Dear Friends,
Liturgy in Greek means the work for the people, or work done with the people. As the people of God, the liturgy is the work we do with one another in order to worship and praise God. The Eucharist is intended to be a participatory experience, with parts of the service executed or led by the lay people of the Church.
Specific roles in the liturgy are designated in varying ways.
Roles scheduled through the Worship Leaders Google Group:
- Lay Eucharistic Ministers help serve at the altar and present the chalice of wine to service participants
- Readers read Scripture lessons and lead the Psalm
- Prayer Leaders lead the Prayers of the People
- Greeters greet people at the door, hand out bulletins, identify and greet newcomers and generally make sure everyone coming in to worship has what they need
- Sound Managers set up and monitor the sound system during the service
- Coffee Hour hosts set up coffee and food, or can sign up to bring additional food
If you are interested in serving in one of these roles (or hosting or helping with Coffee Hour, please contact Susmarine@gmail.com or the office@christchurchealtham.org
Other roles in the liturgy are filled at the time of the service. As you walk into the church, you may notice a wrought iron ”tree ” holding tags on lanyards. Each tag corresponds to an open role in the liturgy and directions on how to fulfill that role are on the back of the tag. They are:
- Intercessors (3 roles to fill) read from the congregation the names of those for whom we are praying
- Ushers collect the peoples’ financial offering, assist people in coming up to the rail for Communion, count all the people present at the service, and generally help with the congregations’ needs
- Oblationers carry the elements of bread and wine to the altar as an offering
Any of these roles can be filled by anyone, adult, youth or child, and all people are encouraged to participate in our work of worship together by trying on a new role
In the name of Christ,
Rev. Rebecca