Getting Involved

All the various tasks listed below help bring us together in Christ-centered fellowship and help to transform our hearts and minds to live out Jesus’ command that we go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt.28).  Integral to our faith formation are the SACRAMENTS – the major two initiated by Jesus. We invite you to browse through the list below to see how God might be asking you to give of your time and talents. There is a myriad of ways to serve God; if you feel your gifts are not best used in the areas listed, do not lose heart – talk with us!

Getting Involved

All the various tasks listed below help bring us together in Christ-centered fellowship and help to transform our hearts and minds to live out Jesus’ command that we go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt.28).  Integral to our faith formation are the SACRAMENTS – the major two initiated by Jesus. We invite you to browse through the list below to see how God might be asking you to give of your time and talents. There is a myriad of ways to serve God; if you feel your gifts are not best used in the areas listed, do not lose heart – talk with us!

Getting Involved

All the various tasks listed below help bring us together in Christ-centered fellowship and help to transform our hearts and minds to live out Jesus’ command that we go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt.28).  Integral to our faith formation are the SACRAMENTS – the major two initiated by Jesus. We invite you to browse through the list below to see how God might be asking you to give of your time and talents. There is a myriad of ways to serve God; if you feel your gifts are not best used in the areas listed, do not lose heart – talk with us!

Getting Involved

All the various tasks listed below help bring us together in Christ-centered fellowship and help to transform our hearts and minds to live out Jesus’ command that we go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt.28).  Integral to our faith formation are the SACRAMENTS – the major two initiated by Jesus. We invite you to browse through the list below to see how God might be asking you to give of your time and talents. There is a myriad of ways to serve God; if you feel your gifts are not best used in the areas listed, do not lose heart – talk with us!

Getting Involved

All the various tasks listed below help bring us together in Christ-centered fellowship and help to transform our hearts and minds to live out Jesus’ command that we go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt.28).  Integral to our faith formation are the SACRAMENTS – the major two initiated by Jesus. We invite you to browse through the list below to see how God might be asking you to give of your time and talents. There is a myriad of ways to serve God; if you feel your gifts are not best used in the areas listed, do not lose heart – talk with us!

get involved

Become a Volunteer

(1 COR 12:12-20)

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.  If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.  If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body”

acolyte


~Acolytes participate in helping make the worship service flow, from lighting the altar candles to working the credence table to ringing the Sanctus bells and more!  Boys, girls, teens and adults of all ages serve as acolytes.  It’s a great way to learn more about what we believe as Episcopalians and what our worship is all about.  Training is provided for those interested.

Bible and other studies

~At the heart of our Christian walk is to grow more and more into the likeness of Christ; one means by which we move towards that goal is through study of the Bible and from writings of the early church fathers as well as more current theologians.  Coming together to study is more than learning – which is surely important – but it’s also a time of fellowship – of getting to know one another and providing support to one another during the highs and lows of our lives.

coffee hour

~Depending on your experience in other churches, coffee hour is that time following Sunday worship when folks gather and enjoy some coffee/tea and a simple snack.  Coffee hour among the Mission churches varies; if you have an interest in participating in this ministry, please let us know.

communications

~If you have the gift of writing, of technology and/or anything “communications” related – please let us know!  We strive to keep our congregations “in the know” through periodic emails (“Eblasts”), a quarterly newsletter, website, and Facebook.  Use of other media is also important in getting the gospel message into our various communities.

greeters/ushers

~These folks hand out the worship bulletins and help newcomers/guests feel at home – from handing out bulletins and pointing out bathrooms to explaining which book The Prayer Book is and which is the Hymnal. Greeters/ushers can be men, women, youth and even families.

lectors/readers

~Reading our lessons each week (as well as special services) is very important to the flow and understanding of our worship. Lots of folks are more than able to participate in this ministry among our five churches.  Please do let us know if you would like to offer your gifts in this way.

Altar guild

~Those who serve on the Altar Guild are the unsung, hidden heroes of the Church! They make sure everything is set to go for Sunday worship and other services such as weddings and funerals.  The Communion vessels are washed and polished; altar linens laundered and pressed; hangings on the altar and lectern are the correct color of the season and much more.  Training is provided for all those interested.

building maintenance

~With 5 church buildings, 2 parish halls and a rectory, there’s always maintenance work to be done!  Please, if you have any skills in this arena, let Fr. John know.  He has a growing list of needs and projects required to keep our churches in good condition.

children's ministry/vbs

~Sadly, we aren’t currently blessed with children in our Mission Churches but pray that will change.  If working with children is your gift, please let us know.

funerals

~The best gift members of a congregation can gift their priest is to attend every funeral; why? To help carry the words of the service and the hymns being sung to allow family and others who are unfamiliar to focus on their grieving.  Having experienced it both with the help of parishioners and without, I can say it really does help to have you there!  The same is true for weddings but if you must pick one – attend the funerals!

lay eucharistic ministers

~These folks, generally adults, assist the priest at the communion rail with the chalice containing the wine (consecrated to be the blood of Christ) and dispensing it to the people.

music

~We may be small in numbers but mighty in our desire to lift our voice in song to the Lord!  We are blessed to have a very skilled summer organist (John Trainer) who plays at St. Andrew’s Schroon Lake.  We are assisted in our other congregations with programmable music boxes.  If you are gifted in playing the organ or keyboard, let us know!  We also welcome those who have the gift of being able to carry the tune with good strong voices to assist those of us who are not so gifted.

Prayer

~Prayer is vital to our life in Christ both individually and corporately.  We are always seeking those who are willing to be very intentional in praying for a specific person or problem – sometimes such folks are called “prayer warriors” because they are so committed.  This is a vital ministry that can be done without ever leaving one’s home.  Please let us know if you’d like to be a part the Mission Prayer Team.

telephone tree

~ While this is also part of the “communications” package, we’re striving to set up a phone tree to communicate quickly when services are cancelled due to weather or any other situation that requires rapid action and/or knowledge.  If this speaks to your heart, let us know.

Visiting Lay Eucharistic Ministers

~These folks have a heart for those who are home-bound and/or recovering from illness and are trained to take Holy Communion to them.  Generally, teams of two work together in this ministry and training is provided.

task Force

~Periodically there is a time-limited project in need of completion; this is when we seek volunteers to form a task force to recommend to the vestry the best course of action and following vestry approval, will often participate in and oversee the completion of the project.

Transportation

~As some of the longest members in our congregations can no longer drive, we’re always seeking those who are willing to provide transportation to/from worship and other events.  This is also true for those who might be injured, preventing them from driving for some period of time.  Let us know if you can help with this ministry.

vestry

~As noted in another tab, the vestry is the elected governing body of an Episcopal Church. Two wardens and six members are each elected for 3-year terms during the annual meeting and have responsibility to ensure the financial well-being of the church and work in conjunction with the Priest-in-Charge to carry out programming.