Lay Ministry Teams

We are most Christ’s Church when we serve and love one another. There are many ways we can partner with God at Christ Church Anglican. We invite you to explore the lay ministries of the parish and, in prayer with the Spirit, ask the Lord, “Where might you be inviting me to serve with you and my community?”

You are not limited to participating in only one ministry team. If you feel led to serve on more than one team, please feel free to do so.

Liturgical Rhythms

  • As Anglicans, the rhythms of our lived theology are expressed through the Church’s seasons and worship. This team works to provide spaces, practices, rituals, events, and resources that encourage the communal participation of each parishioner toward the life of Christ in all seasons of the liturgical calendar. This team will help the parish keep time with Christ throughout the year.

    • Plan for the liturgical year with staff and parishioners.

    • Encourage education and spiritual formation by companioning parishioners in various ways to live within the liturgical rhythms.

    • Event planning; attention to detail, planning and orchestrating supplies, activities, and volunteers for Holy Days, Feasts, and Penitential Seasons. Set up and Clean up before and after communal celebrations and events.

    • Provide for and communicate about formation resources that assist parishioner engagement with each liturgical season, Holy Days, Feast/Fast, and Celebrations (Baptism/Confirmation).

    • Year-long commitment with meetings throughout.

    • Periodic team meetings for yearly planning and event coordination.

    • People-oriented, future-thinking, enjoys planning/orchestrating/coordinating

    • Loves Anglican liturgical rhythms, enjoys seasons, ascetics, and the church calendar

    • Heart for hospitality

    • Creative

    • Team-oriented and flexible with time

  • Beth Forshee

Altar Guild

  • Members of the Altar Guild prayerfully set the table for the Eucharist each Sunday before service. The Anglican Altar is a table rich in meaning and symbol. Each item holds significance and brings depth to our embodied liturgy and how we experience Christ in worship. We are a sensory people, and the Altar Guild lovingly prepares the Eucharistic table with tender care and reverence. The Eucharist is an experience of the real presence of Christ and the Altar Guild ensures the table is properly set for the parish to experience this life-giving experience of Christ.

    • Initial training. Working with the team on scheduling rotational service.

    • Learning the meaning of each sacramental item, and setting them with reverence and care. An informative glossary and training are provided for this ministry.

    • Keeping track of necessary supplies, and reporting when supplies are running low.

    • Arriving at church at 10:10 a.m. to prepare the Altar.

    • Set up: Some lifting is required to carry a few smaller bins from the kitchen to the front of the sanctuary and to set out the larger candle on specific feast days.

    • Placing sacramental items in appropriate places and preparing the table for the Eucharistic feast.

    • Clean up: The informative glossary helps you remember the names of the items in the "stack" and the protocols for disposing of unused sacramental water and wine. 

    • Cleaning of linens, proper repacking, and folding of items. 

    • Clean the gluten-free paten (tray) & chalice to ensure no cross-contamination.

    • Someone who has an eye for detail, space, and ascetics. For example, an appreciation for where an embroidery faces or noticing when candles need oil refills.

    • Someone who can take a quick inventory each week for parish administration to order supplies in a timely manner. (wine, wafers, candle oil, etc.)

    • Doesn't mind doing laundry! AG members spot-treat any stains on the linens directly after service and then wash and iron the linens at home during the week in order to have them prepared for the next Sunday. 

    • Children age 13 and up may be welcome to sign up if they are willing to be trained and directed by an adult and you feel they are mature enough to handle sacramental items.

  • Emily and Adam Vedra

Set Up and Tear Down

  • If you like hands-on service opportunities and enjoy seeing the results of your work immediately, then the CCA Set Up & Tear Down Ministry is for YOU. We need people with physical strength to set up and take down welcome signs outside and the prayer book table, move heavy furniture within the building and set out and put away boxes of supplies for the children’s program. We also need people with internal strength to empty trash bins at the end of the service, especially the aromatic bin in the baby-changing station upstairs. Please arrive at CCA by 9:45 a.m. and/or stay after the service for 30 minutes of clean-up.

  • SET UP 

    Year-round responsibilities:

    • Pull folded tables out of school office/meeting room and set them up in designated areas.

    • Arrange BCP volumes on the prayer book table in the narthex.

    • Place two collection plates (one contains giving tokens) on the prayer table next to books.

    • Set up four large signs outside so newcomers know where to park and enter the building.

    • Block the staircases leading up to the school rooms so people won't wander upstairs (which will trigger the alarm system).

    • Move the large furniture for the altar (large table, two small tables, large cross stand, podium) to their designated places in the front of the sanctuary. 

    • Move the baptismal font to the narthex just outside the center door (Fr. Kris will add the water).

    • Prop doors open in the back of the sanctuary using rubber floor wedges.

    • Post three signs showing the location of three bathrooms (one is also a baby changing station).

    Additional set-up responsibilities during the school year: 

    • Move items for children's worship boxes from the closet in front of the sanctuary into the two children's classrooms (there are many bins of items, so this requires several trips back and forth).

    TEAR DOWN

    • Put all items back into the closets, including CCA signs outside, BCPs, and furniture.

    • Check each pew for BCPs, items to put in Lost & Found, and trash.

    • Check the bathrooms (3): clear paper towels from the floor if needed; take out filled trash bags in bathrooms and replace them with clean bags. Note: This is especially important in the baby-changing station bathroom upstairs.

    • Take full trash bags to the dumpster outside the building.

    • Return children’s ministry supplies and boxes to the storage closet.

    • People who love to help in tangible ways.

    • Someone looking to help but unsure about all the possibilities.

    • Heart for acts of kindness

    • Task oriented

  • Discerning

Children’s Ministry

  • We ask that parents' first priority in serving at CCA be in their child's class once a month. 

    However, children’s formation is not limited to parents, we encourage the entire church body to join, and here’s how:

    • Lead Teachers (Little Ones: Preschool, Children’s Church: K-3, 4/5/6 Catechism) are comfortable leading in front of our classes. Some time commitment is needed to read through the lesson, consider the flow of the class time, and become familiar with the day's worship music, memory verse, or Catechism. The Little One’s class or Children's Church will have a scripted Bible story followed by 'wondering questions' and sometimes a very short teaching time. No memorization is needed as the lesson is all scripted. The 4/5/6 class will have a more formal lesson time followed by discussion. All materials are prepared ahead of time. The teaching rotation is once a month. The 4/5/6 class meets on the last Sunday of the month. Summer is usually an off period. Set up and clean up of the class room is needed.

    • Assistant Teachers (all classes) will assist with telling the scripted Bible story, walking children from the service or to the bathroom, keeping children engaged with the story, and various other tasks as needed. Assistants should also be familiar with the lesson for the day. Help with the set-up and clean-up of the classroom. 

    • Junior Helpers are students 11+ years old who would like to assist once a month in the Little One’s classroom. They often play with a child who needs more attention, help tidy the classroom, and assist in ways that are helpful to the teacher and assistant. 

    1. Have attended Christ Church for 6 months or more.

    2. Have completed the Ministry Safe training and background check.

    3. Willingness to attend training 1-2 times a year. 

    4. Reports and is accountable to the Children’s minister, Jessica Roberts. 

    5. Shows up promptly on days of service (10:10 a.m.), and reaches out in advance if there is a schedule conflict or sickness.

  • Jess Roberts

Home Parish Ministry

Host & Leader

  • Home Parishes are multi-generational groups that meet for 1.5-2 hours on Sunday evenings in 3 liturgical cycles: Advent (4 -5 weeks), Lent  (6-7 weeks), and Trinity-tide (9-10 weeks). These groups foster hospitality through the breaking of bread, fellowship, and prayer. 

    Home Parishes include food, multi-generational fellowship, and prayer (Evening Prayer, Compline, or Family Prayer). Groups change with each cycle.

  • Home Parish Hosts 

    The Host provides the meeting space and food for the parish group. The group can decide on a potluck or food rotation format. The food doesn’t have to be a main meal, snacks are good too.

    Home Parish Leaders 

    The leaders are responsible for structuring/leading/keeping time during parish group gatherings. (1.5-2 hours)

  • Hosts:

    • Provide the symbolic table of the Lord which overflows to our tables at home.  A gift for hospitality and generosity is welcomed.

    • Can host up to 15 people (Advent/Lent) or up to 25 people in a backyard in the summer.

    • Communicate by email/text with members of their group regarding the time of meetings, changes to the meeting, and scheduling of food. 

    • Are available to host for the entire Advent, Lent, or Trinity cycle.

    Leaders:

    • Understand that we are all invited to come to the Lord as we are and desire to invite people of all ages and abilities to come as they are for lightly guided conversation and prayer.

    • Are comfortable and familiar with the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and can lead and help/encourage others to lead BCP evening prayers.

    • Are willing to keep track of time.

    • Are comfortable engaging with people of all ages and abilities, including children.

    • Are provided training in leading and given support from the team leader. 

  • Shalini Bennett

Intercessory Prayer

  • Those serving in this prayer ministry offer a safe space for parishioners to share heavy burdens they may carry to receive prayer and presence. It is not a place to offer advice or counsel, but solidarity and love. 

    • Listening; to the person and  the Holy Spirit for guidance on prayer

    • Presence; being bodily, emotionally, and spiritually present in solidarity without words

    • Prayer;  when words or silence are needed, one intercedes with the Spirit of God

    • Confidentiality; prayer needs stay between you and the person you (exceptions mentioned below)

    • Can be attentive to the Spirit in themselves and others and have a heart for prayer.

    • Can honor confidentiality.

    • Can be tender, compassionate, hospitable, and non-judgmental.

    • Can trust God to meet others where they are in their prayer needs. 

    • Are comfortable hearing the deep concerns of others, and able to pray aloud for those needs in an unbiased and loving way.

    • A working understanding of suffering and that God answers prayers in many ways.

    • Serve 1-2 times a month during Sunday liturgy.

    • Arrive at 10:10 a.m. to participate in the processional service.

    • After receiving the Eucharist, stand at the front of the church and be available to receive prayer requests and offer prayer with and for parishioners and their requests.

    • Knowledge of anointing oils administered by the clergy that may be offered.

  • Discerning.

Liturgical Readers

  • The liturgical ministry team is a public ministry for the people by the parishioners of Christ Church. It is truly the people’s work and crucial to our Anglican expression of Word and Sacrament. This ministry proclaims God’s word and calls the parish to communal intercession with God’s will. In addition, New Testament readers assist in the sacramental elements of the Eucharist. Those serving in liturgical ministry participate in the processional for their designated day of service. The processional begins and closes our corporate time worship. 

    Those called to this ministry may have a heart for the Holy Scriptures and how they are presented to God’s people in worship, a desire to proclaim God’s word, and be attentive to how the spoken word touches God's people in corporate worship. A basic understanding of and heart for Anglican worship, traditions, and the Prayer Book are desirable, and the willingness to learn more.

    • Serve on a monthly rotation with a team of 2-3 persons.

    • Commit to one year of service.

    • Attend an initial training session facilitated by your team leader to equip you for service.

    • Set your scheduling rotation with your teammates. If schedules need to be changed, rearrange with your teammates.

    • As a reader, it will be your responsibility to print the upcoming Lectionary reading you will be reading and have it ready for Sunday worship. 

    • Readers are to prepare for their reading during the week by practicing reading it out loud and meditating/praying with the scripture reading. Training will be provided for this. 

    • Before worship (10 a.m.) come prepared to join the processional as well as set your reading on the podium.

  • MJ Young

Prayers of the People

  • The liturgical ministry team is a public ministry for the people by the parishioners of Christ Church. It is truly the people’s work and crucial to our Anglican expression of Word and Sacrament. This ministry proclaims God’s word and calls the parish to communal intercession with God’s will. Those who serve in leading the Prayers of the People also assist in the sacramental elements of the Eucharist. Those serving in liturgical ministry participate in the processional for their designated day of service. The processional begins and closes our corporate time worship. 

    Those called to serve in this ministry may have a heart for prayer, collecting the prayers of the people, some writing abilities, enjoy working with a team, and have the desire to invite others into intercession with all the saints for the work God is accomplishing in the world. A basic understanding of and heart for Anglican worship, traditions, and the Prayer Book are desirable along with the willingness to learn more.

    • Serve on a monthly rotation with a team of 2-3 persons.

    • Commit to serving for one year.

    • Attend an initial training session facilitated by your team leader to equip you for service. 

    • Set your scheduling rotation with your teammates. If schedules need to be changed, rearrange with your teammates.

    • Prepare and write the prayers of the people allocated for your week of service. Have this printed and ready for worship. 

      • Writing prayers includes learning the rhythm of the rubric, collecting the diocesan prayers, requests within the parish, and other needs within the parish. Training will be provided.  

    • Arrive before worship (10 a.m.) to put the printed prayers and quickly overview the reading. Place them at the podium and prepare for the processional. Potentially assist in set-up or tear-down if necessary.

  • MJ Young

Music Ministry

  • Those serving in the Music Ministry of CCA seek to honor the Lord by bringing their musical abilities to enable corporate worship. They bring the musical gifts that God has given them to the joyful task of providing the gathered worshipers ‘language' to offer to the Lord in praise.

    • a humble and willing attitude  

    • a deep love for the Lord and a desire to express this love

    • respect for the Anglican liturgy 

    •  musical ability, training, and/or experience 

    • respect for a diversity of musical and liturgical traditions 

    • music teams meet at 9:15 on Sunday mornings to rehearse music selected and distributed earlier in the week by the team leader(s)

    • singers and instrumentalists usually participate once or twice per month according to their availability

    • quarterly schedules are published so people can plan accordingly

  • Robert Nordling

Youth Formation Ministry

  • Christ Church is looking for a team of adults (6-10) persons desiring to mentor youth and work together to consider the overall youth formation in alignment with CCA’s formation ethos. This team will walk alongside our youth in their baptismal participation within the community. They will assist in teaching and leading youth formation initiatives. This may include teaching series, catechism, retreats, volunteering, youth and liturgical events, intergenerational mentoring, and church-wide involvement.

    • Participation in 1-3 meetings a year for the planning and development of CCA’s youth formation.

    • A basic understanding of the Anglican tradition and ethos. Comfortable with using the Book of Common Prayer. 

    • Working with a team to brainstorm, plan, and create the youth formation for CCA.

    • Providing mentoring and teaching for the youth. 

    • Year-long commitment with training provided and some required reading.

    • A heart for walking alongside the youth at CCA, making them feel a part of the family, and building them up in faith, hope, and love.

    • Interest in developing formation and teaching for youth.

    • Self-motivated.

    • Creativity.

    • A learner, listener, and compassionate person.

    • Planning and organizational skills with good follow-through.

    • Willingness to work with a team.

    • attended Christ Church for 6 months or more.

    • been confirmed in the Anglican tradition or is willing to consider this.

    • completed the Ministry Safe training and a background check.

  • Fr. Kris Rolls

Tech Ministry

  • Sound

    Running sound is not a difficult task but requires showing up early to Eucharist service and staying late after service. It is a technical area and cannot be run by anyone but those interested in learning can be trained.

    Those well-suited for running sound are those who have a good ear for mixing multiple instruments and vocals as well as setting up reading microphones for clarity.

    Slides

    Slides ministry provides the compiling, editing, and operating of the slides presentation for Sunday worship. It requires showing up before and after services for set up and shutting down.

    • Turning on sound equipment

    • Routing and rerouting cables for vocalists, instruments, and readers.

    • Ensuring (as best as possible) that vocalists, musicians, and readers are heard clearly through the sound system. 

    • Running sound (front of house) during service. This entails adjusting channel levels, muting/unmuting, and troubleshooting any sound issues during the Eucharist Service. 

    • After service, unplugging cables, rerouting cables for Potter's House, saving front of house board settings, and putting away all CCA equipment.

    • Plugging in CCA laptop with Propresenter to projection system and ensuring the slides are displaying correctly.

    • Making any last-minute edits to slides. 

    • During service, projecting the correct slides for the songs and liturgical elements, ensuring the parish has time to read and so audibly participate in the liturgy. 

    • After service, the slides presenter shuts down the CCA laptop and puts away the projection adapters.

  • Matt Higham

Questions?