Serve in Worship
Acolytes are individuals, often youth, who assist in the worship services by performing ceremonial duties such as carrying the cross, lighting candles, carrying torches and assisting the Priest at the altar table. Their role supports the flow of the liturgy and enhances the reverence of the worship experience. Serving as an acolyte is both a form of ministry and a way to participate more deeply in the life of the church.
The altar guild is a group within the church responsible for preparing and maintaining the altar and its furnishings for worship services. The altar guild is comprised of different teams that take turns setting up communion elements, caring for linens and vestments, and ensuring candles and other items for the church service are properly arranged and maintained. This behind-the-scenes ministry supports the spiritual life of the parish by creating a reverent and orderly space to worship.
The flower guild is a group of volunteers in the church dedicated to arranging and maintaining floral displays for worship services and special occasions within the church. Their work enhances the worship space, especially during worship services, holidays, and special ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and community events. The guild operates as a ministry, combining creativity with spiritual service to beautify the sanctuary and reflect the liturgical seasons. The flower guild is also responsible for breaking down the larger arrangements into smaller ones to be delivered by the Care Team to those in need.
Those that participate in lay Eucharistic ministries are trained lay persons who assist in the worship service. These persons may serve as vergers, oblations bearers, chalice bearers or as intercessors.
- Verger: The verger assists in organizing the worship service and maintaining the church building on the day of the worship service.
- Oblation Bearer: The Oblation Bearers bring the Eucharistic elements of the church (bread and wine) from the back of the church to the altar for the priest to bless them.
- Chalice Bearer: The Chalice Bearer assists the priest in presenting the chalice for parishioners to drink from during communion.
- Intercessor: The intercessor reads the prayers of the people during the worship service.
Lay Eucharistic Visitors are trained authorized members of the church community who bring the consecrated bread and wine from the Eucharist (communion) to those who are unable to attend services, such as the sick, elderly or homebound. They extend the church’s worship beyond its walls, offering spiritual connection, prayer, and pastoral care. Their ministry emphasizes compassion, presence, and the shared experience of Holy Communion.
A lector reads a scripture passage during the worship service. There is a group of lectors that rotate reading scripture during the various church worship services throughout the year.
Music enriches our worship and, for many of us, is a spiritual practice that draws us into an awareness of God’s presence. Our liturgical music helps the congregation reflect on and engage Christ’s work in our lives and in the world around us. The practice of singing together as a group helps to make incarnate God’s unifying presence in the liturgy.
Our adult choir sings from September to May at the 10:45am service. The choir is an intentional community for its members and ends each evening rehearsal with Compline. Parishioners, high school age and up, are welcome to join. The choir rehearses weekly from September to May on Wednesdays and Sundays.
All Saints’ organ is a Möller instrument built in 1952 and installed in All Saints’ nave in 1992. The organ has the equivalent of 39 ranks and has 1550 pipes. The organ is a recital-quality instrument capable of playing the great organ literature, in addition to very ably accompanying congregational singing.
In 2011 All Saints’ engaged Gregory P. Koziel of Memphis to extensively renovate the organ. This project included, among other renovations, completely refinishing the console, adding digital voices, reconfiguring all of the wind chests so that the pipes’ speech is directed down the length of the Nave, increasing the size of the tone openings, and installing new sound-proof blower enclosures. A generous bequest by Dr. Allen Cooley made this renovation possible.
An usher welcomes church attendees, distributes bulletins and other materials, assists with seating and helps maintain order during the service. Ushers rotate throughout the year during the different worship services.
