Spiritual Awareness

by Anika Rinker | Sep 20, 2020 | Group

Radical Hospitality

by Anika Rinker | Sep 20, 2020 | Group

Our Radical Hospitality group warmly welcomes newcomers to worship and to the community of our church. Members greet, bake and deliver bread to guests, and work to connect newcomers to groups and ministries in our church. We are intentionally inclusive, welcoming, respectful and nurturing.

We have a team of greeters who strive to make our visitors welcome as they enter our doors. The congregation as a whole extends a warm welcome when we “pass the peace” during the service. A greeter or another member of the congregation endeavors to escort our guests to the parish hall for refreshments following the service; our Coffee Hour is a time of meeting and greeting in a relaxed, family atmosphere.
All are welcome at Christ’s table.  Helpful instructions are given to make our guests comfortable in coming forward to receive Holy Communion or a blessing.
Members of the Bread Ministry deliver freshly-baked bread and information about St. Martin’s to guests who fill out a Communication Card found in the back of the pew. The delivery is most often made on the Sunday afternoon of the guest’s visit.
We follow up with welcoming emails and postal letters and calls to our guests. Requests for information by our guests are given to the appropriate ministry leader so that answers can be provided as quickly as possible. We add newcomers to our Contstant Contact mailing list and church database and order nametags.
All members of the congregation are automatically part of the Radical Hospitality team. The responsibilities are easy to fulfill. Speak to your neighbor at the peace; walk across the aisle and shake the hand of someone you don’t know. All you have to say is, “The Peace of the Lord.”

Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ~Romans 15:7
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ~Peter 4:8-9
We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. ~3 John 1:8

Get Involved: Like to meet new people and provide a warm welcome? Have we got a deal for you! Greeters serve one Sunday a month for about 30 minutes before the service and 30 minutes after the service. It is a truly rewarding experience. We are always looking to expand the team. Contact Mary Beth Butler at marybethbutler@gmail.com.

Altar Guild

by Anika Rinker | Sep 16, 2020 | Group

Altar Guild teams, working under the direction of the clergy, prepare for the celebration of the Eucharist or any of the other sacraments of the church, including baptisms, weddings and funerals. They also take care of the vessels, vestments, linens, and acolyte equipment.
At our church, the altar guild is divided into four teams. Each team assumes responsibility for the worship services for a whole week, including Saturday, Sunday, weekday services, and weddings and funerals during the week. Team members prepare the altar before each service, clean the altar area after each service, and care for the linens and vestments. The guild holds two major meetings a year, prior to Holy Week and Christmas. Together they review the details of these busy times, socialize, and sometimes have a guest speaker. All members work together during Holy Week and Christmas to share the work and get to know people on the other teams.
Join us and learn about this great ministry, open to men and women, that has been in existence for centuries. If you are looking for a ministry that will truly and humbly serve the Lord, please contact our clergy or one of the Altar Guild directors, Linda Seeber at rwseeber@sbcglobal.net or Jean Freitag at jhfrei@mac.com.