| St. James Episcopal Church is, above all,
a welcoming, caring community.
We are dedicated to worship, outreach,
fellowship and growth in the service of Christ.
|
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
At our baptism, all of us have received specific spiritual gifts for the carrying out of the work of ministry, both in the world and in the church. All of us, then, need to learn just how God has equipped us for that work he has prepared for us. You may use this Spiritual Gifts Discovery Tool as the beginning of discerning your gifts for ministry, and using them for the glory of God. If you have any questions, please contact Fr. Geoff or Deacon Lee. God bless you as you learn about your spiritual gifts and grow into your specific ministry!
STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship Committee
- Assists parish in Christian growth through the intentional and committed
sharing of time, talent, resources, and money by helping with special
events, education programs, and annual collection of pledge cards.
Time commitment varies with project.
MEMBERSHIP GROUPS
Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) - Social environment, service activities, and group forum for exploring topics related to young people in grades 6-12. Jr EYC meets at 4:00pm the first two Sundays Sr. EYC meets at 6:00pm every Sunday. Episcopal
Church Women (ECW) - Various charitable and pastoral care projects.
Meets monthly (Sept.-May) for fellowship and study.
- St. Mary-Elizabeth
Chapter: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 10:30am in Church Library
- St. Lydia Chapter:
1st Monday of each month, 7:00pm in PLC
- St. Lucia Chapter:
3rd Tuesday of each month, 7:15pm in members' homes
St. Joseph's Society
(Men's Group) - Fellowship, guest speakers, service projects.
Meets 3rd Monday (Sept.-May) at 7:00pm. Best
Timers (Age 60+) - Fellowship, service opportunities, and educational
programs for seniors. Meets monthly with date and time dependent
on activity.
CHURCH SERVICE SUPPORT
Altar Guild - Prepare
altar for services including care of altar hangings, vestments, linens,
& flower arrangements. Work in teams scheduled on a rotating basis.
Nursery - Supervise
children (infant - age 5) during Sunday worship services. Scheduled
on a rotating basis.
Funeral Committee
- Assists at funerals with preparing church, guiding visitors, distributing
service bulletins, etc. On-site training provided. Serve as needed
or available.
Landscape Committee
(Lawn mowing division). Vestry member Luke Mitchell is
organizing teams to help with lawn and landscaping maintenance.
Contact Luke if you would be interested in serving as an occasional
volunteer to keep St. James looking neat and attractive.
Wedding Committee
- Meets with bride prior to wedding and assists wedding party at
rehearsal and marriage service. Schedule and serve as needed, usually
about 4 weddings per year.
Usher - Assists
congregation with seating, bulletins, collection of the offering,
etc. Requires one training session, which is offered regularly.
Scheduled to serve on a rotating basis.
Greeter - Welcomes
people as they enter church. Scheduled to serve on a rotating basis.
Coffee Hour:
Hosts are needed during the summer. Individuals, families,
or ministry groups may serve as hosts for a coffee hour. Just sign
up in the narthex. Contact: Alice Littlejohn.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Sunday School Teachers
- Lead classes for ages 2-18. Sundays, 9:30-10:15am, Sept-May
with frequency depending on number of teachers per class..
Centering Prayer
- Group setting for learning about and practicing an ancient
form of quiet prayer as well as prayerful reading of scriptures.
Fridays, 12:10pm
Daughters of the
King - Dedicated to prayer, mission, & service; provides prayer
chain for prayer requests; has monthly study. Meets every 3rd Sunday
after 10:30 service.
Christmas Pageant
- Actors of all ages, musicians, set crew, costumers, stagehands,
& pizza delivery help. Rehearsals begin late November.
LITURGY & WORSHIP
Acolyte - Assists
clergy at altar. One-time training provided with refresher and special
service practices 3-4 times per year. Scheduled to serve on a rotating
basis. Chalice
Bearer - Assists clergy in administering communion. Requires
one training session, which is offered regularly. Scheduled to serve
on a rotating basis.
Lector - Reads
scripture lessons and prayers during worship services. Instruction
provided. Scheduled to serve on a rotating basis.
Lay Readers -
Licensed by Diocese to lead special services, e.g., Morning & Evening
Prayer. Requires one training session, which is offered regularly.
Sound Team -
Records services and helps with microphones & assisted listening
devices. On-site training provided; serve monthly.
Rector's Aide
- Opens and secures church facilities before and after services.
Scheduled to serve on a rotating basis.
Adult Choir -
Leads congregation in the singing of hymns and prepares anthem for
worship each week. Rehearses Wednesdays 7:30-9:00pm Sept-May, Sunday
warm-up 9:45am for 10:30 service.
Choristers -
Engages youngsters grades 2-8 in fun-filled learning about music,
the hymnal, and the prayer book while taking an active role in parish
worship. Rehearses Thursdays at 4:30pm. Sunday musical offerings
performed about every 3 weeks Sept-May.
Children's Choir
- For ages 3 and up. Brief rehearsals after the 10:30am service.
Sunday musical offerings performed about once a month Sept-May..
Musical Instruments
- Music-making opportunities with handbells and other instruments
to enhance worship services. Rehearsal arrangements made after sign-ups.
FACILITIES
Adopt-a-Highway Team
- Clean up Piney Mountain Road. Saturday mornings, 3 times per year.
Building Maintenance
Team - Continuing maintenance of physical facilities. Serve
as needed or available.
Landscape Team/ Memorial
Garden Committee - Maintenance and improvement of church grounds.
Serve as needed or available.
Organ Committee
- Plan for the acquisition and fundraising for a pipe organ. Meets
periodically as needed.
PASTORAL CARE
Pastoral Care Committee
- Ministers to the parish by providing food, visits, cards, phone
calls, support & transportation during times of hardship; also sponsors
parish wellness programs (e.g., CPR training). Meets every other month,
generally on the 3rd Monday at 7:00pm. Service commitment varies and
can be as little as one hour per month or as much as one chooses.
Lay Eucharistic Ministry
- Licensed by Diocese to deliver communion to shut-ins and hospital
patients. Requires one training session, which is offered regularly.
Scheduled to serve on a rotating basis.
Food Response Team
- Provides meals to parish members & their families at times of
birth, death, or hospital homecoming. Each team is on-call for one
month per quarter (4 months per year).
Transportation Team
-Assists parishioners with rides to church activities, appointments,
etc. Time commitment as much as is needed or available.
MISSIONS & OUTREACH
Missions & Outreach
Committee - Identifies and promotes parish-wide mission projects
by extending the reach of St. James as Christ's body in the world.
Meets on the 2nd Thursday at 7:00pm. Volunteer
Respite Program - Provides free childcare for families of children
with disabilities and their siblings. 1st Saturday of the month,
2-5pm. Usually serve every 3rd month.
5th Saturday Bag
Lunches - Prepares about 50 lunches for Southside Community
each 5th Saturday, on that morning.
Canterbury Club Lunches
- Prepare and serve lunch for Furman students once a month. 2nd
Sunday of the month
COMMUNICATIONS
Web Page - Submit
digital pictures, content & suggestions for church website (www.stjamesgreenville.org.)
"Tell It From the
Mountain" Newsletter - Submit material and suggestions for monthly
publication of church news and events.
Office Volunteer
- Assist parish administrator with answering phones, collating bulletins,
proofreading, and/or special projects.
PARISH GROWTH & EVANGELISM
Parish Life Center Committee
- Plans fun and fellowship events for the church family, e.g. annual
barbecue, low-country boil, etc.; Meets 1st Thursday of the month
at 7:00pm; assist at events. Parish
Growth & Evangelism Committee - Welcomes visitors & newcomers
personally and by mail; submits new names on mailing list; recognizes
new members during special service once a quarter. Meetings scheduled
as needed.
Coffee Hour -
Prepare coffee, lemonade, and cookies for fellowship following the
10:30 service. Instruction provided. On-going sign-up.
Feast Groups
- Monthly gatherings in parishioners' homes or a restaurant for
a shared meal and fellowship. Groups organized in the fall based
on sign ups.
NEW BEGINNINGS
Historian/Centennial
Committee - Work with Rector and Vestry to research and develop
a written history of St. James; plan for 100th anniversary celebration
for 2004.
Library/Gift Store Committee - Update and maintain parish library;
develop an Episcopal gift & book store.
Parish Health Committee
- Set up parish wellness programs. |