from 2015 to 2018, and she served on the Board of Trustees of the Episcopal Divinity School, 2013-2016. She is also a published author, editor, and podcaster.

Winnie’s parents immigrated to the United States from India, and Winnie spent part of her early childhood years there. She attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA and earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She then attended Union Theological Seminary and graduated with her Master of Divinity degree in 1999. She was ordained to the deaconate in Los Angeles in 1999 and to the priesthood six months later in 2000.