Lay Ministries

Episcopal Church Women

• Sherry Walsh, President
• Ann Bellais, Vice-President Emeritus
• Amy Daniel, Acting Vice-President
• Mary Lee Summerville, Secretary
• Megan Sensenich, Treasurer

Its fund raising activities fund a college scholarship every year, various local mission efforts and the maintenance of the parish hall kitchen. Our Altar Guild functions under its umbrella.

The Order of the Daughters of the King, John Waterman Chapter #45

• Rosina Harter, President
• Karen White, Vice-President
• Mary Lee Summerville, Treasurer

Unlike many church organizations which emphasize service and socializing, the Order emphasizes prayer and spiritual/intellectual growth. The Chapter holds quarterly meetings each year. The Order does not engage in fund raising activities. Members are involved in all aspects of work in the parish: Episcopal Church Women, Altar Guild, Lay Ministry, Sunday School, Greeter Duty, Lay Reading, Vestry, and other activities. Members are as active in service as each can be.

The Order of the Daughters of the King is a spiritual, praying order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church or churches in communion with the Episcopal Church and churches who are in the historic episcopate. These are the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church. The Order is a Religious Order with chapters throughout the United States and around the World. There are about 18,000 Daughters in the United States. Its headquarters are in Woodstock, Georgia.

The Order’s mission is to spread God’s Word. Daughters, through prayer and service, encourage themselves and each other, to a deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

As members, daughters chose to take lifelong vows to keep a self-imposed daily and seasonal pattern of devotion, called a Rule of Prayer. We also undertake a self-imposed Rule of Service, in which we serve our church and seek to further the cause of Christ. These two make up our personal Rule of Life. The discipline of this Rule permeates everything they do.

Altar Guild

• Rosina and George Harter, Coordinators

The Altar Guild is a volunteer group in the parish. Their service is to care for the Altar, vestments, vessels and Altar linens. They prepare the sanctuary for services and, if there is no deacon, prepare the Altar for worship as well as cleaning the Altar, vessels and linens after services. They are responsible for the Altar flowers and candles. Many of the women and men of Grace Church are members of the Altar Guild.

The Vestry

The vestry represents the church members in the business decisions of the parish. They approve spending, recommend ministries, and help guide the parish in outreach decisions. The Senior and Junior Wardens have special duties.

• Amy Daniel, Senior Warden
• George Harter, Junior Warden
• Karen White, Treasurer
• Mary Ann Slattery, Clerk-of-the-Vestry
• Mary Lee Summerville
• Chris Trantham

Lay Worship Leader

A Worship Leader is a lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. From The Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church 4.4

Worship Leaders are able to lead daily worship services and Sunday services which do not include the Holy Eucharist. They serve an important role when the priest is ill or on vacation.

• Rosina Harter
• Michael Johns
• Amy Daniel
• Karen White

Acolytes

Acolytes support the priest in the worship service.

The word acolyte means the assistant of a master. This is different from a disciple. A disciple is a student of a master. In earlier days, acolytes were called a minor order, as bishops, priests, and deacons were major orders. While we no longer do this, the idea that this is a special ministry is good: the acolyte’s special ministry is to help make certain the worship of God is always decent and in order.

Generally, acolytes do four specific things when serving in church:

• Serve at the Altar. This person is called the Server and directly assists the priest with ritual hand washing and the offerings, as well as with the water, bread and wine. The server also rings the Sanctus bells.
• Carry the Processional Cross. This person is called the Crucifer who leads the way in the processions.
• Carry the Gospel Book. This person is called the Gospel Book Bearer. This person also holds up the Gospel Book for the priest to read.
• Carry various symbols. These are the torch bearers and banner bearers who carry candles, flags and church banners.

Serving as an acolyte is a joy and privilege. It offers the individual an opportunity to offer service to God in thanksgiving and praise.

Lector

Any member of the congregation who has good public speaking skills may become a Lector. The duties include adding meaning to the Sunday reading of the Lessons. Readers read the Old Testament and Epistle Lessons of the day and lead the recitation of the appointed Psalm.

• Rosina Harter
• George Harter
• Teresa Tyree
• Karen White
• Mary Ann Slattery
• Michael Johns

Eucharistic Minister

Eucharistic Ministers assist in the serving of the Holy Eucharist. Typically, they hand the Priest the bread from the Ambry (a special container near the Altar which holds the reserved sacrament) and distribute the wine to those taking Communion. Most Eucharistic Ministers are also Eucharistic Visitors.

• Amy Daniel
• Georgia Way
• Rosina Harter

Eucharistic Visitor

A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration. A Eucharistic Visitor should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. From The Constitution and Cannons of the Episcopal Church 4.7

Those of us who have been called to be Eucharistic Visitors feel that anyone who is in physical distress and is desirous of receiving Communion should be able to do so. The consecrated (sacred) bread and wine are taken directly from the worship service to the home or hospital room of the person who cannot attend services. This allows those who are home-bound to participate in the common (community) worship of Our Lord.

• Amy Daniel
• George Harter
• Rosina Harter
• Georgia Way