PARISH LIFE
THE EMMANUEL WAY
SERVING GOD THROUGH WORSHIP STEWARDHSIP AND OUTREACH.
At Emmanuel, we like to be together, not only in the church for worship and prayer, but also to eat good food and have fun. Thanks to our many volunteers and parish groups, we enjoy several family friendly social gatherings, as well as occasional parish breakfasts, dinners, and holiday events.
There are so many ways to get involved at Emmanuel Church. New groups and new opportunities are created on a regular basis. So if you don’t see something that appeals below, please let the Clergy or Vestry know!
Acolyte
Any young person between the ages of 7 and 18 is invited to join “The God Squad” – our group of acolytes. Acolytes serve at Eucharists, and have also served at funerals and weddings. There are many roles for acolytes within the service, and the group also gets together for training and social time.
Choir
All members of the parish are invited to join the choir. Our choir helps us to pray with music, and they prepare psalms and anthems for each Sunday from Labor Day through Trinity Sunday. Choir members rehearse on Tuesday nights and on Sunday mornings between services.
Kitchen Krew
All adult members of the parish are invited to join our Kitchen Krew. Members coordinate, cook, and serve delicious food for concerts, meetings, receptions, funerals, weddings, and other events held at Emmanuel Church. Members of other churches sometimes join the Kitchen Krew to help with special community-wide events.
Lectors
All members of the parish, regardless of age, are invited to serve as lectors. Lectors help to proclaim the Scripture, so good reading skills are helpful. Lectors receive their readings the week before, so that there is time to go over it (and check out the pronunciation of any of those obscure names/places). Lectors are scheduled on a monthly basis, and are adjusted according to the availability of the lectors.
Altar Guild
All members of the parish who are at least 16 years old are invited to be members of the Altar Guild. The stalwart members of our altar guild serve “behind the scenes” and ensure that the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens are cared for and prepared for liturgical services. The Altar Guild schedule is prepared quarterly and published monthly.
Eucharist Ministers
Lay members of the parish may be licensed by the bishop to serve as Eucharistic Ministers assisting the priest in the distribution of Communion at any Eucharistic service including funerals and weddings. Members of the parish who are sixteen years of age or older who are interested in this ministry should talk to the clergy and take the training course offered by the diocese through The Bishop's Institute at St. Paul's Episcopal Center in Hebron.
Flower Guild
All adult members of the parish are invited to join our Flower Guild. Flower Guild members are responsible for the purchase and arranging of the altar flowers, as well as for planning and decorating the church for holidays and special services.
Buildings & Grounds
All adult members of the parish are invited to join our Buildings and Grounds Committee. This committee works in tandem with our Junior Warden on the upkeep of our building. A subset of this committee is responsible for our Garth – the inner courtyard and memorial garden.
Communications
All members, regardless of age, are encouraged to write for our newsletter, to put announcements into the bulletin, or to help with items for the webpage and the parish Facebook page. However, a core group of volunteers is responsible for all of our publications, as well as for “getting the word out” in the form of advertising in the local papers and the Chestertown Spy.
In Stitches
All adult members of the parish are invited to join our "In Stitches" group (formerly called the Knifty Knitters). This group makes beautiful hand-crafted items to sell at our Christmas Bazaar, as well as prayer shawls to be given to those who are ill or hospitalized. Note that, despite the name, all types of crafters are welcome to join the group which meets on Monday afternoons.
Sunday School Teachers
On Sundays during the school year, students from pre-k through middle school learn the stories of the Bible and what it means to be a Christian. Students remain in church on the first Sunday of each month. On the second and fourth Sundays, lessons which include stories and crafts for the younger students, and learning about the Bible through analysis and activities for the older students are presented. The third and fifth Sundays of each month are “messy Sundays” which include hands-on activities like baking stained glass cookies, making advent wreaths, or learning to pray with prayer boxes. At Christmas, teachers direct students in a pageant, and during Lent students are encouraged to plan and carryout an outreach project in the community.
Eucharistic Visitors
&
Worship Leaders
Eucharistic Visitors and Worship Leaders are lay members of the parish who have been licensed by the bishop to serve in these special ministries. Eucharistic Visitors assist the clergy in taking Communion from the Sunday service to parishioners who are homebound or hospitalized.
Worship Leaders are trained to lead worship services such as Morning and Evening Prayer. Members of the parish who are interested in either of these ministries should contact the clergy and take the appropriate training course offered by the diocese through The Bishop's Institute at St. Paul's Episcopal Center in Hebron.
Pastoral Care Team
All adult members of the parish are invited to join our Pastoral Care Team. Members visit our shut-ins and those who are hospitalized, write cards for various holidays, provide rides for those members who cannot drive to church or other events, and in many other ways, take care of our members during times when a little extra help is needed.
Ushers & Greeters
All members of the parish, regardless of age, are invited to serve as an usher or greeter for our services. Ushers greet people at the door, hand out bulletins, help with the Offertory, and also regulate traffic flow during Communion. Ushers are scheduled on a monthly basis.