Ministry Groups at St. Luke's
In a thriving church, there’s room for everyone to participate: to enjoy relationships with other members of the community and to offer one’s time and talents in the ministries of the church.
In this directory, you’ll see descriptions of many of the church’s ministries. Some assist with Sunday worship, others provide outreach or hospitality. Use the expanding menus below to learn about all of the ways you can get involved at St. Luke’s.
Worship Volunteers
Purpose:
- Take care of the sacred vessels and linens.
- Prepare for services of worship.
- Provide necessary articles to be used at the Eucharist.
- Attending to the housekeeping of the sacristy.
Requirements to get involved: All persons who have been confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church, regardless of gender, background or age, are welcome to join.
Time commitment is: The Altar Guild does not have regular meetings. We try to meet a couple of times during the year, usually a potluck type affair, to give us a chance to socialize, discuss questions, and welcome new members.
There are no special skills needed to do this work, just a willingness to be behind the scenes, helping to prepare our common meal. When you think about it, the work of the Altar Guild is a set of quite humble tasks – pouring some wine, setting a table, washing dishes. And yet it is so important to our lives as Christians. There is a quiet sacredness to this work.
The Altar Guild is divided into 4 teams, each serving once per month. During the months with 5 Sundays, each Team serves one extra Sunday (typically once per quarter). The Altar Guild also serves during Holy Week, Easter, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, weddings, funerals, and/or other special services during the year. There is plenty of room for newcomers, men or women.
Contact person: Nancy Hawkins, nchawk62@gmail.com
Purpose: The ministry of ushering is a crucial part of worship because it is one of the most visible ministries in the church. In Christ, you have received God’s unconditional love, and, in Christ, you are called to extend that same unconditional love to others. Although an usher’s love is no stronger than the love found in the whole congregation of the body of Christ, nevertheless the usher performs a major role in ensuring that people see and experience that love.
The usher duties can be summed up in a few words:
- Make people feel welcome at church.
- Assist with people management during all services especially during communion.
- Assist with seating, collecting offering, and maintaining a safe environment.
The heart of an usher is the heart of a servant, and he does his work for his Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:24). A church usher has a true love for the people of the church and a desire to promote an atmosphere of reverence and worship in the house of God. An usher’s theme verse could very well be Psalm 84:10, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
Requirements to get involved: Your willingness to be the face of St. Luke’s. We serve as ushers for all who attend church. Ushers need a warm heart and ability to keep time. The schedule of the service is a well-timed event with ushers serving at various parts of the service.
How often a person would serve, or what the time commitment is: Ushers serve one weekend a month for just one service and meet semi-annually for training.
Contact person: Roberta Kidder, ushers.slec@gmail.com
Purpose: To provide Choral Worship maintained by a choir of volunteers and professional leaders. The Friends of Music supports this ministry and also the Concert Series. All information is provided in the annual Music List available in print or on the church’s website.
Requirements to get involved: A brief audition with the Director.
How often a person would serve, or the time commitment is: A firm commitment every Wednesday (7:00-9:00 pm) and Sunday mornings at 10:15 am for the 11:00 am Eucharist; as well as 3:30 pm for Choral Evenson at 4:30 pm, on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
Contact person: Russell Jackson, russellj@slecsa.org,
210-828-6425, x255
The mission of the St. Francis Guild is to serve Christ by decorating the Church to the glory of God for Christmas and Easter.
We are a group of women and men from the church who also sponsor the Palm Cross Workshop before Palm Sunday. We meet in homes or at church four times a year for planning and fellowship.
A subgroup of the Guild makes Chrismons, symbols of Christ, to decorate our Christmas trees, to present to families of new babies and to the homebound at Easter. Chrismons are sold at Church before Christmas and Easter and proceeds go to the Church. Chrismons are also sold at certain St. Luke’s Episcopal School events and the proceeds (less 10% for supplies) go to the School.
We invite all who are interested in decorating the church on special occasions, learning how to make palm crosses or Chrismons, or to be in fellowship with other Christian members to join the guild.
Contact person: Ann Mewborne, emewborne@satx.rr.com
Purpose: The Eucharistic Minister administers the chalice during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at most worship services and also assists in the worship services by reading the lessons and prayers. This special ministry is one of service to God and our fellow parishioners.
Requirements to get involved: A servant’s heart and a desire to be an integral part of the worship experience at St. Luke’s.
Time commitment: There are four EM Teams (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) at St. Luke’s. Each Team serves one Sunday each month at all 4 services (8:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 6:00 pm). Additionally, there are typically 4 months per year that have 5 Sundays; so, each Team will serve one extra Sunday one month per year. There is also the opportunity to serve during Holy Week, Easter, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, some funerals, and/or other special services during the year.
Contact person: Curt Mowen, ccmowen@outlook.com.
Purpose: The Acolytes play an integral part of our worship service by assisting clergy so that worshipers may celebrate the Holy Eucharist and other rites of the Church with reverence and dignity. When serving, they actively assist the celebrant in the worship of God. This very important role is vital to the church, the priest, and the people of God.
Requirements to get involved: 4th through 12th grade. Those interested in joining the Acolytes should contact Michael or Nancy to schedule training time throughout the year.
How often a person would serve: one time per month
Contact persons: Michael Mortensen, michaelmort@att.net and Nancy Hawkins, nchawk62@gmail.com
Purpose: Providing video streams and on-demand recordings of services that occur at St. Luke’s church. There are many members of this community who worship from home by choice or necessity. Our livestream team makes sure everyone is able to connect with St. Luke’s, even if they are remote.
Time Commitment: Sundays at 10:15 am to set-up, operate, and break down livestreaming equipment, ending approximately 15 minutes after the conclusion of the 11:00 am service. Two Sunday services for training then one Sunday a month afterwards.
Contact person: Victor Eichhorn, victore@slecsa.org,
210-828-6425 x205
Pastoral Care
Purpose: The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Guild is an outreach of our Pastoral Care ministry and acknowledges the deaths of our parishioners and parishioners’ loved ones. Over the course of the first year following the death of a spouse, child, parent, or sibling, condolence cards are mailed on significant dates in the life of the families. The artwork on these cards were very generously donated by members of our St. Luke’s family.
Requirements to get involved: A servant’s heart and a willingness to write and send cards with special messages throughout the year during this time of grief for our parishioners.
How often a person would serve, or the time commitment is:
The St Elizabeth Ann Seton Guild does not have regular meetings. Most of the communication is handled through phone calls and emails.
Contact person: Nancy Mortensen, nancimort@att.net
Purpose: The Community of Hope International was founded to form praying communities, to encourage each other in love, and to serve others through compassionate listening. COHI is steeped in Benedictine Spirituality, which emphasizes caring for others and growing each member spiritually through a nurturing community.
We are a group of parishioners trained as pastoral care givers, sharing with the clergy the important work of offering pastoral care in various forms to the congregation. Pastoral care is when a person is “present” in a listening, compassionate, non-controlling manner to an individual or group for the purpose of representing God to them and seeking to respond to their spiritual needs. Through spiritual formation, practical lessons and the support, encouragement and insights of our members, lay chaplains deepen the roots of a caring community.
Requirements to get involved: Share your interest in becoming a Lay Pastoral Chaplain with a current COHI member, or Fr. Irv; train in 12 modules that cover both practical and theoretical topics; and be commissioned to represent God and St. Luke’s congregation to our care recipients.
Time commitment: Typically, you should plan on no more than about 4-10 hours per month. This includes:
- Monthly Circle of Care gatherings (about 90 minutes).
- Planned visits with parishioners in need (30 to 60 minutes).
- Quarterly Continuing Education with Speakers via video/Zoom (90 minutes).
Contact persons: Mary Tacy Young, marytyoung@gmail.com and Gretchen Bealer, grbealer@gmail.com
Each week, licensed members of our congregation take the Sacrament of Holy Communion to parishioners who for various reasons are unable to attend our Sunday morning worship services. Sharing from the same elements consecrated from the altar at St. Luke’s connects the Body of Christ together beyond the walls of our sanctuary. Eucharistic Visitors (EV’s) are trained and assigned to serve one Sunday a month as needed.
Contact person: Fr. Irv Cutter, rector@slecsa.org,
210-828-6425.
Purpose: The Bethany Guild is available to host receptions in the Parlors after funerals or memorial services at St. Luke’s. Donations are always appreciated to help with expenses.
Requirements to get involved: A willingness to participate and be part of a much needed ministry whether in person or by helping prepare menu items. The Guild is organized into teams, which rotate the hosting of receptions. For a reception, members of the team prepare a set menu and then assist in hosting the reception.
Time commitment: Each person serves on a team as a team member or as a captain. Teams prepare the food before the reception and then act as hosts during the reception, setting up and then working with the building staff during clean-up afterward.
Contact person: Carol McGanity, csmcganity@gmail.com
Hospitality Volunteers
Purpose: To provide refreshments on Sunday morning after the 11 am service.
Requirements to get involved: Willingness to bring refreshments on Sundays. You choose which Sunday works for you from a list of sign up dates on the sign-up board in the parlors or sent to you from the Hospitality Ministry co-captains. They provide different types of baked goods, fruit, veggies and the like. Coffee, water & lemonade are set up by the Sextons and served in the South Parlor.
Contact persons: Katherine Hampsten, katherine.hampsten@gmail.com
Purpose: The intent of the Greeter Ministry is to welcome newcomers and church members before and after the 9″00 am and 11:00 am services.
Requirements to get involved: Your main responsibilities in this role are to position yourself around the welcome stand in the Narthex and greet newcomers as well as helping direct people to after-service activities.
How often a person would serve: We are asking that greeters be willing to serve one Sunday a month at either the 9:00 am or 11:00 am service, be in the Narthex 10-15 minutes prior to the service, and 10-15 minutes after the service. The time commitment should not exceed 30 minutes a month, and all the resources you need to be successful in the role are housed in the drawer of the greeter’s (welcome) stand – church map, booklet of ministry group offerings, list of events, etc.
Contact person: Jessica Koontz, jex14k@gmail.com
Episcopal Church Groups
Purpose: The Daughters of the King is an Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church. Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer, and the Rule of Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ’s Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish.
Requirements to get involved: There is a three-month study program and discernment time led by one of the Daughters. New Daughters are received into The Order during a church service, normally the 4th Sunday in June. Dues and the cost of the cross are paid by the new Daughter.
Meeting time: We meet on the 3rd Sunday of the month after the 11:00 am service.
Contact person: Ann Gill, mickeygilley@att.net
Purpose: The Brotherhood of St. Andrew (BOSA) is a Men’s Ministry of the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. It is based on three disciplines – Prayer, Study, and Service. The Discipline of Prayer means to pray daily for the spread of Christ’s kingdom, especially among men and youth, and for God’s blessings upon the labors of the Brotherhood. The Discipline of Study means to study the Holy Scriptures regularly and the teachings of the Church, to attain a better understanding of how to follow Christ and bring others into his kingdom. The Discipline of Service means to make continuous efforts, week by week, to bring others nearer to Christ through his Church.
Requirements to get involved: All male members of St. Luke’s are asked to prayerfully consider joining during September.
Meeting time: The BOSA chapter officers meet via Zoom, as needed; but are seriously considering an in person chapter meeting on a particular Sunday of each month. Please watch for more details.
