Stewardship of Time & TalentOur stewardship is not just about finances, as important as that might be. On a typical Sunday it takes an average of 39 dedicated volunteers sharing their time and talent to make our worship happen and when any one of these key ministers are missing, the difference is felt by the entire congregation. In addition to opportunities for sharing your time and talent in a worship ministry capacity, we have many other opportunities to share your time and talent, and more are on the way!
As you consider your stewardship contribution to the life and ministry of St. John the Evangelist this year, please be prayerful about how God may be calling you to be a good steward of your time, talent, and treasure. A healthy, holistic, and holy approach includes aspects of all three. The following is a list of our many opportunities to serve God, either within the parish or reaching out to our community. If you are interested in participating in any of these, please reach out to the respective ministry lead, or call Sarra in the Church office at (708) 798-4150 or email her at office@mysje.org. Acolyte Guild Though our Acolytes have usually been youth, this important ministry is open to anyone of any age. Our Acolytes help to lead worship by assisting the clergy during the Mass. We are also looking for an Acolyte Coordinator who will be responsible for scheduling and training our Acolytes. If you are interested in serving either as an Acolyte or Acolyte Coordinator, please contact: Fr. Jeremy frjeremy@mysje.org Altar Guild Members of the Altar Guild are responsible for maintaining the Sanctuary and caring for the vessels, altar lights, vestments, and all other needs for the celebration of the Mass. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Altar Guild, please contact the Altar Guild Director: Donna Blackburn donna.blackburn@att.net Choir The Episcopal/Anglican church has a rich choral tradition. Members of the choir help to lead our worship with their gift of music. With the current COVID-19 restrictions, singing is not permitted, however, as soon as it is possible to return to congregational singing we look forward to our choir resuming their vital ministry and calling our next Director of Music. If you are interested in joining the choir, please contact our Choir Coordinator: Mary VanSwol maryvanswol@gmail.com Coffee Hour Hosts In normal times, our Coffee Hour plays a vital role in the life of our Parish by offering opportunities for us to build close social friendships. Our Coffee Hour Hosts offer their time and hospitality to serving us plenty of coffee and snacks and keeping the kitchen orderly. If you are interested in serving in this ministry, please contact our Head Coffee Hour Host: Jack Voigt jackvoigt@attnet Communications Committee Members of our Communications Committee are working hard to help keep us all informed of what’s going on in our communal life. We are looking for new members of this committee to help keep our website up to date, produce our weekly e-Vangelist electronic newsletter, keep our social media up to date, and facilitate livestreaming of our worship services. If you are interested in joining the Communications Committee, please contact the committee chair: Tonya Eisenberg tonyaeisenberg@yahoo.com Parish Counters Our Parish Counters are responsible for working with the Parish Administrator and Treasurer to account for the weekly collection and to make weekly deposits. Please note that this ministry position requires a background check. If you are interested in becoming a counter, please contact our Head Counter: Debbi Huggett debhuggett55@att.net Daughters of the King The Order of the Daughters of the King is open to all women in the Episcopal Church who are called to serve a special ministry of prayer and service to the Parish and to the wider community. Daughters engage in a period of formation and are inducted into the Order. If you are interested in learning more about the Daughters of the King, please contact our Chapter President: Cyndie Knoll cknoll1974@gmail.com Folders Our folders are one of those vital but invisible groups who meet once a week to help put together the Sunday bulletins. There always seems to be more laughter and storytelling than folding happening, though. If you are interesting in being a folder, please contact: Sarra Lind office@mysje.org Hospitality Committee The Hospitality Committee is occasionally called upon to help coordinate and facilitate larger parish receptions and meals, such as our Annual Meeting Lunch, Parish Picnic, and funeral receptions. If you are interested in being a part of this important ministry, please contact: Gale Michael verger@comcast.net Intercessory Prayer Group The Intercessory Prayer Group meets regularly to pray for specific concerns brought to their attention and to regularly pray for those who have been listed on our Parish Prayer List. If you have a special calling to a life of prayer, or want to explore a deeper prayer life, please contact our Intercessory Prayer Coordinator: Ginny McCollum vmccollum48@gmail.com Landscape Committee We have been gifted with a beautiful campus, but with that beauty comes the task of caring for shrubbery and flower beds around our property. If you have a green thumb, or even just a little pruning and weeding muscle, and are interested in helping the Landscape Committee maintain our greenspace, please contact: Lynn Ruschhaupt mir@ameritech.net Lay Eucharistic Ministers & Visitor The Lay Eucharistic Ministers assist the clergy during the Mass and administer the Chalice during communion. Lay Eucharistic Visitors are trained and licensed to bring communion to those who are sick or homebound. (Please note that a background check is required to be a Lay Eucharistic Visitor.) If you feel called to either of these important ministries that draw us closer to God through the Sacrament of Christ’s body and blood, please contact: Fr. Jeremy frjeremy@mysje.org Lectors Lectors help to lead worship by reading the appointed lessons from the Hebrew and Christian Testaments, lead the Psalms, and lead the Prayers of the People. If you are interested in this important ministry, please contact: Bill Moser moserbill37@gmail.com PADS PADS stands for Public Action to Deliver Shelter. We have worked with the South Suburban PADS for many years now by providing volunteers to staff emergency shelter locations and preparing meals to share with those guests. With COVID-19, PADS is housing guests in a local hotel, however, they still need volunteers to help serve meals. If you are interested in serving this vital ministry in our community, please contact: Laura Brady lcmbrady@comcast.net SWIFT St. John’s is proud to be a member of the Southwest Inter-Faith Team (SWIFT). This important ministry in our community brings together members of Christian, Muslim and Jewish congregations to advocate for greater understanding of each other’s beliefs and practices, and to collaboratively engage in mission to our community. If you are interested in participating in SWIFT programs, please contact: Bryan Burke bryanburke93@gmail.com or Rob McManamy robmac0613@yahoo.com Ushers & Greeters The first people you will see on Sunday mornings is most likely going to be our Ushers and Greeters. They are here to greet our visitors and provide assistance to anyone who may need it, whether is finding a seat, finding a restroom, or just answering a question. Our Ushers are also responsible for appropriately handling any emergencies that may arise during a service. If you have the gift of hospitality and would be interesting in joining this important ministry, please contact: John Huntoon (Ushers) jrhuntoon@yahoo.com or Pat Smith-Huntoon (Greeters) peshuntoon@yahoo.com Youth & Children’s Ministry One of the most important ministries in the Church is that to our youth and children. At every baptism, the congregation is asked, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?” And we respond with a resounding vow, “We will!” We are always looking for Church School Teachers, Nursery Volunteers, and Adult Youth Leaders. Without these important ministers, we cannot provide active ministries to these greatest of our resources. (Please note that a background check is required for this ministry.) If you are interested in service God in any of these capacities, please contact: Deacon Mike Bond deaconmikebond@comcast.net |
Stewardship Resources |