{"id":17,"date":"2025-10-10T19:25:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T23:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/wp\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2026-06-11T14:35:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:35:03","slug":"worship","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/?page_id=17","title":{"rendered":"Worship"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"17\" class=\"elementor elementor-17\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b3cd04b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3b3cd04b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11027d96 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"11027d96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Who are the ministers of Christ Church?<\/p><p>YOU are!<\/p><p>Here&#8217;s what the Episcopal Church has to say about ministry:<\/p><p><em>Q. Who are the ministers of the Church?<\/em><\/p><p><em>A. The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 855)<\/em><\/p><p>The lay (non-ordained) congregation is the largest order of ministry in our church, and we celebrate your role every time we worship together. Our church services incorporate lay leaders of every age and ability as Acolytes, Altar Guild, Chalice Bearers, Lectors, and Ushers.<\/p><p>How are you called to use your gifts in our church?\u00a0<\/p><div class=\"directory\" style=\"background-color: #cccccc; &lt;br \/&gt; border: thin solid #000000; &lt;br \/&gt; float: left; &lt;br \/&gt; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; &lt;br \/&gt; font-size: 12px; &lt;br \/&gt; height: 200px; &lt;br \/&gt; margin-left: 20px; &lt;br \/&gt; margin-right: 20px; &lt;br \/&gt; padding: 20px 10px; &lt;br \/&gt; width: 175px;\"><h3 align=\"center\">Contents<\/h3><ul><li><a href=\"#C1\">Acolytes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#C2\">Altar Guild<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#C3\">Chalice Bearers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#C4\">Lectors<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#C5\">Ushers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#C7\">Music<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><h3><a name=\"C1\"><\/a>Acolytes<\/h3><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">Every Sunday, a team of youth and adults arrive early to assist the congregation in worship at the altar. It a privileged place to be. Acolytes get to know how the service works from beginning to end. They become acquainted first hand with clergy and adult leaders of the congregation. They take on a new role of leadership and responsibility. They learn about the rites and rituals of our worship \u2013 and better yet \u2013 are a vital part of our worship experience. They make friends and get to know other youth in our community of faith.<\/p><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">All children who are 8 or older are welcome to contact the priest about the ministry of Acolyte. Acolytes generally serve about once every four weeks (a little more around Christmas and Easter). We ask that they show up twenty minutes before service begins and remain until service is ended. We invite our children and youth to explore this marvelous ministry. It will give them a new outlook on and appreciation for our faith and worship.<\/p><h3><a name=\"C2\"><\/a>Altar Guild<\/h3><blockquote><p>Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;<br \/>let the whole earth tremble before him.<br \/>Psalm 96.9<\/p><\/blockquote><p>The Altar Guild is composed of faithful members whose work is to create a beautiful space for all the ceremonies of the church. Their duties include care of altar linens and vestments, sacramental vessels, candles, flowers, and many other tasks that allow the congregation to enter each Sunday morning into the \u201cbeauty of holiness\u201d.<\/p><p>Altar Guild Members set up before and clean up after all services.\u00a0They are responsible for making sure everything in the sanctuary is polished and ready for worship. The beautiful flowers that adorn our sanctuary at Christmas, Easter, All Souls\u2019 and Saints\u2019 Days, and Thanksgiving are lovingly and creatively displayed; each unique for its own season and purpose. The Altar Guild is a ministry that not only honors the place in which we worship but offers a deep spiritual experience for those who join its ranks.<\/p><p>The Altar Guild currently consists of three teams who rotate weekly. They are under the joint direction of Judith Buncher and Cynthia Webster, Co-Directors. If you are interested in this ministry, contact Mother Susanna.<\/p><h3><a name=\"C3\"><\/a>Chalice Bearers<\/h3><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">Chalice Bearers are Lay Eucharistic Ministers who served specifically at the altar to assist the clergy in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. They must be confirmed members in good standing and serve at the invitation of the priest. Chalice Bearers are trained in the parish and licensed by the Diocese. They serve on teams of two and assist at the altar approximately once a month. If you believe God may be calling you to this ministry, please contact Mother Susanna.<\/p><h3><a name=\"C4\"><\/a>Lectors<\/h3><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">Each time the Church gathers we listen to God\u2019s word. Lectors are lay persons who publicly read the lessons each Sunday and occasionally lead the congregation in the Prayers of the People. The Ministry of Lector is open to people of all ages. Please contact the Church Office if you are interested in this ministry.<\/p><h3><a name=\"C5\"><\/a>Ushers<\/h3><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">Every Sunday a team of Ushers arrives early toChrist Church to ensure that the congregation has a meaningful worship experience. The Ministry of Ushers is so very important! The Usher is one of the first people that parishioners and visitors meet upon entering the Church. It is their warm welcome that enables all who enter to feel comfortable and at home. Not only do they distribute the Sunday Bulletin, but they also help direct your children to the Church School or Nursery, aid those who need special assistance, and are always ready to answer your questions.<\/p><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">They make sure that your worship is free from distractions, that the temperature of the nave is just right, and that all you need is ready and awaiting your arrival in the pew. This in turn, sets the tone for the entire Liturgy.<\/p><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">The Ministry of Ushers continues throughout the service as they select parishioners to bring the communion bread and wine to the altar, take up the Sunday offering, and direct parishioners to the altar to receive communion.<\/p><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">They are always on watch; being sure to assist anyone who might have a concern or any kind of problem during the service. And when the last prayer is said, the last hymn is sung, and the last person has left the Church, you will find the Ushers carefully cleaning up the pews, turning off the lights, and locking the doors. You will see them bringing the altar flowers over to the Parish House so that they may be taken to those who are sick or in trouble.<\/p><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">The work our Ushers do is truly a ministry of service and hospitality. We welcome persons of all ages to consider joining our team. If you are interested, please contact Peggy James or Mother Susanna.<\/p><h3><a name=\"C7\"><\/a>Music<\/h3><p style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;\">The music ministry at Christ Church is inclusive and eclectic in nature &#8211; both in terms of its participants and its repertoire. All parishioners are welcome to worship through music, whether through participation directly through choral singing, instrumental accompaniment, financial support or non-musical involvement in music ministry projects.<\/p><p><strong>St. Gregory\u2019s Adult Choir<\/strong>\u00a0sings weekly at the principal 9:00\u00a0am\u00a0Sunday Eucharist, as well as at Christmas, Holy Week and Easter. The choir perform sacred repertoire from the 15th to the 21st centuries. Choristers have the opportunity to sing music from Gabrielli to Handel to Copland. We sing a cappella pieces as well as music accompanied by organ, piano, trombone, harp, clarinet, trumpet and percussion.<\/p><p>The choir currently rehearses weekly on Thursday mornings in the Parish House from September to June at 10:00 am, and meet to warm up at 8:15 on Sunday mornings.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who are the ministers of Christ Church? YOU are! Here&#8217;s what the Episcopal Church has to say about ministry: Q. 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