Worship Ministries
Our friendly greeters!
One of the most fulfilling and joyful things to do is to follow God’s call that leads to us exploring the possibility that a ministry of ours might be to participate in worship as a Liturgical Minister. You may feel a call to the ministries of usher, altar guild, acolyte, greeter, chalice bearer, intercessor, and/or lector.
Please give prayerful and thoughtful consideration to your becoming involved with one or more of these ministries. If you think that God may be calling you to one of these ministries, please contact the church secretary. You’ll be glad that you did!
Intercessor - The Intercessor is the Liturgical Minister who leads the Prayers of the People during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The Prayers of the People are either printed in their entirety and found in a three-ring binder in the section marked for the specific service or found marked in the Book of Common Prayer on the Ambo. When there is a baptism, the Celebrant will generally lead the Prayers for the Candidate. On the First Sunday of Advent and the First Sunday in Lent, when the Great Litany is used, the Prayers of the People are not used.
Chalice Bearer - The Chalice Bearer is the Liturgical Minister who administers the Chalice during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. While there is a purely functional aspect to the ministry of the Chalice Bearer, there is a spiritual and sacred aspect, as well. The functional aspect has to do with the role of providing a means by which communicants can receive the wine. The spiritual and sacred aspect involves the belief that the wine has taken on the real presence of Jesus Christ as the blood of Christ. Neither aspect of this ministry should be neglected.
Usher - While everyone in the congregation is part of the Church Family and, as such, is encouraged to interact with individuals and groups attending worship services at Saint Thomas of Canterbury, the Ushers have a very important role in showing hospitality. Following the welcoming by the Greeters, the Ushers also greet worshipers by providing them with whatever hand-out material is
appropriate, including Sunday Bulletins, Bulletin inserts, and, at the 9:30 am service, musical instruments.
Lector - A Lector is the Liturgical Minister who reads the Lessons before the Gospel and leads the congregation in the Gradual (generally a Psalm, but may be a Canticle)—when not sung. The Propers (Bible passages) to be read are found in the Lectionary1 (marked with Post-It® Flags) located on the Ambo. The Gradual is in the Book of Common Prayer on the Ambo marked with Post-It® Flags. When there are two Lectors, the Lector who reads the first Reading will lead the Gradual (when not sung) and then be seated. The other Lector will move to the Ambo following the Psalm. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is the translation that we use.
Acolytes - One is ready to be an acolyte when one:
Feels a personal call to this ministry. This is not a ministry that should be undertaken due to parental or peer pressure.
Is able to sit still and be attentive for an hour.
Is able to attend training sessions.
Is able to arrive 15-20 minutes before an assigned service
Is willing to be assigned at least once a month.
Chalice Bearer - The Chalice Bearer is the Liturgical Minister who administers the Chalice during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. While there is a purely functional aspect to the ministry of the Chalice Bearer, there is a spiritual and sacred aspect, as well. The functional aspect has to do with the role of providing a means by which communicants can receive the wine. The spiritual and sacred aspect involves the belief that the wine has taken on the real presence of Jesus Christ as the blood of Christ. Neither aspect of this ministry should be neglected.
Usher - While everyone in the congregation is part of the Church Family and, as such, is encouraged to interact with individuals and groups attending worship services at Saint Thomas of Canterbury, the Ushers have a very important role in showing hospitality. Following the welcoming by the Greeters, the Ushers also greet worshipers by providing them with whatever hand-out material is
appropriate, including Sunday Bulletins, Bulletin inserts, and, at the 9:30 am service, musical instruments.
Lector - A Lector is the Liturgical Minister who reads the Lessons before the Gospel and leads the congregation in the Gradual (generally a Psalm, but may be a Canticle)—when not sung. The Propers (Bible passages) to be read are found in the Lectionary1 (marked with Post-It® Flags) located on the Ambo. The Gradual is in the Book of Common Prayer on the Ambo marked with Post-It® Flags. When there are two Lectors, the Lector who reads the first Reading will lead the Gradual (when not sung) and then be seated. The other Lector will move to the Ambo following the Psalm. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is the translation that we use.
Acolytes - One is ready to be an acolyte when one:
Feels a personal call to this ministry. This is not a ministry that should be undertaken due to parental or peer pressure.
Is able to sit still and be attentive for an hour.
Is able to attend training sessions.
Is able to arrive 15-20 minutes before an assigned service
Is willing to be assigned at least once a month.