Worship is the beating heart of our community.
Every ministry of our church is nourished by our coming together every Sunday to remember and celebrate God’s love through song, scripture, and prayer. SO MANY different teams work together to help to make our Sundays possible.
If you’re interested in being part of any of these ministries, please email us at our Contact Form.
Acolytes & Lay Eucharistic Ministers
In the Episcopal Church, acolytes serve as essential partners in worship, handling various responsibilities that enhance our liturgical experience. During a typical Sunday service, you might see acolytes carrying processional items (the cross or candles) during the entrance and recessional. They also assist at the altar during the Eucharist, help set the table for Holy Communion, and support clergy with things they might need.
A eucharistic minister administers the chalice at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Most of our acolytes are also licensed Eucharistic Ministers, though we also have Eucharistic Ministers not serving as acolytes who come up during Holy Communion to serve the chalice.
Altar Guild
Liturgy begins and ends with the work of the Altar Guild. Their ministry is to care for the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens of the church. They prepare the sanctuary for services, and clean up afterwards. The Altar Guild is responsible for tasks such as:
- Preparing the altar
- Laying out the vestments and vessels for worship
- Setting the credence table with the elements (bread and wine) to be administered during communion
- Arranging the flowers for weekly Sunday worship, Christmas, Easter and special events
- Laundering and ironing altar and worship linens, polishing brass and silver, filling candles, and various other tasks
- Ensuring the altar is dressed in the proper color of the day
Bread Making
Given the centrality of the Eucharist as an act of community, St. Luke’s believes it is important to ensure that we mean what we say when we say that all are welcome at Christ’s table. So a team of people bake homemade gluten-free, allergy-friendly bread for our weekly Eucharist in order to accommodate those with a variety of dietary sensitivities.
Grushers (Greeters/Ushers)
Grushers greet and welcome people to worship services, distribute worship supplies (bulletins, worship booklets, and occasionally hymnals, Books of Common Prayer, and other items), deliver the communion elements, take the offering, and direct worshippers during communion.
Grushers work in teams of two (couples welcome!) and the commitment is usually once every 4-6 weeks (less often if we have more people!). Full training is provided! Kids can also join this ministry (with parent/guardian supervision).
Lectors (or Readers)
A lector’s primary function during worship is to proclaim God’s Word to God’s people so that, strengthened by the words of Holy Scripture, they might come to a deeper love of God and a fuller Christian life.
Lectors read the Hebrew Bible and New Testament lessons every Sunday and sometimes lead the Psalm and Prayers of the People.
Music
Every Sunday, we sing together accompanied by piano, acoustic guitars, and bass. Sometimes we are joined by a cello or a glockenspiel. You will hear traditional hymns, some contemplative chants, and songs composed by our own musicians. We also gather interested voices from time to time to sing in the Pop-Up Choir. Vocalists and instrumentalists from the parish are welcome to share their gifts during the offertory.
If you find joy in making music and would like to help out with this ministry (children are welcome), please reach out to Kathy Douglass, our Music Minister. You’ll find her at the piano every Sunday.