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| Parish Life |
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) |
The Episcopal Church Women is a diverse group with a common goal to serve the ministry of Christ. Any woman who is a member of the Episcopal Church automatically belongs to ECW; no special criteria are required and the extent to which each woman is involved in ECW activities is dependent only on her individual interest and availability.
Within St. John’s, ECW shares in worship, prayer, and fellowship as well as assisting with receptions following baptisms and funerals and organizing/hosting fundraising events to sponsor ChurchNet, Joy of Christmas, and other worthy causes. Outside of St. John’s, we periodically volunteer at various local concerns such as The Shepherd’s Table (a soup kitchen based at Church of the Good Shepherd) and the Helen Wright Center for Women.
ECW typically meets the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the parish hall. Please join us or contact Carolyn Stoklas at 554-1673 or cstoklas1@nc.rr.com for additional information.
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Episcopal Youth Community
(EYC) |
The Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) is a wonderful and vibrant community made up of youth from either 5th-8th grade (Junior EYC) or 9th-12th grade (Senior EYC).
EYC provides 5th-12 graders with opportunities for fun, fellowship and formation in a Christian environment. Programs vary from church based activities to field trips/outings to community service events/fundraisers.
For additional information please contact the following:
Jr. EYC (5th – 8th grade): Daniel and Jane Cheek, 556-9270 or StJohnsJrEYC@gmail.com. For a schedule of events, please go to: www.stjohnsjreyc.blogspot.com)
Sr. EYC (9th – 12th grade): Please call (919) 556-3656 for more information. |
Care Committee |
The Care Committee provides "in-reach" support for members of the congregation. Whether there is a need for food, comfort, or time, we try to meet it. There are many ways to contribute:
- Become a Lay Eucharistic Visitor, taking Eucharist to those who are unable to attend regular worship.
- Become a Lay Pastoral visitor, helping the rector provide a ministry of presence (not counseling) to those who need a listening ear and comfort.
- Sign up to provide a meal, a ride, run errands, or otherwise provide a helping hand as needed.
If you would like to be a part of this caring ministry, or know someone who needs our help, please contact Sloan Walkup at 556-1657 or skesler35@yahoo.com. |
| Worship Ministries |
Choir |
St. John’s choir, led by organist/Music Director Allen Bean, beautifully and adeptly sings hymns from both the 1982 traditional hymnal and the Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS) more modern hymnal. The choir shares its gifts between September and June on Sunday mornings at the 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist service and rehearses Wednesday evenings 7:30-9:00. An audition is not required, just a love of music and a strong desire to lift up your voice and sing!
Contact: Allen Bean, Music Director, or the church office at (919) 556-3656 |
Greeters |
| Greeters help everyone who comes to worship with us feel welcome. These volunteers greet one and all at the front doors of the church before each service and assist newcomers with questions. Serving as a greeter is an important and satisfying ministry as it provides an inviting setting, helps visitors feel comfortable, and provides parishioners with the opportunity to share fellowship with each churchgoer. Please contact the church office if you would like to be added to the greeters’ schedule. |
Ushers |
Ushers are needed to welcome parishioners and visitors, distribute bulletins, and ensure that the worship service runs smoothly.
During the liturgy, ushers perform the following duties:
- Provide directions and answer questions for newcomers as needed
- Notify the Sunday school teachers when they should bring children in for communion
- Collect the congregation's offering and bear the alms to the altar
- Prepare the kneelers for communion and direct communicants to places at the altar rail
- Maintain an attendance tally for parochial reports
Before and after the service, ushers are responsible for:
- Ensuring that bulletins and special inserts are available and distributed
- Ensuring that the pew racks have hymnals and prayerbooks
- Keeping the pews as tidy and inviting as possible
If you would like additional information or wish to be added to the Ushers schedule, please contact the church office. |
Lectors/Lay Readers |
| Lectors deliver the Old Testament reading, Epistle passage, and Psalm during the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday worship services. This ministry is open to parishioners of all ages (our current range is 9-89) and readers are scheduled approximately once every six weeks. For additional information or to be added to the Lectors schedule, please contact the church office. |
Chalicer Bearers/Lay Eucharistic Ministers |
| Parishioners can be trained and licensed by the bishop to assist the clergy during Eucharist services in administering the consecrated elements. Chalice bearers bestow the wine during communion at church while Lay Eucharistic Ministers provide the elements to homebound and/or hospitalized communicants. The infirm often feel estranged from the life of the church; visits from Lay Eucharistic Ministers remind them that they are part of a caring parish family while also providing symbolic confirmation of God’s love and presence. |
Altar/Flower Guild |
Volunteers in these “behind the scenes” ministries make all necessary preparations for services, including flowers, hangings, candles, vestments, linens, the sacred vessels, service books, and the bread and wine for communion. The Flower Guild designs floral arrangements, most especially the centerpiece for the altar, and maintains the cutting garden. The Altar Guild sees to the other provisions, generally working in pairs.
For more information about the Altar Guild, contact Jenny Brewer at 556-2738.
For more information about the Flower Guild, contact Shirley Matheny at 556-4766 or the2mathenys@embarqmail.com |
Acolytes |
St. John’s 4th-12th graders are encouraged to consider this important ministry as it provides them leadership in worship and is often their first mature, consistent commitment to service in the name of God. Acolytes light and extinguish the candles at the altar, serve as crucifers and/or torch bearers during the processional and recessional, and assist with preparations for the Holy Eucharist. St. John’s acolytes serve in teams of three and are called to duty about once a month. Acolyte training is provided periodically throughout the year and experienced acolytes are more than happy to assist novices as needed. Most of our acolytes spend time together in Sunday School classes and/or Youth Group gatherings so this is yet another opportunity for them to enjoy fellowship with their peers in a Christian environment.
For more information, please contact Ken Christie at 556-7164 or Elizabeth McDuffie at 556-6963. |
Hospitality |
St. John’s parishioners enjoy a longstanding tradition of gathering for coffee and conversation in the Parish Hall following the 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship service. These get-togethers are an excellent opportunity for fellowship, planning, constructive debate and getting acquainted with visitors and newcomers. Volunteers for this ministry help create an environment of welcome, ensuring that hot coffee, a light snack (cookies or muffins provided by the church) and paper products are readily available as churchgoers enter the Parish Hall. Before leaving St. John’s, the Hospitality team makes certain there is no litter in the Parish Hall and any serving pieces used are loaded into the dishwasher.
For additional information or to be added to the Hospitality volunteer schedule, please contact the church office. You may also feel free to choose a date and sign up on the form available in the Parish Hall. |
Stewardship |
The Stewardship Program at St. John’s encourages parishioners to acknowledge the many gifts granted to them by God by offering them the opportunity to give back to our parish and community through gifts of time, talent and treasure.
“May we put our treasure in God, the One who has redeemed us and calls us to live a life of gift and grace.”
-Reverend Ginny Inman
Our parish and our community benefit immensely from the generosity of contributors both past and present. Without their faithful support we would not enjoy our current grounds, nor would we be home to a thriving preschool. We bear tangible fruit of what strong stewardship makes possible and we have great ambition for what we can accomplish in the future, but our goals can only be realized through the continued support of our congregation. The Vestry is committed to making wise use of St. John’s resources and truly appreciates your financial gifts.
“…Freely you have received, freely give.”
-Matthew 10:8
Commonly Asked Annual Pledge Questions
Senior Warden's Letter regarding the Annual Pledge
2010 Printable Pledge Card
St. John’s Auto Debit Form
For additional information please contact Abby Presson, Stewardship Liaison, at 554-1817 or presson@nc.rr.com |
| Current Ministry Assignments |
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