Worship Ministries

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild prepares the altar, communion vessels and the priests’ vestments for all services, and maintains them between services. They also provide wine and bread for communion. In addition to regular Sunday services, the Altar Guild helps prepare for weddings, funerals, and baptisms, and decorates the Church for holidays and other special occasions. 

Lay Ministers

In Episcopal churches, lay people take active roles in our worship services. At Saint Thomas’, these are:

Lay Readers
Lay Readers read the Bible lessons for the day, and, in services without music, they lead the congregation in reciting the psalms and canticles.

Chalice Bearers
Aid in the worship service by joining the Priests and Deacons (ordained clergy) at Holy Communion and administering the Cup.

Worship Leaders
In addition to clergy, lay members are invited to lead services of Morning and Evening Prayer.

Ushers

With a warm and gracious spirit, ushers welcome all people to our services in the name of Jesus Christ. They help those needing assistance, whether because of unfamiliarity with the service, or due to infirmity.

Greeters

Welcome members and visitors with a smile, hug, or handshake as they arrive for worship through the church doors. 

Hospitality Ministry

Hospitality is a part of being Christian and, in particular, Episcopalian.  Serving as a coffee hour host is one way we express hospitality and love each on Sunday mornings following our service.  This time together is an opportunity to meet and greet one another and introduce ourselves to visitors as well as to share the joys and experiences since we last gathered as a worshiping community.  

Please consider signing up to provide refreshments during this time.  We are a growing congregation so we are asking for 4-6 dozen items most Sundays.  In the sign-up Genius linked in the Epistle and on the website under WorshipMinistries (Hospitality Ministry) there is the opportunity for up to 3 people or a group/ministry to sign up to provide refreshments.  Refreshments can be homemade or store-bought.

Remember to thank those providing refreshments to give us a little boost between breakfast and lunch.  We thank the usher teams for faithfully providing refreshments on the second Sunday of each month. 

Click here to sign up!