|
The
Altar Guild of the Episcopal Church
The Altar Guild serves the Church under the direction
of the Rector. They serve an important ministry in the
community worship life in the Anglican Tradition. The
primary purpose of the Altar Guild is to prepare and
maintain the altar and all Eucharistic vessels, as well
as chancel, and worship space for all usual and special
services including weddings, memorials, ordinations,
baptisms, confirmations, and funerals.
Additional
responsibilities include placement of altar flowers
and candles. Persons desiring to sponsor flowers and/or
the sanctuary candles are encouraged to do so, and their
gifts are greatly appreciated. A sign up calendar and
contribution envelopes can be found in the narthex of
the church, adjacent to the front door. Altar flower
and candle dedication notes will be published each week
in the service bulletins.
Who is involved with the Altar Guild at St. John's?
What do they do?
Members of St John’s Altar Guild are
men and women who work in the sacristy to prepare the
elements to be used in the Eucharistic service (bread,
wine/grape juice, water, napkins, chalice, etc.). They
attend to the candles, replacing them as needed; make
sure the consecrated elements are in place in the tabernacle
when needed; fill the Eucharist kits for the Eucharistic
Ministers. They prayerfully and properly clean all Eucharistic
vessels, paying special attention to how items are handled,
cleaned, and remains of consecrated elements are disposed
of. All of the work of the Altar Guild is done in a
spirit of reverence and prayerfulness.
Would you like to participate in this ministry?
The Altar Guild welcomes those who feel called to participate
in this important aspect of worship ministry. If you'd
like to talk with someone about becoming involved in
the Altar Guild please call the church office at 741-5638
or email the church at stjohns2@alltel.net
, or you may ask our clergy to connect you with a current
member of the guild.
For
further information on the Altar Guild you may read:
-
The Altar Guild Handbook,
Marion J. Hatchett and Anne K. LeCroy. Harper &
Row, Publishers, 1986.
- The
Altar Guild Book, Barbara Gent and Betty
Sturges. Morehouse Publishing Co., 1982.
- The
Complete Training Course for Altar Guilds,
B. Don Taylor. Morehouse Publishing Co.,1993.
- An
Altar Guild Manual,
Edith Weir Perry. Morehouse Publishing Co., 3rd Ed.,
1963.
-
Manual for Altar Guilds,
Dorothy C. Diggs. Morehouse Publishing Co., 1990,
3rd Ed., 1990.
|
