There are many opportunities to serve in worship. Below are brief descriptions of each of the roles available. To offer your help in this way sign up on the Worship Opportunities Board in the Square or use the form below. Questions? Contact email hidden; JavaScript is required, Welcome & Serving Ministries Coordinator.
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Lay Readers (Lectors)
Lay people have the privilege of reading God’s Word to the congregation at each service. Readers (or lectors) usually read approximately twice a year, at one service. What do you do? During worship, you will come forward when it’s time for the readings, read the texts from the pulpit as prepared, and return to your seat.
Liturgical Environment
There are several liturgical seasons: Advent/Christmas/Epiphany; Lent/Easter; and Pentecost. In addition, Autumn and festival Sundays invite special visual effects. What do you do? The seasonal committee prepares a blueprint of visual enhancements (3-4 meetings) that relate directly to the worship theme of the season by using fabrics, flowers, art, trees, murals, candles, etc. Once the vision has been created, the committee gathers together as a team on a given Saturday to mold these ideas into an inspiring liturgical environment for the sanctuary. After each season, the committee is required to dismantle and store the décor.
Altar Guild
The altar, pulpit cloths (paraments), and pastors’ stoles reflect the liturgical calendar and need to be changed approximately 18 times each year to reflect the season or festival. The altar guild is responsible to see that this happens; they also see that the candles are maintained and ready. Responsibility rotates to the various members of the guild. It takes one to two hours each time the paraments are changed.
Assisting Ministers
The liturgy designates a role for a representative of the congregation to participate in the leading of worship. The assisting minister role provides that vital link from the pastoral staff to the body of worshippers gathered each week. Those trained, serve approximately four times a year. What do you do? You will participate in all worship services on a given Sunday, leading the congregation in assigned prayers & responses, bring the offering to the altar, prepare the communion elements, and assist with baptisms.
Greeter Teams
Bethlehem has eight greeter teams. Each has a leader who is responsible for the scheduling of greeters for his/her team. The purpose of the greeter team is to provide a warm and friendly welcome and goodbye to all people who come to Bethlehem for worship. This is seen as a very significant ministry of hospitality.
Ushering
Every worship service requires 3-6 people to serve as ushers who convey welcome and hospitality, and are in charge of seeing that the service runs smoothly. A head usher with lots of experience is always there to assist those new to ushering. Individuals, couples, or families may sign up to usher. What do you do? Ushers arrive 20 minutes early to prepare for the service with the Head Usher. Ushers then stand at the doors to the sanctuary to warmly welcome people and provide bulletins to everyone arriving for the service. They also receive the offering, bring it forward during the offertory, accommodate individual needs, and direct the congregation during communion. In addition, after the service, ushers make sure the pews are tidied and ready for the next service.
Serving Communion
There are 12 teams who each serve for two months of the year. The team captain calls members of each team to arrange for Sundays and services that are convenient for you to serve during your assigned months. Contact email hidden; JavaScript is required to be assigned to a team. What do you do? You will help pastors administer communion during a worship service by distributing bread or wine, or by collecting the empty wine cups.
Communion Bread
Each Communion Sunday there is an opportunity for people to provide the bread for communion. What do you do? Choose to bake unleavened bread using a recipe provided, or supply baked or purchased unsliced white bread. Six loaves are needed each weekend – offer to bring as many as you’d like.
Acolytes, Crucifers, Bible & Banner Bearers
Acolytes light the altar candles to signify the beginning of worship. On festival days, such as Reformation, All Saints Day, Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, all services may use a full procession that requires a Crucifer, torchbearers, and a Bible bearer. Acolytes will be scheduled from September to May – you can serve once or often. Crucifers, torchbearers, and Bible bearers are scheduled for individual festival Sundays at all services. What do you do? Acolytes need to arrive prior to the worship to put on a robe and be ready to light the candles shortly after the prelude begins. The acolytes will also ring a handbell three times in the Bethlehem Square to announce the beginning of the prelude each week. The Crucifer needs to have sufficient arm strength to carry in the large wooden cross and place it in the altar area on festival Sundays. There are two torchbearers who each carry in a lit candle and place it in the chancel. The Bible bearer carries in the large Bible during the procession and carries it into the congregation during the Gospel reading. On festival days, the Crucifer leads the procession, followed by the torchbearers, and Bible bearer. Several Sundays each year are designated as festival services. At these services, banner bearers may be needed to carry in banners, which are visual symbols for the service.
Preparing Communion
There are four teams who each serve for three months of the year. The team captain calls members of each team to arrange for Sundays and services that are convenient for you to serve during your assigned months. What do you do? A group of about three to four people meet in the sacristy prior to each service to fill wine cups, prepare the Bread for serving, and then clean up after the service.