Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. — 1 Corinthians 12.4-7
An altar attendant in public worship, a server. At St. John's our acolytes are 5th through 12th graders and serve at the 10 am Sunday service.
The purpose of the Altar Guild is to assist the clergy by providing for furnishings and decorations for all services and by caring for the vestments, linens and vessels used in these services. Meetings are held the second Monday of each month, September through June, at 7 p.m. in the parish hall.
Choir director Tom Morgan leads children in song on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 6:00 p.m. Choristers provides an opportunity for instruction on music of the church and singing in a group. Children from kindergarten through fifth grade are welcome.
At St. John's we have a dedicated group of fifteen ministers trained and licensed by the diocese who go out weekly after Sunday services of Holy Eucharist to take Christ's body and blood to those unable to be with us due to illness or infirmity. An EM comments, ‘We go to them to bring to us.' If you would a visit from a St. John's Eucharistic minister or more information about home communion, contact this Eucharistic minister.
Ushers at St. John's greet parishioners and newcomers as they come into church, hand out bulletins and offer hospitality. Ushers help with seating, directing people to communion and assisting those present as needed.
St. John's has a Verger Guild, reporting to the clergy, that helps to oversee worship and certain other functions of the church.
What is a verger? The Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church defines a verger as - “a committed lay minister within the Church who assists the clergy in the conduct of public worship, especially in the marshalling of processions.” The office is derived from a very old ministry in the medieval and early modern Church, especially in England. Various specific duties were carried out by vergers at various times.”
Why does St. John’s need such an office? With a large congregation (1400) having a service participation at more than 300 souls, with 10 plus visitors a week and, with the clergy, choir, liturgical servers, and acolytes in the service numbering about 40: the coordination of the service is beyond the ability of the clergy to handle and still remain focused on the most important task of all, the liturgy. Therefore the Verger Guild was formed at St. John’s in 2005. The guild, under the review of the deacon and associate rector, has responsibility for planning out the physical liturgy. The vergers ensure that the church is ready for the service, for seeing that the liturgical participants have what is necessary and are prepared to perform their functions. Beyond the service, ceremonial tasks (the processions and guiding service participants from the congregation to their stations), the verger is responsible for the safety and comfort of the congregation, providing tours for visitors and securing the property after the services. The Vergers are recognizable from the other service participants by the dark vestments and their lack of presence during the service unless needed.
