Serving Our Church

  • Acolytes serve in multiple ways: as crucifers, torchbearers, book-bearers, thurifers, banner-bearers, and more. During a typical Sunday service, the crucifer carries in the cross, two torchbearers follow, and the book-bearer carries in the Gospel book.

  • A volunteer group of the parish whose ministry is to care for the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens of the parish. Altar Guild members prepare the sanctuary for services, and clean up afterwards. Altar Guild members frequently supervise the decoration of the sanctuary of the parish with flowers.

    (from https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/altar-guild/)

  • The Flower Guild is responsible for flowers on the altar for regular services, weddings, and funerals. The Guild also works to adorn other areas of the church for festival services such as Christmas and Easter. There are eleven dedicated members who do the arrangements on a rotating schedule.

    After services, the guild members remove flowers from the altar and rearrange them in vases for delivery. With the help of the Pastoral Care committee, arrangements are delivered to remind others they are remembered by St. Mark’s Parish.

  • A lay person trained in reading scripture in front of the congregation during worship services. Lectors read the lessons of the day or lead the prayers of the people. The term is from the Latin, “to read.”

    (taken in part from https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/lector/)

  • Lay person licensed by the bishop to administer the consecrated elements of the eucharist. Lay eucharistic ministers may be licensed to administer the consecrated bread and wine at any celebration of the eucharist in the absence of a sufficient number of priests and deacons to assist the celebrant. They may also be licensed to go from a Sunday eucharist or other principal celebrations of the eucharist to share the sacrament with members of the congregation who were unable to be present at the celebration because of illness or infirmity. Lay eucharistic ministers may be licensed for either or both ministries.

    This ministry is understood to be an extraordinary ministry, and is not to take the place of the ministry of priests and deacons concerning the administration of the eucharist. Prior to the current lay ministry canons, specially licensed lay readers administered the chalice at the eucharist and were known as “chalice bearers.”

    (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/lay-eucharistic-minister-lem/)

  • Ushers welcome worshipers with bulletins, introduce newcomers, answer questions, and guide people during our worship service. They also bring the offering to the altar and collect bulletins for recyling at the end of the service.

  • A lay minister who assists the clergy in the conduct of public worship, especially in the marshaling of processions. The history of the verger dates back to the middle ages when the verger was the “Protector of the Procession.” Vergers would lead the way, making room for the procession to enter the church from the town square, and with their virge (mace) in hand would literally clear the way if necessary. The basic vestment of the verger is a black cassock. The ministry of vergers is supported and encouraged by the Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church.

    (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/verger/)