The Altar Guild is a very caring and very blessed ministry. Its primary purpose is to prepare and maintain the Altar and Eucharistic vessels, as well as the Altar and Sanctuary, for all services including weddings, memorials, ordinations, funerals, etc. Additional responsibilities include the Altar flowers and calendar. Persons wanting to sponsor flowers and/or the Sanctuary candles will find a sign-up calendar in the Parish Hall.St. William Laud's Altar Guild consists of four members. Additional volunteers are urgently needed. Please make note of this volunteer opportunity, and prayerfully consider joining us in this ministry by contacting Lou White, Altar Guild Coordinator.
We use several members of the parish in the principal worship service. Two Lay Readers read the Old Testament, Psalm and New Testament lessons and the Prayers of the People. Two parishioners serve as Oblationers, bringing the elements forward for the Eucharist. Two to five parishioners assist the priest in the service as acolytes and servers. Usually one, or possibly two, parishioners serve as usher, distributing service leaflets and taking up the offering.
To volunteer for service in any of these ministries one must make the desire to serve made known to the priest and receive orientation and/or training in the approved procedures for each office.
The Vestry of an Episcopal Church is the governing body of the church. Members of the Vestry are elected by the parishioners and serve three year terms. According to canon law members of the Vestry may consist of anyone “qualified to vote at the Parish meeting.” In other words, the person must “be a confirmed adult communicant in good standing as defined in the General Canons, canonically resident in the Parish, physically present at the meeting and who is known to the Rector and Treasurer as regular contributors to the support of the Parish program. The duties of Vestry are as follows:
“The Vestry shall assist the Rector in the nurture and extension of Christ’s Church. The Vestry shall have the legislative authority for the Parish and shall transact all of its temporal business. The Vestry shall be responsible for furnishing, preserving and adequately insuring the Parish property, including all items necessary for public worship; for maintaining adequate Parish records; and for managing the financial resources of the Parish. The Vestry shall maintain order and decorum during the time of public worship.”
[Excerpts from Charter and Canons]
Current Vestry Members:
Fr. Gary Hill, Interim Rector
Sam Barrett, Senior Warden
Tim Truitt, Junior Warden
Judy Johnson-Russell
Rosie Stierwalt
Paula Marshall
Chris Lummus
Gladys Lummus, Treasurer
(non-voting)
