Welcome! On the following pages, you may learn about all the minsitries that relate to to the worship life of the parish, and you also may indicate your interest in being contacted about next steps to participate in one or more minsitries by submitting this form.

Litrugical minsitries are organized into three areas:

 

• Litrugical Guilds: Altar, Flower, Needlepoint, Icon Writing, Celtic-Compline, Votives, Wedding

• Liturgical Roles: for youth, for children; Ambassador, Greeter, Usher; Chalice Bearer, Reader-Intercessor; Subdeacon, Verger, Healing Prayer

• Music Ministry: St. Stephen's Choir, Hymn Choir, Choristers, Handbell Choir

Questions & Answers

What time commitment is expected? Ministries have differently structured schedules, but in general we ask that you begin with the intention of serving one full year so that you have ample time to develop new skills and build relationships.

Do I need prior experience? No. Each ministry provides "onboarding" or training. Some music ministries do have minimum skill requirements, and most liturgical ministries involve stairs or administering sacred vessels like chalices.

How do I join a ministry? On each page that follows, you may indicate your interest in one or more ministries. The final page collects your contact information. Remember to click SUBMIT at the end of the final page. In the week that follows, you will be contacted about next steps.

The members of guilds work behind the scenes, yet their ministries touch and enliven every aspect of worship and devotional life at St. Stephen's. Guild members maintain and prepare everything needed in our unique forms of sacred worship, and they exercise creativity and devotion in handling sacred objects for divine service. This is especially true during high holy days and seasons but extends also to other pastoral liturgies such as weddings and funerals, and to sacred crafts like icon writing and needlepoint.

1. Altar
2. Flower
3. Needlepoint
4. Icon Writing
5. Celtic-Compline
6. Votives
7. Wedding

Detailed descriptions of the roles and minsitries are found further down this page.

 

Ministry Descriptions 

 

Altar, Flower, Needlepoint

Click here to learn more about the Altar, Flower, or Needlepoint guilds.

 

 

Icon Writing

Icon Guild members practice the ancient Christian art of iconography and are interested the history and beauty of religious icons and their importance in the worship experience, as well as the personal creation of icons. 
 
The guild is open to all who already basic experience in "writing icons", that is, the methods and contextual understanding about  iconographic art. Further formal artistic training or education is not required. Many members began developing their skills at the Icon Workshop offered each summer at St. Stephen’s. That workshop is taught by an out-of-state professional iconographer.

Two icon groups meet weekly on different days at St. Stephen’s. These are practice groups, so teaching for beginners is not offered, although members share valuable help with one another. The groups work on an icon of mutual choosing and meet weekly throughout the church year.
 
 

 

Labyrinth

The Labyrinth Guild is an energized community of individuals dedicated to fostering spiritual growth, community, and connection through the contamplative practice of labyrinth walking. The Guild provides educational opportunities such as classes throughout the year about the symbolism, history, and practices of labyrinth walking, as well as opportunities to walk St. Stephen's canvas labyrinth about once a month.

Serving: Guild members share set-up, tending, and packing-up the labyrinth when offered, often the third Sunday of the month. Members gather for occassional fellowship and planning meetings. New members are asked to serve one year.

 

 

Celtic and Compline

Members collaboratively create the awe inspiring visualscapes that, alongside the music, offer an open window into the sacred at the Celtic and Compline evening services.

Summary: Members creatively arrange candles, plants, and votives throughout the church prior to the Celtic and Compline Services. Some members serve as ushers throughout the Celtic service. The ministry is open to all.

Serving: There are four teams. Each team has a leader, and each team serves the same Sunday each month. Team members can substitute or swap as needed. A mix of team members and leaders serve when there is a 5th Sunday. Beginning fall 2025, the ministry will have two parts: 

• Celtic set-up (45 minutes); 4:15pm to 5:00; 4 to 5 members; set-up for the Celtic service. Involves standing, walking, carrying light loads, careful positioning of small items, lighting and extinguishing candles, minimal stairs.

• Compline set-up (up to 30 minutes); 6:35-6:55; 3 to 4 members;  at the conclusion of the Celtic service, about 6:35, this team goes to work, extinguishing and swapping candles and votives to shift to the compline set-up pattern. 

The new configuration of teams will continue serving in a rotating pattern, the same Sunday each month.

 

Votives

At Sunday worship services and throughout the week, people light votive candles as a sign of their prayers. This ministry keeps the 8 votive racks ready for devotional use.

Summary: An extension of the Celtic and Compline Guild, this small team tends to the votive racks, refreshing them weekly. The church uses disposable votives, so refreshing the racks is a simple job requiring about 30 minutes (standing). Onboarding is provided. The votive racks and replacement candles are all stored within the church.
 
Serving: This work is performed by one person a week, and the timing is flexible, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

 

Wedding

Summary: This guild provides gracious leadership, expert organization, and support for the wedding parties and for the clergy at the rehearsal and liturgy. Some guild members serve in a leadership role when there is a wedding, others prefer serving in an assisting role. This is a very special ministry of committed parishioners who enjoy assisting at weddings.

Serving: Weddings take place throughout the year except during Advent, Christmas, and Lent. Rehearsals are typically held between 4 and 5 p.m. on Friday. Ceremonies are generally held Saturday at 5 p.m. Guild members self-determine when and how frequently they will serve.

 

Liturgical ministers offer God the precious gifts of their attention, intention, and presence so the liturgy may function with grace and dignity.

 

• Liturgical roles for children in Palmer Hall Chapel, click here
• Liturgical roles for youth, click here

 

Scroll down for information about the following roles:

• Ambassadors, Greeters, Ushers
• Chalice Bearers
• Readers and Intercessors
• Subdeacons
• Vergers
• Healing Prayer/Anointing (Celtic service)
• Reflector (Celtic service)
• Morning Prayer

Ministry Descriptions

 

Hospitaltiy Minsitries: Ambasadors, Greeters, and Ushers

On behalf of the congregation, greeters and ushers welcome each person--newcomers, visitors, and lifelong friends and members alike--as if one is welcoming Christ himself, for this is our belief. Greeters and ushers communicate to everyone gathering for worship that in this community, all people are equally precious, equally loved. Ambassadors share bear the gift of hospitality at receptions following worship or special events.

Usher 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: At the 11:15 a.m. service, 5 teams of 6 ushers serve in a monthly rotation, serving the same Sunday each month. At the 8 a.m. service, only one usher is needed each week. Some people serve exclusively as "available substitutes" to fill in as needed. Some also choose to serve at funerals, some only at funerals. All new ushers receive individual training. Ushers arrive 30 minutes prior to their scheduled service time.

 

Ambassador Summary: Ambassadors attend the receptions immediately following worship services and special events. They scan the crowd and initiate “welcoming and connecting conversations” with those who appear not to be engaged with others. More than authentic welcoming, this includes active listening and providing appropriate guidance to help all people find connection and community. These topics are addressed at onboarding sessions offered throughout the year.

Serving: Ambassadors serve once or twice a month, according to their service preferences and availability. Sunday receptions last between 10 and 30 minutes and are held in the fellowship hall or outdoors, or at Palmer Hall Chapel following that service.

Another opportunity to serve in this role is at the Farmers Market on the next-to-last-Saturday of each month. Onboarding is provided several times a year for new Ambassadors. Each Ambassador selects the event(s) at which they wish to be scheduled in accordance with their service preferences and availability:

• Farmers Market, one shift (8-10AM or 10AM-noon), next-to-last Saturday each month
• Sunday, following 9 a.m. Palmer Hall Chapel liturgy
• Sunday, following 11:15 a.m. liturgy
• Sunday, at the community supper, following 5:30 p.m. liturgy
• Special event receptions, up to an hour
   

Greeter Summary: Greeters are the first to welcome or assist those gathering for worship each Sunday. Greeters are knowledgeable about church events and prepared to provide guidance so anyone can find their way to the nave, the nursery, the fellowship hall, to classrooms, restrooms, etc.

Serving: Greeters serve immediately before worship services, once or twice a month, depending upon their service preferences and availability. They stand at assigned locations throughout the campus, 20 minutes prior and 10 minutes following the start time for most worship service. New Greeters attend an onboarding session offered several times throughout the year. Some Greeters who have more scheduling flexibility serve at weekday funerals. Some Greeters serve only at holiday services (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Holy Week and Easter) when extra greeters are needed.

Sundays:

9AM services, 8:40 to 9:10
11:15AM service, 10:55 to 11:25
5:30PM service, 5:10 to 5:40
Summer schedule:

10AM service, 9:40 to 10:10
5:30PM service, 5:10 to 5:40

 

 

Chalice Bearer

Summary: Chalice bearers administer the sacrament of wine at Eucharistic services, either by chalice or intinction cup. They are physically steady, and will sit, stand, and move with ease, awareness, and decorum. Chalice bearers must be Confirmed members of The Episcopal Church.

Serving: Ministers serve about twice a month. Ministry schedules are created three times a year and account for everybody's stated 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 and Intercessor

Summary: Readers and Intercessors publicly read the Scriptures and the Prayers of the People in Eucharistic liturgies. They possess the confidence and comfort to read with understanding, pace, and inflection without dramatization in front of a large crowd.

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. Ministers are schedule in either role in accordance with their stated service preferences and availability. Ministry schedules are created three times. Training is required and offered periodically.

 

Subdeacon

Summary: The subdeacon role is very special; it represents the ministry of all baptized persons alongside the ordained orders--bishop, priest, and deacon--at the altar in Eucharistic services. The subdeacon assists the deacon preparing and clearing the altar. During morning services, the subdeacon administers communion to the choir. At the Celtic service, the subdeacon refills chalices and patens throughout administration of communion. This role requires considerable preparation.

Serving: One subdeacon is needed at every Eucharistic service. Subdeacons typically serve one to two times each month. Training is required and offered as needed throughout the year. Liturgical schedules are created three times a year that account for other ministries, service preferences, and scheduling availability.

 

 

  

Healing Minsitries: Prayer and Anointing

Summary: The ministry of healing prayer is a practice of healing touch and silent prayer during the Celtic service. Ministers make themselves available to pray with those who request healing prayer. This is a ministry of openness to the healing presence of God and to the needs of those seeking healing. Anointing ministers serve in a related function but stand outside the altar rail to anoint the palms of all who  request this, 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. 

 

 

Morning Prayer Reader/Officiant

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.

 

 

 

 

 

St. Stephen's Church extends a welcome to all, and the broad spectrum of music offered at St. Stephen's seeks to reflect this welcome.

We highly value congregational singing, and offer choirs for people of all ages and varied levels of time commitment.

Instrumental music offered by local professionals is a vital element of our service of Celtic Evensong. We also extend an invitation to young people who are studying an instrument to offer their gifts during services in Palmer Hall.

Lastly, our handbell choir is a wonderful musical opportunity for those who enjoy ensemble music-making. Those interested in any of our choirs will receive a response from a member of our music staff.

• St. Stephen's Choir - sings Sunday morning services; weekly Thursday evening rehearsals
• Hymn Choir - open to all; sings one Sunday morning service about once per month
• Choristers - younger children and youth, click here for information and enrollment
• Sanctuary (Compline choir)
• Handbell Choir - rings several times fall and spring

Information about music ministries listed here on our website

 

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