LITURGICAL SUPPORT GROUPS:

Lay Readers

Lay Readers participate in the worship service by leading prayers, reading scripture, and administering the chalice. Emmanuel has approximately 24 licensed lay readers, male and female, 19 of whom are licensed chalicers. Six or seven lay readers are part of the services each Sunday.

For many years, the lay readers have held a monthly Saturday breakfast which provides fellowship and an opportunity to discuss and practice responsibilities pertaining to the services.

The May (.html or .pdf) schedule is available for all worship participants.

For more information contact Boyd Duncan, 850-1520.

Acolytes

Acolytes participate in all scheduled services by carrying the candles or cross, or assisting at the altar. Emmanuel has an active acolyte ministry for boys and girls in grades 3 through 12. Training is conducted on Friday evenings with some special instruction on Saturday mornings as needed. The youngest children start as Torch Bearers and progress up through Crucifer and Gospel Bearer to Senior Server.

The May (.html or .pdf) schedule is available for all worship participants.

For more information contact Mary Overby at 766-1961 or by e-mail.

Altar Guild

Altar Guild exists to help the priest with the care of the altar and sanctuary. These duties also extend to assistance in preparing for all services, weddings, funerals, confirmations, ordinations, and baptisms. Members of the Altar Guild are responsible for the care of all vestments, vessels, and linens. The ordering of supplies such as candles and communion bread and wine is their responsibility. They also arrange for memorial flowers most Sundays and see that they are delivered to the sick and housebound. The Altar Guild provides training to all who serve in this way.

Members of the guild meet each Saturday morning to prepare for the Sunday services. Serving on the altar guild gives members a chance to continually reinforce their commitment to the church. The guild welcomes new members, both women and men.

The May (.html or .pdf) schedule is available for all worship participants. For further information contact Norah Steele, 365-9642 or e-mail.

Ushers

Ushers greet the people at all services, pass out the service bulletins, assist the infirm to their seats, take up the collection, and provide any assistance needed.

Emmanuel is fortunate to have twenty seven volunteers organized into six usher teams. Two teams support the early Sunday service and four support the later service. These teams are composed of men and women, young and old.

The May (.html or .pdf) schedule is available for all worship participants. For further information contact Dean Seitz, 850-4696 or e-mail.

FELLOWSHIP AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Episcopal Church Women

The ECW, consisting of all women in the parish, is an organization of Christian women supporting each other as we rally in support of our church by providing food and/or time for church receptions, offering bereavement assistance, assisting in outreach projects by assembling or donating supplies, giving time at fundraisers, and by simply spending time with each other in and out of church.

Emmanuel’s Church Women reach out financially to local, national, and worldwide organizations and missionary programs. Various ways and means projects are held throughout the year to provide funds for ECW outreach to mission and ministry and to support special projects at Emmanuel. Our budget reflects a balance of all three. Additionally, the Church Periodical Club, United Thank Offering, the African Team Ministry's sale of African hand crafts, and the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief are active under the auspices of the ECW.

The two circles, Grady and Kaiser-Reese, meet monthly to provide the women of the parish the opportunity to socialize and organize other outreach activities.

For more information contact:

Kaiser Reese Circle – Margaret Seitz, 850-4696
Grady Circle – Karen Harrington, 850-6373
ECW - Ethel Marple, 766-0013

Men of Emmanuel

The Men of Emmanuel is an organization open to all men in the parish that meets for the purpose of fellowship, assistance in outreach programs, working on church projects, and just plain fun. Various ways and means projects are held throughout the year to provide funds for outreach missions and to support special projects at Emmanuel.

For more information contact Chuck Gwilt, 766-9101 or e-mail.

Christian Caregivers

Emmanuel care givers are trained lay persons who, in concert with the rector, provide pastoral care to Emmanuel parish family members who are sick, shut-in, hospitalized, experiencing a crisis, grieving, or dealing in some manner with death. Caregivers listen and are a presence whenever there is a need. Caring is a gift of grace that is sustained only through God's help; Emmanuel's care givers want to use this gift as they respond to people's needs and as they let people know through word and deed that they are not alone. Care givers are also licensed lay-Eucharist ministers, who regularly administer communion on Sundays after Holy Eucharist to those unable to attend church. Currently eight people are members of the care giving team, responding to the needs of Emmanuel's people to ensure quality and consistency of pastoral care.

For more information contact Jane Frazer, 867-7666

Foyers

This is a hospitality ministry in which participating members of the congregation are grouped together for a season. During this time, we visit as small groups of six to eight, in each others home. We share a meal and work at establishing a Christian community, by getting to know one another and becoming a part of each other's lives.

For more information contact: Jane Frazer, 867-7666

Coffee Groups

This group consists of teams of individuals who make sure that coffee and refreshments are available during the fellowship time, christian education hour, and after services every Sunday morning.

For more information contact: Tom Howard, 851-8907

Fellowship Social

We have refreshments in the parish hall after the late Sunday service on those mornings when we don't have a breakfast. This is simply a time for fellowship over coffee, tea, or lemondate and some delicious treats.

For more information contact: June Howard, 851-8907

Needlework Guild

Throughout generations Christians have expressed their love of God the liturgical arts, which surround us during the service. Emmanuel’s artistic offerings reflect the individual flavor and style of our own parish. The Needlework Guild was formed to create, repair and preserve the liturgical textiles that have historically been a part of the Church.

Over the past five years the group has produced high-quality needlework including fine linens, altar hangings, vestments, banners, and other liturgical textiles to enhance the worship services. Expertise or talent in any form of needlework is not a requirement for membership. We will teach you to sew, and to laugh while doing it.

For more information contact: Carol Colonna, 719-5820

Emmanuel's Pilgrims

This group is always "on the road." The Pilgrims visit interesting churches and historical sites in southeastern Virginia and enjoy lunch in a restaurant with "local color." Anyone who has a few hours on a Saturday for a fun get away is welcome to join us.

For more information contact: Jackie Pleasant, 850-9450

Counters

Our counters are the cashiers who prepare the weekly bank deposits and assist the bookkeeper in crediting offerings to contributors.

For more information contact: Pat DiStefano, 851-8550

DEVOTIONAL GROUPS

Emmanuel Prayer Chain

"Pray without ceasing" is the watchword of Emmanuel's prayer chain. This group of fourteen members was established in 2000 with the express purpose of responding to the needs of the parish family for prayer. Persons with prayer needs are encouraged to call on the prayer chain 24 hours a day.

For more information contact: Mary Ellis, 826-6999