Acolytes are student lay servers who assist the clergy in leading worship on Sundays and holy days. At the later morning services, each acolyte serves as either a crucifer (cross-bearer) or one of two torchbearers, with other occasional roles on high feast days. They lead processions, assist with the presentation of offerings and the preparation of Holy Communion, and much more.

The acolyte ministry is one place where our youth shine, but adult servers are also required at the early service on Sundays, as well as at the later services to coordinate the acolytes and act as “Master of Ceremonies.”

The goal of the acolyte ministry is to:

• Make Sunday worship beautiful with meaningful ceremonial

• Familiarize young people with the liturgy from the inside

• Build confidence in young people

Above all, the acolytes help us to “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 96:9) and to “lift up our hearts” to heaven as we offer our thanks to God.

The Altar Guild is a lay ministry whose purpose is to serve God in his house (the church) by preparing the sanctuary for worship; maintaining and caring for the sacred vessels, altar linens, and vestments; and serving the clergy and the parish.

Each Altar Guild member serves as part of a team for four months per year – two months out of each six-month period. Each Guild member signs up for the months convenient for them and the Sunday service they attend. During those months, they come every Friday morning at 9am to clean and maintain all the items used in the services. In addition, they help set up and clean for the Sunday service they have chosen. Depending on their availability, they may also set up and clean for occasional services such as weddings and funerals, and for special services, such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Christmas, and Easter.

The role of the Altar Guild is to make the church beautiful, which reminds our congregants that they are entering a holy place – literally, a place set apart. Our work welcomes worshippers to encounter God in word and sacrament.

Our mission is to beautify the altar and the sanctuary surroundings to the greater glory of God. Each Sunday throughout the Church Year, we arrange two floral arrangements for the high altar and one smaller arrangement for the St. Mary’s Chapel altar. We take a break during Lent due to the penitential nature of the season.

Our Guild is funded solely through parish donors. A weekly donor calendar is posted in the church for those wishing to dedicate flowers for their loved ones.

4-person teams are responsible for altar arrangements each Sunday. Individual teams are assigned to one Sunday per month and will purchase flowers and arrange prior to Sunday. Following Sunday services, we remove the flowers and break them down for pastoral care delivery. All teams work together to decorate for Christmas and Easter.

Our guild welcomes any parishioner who may be interested in joining. No prior experience is required. We are happy to explain how we operate and teach anyone who is interested in learning.

The Greeters are a lay ministry founded to ensure that every worshipper at Holy Trinity feels welcomed, valued, and included. The simple act of saying “Welcome” and “Good morning” is the first step to a positive and meaningful worship experience for both visitors and long-standing parishioners.

Greeters offer their welcoming presence at the entrance to the church prior to our Sunday services. They bid goodbye after each service and encourage attendance at our weekly coffee hours. Greeters attend the coffee hour, answer questions about Holy Trinity, guide scheduled tours, and urge visitors to sign our guest book. They also provide name tag order forms, devotional brochures, and welcome packets.

Readers (sometimes known as “lectors,” from the traditional Latin term) read important parts of the Sunday and feast day services aloud in church. For each service, a reader is assigned either to proclaim the Scripture lessons before the Gospel or to lead the Prayers of the People after the Creed. In this way, readers beautify the service by providing a diversity of voices throughout the course of the liturgy.

The Ushers are a lay ministry whose purpose is to serve the church by assisting the clergy and congregation during a church service. Ushers greet parishioners and distribute worship bulletins. They also assist during the collection by passing the offering plates and by directing the congregation during Communion. The goal is to help the service run as smoothly as possible.

Each usher is assigned to one of four teams corresponding with one Sunday of the month. Ushers commit to 1 Sunday per month. Special teams will be assigned for major weekday services, such as Christmas Eve or Ash Wednesday. All fifth Sundays and funerals are covered by volunteers.