September 15, 2008

The mission of St. Anne’s Church is to provide an environment for seeking God’s Truth, embracing and celebrating God’s empowering love and sharing our gifts with others.  We invite you to participate or become involved in some of our many activities and ministries.  We are all “ministers” and are encouraged to use our individual gifts, talents, and abilities in ministry within and beyond the parish.  This is an important part of our stewardship.

 The ministries and activities, described briefly, are listed by Functional Area.  We are a worshipping body of people united under Christ and committed to passing on the living tradition of the Church, sharing the Good News, offering compassionate support for those in need, and providing opportunities for fellowship.”  To accomplish this, groups or individuals are involved in a variety of activities during or inn support or worship services or activities.

Altar Guild. The ministry of the Altar Guild is indispensable to our worship.  They are the people who set up the altar and the oblations table, change the altar paraments with the changing seasons, clean the vessels for Holy Communion, wash and iron the linens, and generally see that everything is ready Sunday morning.  The Altar Guild has several teams who work a particular month.

Flower Guild. This ministry allows those who love flowers to glorify God through His own Creation.  Members prepare altar flowers for Sunday services as well as special arrangements for Festival Holy days.

Lectors, Worship Leaders, Eucharistic Minister and Lay Eucharistic Ministers. This is an opportunity afforded to adult men and women to minister at worship services.  Lectors and Licensed Layreaders read lessons and lead the psalm at the 9 AM service and Lay Eucharistic Ministers read lesson, lead the intercessions during the liturgy and assist the clergy in delivering the consecrated wine during the Eucharist.  Lay Eucharistic Ministers also take consecrated bread and wine to the sick and shut-in as an extension of the Sunday worship service.

Music Ministry. The adult choir rehearses every  week.  Instrumentalists are occasionally used for special services and programs..

Ushers/Greeters. The ushers handle seating, distribution of service bulletins, collection of the offering, and certain details of congregational participation in the service.  This necessary ministry welcomes men, women and teenagers to participate.

Episcopal Church Women (ECW). All women of the Church are, by definition, ECW.  ECW meets every month except during the summer, usually on the 1st Tuesday of the month, at 6:00 PM.  The meetings begin with potluck supper and prayer.  Activities include the Applefest Cafe, Christmas Cookie & Craft Fair, and assorted teas and dinners.  The ECW contributes to Santa’s Helpers, Christmas Care Packages to families in the community, Krazy Calendar, and sends greeting cards to the Atlantic Rehab Clients.  Every month, members of the ECW visit our shut-ins, usually bringing a little gift from the group.  We also contribute to the general operating fund of the parish, and donated to the building of a handicapped access ramp for St. Anne’s.

United Thank Offering. The United Thank Offering is a program of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church founded by and administered by women since 1889.  One of the “health” magazines contained an article stating that a great stress reliever, and a way to help beat depression is to find five things every day for which you can give thanks.  Five things – that doesn’t sound too difficult for most of us.  Did you know that if 40 families, not individuals but families, in this parish were to give a penny to UTO for each of those five things for which they were thankful for daily, we could raise $360.00 every six months to help those in need?  Five cents a day from 40 families buys a lot of necessities for those not as blessed as we.  Please consider picking up a blue box from the UTO coordinator and begin being thankful now, in preparation for the next Ingathering.

Outreach. In our vision statement we committed to reaching out to the community through the Laura Burns Fund to Downeast Hospice and Community Health and Counseling.  We also hope to follow the example of Jesus, who did not just give to people but sat and ate and visited with them.  St. Anne’s volunteers serve at the Ecumenical Food Pantry the third Thursday of each month, bagging groceries or checking the files, from 10:00 AM to Noon.  Downeast Hospice volunteers receive training to visit people who are terminally ill and their families, to offer comfort and practical help.

Newsletter. Our newsletter, The Annals, is a fine publication, the intent of which is to keep our members informed of the goings on around the parish.  If you feel called to the ministry of communication, and would like to write occasional articles, book reviews, or reports for the Annals, or could be on call to put the finished newsletter together for handing out please let the Rector know.

Public Relations. There are many times when our activities could gain wider recognition by taking advantage of the local newspapers, TV, and Radio.  They are willing to publicize Church events, frequently with little or no charge.  Members contribute to this ministry by writing copy and getting the word out to the community when we have something coming up?

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