St. George’s Worship Ministry

There are many opportunities to help lead community worship. Members of these ministries meet as the Worship Committee to ensure that our worship services are coherent, thoughtful, joyous, and reverent.

Acolytes

People eight years of age and older serve as acolytes to assist the clergy during the service. Older acolytes provide training and mentoring. We invite all acolytes to attend the National Acolyte Festival with us on Saturday, October 11, 2008, at The National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

Altar Guild

Altar Guild members serve God by preparing the altar for worship, setting up the Eucharist, and assisting at other special church events.

Choirs

There are many musical opportunities at St. George’s: One Glorious Voice, the ad hoc choir for the 9:00AM services on Sunday, will warm up at 8:30AM and present anthems at the offertory. New this year is an instrumental ensemble of strings and winds, open to anyone. This group will accompany the hymns.

• Half Notes is a group for children ages four through six. It will meet on Tuesdays, with pizza from 6:15-6:30 and rehearsal from 6:30 to 7:00 PM. The pizza cost is $2 per child. St. George’s Angels: This choir is for older children. It will meet for pizza at the same time as the Half Notes, and rehearse from 6:30-7:15 PM on Tuesdays. The pizza cost is $2 per child.

• The Bells of St. George’s meets on Thursdays, from 6:30-7:30 PM, in the church. Rehearsals begin on Thursday, September 4. If you can count, you can ring handbells. Come join the fun.

• The St. Cecilia Choir is a choir for the 11:00 AM services on Sundays. It sings challenging and spiritually uplifting anthems to the glory of God. Rehearsals begin on Thursday, September 4, 2008, at 7:45 PM in the choir room. It takes all kinds of voices to make a choir, especially yours!

Eucharistic Ministers

Lay persons who are approved by the Rector and licensed by the Bishop of Virginia assist during the worship service by serving the elements during Communion. Some Eucharistic Ministers are also licensed to take Communion to those who are too ill or infirm to attend the service.

Lectors

Lectors are people who read the Scripture lessons during worship services.

Ushers

Ushers give people the order of worship, help them find various activities, and receive the offerings during worship services.

Preparation for Baptism

Some special days during the church year are especially appropriate for baptism: the Great Vigil of Easter, the Day of Pentecost, All Saints’ Day, Christmas Day, and during the bishop’s visitation. People who desire baptism for themselves or their children should consult with a member of St. George’s clergy; advance preparation is required for the people who will be baptized and for their families and godparents or sponsors.

Preparation for Confirmation

The Bishop of Virginia visits St. George’s once each year—this year we believe on March 29—to perform the rite of confirmation and receive people who have been confirmed in other denominations into membership in the Episcopal Church. This rite is considered a mature statement of faith and is available for older children and adults. Advance preparation is required, and St. George’s offers “inquirers’ classes” several times a year for adults and once for youth to prepare for confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church.

There will be a confirmation preparation class for youth, to be held on Tuesdays at 5:00 PM, January 6 through March 24, 2009.