We would like your contact information so we can contact you regarding these ministries.  We are also trying to update our birthday list and anniversary list  (month and day only).  We want to be able to extend our blessings and prayers to you on these dates.

The following are opportunities to keep our building and grounds looking their best.  Several times a year we have a yard cleanup day that involves raking leave, trimming bushes, and sprucing up the grounds.  

We are developing a building and grounds committee (B&G Committee) that can work as a team or individually if needed to attend to the regular preventative maintenance items associated with the care of our church buildings and grounds.  

Additionally there are garden workdays which include weeding and pruning as well as planting. These are joyous days of fellowship that pull our wonderful church family together.  If you would like to join us for these, please indicate below.

Usually twice a year we get the Church building spruced up by having a deep cleaning that involves washing the windows.   Would you be willing to help?

Deep cleaning includes things like using Murphy Soap Oil to clean the pews and vacuuming under the cushions. We get those hard to reach places in the Church.  Is this something you think you could do?

As with any house, and "The House of the Lord" is no different, there seems to be periodic repairs of all sorts that require attention. Are you handy and dive into repairs at home? Do you consider yourself a handyman (or handywoman)?  Wes did a lot of these kind of things that we never knew about so, now we will need others to fill those shoes.   Is this something we might be able to call on you for help?  Serving on the Building and Grounds Committee is another way to serve in this capacity.

Some activities such as cleaning the church and parish hall are done by teams that rotate their duties so each only has to do the work once a month or less.  

Each week the Parish Hall floor is swept. The kitchen floor is swept and mopped, and the bathrooms are cleaned.  The Church is vacuumed and pew cards and books are straightened up.   Rotation for this is usually once a month or less.  

There are several office jobs that need to be done.  Some are weekly jobs and others are as needed. Currently we have a treasurer.  We need one person who is willing to be trained to serve as a back up.  Assisting the treasurer would require training on our computer programs and bookkeeping practices. Computer skills are necessary and an understanding of QuickBooks is helpful.      

We have someone who currently volunteers to help out with office tasks as needed.  Assisting with this would entail being called upon if there is a need.    We also need people occasionally to fold the bulletins.  
We have several bulletin boards with photos and information that need to be updated from time to time.  Photos will be provided.

Below are ways in which you can ensure our Sunday worship services is properly attended to.  

Altar Guild members set up the Altar before services and clean up afterwards. Altar guild would serve about once a month.
Lay readers, Chalice bearers, Organists generally serve once a month or less.
Ushers serve on a rotating basis depending on how many volunteer, but usually once a month or less.
Choir members practice from during the 9 am service and sing any Sunday you can be there.  
Music Ministry requires running the equipment that produces our music during services. You will be trained on this.
If you play a musical instrument, we have acoustic music at special services and we are always looking for musicians.
We often record our services and need someone to operate the video camera.  

Please respond to any that interest you.  You will be trained on how to do any of these options below.  

Coffee hour hosts serve two or three times a year.  If you just love doing coffee hour, there is an option below to be called upon when someone must cancel and we need someone to fill in.   Some find it easier to pair up with another member.

This would be an on-going ministry.  Serving on this committee, you would be willing to introduce yourself after the Sunday service to new people,  make them feel welcome, and collect contact information if appropriate.   The committee would be responsible for a follow up contact with this person/family.  The committee would also communicate with the Rector as appropriate.  

On the last Wednesday of the month, we have a covered dish dinner.  Everyone brings something to share, but tables need to be set up with flatware and water.  Afterwards, the host makes sure everything is cleaned up, but usually many who attend will help with that.    In addition, we sometimes need a program for the dinner.  It would be helpful to have someone to work with the Vestry on programs .

The Church holds parties and celebrations for holidays like St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, and Mardi Gras, etc.  This give you an opportunity to do a little decorating and plan fun activities for your Parish family.  These celebrations often include a covered dish dinner that could be hosted by someone else, so your part would be activities and decorating.

We have a variety of opportunities to help with different ministries.  These are activities that allow us reach out into the community and respond to unmet needs that exist in the Gorge.

M&M Club (Mature and Motivated) meets monthly to play games, go on field trips, and enjoy interesting programs.  It allows people from throughout the community, whether members of the church or not, to get together and enjoy fellowship and social interaction.  This is a significant need for our older population.  The Club is always in need of snacks and program ideas.

Caring Friends is a ministry to reaches out primarily to our Parish family,  but at times to what we consider our extended family, our community,  in times of need to provide meals, transportation, phone calls, or sending a card of encouragement.  This ministry is on an as needed basis.   This may include helping to organize a reception for a funeral.

Pre-Eulogy Dinners is a ministry that brings us together at a local restaurant to share a meal and share life stories.  It brings us closer in our church family.  This ministry needs people who are willing to share their story with others so we can get to know each other better.

The Firewood ministry serves an unbelievably large segment of our community.  There are many who live in the Gorge who depend on wood to cook their food and heat their homes.  Those involved in this ministry cut, split, stack and deliver wood to families in need. The church provides the equipment for this ministry, but we need people to do the work.  Those involved will meet as a group twice monthly on a time and date that works for them.  This is an opportunity to invite others from the community who may not be members of our church to participate.  If you know of someone who enjoys the physical demands of lumberjacking, please, by all means, invite them and let us know.

Bare Necessities meets monthly and help is needed any time you are available.  Much of this work can be done from your home with materials you pick up at the Church.  This ministry makes reusable diapers and feminine hygiene kits that are then taken by missionary groups to communities around the world. Some of these kits are distributed locally. You do not have to be able to sew to help.  Assembling the kits and cutting fabric are non-sewing jobs that are always needed.  For more information you can talk to Dawn.

Backyard Sports is a ministry that brings children together for fellowship and to play sports one afternoon a week.  This has traditionally been on Mondays after school hours on school days.   There is a need for chaperones, adults to lead different sport activities, provide snacks, serve snacks, and even drive a bus.  This has been a hugely successful ministry that has been embraced by so many families in the area.  It's fun and it's heart warming and joyous to see the smiles on all of those children's faces.  You do not have to be present every week for this ministry. They always welcome volunteers when they can serve!

Children are our future as a nation and as a Church.  Making them feel special and important as members of our Church Family is crucial.  There are many opportunities to share in this important ministry.  

Assist in the nursery on a rotating schedule during the 10 a.m. service once a month.
Assist in the Children's Sunday School on a rotating basis.
Do special art or music activities with the Children's Sunday School.
Provide childcare so parents can attend Church programs.  This takes place in the Rectory during the program time which is usually part of a covered dish dinner.
Organize or help with special activities like movie night, Easter egg hunt, Halloween or other special events.

We currently have a Facebook presence, but this takes keeping things up to date in order to be helpful.  There are other social media sites that you may be able to get started and help maintain.  
There is a website that is currently maintained by one person.  If you would like to help with that by being willing to post our sermon videos to YouTube or add photos, etc.  It is also helpful to have someone else post last minute updates when the web person is away.   Training will be provided.
The Newsletter goes out monthly.  Help is always needed with this.  Articles and photos about what is going on in the Church keep our family connected. This may be something you would like to do all on your own.  
 

We are always looking for ways to better serve God in our community and around the world.  If you have an idea for a new ministry you think would be right for our Church and would be willing to get it organized, this would be an example of leadership.  You would bring this idea to the Vestry and/or the Rector for approval, input and help with organization.

Would you like to lead an Adult Bible Study or present a special program or series of programs during the week or in conjunction with a covered dish dinner?  

Another leadership ministry is serving on the Vestry.  This requires attendance at monthly meetings and other duties depending upon your role on the Vestry.   If you would be interested in serving on Vestry at some point in the future, please indicate our interest.

Please share your thoughts for ministries or ways in which our Church can grow with members of the Vestry, or write them here.