LAY MINISTRIES AND SCHEDULE
 

A special privilege and responsibility and a fulfilling ministry.

At Calvary Episcopal Church, members of our worshipping community -- as families and individuals -- are invited and encouraged to participate in helping with the duties that accompany a worship service. Calvary is an active church which is proud to offer lay ministry opportunities in some 26 areas. Ministry chairs meet three-times-a-year with the Rector and Sr. Warden to share information and seek ways in which to collaborate.

The lay ministry opportunities include:

• Acolytes
  From a Greek word meaning, "to follow." Acolytes are lay volunteers who follow the Cross in the procession and recession and assist the priest in worship. An acolyte lights and sometimes carries candles, presenting and receiving the offering plates, and helps in the preparation of communion.
• Altar Guild
  Altar Guild members, who work behind the scenes, are responsible for setting up for communion services and changing the altar paraments according to the church season.
• Chalice Bearers
  Chalice Bearers assist in the administration of wine during communion.
• Calvary Kids Sunday Leaders
  Calvary Kids Sunday leaders provide lessons of scripture, prayers, and songs to the many preschool and early primary children who go to Children's Chapel for a service during the first part of the 10 a.m. worship service, They join the main worship service and their families at the time of the exchange of the Peace and participate in the Holy Eucharist.
• Choir
  Members of the Choir contribute to the heart of the worship service by provide musical accompaniment and affirmation during regular and special worship services.
  Counters
  Counters help count and prepare the offerings for bank deposit.
• Crucifiers
  Crucifiers carry the cross as they lead the processional and recessional at the opening and closing of the worship service.
• Lectors
  The word, "lector" comes from the Latin term for "reader" and it refers to a lay person who reads the Scriptural reading at services. Lay readers read the first two scripture lessons of the worship service.
• Outreach -- parishioners join together to make a difference in the community.
• Prayer Leaders
  Prayer Leaders lead congregants in the “Prayers of the People” during each worship service.
• Prayer Shawl Knitters -- Each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., members of this unique ministry gather in the parlor for fellowship while they knit prayer shawls to give to those who are ill, house bound, recuperating, and families who are welcoming home a newborn.
• Ushers
  Ushers are responsible for distributing bulletins and other special materials, welcoming newcomers and assisting people in finding a seat before the service begins. During the service, ushers count the attendance, conduct the collection of the offering, and assist with the flow of parishioners to the communion rail for the Eucharist. After the service, ushers stand by to collect and recycle bulletins, and to help straighten up the sanctuary.
• Vestry
  From the Latin word vestire, meaning to clothe, or to put on. Originally the word referred to the room where the priest would vest. In the early days the local lay leaders would gather with the priest as he vested to discuss the affairs of the parish. Later, the word came to refer to the leaders, instead of the room.

The vestry is the governing board of a local Episcopal parish consisting of the rector, the wardens, and lay members. In many parishes, the rectors, wardens and the treasurer form an executive committee, and will often meet separately from the whole vestry between vestry meetings.

Unlike some denominations, the Episcopal Church uses a representative form of government, instead of a pure democracy. The vestry is the group elected by the individual members to make the basic decisions about the church budget and manage the temporal affairs of the parish.

The Vestry meets once a month either immediately before or immediately following the 10 a.m. service, depending on the size of the agenda. Vestry meetings are open for all Church members to attend.

Interested in getting involved? Please email us with your name, telephone number, and area of interest. We’ll get back to you promptly.