Worship Ministries

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild is a volunteer group of men and women who devote themselves to caring for the sanctuary and its appointments at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. These appointments include the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens of the parish. Altar Guild members prepare the sanctuary for services and clean up afterwards. Altar Guild members frequently supervise the decoration of the sanctuary of the parish with flowers. Many times parishioners give the flowers in honor or memory of a family member or loved one. New members to the Altar Guild are always welcome. If you are interested in serving on the Altar Guild, please contact Marcia Deacon.

Lectors and Lay Eucharistic Ministers

Lectors: The public reading of the Holy Scriptures has been a central feature of Christian worship since the earliest days, and has its origin in the synagogue worship of Israel. Typically there are four Bible readings during the service, two from the Olt Testament (one of which is a Psalm) and two from the New Testament (one of which is from the Gospels and is ready by our Priest). Lectors, which simply means “readers,” are members of our congregation who have expressed an interest in deepening their experience of worship, and in particular, their appreciation of wisdom, poetry, and power of the Holy scriptures. Contact Marilyn Jones for more information.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs) assist the celebrant at the altar during liturgies. They are lay people licensed by the bishop to administer the consecrated elements of the Eucharist. Marilyn Jones coordinates this ministry. In addition, some members of the congregation are also licensed as Lay Eucharistic Visitors to take the consecrated bread to members of our community who are unable to attend worship for various reasons. If you’re interested in this ministry, contact Marilyn Jones.

Ushers and Oblationers

An usher is a lay person who greets and assists people as they enter the church. Ushers may hand out service bulletins, answer questions of visitors and newcomers, assist parishioners in finding a seat, count the number of people in the congregation, collect offering at the offertory, assist parishioners during the administration of communion, clean the pews and church building after the service, and, in general, assure the service proceeds smoothly. During the Sunday offertory, oblationers bring to the altar the people’s offerings of bread and wine, as well as financial gifts and food that is collected for the 4Saints Food Pantry, AIDS Outreach Nutrition Program and I Can Still Shine Women’s Shelter. For more information on becoming an usher, please contact Mark Daly.