There are many ways to support the life of our worship. Do you have skills in music or public reading? Would you like to serve as a Lay Eucharistic Minister or a Eucharistic Visitor? Are your kids curious about learning to serve as an acolyte at a service? For more information about serving in one of the ministries around our worship services, please contact our clergy through the parish office at 913-451-0512.
Acolytes – Grades 3 and older. This is often the first ministry a young person undertakes and can mark one of their early contributions of time and talent to our worship life. Duties during worship services include carrying the processional cross and assisting with the Liturgy of the Table; older acolytes can train for additional ministries such as serving as Lay Eucharistic Minister who vests and serves the chalice during worship.
Altar Guild – This is a quiet ministry that works behind the scenes, yet carries a great deal of responsibility. Some members make bread for communion, others order the wine, clean and press the linens in a special ritual, keep the supply cabinets filled, or care for the clergy’s vestments, frontals, and banners. They are trained in all the rites of the church— baptisms, funerals, weddings, and weekly services.
Eucharistic Ministers – A Eucharistic Minister is a non-clergy church member who helps serve
the Eucharist.
Lectors – A Lector is a lay person who reads a lesson. Before the reading the lector says “A reading from…” and after the reading, “The Word of the Lord,” to which the congregation responds. (6th grade and up)
Greeters – Greeting visitors is an important part of the hospitality ministry of the church. Greeters form the first impression that a visitor has by welcoming people at the door, during the worship service, after the service is over, or between morning services. Greeters help with name tags, directions, and making sure Welcome Bags are ready and distributed to newcomers.
Ushers – Ushers arrive early before services, hand out bulletins, check hearing aids, pick up bulletins from previous services, get Welcome Bags for visitors, show people to and from their seats, take up the collection, assist in parking (large services), and care for other parish needs. (6th grade and up)
Junior Ushers – The St. Thomas Junior Usher ministry offers an early opportunity for our elementary aged children (kindergarten through 5th grade) to engage in worship ministry. Working side-by-side with our “Senior Ushers” (ages 6th grade through adult), our Junior Ushers greet children as they enter worship, show children where they can find our Worship Bags, help with the collection and presentation of the weekly offering, and assist with welcoming rows of parishioners to receive communion. When not “working” at their ministry during services, our Junior Ushers may join their parents in worship or attend Children’s Church.
Bread Bakers – Bread Bakers make small loaves of bread for newcomers that are included in the red Welcome Bags. The bakers take turns baking, and each week one of them usually makes 6-12 small loaves depending on the current need.
Tech – Since the pandemic St. Thomas streams all of its Sunday and special services. Tech involves running the audio/visual equipment in the back of the church during the event. Streaming includes connecting the video feed to the Facebook and YouTube channels for the church as well as monitoring the stream during the services.
Flower Guild – The Flower Guild prepares the fl owers for the weekly services. Flowers for the altar are picked up on Saturday mornings, taken to church and arranged, then placed in the sanctuary. Later in the week they are removed and the vases cleaned.