Altar Guild

The quiet ministry of St. Michael’s Altar Guild is to prepare the sanctuary for all services. This includes all Sunday services, weddings, baptisms, funerals/ memorials, and, St. Michael’s Day School Eucharists. It also includes special services during Advent, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week and Easter.

Members of the Altar Guild are divided into four weekly crews. Each crew works one of the fifth Sundays that occur during the year. Each member is asked to volunteer from 9-10:30 on the Saturday of their week, and to attend one of the Sunday services that weekend. Additionally, the guild has 2-3 meetings during the year to review changes, plan or decorate for the major church holiday services. Members are able to trade weekends with other guild members to accommodate their travel, or other plans, and some will occasionally do their preparation duties on Friday.

Following a well tested checklist, members prepare for the services, duties include, polishing Silver and brass, dusting and cleaning, set up for the service and clean up after the services. Fresh flowers are arranged each week by a guild member. At least one Altar Guild member is present at every service, so rarely does a member work alone. Altar Guild receives a small budget from pledges to cover the cost of wine, wafers and oil for the candles. All other expenses including the weekly flowers and Special flowers for Holy Days come from Flower memorials and donations.

Serving on the altar guild is a wonderful way to meet members who attend other services and to participate in the “behind the scenes” worship preparation. We are always looking for new members to join us in this special ministry. For more information, contact the church office and you will be referred to the appropriate person.