Worship Ministries

Acolytes: Lay servers (acolytes) are persons who assist the celebrant in the liturgy. The acolyte program is inclusive of all ages children, youth and adults. Responsibilities are assigned according to the experience level of the participants. Acolytes process processional cross, assist the celebrant to prepare the altar for Holy Eucharist and carry the thurible in procession on high feast days. All children, youth, and adults interested in serving in this special ministry are welcome to be part of St. Mary's acolyte team. For more information please contact Ron Mendleski.

 Altar Guild: The members of the Altar Guild prepare the altar for all services, care for the church vestments, linens, silver, and altar appointments and decorate the church for festive occasions. It takes the work of many to prepare the church for worship each week. We need several volunteers to help on a regular basis (once a month). The work is easy and fun and you will be teamed with an experienced Altar Guild person. Primary Qualifications: A love of God and a sense of awe for the Holy Eucharist services. Secondary Qualifications: Reliable. An ability to work behind the scenes. The ability to work with other members in a small group and attention to detail. For more information please contact Lynn Holman.

 Choir: The St Mary's Choir adds their voices to those of the entire congregation on Sunday mornings to lift up music along with prayer. The Choir also spends time rehearsing special offerings of music that they present as part of our worship. On special feasts like Christmas and Easter the Choir works overtime to prepare lovely programs as their service of music to the parish and to the Lord. St Mary's Choir is open to all adults, prior musical training is not necessary! A desire to praise the Lord through song is required. We practice once a week on Wednesday evening and sing at the 10:30 a.m. service each week. The choir goes on hiatus during the summer months. For more information please contact Shannon Castaneda.

Eucharistic Ministers: This Lay Ministry is separated into three groups: Worship Leaders, Eucharistic Ministers, and Eucharistic Visitors. Eucharistic Ministers (EM's) are members who assist the ordained clergy in worship services, including serving the Chalice or Patten at Communion, after training and certification by the clergy and licensing by the bishop. Eucharistic Visitors (EV's) are a ministry of trained persons who visit parishioners who are hospitalized or house-bound. The training mainly involves taking communion to parishioners who are unavoidably absent. Worship Leaders are members who can lead public worship (Morning Prayer, Noontime Prayer, Evening Prayer, Compline, etc.) We currently have two Lay Readers who are trained to lead the services of Morning and Evening Prayer. For more information please contact Lynn Holman.

Greeters/Ushers: Everyone who comes through the doors on Sunday morning is met with a smile and a bulletin. Our greeters are the first "face" St Mary's guests see and they are our hand of welcome. Greeters are also able to answer questions and act as a guide to Sunday School, Nursery, and Fellowship. The smooth flow of our worship is to a great extent in the hands of the Users. They make sure everyone is comfortably seated and has a Book of Common Prayer and a Hymnal as needed at the 8:00 a.m. service and a bulletin at the 10:30 a.m. service. Ushers collect the offerings of the people and present them at the altar. At Communion time, we rely on the ushers to direct us to the altar rail. We often forget that the Ushers also take responsibility for putting the pews back in good order after the service, ready for the next service. For more information please contact Lynn Holman.

Lectors: Lectors assist in the worship services by reading the First and Second Lessons and lead the congregation in the Psalm appointed for the service. For more information please contact Lynn Holman.

Intercessors: Intercessors assist in worship services by reading the Prayers of the People appointed for the service. For more information please contact Lynn Holman.