Ushers and Greeters
Greeting and ushering are primary ministries of this church that powerfully incarnate our culture and values of hospitality, healing, and welcome.
On behalf of the congregation, ushers and greeters welcome each person--newcomers, visitors, and lifelong members alike--as if one is welcoming Christ himself, for this is our belief. Greeters and ushers communicate to each person who enters our buildings that here all people are equally precious, equally loved.
Usher (12 open spaces): 2 roles
Summary: Ushers graciously bear Christ's own peace and welcome to all who enter the church. In addition, ushers distribute bulletins, assist latecomers, count "heads," collect and present the congregation’s offerings, provide guidance and assistance during Communion, and secure the offering following the service. Service in this ministry is a source of great joy and fulfillment.
Serving: Ushers serve in different numbers at different services. At the 11:15 a.m. service, 5 teams of 6 ushers serve in a monthly rotation. At the 8 a.m. service, only one usher is needed each week. Some people serve exclusively as "available substitutes" rather than in the monthly rotation. One may serve at funerals independent of participation with a Sunday usher team. All new ushers receive individual training and may initially serve as an "available substitute" until the next seasonal schedule is created. Ushers arrive 30 minutes prior to their scheduled service time.
Funeral Usher (8 open spaces)
Summary: At funerals, ushers specially offer Christ's greeting to people in mourning, many of whom are visiting St. Stephen's for the first time. The duties resemble those of Sunday services with the exception of collecting offerings. All ushers receive the same training.
Serving: One may serve in the funeral usher role entirely independent of participation on the Sunday team rotation, though many ushers serve in both roles. Mary Feldman maintains a list of ushers who wish to be notified when ushers are needed for funerals. All funeral ushers are notified by email and may claim a role at the service by clicking a link in the email. Most funerals occur weekdays at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m., and services typically last one hour. Ushers arrive 45 minutes prior to the service time.
Greeter (25 open spaces) - 3 roles
Summary: Greeters, as described above, offer the peace and welcome of Christ to each person who enters St. Stephen's Church--visitors, newcomers, and lifelong members alike, demonstrating that here all are equally precious, equally loved. You may serve in one or more of the three greeting ministry roles:
Worship Greeters are positioned throughout the parish facility prior to and shorty after the start time of each service to greet and guide people to their destination, which may include the nursery, a restroom, formation class, etc.
Funeral Greeters serve in this same way as worship greeters but during weekday funerals, and like Funeral Ushers are notified when funerals are scheduled and may claim a role at the service by clicking a link in the email notification. Most funerals occur weekdays at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m., and services typically last one hour. Greeters arrive 45 minutes prior to the service time.
Event Greeters: At parish events other than worship, greeters welcome and speak with those who are unknown to them so that all present may know "that here all are equally precious, equally loved." Parish events include the reception following the 11:15 Sunday service, quarterly newcomer events, special concerts, etc.
Serving: All greeters participate in the same orientation session prior to serving and are welcome to serve in multiple greeting roles. Greeters should expect to serve about once a month for regularly occurring events. For special events, event greeters are notified by email and may claim a role at the event by clicking a link in the email. Funeral greeters follow a similar process as services are scheduled. New greeters may serve as an "available substitute" until the next seasonal schedule is created.
Chalice Bearer (6-10 open spaces)
Summary: Chalice bearers are attentive but not attention-seeking; they are physically steady, and they sit, stand, and serve with ease, awareness, and decorum, without drawing attention to themselves. Chalice bearers are Confirmed lay people who serve the sacramental wine from a chalice or intinction (dipping) cup during the administration of Holy Communion.
Serving: Ministers serve about twice a month. Ministry schedules are created three to four times a year and account for each individual's availability and preferences. Some chalice bearers make themselves available to serve at any Sunday Eucharist, others prefer to serve at only one or two particular services or Sundays of the month. Training sessions are offered several times a year and as needed for special liturgies. New participants may serve as an "available substitute" until the next seasonal schedule is created.
Reader/Intercessor (6 open spaces)
Summary: Readers and Intercessors possess the confidence and comfort to read with understanding, pace, and inflection without dramatization in front of a large crowd. The reader is a member of the congregation who reads the appointed Scripture lesson. The Intercessor leads the Prayers of the People and sometimes also serves as the Reader.
Serving: Readers and Intercessors serve Sundays about once a month at the 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., or 5:30 p.m. services. Ministry schedules are created three to four times a year and account for each individual's availability and service preferences. Training is required. New participants may serve as an "available substitute" until the next seasonal schedule is created.
An additional opportunity to serve in a related ministry is at weekday Morning Prayer, 8:10-8:40 a.m. (see below).
Subdeacon (3 open spaces)
Summary: The subdeacon role is very special; it represents the ministry of all baptized persons (the laity) alongside the ordained orders of priest and deacon at the altar during Holy Eucharist. The subdeacon helps the deacon prepare and clear the altar. During morning services, the subdeacon administers Communion to the choir and at the Celtic service refills chalices and patens during Communion. This role requires considerable preparation.
Serving: One subdeacon is needed at every Eucharistic service at St. Stephan's. Subdeacons typically serve one to two times each month. Training is required and new participants may serve as an "available substitute" until the next seasonal schedule is created.
Lay Eucharistic Visitor (5 open spaces)
Summary: The congregation commissions a Eucharistic visitor each Sunday to signify that our whole community shares Communion with those who receive the sacrament at home. The visitor takes Communion directly from the service to share with a parishioner and returns the used kit to the church office the following day.
Serving: Mary Feldman creates a schedule each month based upon parishioner needs. Training is provided.
Morning Prayer Reader/Officiant (6 open spaces); weekdays, 8-8:40 a.m.
Summary: Morning Prayer, a foundation of Anglican worship, is observed weekdays in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Readers also serve as chalice bearers for sharing Communion from the reserved sacrament. The Officiant role requires significant competence and confidence, and the ministry is open to all who demonstrate competence or wish to develop it. Morning Prayer is livestreamed and begins on page 80 in The Book of Common Prayer.
Serving: A ministry calendar is created each month. Ministers may serve as a reader or officiant several times a month based upon availability rather than a repeating pattern. Training is offered and new participants may serve as an "available substitute" until the next schedule is created.
Healing Prayer and Anointing (4 open spaces)
Summary: The ministry of healing prayer is a practice of healing touch and silent prayer during the Celtic service, making themselves available to pray with those who ask for healing prayer. This is a ministry of openness to the healing presence of God and to the needs of those seeking healing. Ministers also tend to votives during the candle lighting portion of the service, and offer healing prayer and anointing, standing, from the beginning of Communion through the end of the service, about 15 minutes.
Serving: Those who sense a call to this ministry are invited to meet with a member of the clergy. Those whose calling is perceptible enter a discernment process administered by the ministry's co-leaders after which one may be invited to join one of the four healing prayer and anointing teams. Each team serves once a month.
Celtic Reflector: all are invited to share a story
Summary: "We want to know something about your experience of God."
Most Sunday evenings at the Celtic service people from the congregation offer a story about their personal experience with God. Reflectors follow a set of guidelines and work with a member of the clergy, especially when crafting their first reflection. All people have a story to share. When you feel called to do so or to wonder about a potential idea, please submit your interest using this form.
Serve: Crafting a reflection is an act of prayer that takes time. Reflectors offer one to two reflections a year. The schedule is drafted several times a year and reflectors are invited to choose from a list of available dates.