Worship Ministry
This team is made up of all the members who keep services running both formally and informally from the acolytes to the ushers. We worship through service and serve through worship (motto of the Verger’s Guild.) We hope you will consider joining us in one of our ministries. Please reach out to us using the form at the bottom of the page or speak to Rev. Dunnavant or Cathy Kennedy our Head Verger.
Acolytes
Both youth acolytes and adult acolytes serve at Good Shepherd in processional and liturgical duties (at the altar), and we’re always happy for more to join in the processional parade!
As skills increase, acolytes gain responsibility, starting with bearing a candle, to being the Crucifer and carrying the cross. Then table service is learned and mastered. Some acolytes reach the pinnacle and become a Thurifer (which means carrying the Thurible) or a Verger.
Vergers
A verger is first a servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The verger serves at the direction of the Chaplain in Charge (Rector) of Good Shepherd in any capacity that assists the clergy to fulfill their duties particularly in the areas of church customaries and facilities. The verger has been referred to in the past as the “keeper of God’s House”.
The primary purpose of the verger is to assure that each service is planned and ready to occur at the appointed time using the proper customary including confirming that all participants are ready and in place. The verger continues to support the clergy during the service in any way necessary such that the clergy are able to fulfill their duties without duress.
Further information about vergers can be found at www.vergers.org the home site of the Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church. While there is formal training from the guild, it is not required to serve as a verger at Good Shepherd, although familiarity with the altar setup and related customs is helpful.
Eucharistic Ministers
Lay Eucharist Ministers (aka LEM or Chalice Bearers) serve at the altar during communion and are canonically licensed by the Bishop to do so. At Good Shepherd they serve the wine at the altar rail. LEM’s serving at the 11 am service are requested to vest in a white cassock-alb. LEM’s at 7:45am and 9:00am services generally are not vested. Further training can be done to be licensed as Lay Eucharist Visitor where the EM can take consecrated communion to the sick and shut-ins of our parish. Once approved by the Rector, a short training session can be scheduled with the verger. The verger is also available at the altar to assist as needed.
Lay Readers
Lay Readers serve as the lector or reader of the appointed lessons and psalm at each service. They also lead the congregation in the Prayers of the People. Training and assistance with pronunciation of names and biblical places is always available ahead of the service or when requested.
Ushers/Greeters
Ushers assist with the flow of the congregation before, during and after the service including handing out bulletins, directing the Sunday School or Godly Play children as they leave and/or arrive at the service, taking up the offering and presenting the offering at the altar as well as counting the number of people in attendance for record keeping. The ushers also coordinate the flow of communicants to the altar during communion and assist with cleanup and reset of the church after each service.
Greeters are asked to meet people as they arrive, identify new attendees and greet them following the service. A greeter would encourage visitors to add their name and email address to our Guest Book and would give them a church gift-bag. Next greeters should work with the communicants at the coffee hour to appropriately greet visitors and make them feel welcome.
Sacred Order of Coffee Makers
Coffee Makers are a rare breed but are one of the most celebrated ministries. The goal of the Sunday Coffee maker is to arrive early, and have at least some coffee to serve at the end of the 7:45 service – about 8am. The complete job includes making several pots of coffee and one sizable serving of lemonade putting out cups, napkins, condiments and making room for any goodies that might show up before 9:00am service ends. Cleanup after the 11am service is not required nor is the acquisition of the coffee supplies. These things are taken care of by others.
Acolytes
Both youth acolytes and adult acolytes serve at Good Shepherd in processional and liturgical duties (at the altar), and we’re always happy for more to join in the processional parade!
As skills increase, acolytes gain responsibility, starting with bearing a candle, to being the Crucifer and carrying the cross. Then table service is learned and mastered. Some acolytes reach the pinnacle and become a Thurifer (which means carrying the Thurible) or a Verger.
Vergers
A verger is first a servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The verger serves at the direction of the Chaplain in Charge (Rector) of Good Shepherd in any capacity that assists the clergy to fulfill their duties particularly in the areas of church customaries and facilities. The verger has been referred to in the past as the “keeper of God’s House”.
The primary purpose of the verger is to assure that each service is planned and ready to occur at the appointed time using the proper customary including confirming that all participants are ready and in place. The verger continues to support the clergy during the service in any way necessary such that the clergy are able to fulfill their duties without duress.
Further information about vergers can be found at www.vergers.org the home site of the Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church. While there is formal training from the guild, it is not required to serve as a verger at Good Shepherd, although familiarity with the altar setup and related customs is helpful.
Eucharistic Ministers
Lay Eucharist Ministers (aka LEM or Chalice Bearers) serve at the altar during communion and are canonically licensed by the Bishop to do so. At Good Shepherd they serve the wine at the altar rail. LEM’s serving at the 11 am service are requested to vest in a white cassock-alb. LEM’s at 7:45am and 9:00am services generally are not vested. Further training can be done to be licensed as Lay Eucharist Visitor where the EM can take consecrated communion to the sick and shut-ins of our parish. Once approved by the Rector, a short training session can be scheduled with the verger. The verger is also available at the altar to assist as needed.
Lay Readers
Lay Readers serve as the lector or reader of the appointed lessons and psalm at each service. They also lead the congregation in the Prayers of the People. Training and assistance with pronunciation of names and biblical places is always available ahead of the service or when requested.
Ushers/Greeters
Ushers assist with the flow of the congregation before, during and after the service including handing out bulletins, directing the Sunday School or Godly Play children as they leave and/or arrive at the service, taking up the offering and presenting the offering at the altar as well as counting the number of people in attendance for record keeping. The ushers also coordinate the flow of communicants to the altar during communion and assist with cleanup and reset of the church after each service.
Greeters are asked to meet people as they arrive, identify new attendees and greet them following the service. A greeter would encourage visitors to add their name and email address to our Guest Book and would give them a church gift-bag. Next greeters should work with the communicants at the coffee hour to appropriately greet visitors and make them feel welcome.
Sacred Order of Coffee Makers
Coffee Makers are a rare breed but are one of the most celebrated ministries. The goal of the Sunday Coffee maker is to arrive early, and have at least some coffee to serve at the end of the 7:45 service – about 8am. The complete job includes making several pots of coffee and one sizable serving of lemonade putting out cups, napkins, condiments and making room for any goodies that might show up before 9:00am service ends. Cleanup after the 11am service is not required nor is the acquisition of the coffee supplies. These things are taken care of by others.