St. Mary's Episcopal Church: Ministries

Ministries

St. Mary’s is a volunteer organization: the only paid staff members are the priest (half-time), the organist, and the sexton. We also benefit from payroll and other services provided by the Diocese of Oregon, which we help support through our “Diocesan Program Assessment.” But most of what happens at St. Mary’s happens because of our many volunteers. This page describes current activities, but new people bring new gifts - maybe your idea will be describe here next year!

The first person a visitor meets is an usher, who welcomes them with a smile and hands them a bulletin. Lectors read the Scripture lessons during the service. Nancy Littlemore is the coordinator of ushers and lectors. Please let her know if you want to learn about these ministries - new participants are always welcome!

The Altar Guild takes care of the linens and “altar hardware,” and sets up for services. Talk to Evalyn Crocker or Patsy Hamer if you are interested in learning more about this ministry. Flowers are taken care of by Nancy Littlemore, Barbara Briskey, Macie Younce, and Connie Lum. Memorial offerings of flowers are welcome.

The Hospitality Committee, which organizes receptions for funerals, weddings and other special occasions, is chaired by Barbara Briskey. Donations may be requested to cover the cost of supplies.

Coffee Hour is an important part of the life of St. Mary's. We are fortunate that people readily sign up on the sheet provided, and bring goodies (some healthy and some tempting) for people to enjoy after the service. "Old hands" are always happy to show new people how to host coffee hour, and for many this is their first venture into the life of the church beyond participation in worship.

Ave Maria, the St. Mary’s newsletter, which appears quarterly, is being produced by Ken and Verla Gardner, with editing by Vicar Jaime.

Rodger and Betty Barber are the contacts between St. Mary’s and the A.W.A.R.E. Food Bank, taking the food we collect at services to the Food Bank where it can reach people in need. They would be happy to talk to you about volunteer opportunities.

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) meets on the second Monday of the month at noon, for a bag lunch. The ECW plans events to connect St. Mary’s with the broader community and leads fund-raisers, including the United Thank-Offering, and on-going Miles of Pennies for Books and Labels for Education collections for programs at Nellie Muir Elementary School. In 2009, ECW led a very successful Parking Lot Sale that raised over $2,000 for the AWARE Food Bank. Newcomers Macie Younce and Connie Lum organized the First Annual Christmas Tea. The President of ECW is Verla Gardner. The Treasurer is Connie Lum.

Lay Chaplains, Bob Hurst and Jim Harding, and licensed eucharistic visitors, visit homebound and hospitalized Episcopalians in the Woodburn community, and members of St. Mary’s in a wider area. To request a visit, or to let us know of a hospitalization, please call Jim Harding at (503) 680-4216.

St. Mary's is located next to Nellie Muir Elementary School and a number of members of the church volunteer with the SMART Reading Program at the school. Connie Lum coordinates the Thursday readers, and can tell you about the program and how to get involved.

Acolytes and Eucharistic Ministers serve at the altar, lead prayers of the people, and serve the chalice. Vicar Jaime is the contact for people interested in this ministry.

A loose affiliation of people, keep the buildings, grounds and gardens of St. Mary’s clean and beautiful. Everyone is invited to participate in periodic work parties, where people get to know each other while getting practical work done. The Junior Warden is the contact person for buildings and grounds.

Through the larger church, St. Mary’s participates in ministries in Oregon and elsewhere in the world. We have received awards for our participation in outreach drives such as “NetsforLife,” health kits for Church World Services, and water for wells built by Episcopal Relief and Development. For more on the role of the Episcopal Church in healing the world,
see www.er-d.org.