Ministry
Opportunities and Activities at
Worship Services
are
held each Sunday morning at
Usher
It
is the duty of usher to assist worshipers in a variety of ways and to perform
some needed tasks during worship. The responsibilities include distributing
worship bulletins and prayer sheets and helping people, especially visitors, to
find a seat. They are also responsible for passing the offering plate for
receipt of tithes and offerings, and then presenting the offering at the altar.
During communion they indicate to communicants the time and order in which to
proceed to the altar to receive the elements. In the absence of a youth acolyte,
ushers light the Paschal Candle and those candles on the altar during the
prelude. They extinguish them at the conclusion of the service. After the
service they take the offering from the altar and put it in the church office
with the Counter supplies. They record the number of those attending the service
(including those in the Nursery) and the number of bulletins used, and put that
information with the offering. They tidy up the pews, picking up paper and
pencils and replacing worship
books and Bibles into the pew racks. Two ushers are desirable for each service.
Lector
Reading
the Scripture is an important part of worship and can be done by many
individuals. Readers are asked to read the Old and New Testament lessons.
Lectors receive a copy of the
introduction to the scripture readings and the readings themselves. It is mailed
in advance of the Sunday service. Lectors preview the readings to assure an
appropriate delivery of the readings from the lectern during worship.
Greeter
Greeters
are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the worship service.
They stand at the door(s) to the narthex to greet all who enter, to make them
feel welcome. If there are guests at worship, greeters ask them to sign the
guest book. Two greeters serve each week.
Communion
Assistant
Two
communion assistants serve with the pastor during communion by offering the wine
for intinction or by pouring it into communion glasses or by offering the common
cup to the communicant. The pastor announces the form of communion at the
service and it is also printed in the bulletin. As the cup is offered, the
assistant speaks, “The blood of Christ, shed for you.” One assistant reads a
prayer during the communion portion of the service.
Cantor
Most of our
worship services now include a cantor to lead in the chanting of liturgy and the
psalm. Cantors must complete training with the Choir Director or the chairperson
of Music and Worship, who coordinates the schedule for cantors.
Coffee
Server
This
person prepares the coffee before the worship service and serves it afterwards,
and cleans up following the coffee hour. The coffee server also prepares hot
water for tea and places the sugar and creamer with stirrers on the serving
table.
Audio/Video
Technician
Before
the service begins one person enables the sanctuary audio system (and video
player, if necessary) and checks the operation of its microphones and
audio/visual output. This includes the pastor’s wireless microphone. The A/V
technician assures that the service is recorded on audio tape.
Power
Point Operator
This person
readies the laptop computer for the Power Point presentation during the regular
Sunday worship service. The
presentation slides are prepared by someone else. This operator must have
computer skills. The Worship and Music Committee retains a volunteer list and
volunteers will be notified of the date when their service is needed.
Computer
Technician
This person must
be very skilled regarding the hardware and software of computer systems. Ability
to maintain all desktop and laptop computers owned by the church, to interact
with the internet and e-mail situations and
to troubleshoot computer problems are part of this person’s qualifications.
Church
Staff
At present the Interim
Pastor is the primary person responsible for conducting the worship services
and delivering sermons. The Interim Pastor also interfaces with the various
church groups and committees. Visiting
the shut-ins, the sick, the elderly and potential new members is also a part of
the interim pastor’s job.
The Administrative Assistant maintains church office hours and performs
a wide variety of duties, including bulletin and newsletter preparation and the
creation of the Power Point presentation.
The Keyboardist is responsible for providing accompaniment for
liturgical music, hymns, psalms, gathering music, prelude, offertory, communion
songs and postludes.
The Choir Director is responsible for selecting and purchasing music to
perform during worship services and for conducting weekly choir rehearsals with
the volunteer choir.
The Church Custodian is responsible for emptying trash, vacuuming and
cleaning the building.
The Nursery Attendant cares for infants and preschoolers during the
regular Sunday worship services. Currently, all these are paid positions.
Altar
Guild
The
Altar Guild is responsible for preparing weekly communion and for washing and
caring for the communion vessels and altar linens. Members care for and change
the different colored seasonal hangings on the altar and arrange and place
flowers, candles, banners and special season decorations for special services
such as Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.
At
times they may create banners for the worship area. Two persons from the Altar
Guild serve each week. Representatives serve on the Worship and Music Committee.
Financial
Secretary
This
person records the financial contributions of members and prepares quarterly
statements for members. This task is currently being done on a computer, but can
be done by hand since the congregation is small. The Stewardship work area is
responsible for overseeing this position. The annual estimate of giving is
entered into the database and is provided to Council for assistance in preparing
the budget for congregational approval. The main funds for regular giving are
the Helping Hand Fund (providing emergency monetary assistance for gasoline,
groceries, utility bills, etc. to members or non-menders), the Building Fund,
the Flower Fund and the Current Expenses Fund.
Choir
All
adults and high school age youth are invited to sing in the choir, which meets
on Wednesday evening at
Acolyte
Generally
the young people from the confirmation class serve in this position. Sometimes
ushers perform this duty. Anyone may volunteer to perform this service. Acolytes
arrive early enough to light the candles before worship begins, generally during
the prelude, and extinguish them following worship.
Librarian
A
small church library contains books as well as audio/visual materials. Minutes
of all Council and Congregational Meetings are available in the library. The
librarian purchases and displays new materials and keeps the congregation
informed through the bulletin or newsletter about library information.
Appropriate books are welcomed as gifts and anyone may suggest possible
purchases to the Librarian.
Blanket
Ladies meet
on the first and third Tuesday morning of each month.
The
ladies meet to sew and assemble blankets/quilts. They also assemble layettes and
health kits. All materials and sewing
machines are at the church. A variety of talents can be utilized in making these
items. Blankets, quilts, layettes, and health kits are sent annually to Lutheran World Relief in the Fall.
Volunteers may come to help on a regular or occasional basis.
Messenger
Newsletter Mailing
Once
a month the Messenger is written, edited and published by the church
Administrative Assistant. Articles for the newsletter are solicited from Council
members and anyone may contribute an article by the 20th of the month
prior to publication. The Administrative Assistant will retain a list of those
willing to help with folding, stapling, and applying mailing labels, and will
call upon people on the list to assist when necessary.
Ministry
and
This
committee was formed to coordinate several of our church ministries. They send
out birthday cards to church members and offer transportation to worship
services. “Driving the Daisies” is a program whereby volunteers shuttle
seniors to doctor appointments and assist them in other ways. They have taken a
Time and Talents Survey and are open to suggestions for new ministry.
Prayer
Chain
A
prayer chain is organized that can be called upon by anyone in need. The power
of prayer links those in need to other members of the congregation. The prayer
chain is started by calling the pastor, who starts the chain, and each person in
turn calls the next on the list, until the chain is completed and many prayers
are offered.
Healing
Service
This
service is held for about 15 minutes on the first Sunday of the month
immediately following the regular worship service. Prayer is offered for those
on the prayer list, for those attending and for any others for whom healing is
needed. Participants, if they wish,
may lay hands on those for whom they pray for healing. Prayer
cards are signed by members and friends and sent to those on the prayer list for
whom an address is provided.
Breakfast
Coordinator
Council
liaison persons for the church committees and work areas sign up during one
council meeting to be responsible for one breakfast per year, preparing and
serving it on the second Sunday of each month. Other people set tables, but the
group in charge does the cooking, serving and clean-up work.
The coordinator is responsible for confirming that the assigned group is
aware of their responsibility for a certain date and that they are organized for
the event. Anyone may volunteer to assist with any breakfast by contacting the
Coordinator.
Wedding
Coordinator
This
position may be voluntary or may be paid for by the wedding party, as is other
staff. After the wedding couple has met with the pastor the coordinator confers
with the pastor and then meets with the couple to obtain further information.
The Coordinator communicates with the church musician, administrative assistant,
altar guild (i.e. banners, communion, flower placement, candles) and the
custodian. A wedding brochure is given to the bridal couple. A checklist is
prepared and two weeks before the wedding the coordinator assures that all items
are complete and collects one check covering all fees.
Funeral/Memorial
Service Coordinator
This
volunteer is responsible for arranging the luncheon/food plans for a funeral or
memorial service when the Fellowship Hall is to be used for that occasion.
Committee members are on call to help when needed.
All
women of Messiah are considered members of the MLCW. It provides opportunity for
fellowship, Bible Study, and service. Blanket Ladies, which meets the first and
third Tuesday mornings in Fellowship Hall;
Mens
Group
All
men of the congregation are invited to meet each week on Thursday evenings in
Fellowship Hall for Bible study and other general discussion.
P.A.D.S.
(Public
Action to Deliver Shelter) in
Meals on
Wheels
provides
another opportunity to support the elderly, infirm or disadvantaged in our
community. Volunteers are needed for one week every three months to pick up and
deliver meals to clients. Each team is provided a mapped-out route, which takes
about an hour to complete.
CROP
Walk
Volunteers are needed to walk or support walkers financially
on one day each year in October
to raise funds used to alleviate hunger in our community.
Food
Pantry Collection
Throughout
the year the church collects food donations, sometimes specific items, for the FISH
food pantry of
Blood
Donors
Periodically,
blood drives are held in the local area and anyone over 18 years of age in good
health may sign up to give blood at the appointed time and location. A list of
sites is posted on the information bulletin board.
Congregation
Officers, Council, and Committees
Our current
Church Constitution, revised in 1997, states that the Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the
congregation (President, Vice-President and Secretary) and the Pastor. The Nominating
Committee prepares a slate of members for election to the Congregational
Council. It is presented at a Congregational Meeting. The committee consists of
five church members, each elected for no more than one year. When a pastoral
vacancy occurs, the Congregational Council elects a Call
Committee of seven voting members, including two from the Church Council.
The Church Treasurer is elected by the Council and is responsible for
recording deposits and expenditures in the books. The Treasurer processes all
invoices for payment and allocates amounts to appropriate accounts, pays
employee’s salaries, files IRS Form 941 quarterly tax returns and provides a
monthly report to Council. A budget worksheet is prepared by the Treasurer in
the Fall for the Council, showing year-to-date figures compared to current
year’s budgeted amounts. Upon Council’s approval, the Treasurer provides a
proposed yearly budget and balance sheet in an annual report to the congregation
prior to the Annual Meeting.
Council
Members who are elected meet monthly to conduct
official business. Two Counters from
the Council count the offering each Sunday and one makes the deposit to the
bank. Each council member is a liaison person for one of the committees listed
below.
Worship
and Music
This committee
meets monthly and is responsible, along with the pastor, for planning worship
services. The flower coordinator and one or more Altar Guild representatives are
among its members. The Flower
Coordinator supervises the Flower Chart, makes announcements about flower
donation opportunities, and assures subsequent payment for flowers. The
committee is also responsible for hymn selection, worship supplies, the schedule
for Sunday servants (cantors, ushers, greeters and lectors), audio/visual
technician, and Power Point presentation preparer and operator.
Buildings
and Grounds
This committee is
responsible for the maintenance, repair, and improvement of all church property,
including grounds, buildings, and equipment. They arrange for the regular mowing
of the lawn, removal of snow, care of shrubs, trees, and flowers, and coordinate
special volunteer work days for painting, cleaning, etc. They regularly assess
property needs and make recommendations for major improvements. They arrange for
custodial service and supplies. Several individuals assume responsibility for
changing the message on the church sign, taking care of flowers in the
Fellowship
This group plans
for special events and activities throughout the year that are open to all
members. Events may center on food (lunch out, potlucks, progressive dinner) or
perhaps sporting events, game nights or theatrical offerings
Public
Relations
This group
maintains the website, which offers information about our regular Sunday
schedule. Also on the web are articles from monthly newsletters and postings
about special events. The group is also responsible for submitting newspaper
articles to the Courier News and Daily Herald.
Memorial
Committee
Members of this
committee inform the family of the deceased about funds given to the church by
groups/individuals and discuss with the family possible items to be bought with
memorial funds. They purchase items, and record such in the Memorial Book.
Stewardship
This
work area is responsible for the annual stewardship
emphasis as well as ongoing stewardship education during the year. It oversees
the work of the Financial Secretary. It orders stewardship materials including
all offering envelopes. It encourages the members to use their time, talents and
financial resources in support of the mission of the church and makes them aware
of opportunities for stewardship that exist within the church. It organizes any
special financial appeals for local or church-wide purposes, and recommends
allocation of funds for local and district ministries.
Evangelism
This group meets
offsite each month. Its purpose is
to provide leadership to the congregation in its witness to Jesus Christ and to
encourage every member to witness to their faith. This group sees that welcome
folders are prepared and offered to visitors, places brochures in area motels,
and plans events for which congregants are encouraged to invite others to
participate.
Christian
Education
This group gives
leadership to the educational and youth ministry so that opportunities for
learning and nurturing may be available to all members. For Youth, the Sunday
School program and Lutherdale Camp are the focus. For adults, periodic Bible
studies, visual presentations, or other adult-forum types of meetings are the
focus. The Church Librarian operates under the auspices of this committee.