Liturgical Ministries

Acolytes
Bill McMonigle, chairperson

An acolyte is a lay person who assists in worship by carrying the processional cross or crucifix, lighting and extinguishing candles, holding a torch at the reading of the gospel, and assisting the priest and deacon during holy communion,

At the present, St. James has twelve acolytes. They range in age from students in the fifth/sixth grade up to and including high school seniors.

If you are a boy or girl in the fifth/sixth grade or older and would like to become an acolyte, just give your name, address, and telephone number to the Parish secretary.

Altar Guild
Marci Hanners and Nancy Duzick, co-chairpersons

When Jesus visits Martha and Mary, Mary sits at His feet while Martha prepares the supper and cleans the dishes. When Martha complains that Mary is not helping, Jesus explains that there are different types of ministry...by sitting at His feet and learning, Mary pursues her ministry and by preparing the meal and cleaning up afterwards, Martha pursues hers.

The women and men of St. James' Altar Guild are very much like Martha. Their ministry of service is to take care of the altar, the linens, frontals, vestments and the vessels.  The group is divided into five teams who meet each week to set the Lord's table, preparing the altar according to liturgical season, polishing the brass and silver of the church, and overseeing the ongoing care of the liturgical vestments and appointments.

Two times a year the entire group comes together to clean the interior of the church and decorate for the Christmas and Easter seasons.

If you are interested in this activity, it requires about one hour on Saturday and before and after one service on Sunday once a month.

Lay Readers

St. James’ has a large dedicated group of 22 Lay Readers.  A Lay Reader in the Episcopal Church is a person licensed by the bishop of the diocese to read the lessons in the liturgy and to officiate at the daily office under the direction of a member of the clergy.  The Lay Readers meet as a group on a quarterly basis with the Rector to plan the Lay Reader’s Schedule and to go over details of the liturgy.  During the Summer months when the Rector is away on vacation, and supply clergy are unavailable, one of the Lay Readers volunteers to officiate at Morning Prayer and lead the worship for that Sunday.