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Worship Assistants & Volunteers

Member volunteers play a big role in the life of St. John's. Volunteers serve as ushers, greeters, acolytes, lectors, crucifers, bellringers, council members, Sunday morning nursery staff, cantors, altar guild etc. God has given all of us special talents and gifts, and this is one way to give some of our many blessings back to God. If you're hesitant to volunteer because you're unsure of how to perform these duties, we would be more that happy to teach you! Please make every effort to find a substitute if you are unable to serve when scheduled, and please inform the church office of the change. For questions regarding the worship assistant schedule, please contact Shirley Nase or Darlene Repholz.

GREETER

Greeters warmly welcome worshippers at each entrance as they arrive. Hospitality is very important in God's house. Greeters shake hands and distribute the bulletins as people enter. They help visitors by making them feel welcome and by pointing the way to the sanctuary, nursery, and restrooms. Greeters should arrive 20 minutes before the worship service is scheduled to begin. Gifts needed to serve as a greeter include, love of God and neighbor, good communication skills, and a heart for hospitality. Greeters may indicate which worship service - informal or traditional - they regularly attend. To serve as a greeter or for more information, please contact Sue Crouthamel or Shirley Nase.

TINTINNABULATOR (BELL RINGER)

Bell Ringers enhance worship by ringing the steeple bell at appropriate times before and during worship. The bell is rung to call the community to worship, during The Lord's Prayer and at other times during the worship service. Bell ringers practice ringing both the regular church bell and the tolling bell to become familiar with their operation and also may be asked to train new bell ringers as needed. Gifts needed to be a bell ringer include, love of God, reverence for our place of worship, and strength to pull on the rope. The time involved in serving as a bell ringer is one worship service about every two months on a rotating basis, and those available may also be called on for funerals. Bell ringers may indicate which worship service - informal or traditional - they regularly attend. To serve as a bell ringer or for more information, please contact Sue Crouthamel or Shirley Nase.

ACOLYTE

Acolytes enhance worship by lighting and extinguishing the candles in the sanctuary at the beginning and end of worship following a liturgical pattern. Acolytes also assist the pastor with the offering. Gifts needed to be an acolyte include, love of God, reverence for our place of worship, and a steady hand to safely light the candles. The time involved in serving as an acolyte is one worship service about every one-two months on a rotating basis. Acolytes may be of any age, although it is often a role that our youth, 3rd grade and older volunteer to do. Training is provided, and acolytes may indicate at which worship service they choose to serve. To serve as an acolyte or for more information, please contact Vicki Dixon.

Click here for Acolyte Handbook (pdf).

CRUCIFER

Crucifers enhance worship by carrying the cross into the sanctuary at the beginning and end of worship according to liturgical practice. Gifts needed to be a crucifer include, love of God, reverence for our place of worship, and strength and stability to carry the weight of the large cross. The time involved in serving as a crucifer is one worship service every one-two months on a rotating basis. Crucifers may be of any age, although often it is a youth volunteer for the Traditional Worship services. Training is provided. To serve as a crucifer or for more information, please contact Vicki Dixon.

Click here for Crucifer Handbook (page 4 of Acoltyte Handbook)(pdf).

LECTOR

Lectors proclaim the Word of God by reading the lessons during worship and sometimes the Psalm. The first lesson is taken from the Old Testament, and the second lesson is taken from the letters in the New Testament. Gifts needed to be a lector include, love of God, reverence for our place of worship, a desire to proclaim God's Word, and the ability to read aloud audibly. The lector usually begins the reading by saying, "The first/second lesson is taken from the Book of ____, chapter ___, beginning with the ___ verse." The readings are ended by saying, "The Word of the Lord or Holy Wisdom, Holy Words." The time involved in serving as a lector is one worship service about every one-two months on a rotating basis. Readings, which follow the lectionary, are mailed or emailed from the church office ahead of time for the lector to read and to become familiar with prior to worship. Lectors may indicate which worship service - informal or traditional - they regularly attend. To serve as a lector or for m ore information, please contact Sue Crouthamel or Shirley Nase.

USHER

Ushers provide hospitality and enhance worship. Ushers are available just before the beginning of the service to seek out and welcome visitors and help them to locate the sanctuary, nursery, and restrooms, etc. During worship, just before the offering is received, ushers gather at the back of the sanctuary and then come forward together to receive the offering plates from the pastor/acolyte. Following a set pattern, the ushers pass the plates through the congregation, meeting again at the back of the sanctuary. During the offering, music is sung by the choir or played by the organist or praise band. The ushers then come forward along with the communion assistants to bring the congregations tithes and offerings to the pastor to be blessed at the altar. The ushers also direct the congregation, in a set pattern, to come forward to receive communion. Gifts needed to be an usher include, love of God, reverence for our place of worship, a heart for hospitality, and the ability to support the orderly flow of worship. The time involved in serving as an usher is one worship service about every one-two months on a rotating basis. Ushers may indicate which worship service - informal or traditional - they regularly attend. To serve as an usher or for more information, please contact Sue Crouthamel or Shirley Nase.

COMMUNION ASSISTANTS

Communion assistants, usually three, participate in the distribution of the sacrament of Holy Communion. During the offertory, two communion assistants bring the elements (bread & wine) forward to the pastor. The pastor distributes the bread and blesses the children. One of the assistants pours the wine, saying, The blood of Christ shed for you to each communicant. Two assistants (adult or youth) hold the trays for communion glassesone for clean and one for used. After communion has been distributed to the congregation, the assistants are communed by the pastor, and then the pouring assistant communes the pastor. Gifts needed to be communion assistants include love of God, reverence for our place of worship, a steady hand to pour the wine, and the ability to support the orderly flow of worship. The time involved in serving as a communion assistant is one worship service about every one-two months on a rotating basis. Communion assistants may indicate which worship service - informal or traditional - th ey regularly attend. To serve as a communion assistant or for more information, please contact the church office.

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP HOST/ESS

The coffee fellowship host/ess team provides a welcoming time of fellowship immediately following each Sunday worship service. The team sets-up and cleans-up the coffee/hot water and provide snacks, such as doughnuts, coffee cake, cookies, etc. The snack be may purchased or baked (reimbursement is available), and all other supplies are provided by the coordinators. Gifts needed to serve on a coffee fellowship host/ess team include, love of God, love of neighbor, and a heart for hospitality. Our coffee fellowship time is hosted by five teams that rotate coverage during the year, from Rally Day through May, so the time involved in serving is once every five weeks before and after each worship service, or as arranged with your team member. (Coffee Fellowship time during the summer is run on a volunteer basis to give the regular host/ess teams a break). To serve on a coffee fellowship team or for more information, please contact Roy or Carolyn Hafler, coordinators.

Click here for Coffee Fellowship Teams (pdf).

TELLER

Tellers provide support for congregational stewardship by counting the offering received each week, accurately preparing the bank deposits, and recording important information such as special contributions and attendance. The tellers provide financial documentation for the week's offerings to assist the financial secretary's record keeping. Gifts needed to be a teller include love of God, a heart for stewardship, accurate mathematical skills, and a willingness to work as a team member. The time involved in serving on a teller team is one Sunday about every one-two months on a rotating basis. This position is for members only. Training is provided, and usually council members serve as tellers. To serve on a teller team or for more information, please contact Sue Crouthamel or Shirley Nase.

Click here for a list of teller teams (pdf).

ALTAR GUILD ASSSISTANTS

Altar guild members ensure that all items needed for worship are ready. Altar guild prepares the sanctuary and altar for each liturgical season as well as sets up and cleans up for communion. For proper altar care, assistants follow the liturgical calendar for appropriate colors and items needed for worship, consulting with the pastor as necessary. They also arrange for the repair and cleaning of worship items as needed and inventory all worship items at St. John's. Assistants (after they have been trained) may be asked to help train new altar guild volunteers. Gifts needed to serve as an altar guild assistant include, love of God, reverence for our place of worship, and the ability to care for silver, brass, silk and linen items. The time involved in serving on an altar guild team is one month per year and/or on a substitute basis; before and after each worship service, or as arranged with your team members. To serve on an altar guild team or for more information, please contact Shirley Shirk.

Click here for a list of altar guild members (pdf).

COMMUNION BREAD BAKERS

Communion bread bakers prepare the bread, one of the earthly elements for the sacrament of Holy Communion. Gifts needed to be a communion bread baker include, love of God, reverence for the sacrament, and baking skills. The time involved in serving as a communion bread baker is two months per year. For each month, about 3 batches are needed. Bakers make the bread twice a month so it is fresh. It takes approximately 45 minutes to prepare and bake 1 to 2 batches. To serve as a communion bread baker or for more information, please contact Bonnie Schirk.

Click here for a list of Communion Bread bakers (pdf).

Click here for the Communion Bread recipe (this is the original recipe, some of our bakers have added their own little tweaks).