Ministries that Support Our Worship
More Ways to Serve...
To volunteer in support of our worship can greatly enrich your parish life at Trinity. As Episcopalians, believe that service is an important part of one's personal spiritual journey; a way to grow within the body of Christ. Of course, one also gets to meet new people and develop friendships, another treasured part of the Trinity experience.
Altar Guild
The Altar Guild at Trinity Parish was established in 1899 and functions to assist the clergy. They prepare for all services, setting up the altar with elements for Communion, selecting proper vestments for the clergy and making sure the church is ready to serve the congregation.
The Altar Guild prepares for the service on Saturday and Sunday mornings and takes down the service after church. Currently, four teams rotate duties.
For more information, contact Carol Morrow, caroltmorrow@comcast.net
Flower Guild
Each week the Flower Arrangers Guild picks-up flowers at a wholesale florist, delivers them to Trinity, and arranges them to make the church beautiful for Sunday services, and to prepare the church for liturgical seasons and festivals. New arrangers can work alongside experienced members to learn the craft while they serve the church.
Flower Arrangers view their ministry as a way to celebrate the Holy Trinity and bring joy to parishioners. Teams of two arrange in rotation every two months. New arrangers are welcome throughout the year.
Contact: Jane Fox, fox2hunt@sbcglobal.net
10:30 Service
Ushers
The ushers perform an important welcoming and support ministry beginning with a warm friendly greeting to parishioners, and newcomers as they arrive. Their duties extend through the service as they offer assistance, answer questions, collect and present the offering, assist parishioners to communion, and even ring the church bell.
Ushers serve in teams on a rotation schedule every 5-6 weeks. Contact Paul Bolton , Bolton@slac.stanford.edu for more information.
Oblators
Oblators bear the gifts of bread, wine and water to the altar for presentation during communion. In this task they represent the whole congregation, as we prepare to offer ourselves up to God. Generally this brief but important duty is handled by a couple, but any combination of people who wish to serve the parish in this way may act as oblators.
Oblators serve in rotation every 5-6 weeks. Contact Paul Bolton , Bolton@slac.stanford.edu for more information.
Lectors
Reading God's Word to the congregation during worship is an ancient and sacred ministry, a great privilege. Lectors (or Lay Readers) must have a good understanding of the scheduled passage and practice reading it aloud with projection and enunciation, so that their reading will be understandable and powerful. Youth and newcomers are encouraged to become lectors and give us the benefit of their knowledge and interpretation of scripture.
Lectors read at 10:30 am services every Sunday plus at special services like Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Passion week, etc. Individuals who would like to be lay readers are asked to audition. Lectors are expected to spend personal time working on their reading(s). Currently each lector reads both the first and second lessons at a service every three months.
Contact: Janis Wilcox Christiansen, janis@christiansen.com
Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Acolytes
Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs) serve as chalice bearers at the Eucharist and many extend that ministry and take Communion to those who are confined to their homes.
Acolytes, usually high-school or middle school youth, carry the cross and candles in procession and aid at the altar.
Contact: Margie Stehle, mstehle@windband.org or members of the parish clergy
8:00 Service
Altar Servers (Acolytes, Chalice Bearers, Lectors, Greeters)
At the 8:30 service, members of the Trinity family share in the leadership of worship along with the clergy, acting as Chalice Bearers, Acolytes, and Lectors. Their participation in the service is an outward and visible sign that we are all ministers in Christ's Church.
In addition to their assigned duties, the Chalice Bearers and Lectors act as greeters and ushers and assist worshipers and make them welcome. A number of Chalice Bearers have completed further training to become Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs), licensed to take communion to those unable to get to the church. It is indeed a special privilege to serve in this way.
Contact: Margie Stehle, mstehle@windband.org
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